Mia Templeton is dying. Or was dying. After receiving a heart transplant, her world is forever altered. Before her eyes open, she overhears her donor was murdered. Whispers invade Mia’s mind before she’s even left the recovery room. She develops tastes for foods she once hated, and dreams so vivid, they feel like someone else’s memories. Her personality is altered – once a quiet doormat, she’s now inexplicably flippant, and confident. And her unexplained longing for the new boy at school is borderline obsessive.
Morgan Kelley is new. Adopted by his aunt, a descendant of Louisa May Alcott (Little Women), he’s thrown into life at a new high school, and as a historical guide for his aunt’s store – a homage to all things Alcott. Conspiracy theories abound about his mangled lower leg – but no one has been brave enough to ask. Till Mia.
Something is awry with the Underground Railroad tunnels beneath his aunt’s home. Mia and Morgan enter the world of a secret Literary Society – and are drafted to help bring a rogue Literary giant to justice, solve the mystery of her heart donor, and the real fate of Beth from Little Women.
SERIES: Society Literati #1
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy
PUBLISHER: Twenty Seven Dresses
RELEASE DATE: December 23, 2016
PAGES: 186
“Even when it seems all is lost, we still always have a choice.”
This is such a fascinating story! It combines a lot of my favorite elements – Civil War, literature, Little Women, and magical realism. Oh… and did I mention that it’s a contemporary story? I’m still so intrigued by the possibilities that the author has imagined in Heart Murmurs.
Usually characters make or break a story for me, but in this case it’s the plot that grabbed me and held me captive. First you have the changes in Mia since her last-minute heart transplant. Then you have the mysteries surrounding Morgan, the new guy. And on top of all of that, there are literary and Civil War tie-ins! Yes please! As well as just enough fantasy to have you scouring used bookstores for first editions to look for something specific… just in case, and a sweet (and clean) romance that’s full of chemistry!
Bottom Line: Heart Murmurs is a little like the movies Return to Me and Kate and Leopold all bundled together in a creative story all its own. The author’s imagination is so compelling, and the literary and historical references will appeal to book nerds and history aficionados alike. Is it too soon to beg for a sequel? Because I can’t wait to see what happens next!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 stars / Really creative!
KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion
Only $0.99 for Kindle!
Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love–not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.
Other Books by Brynn Chapman
This sounds like a very imaginative story. I must add it to my TBR universe. Thanks for the review.
uh oh – you’ve upgraded to a universe!! 😉
As you know, Meez Carrie, I’m not usually one for contemporaries, but this sounds really interesting. I may have to give it a peek. 😀
well there are a lot of historical elements to this one!! 🙂
but i can’t really call it a true dual timeline.
That’s all right. It’s doesn’t HAVE to be historical. It just has to be something more than the usual ho-hum contemporary. 😀
this definitely qualifies!
Sounds intriguing! I wonder where I can fit that one in… ?
lol! I know the feeling!