My heart isn’t my own.
And I don’t mean romantically.

Six months ago, I had a heart transplant. Now I’m learning to live again with someone else’s heart beating in my chest. My scars both inside and out haunt my every waking moment.

Then I meet Rhys, the tattooed Yank that finds himself transplanted to my Southern hometown. Even though he’s haunted by his own scars, he’s determined to show me how to embrace my second chance at life.

I’m not sure if I can give someone my heart when it wasn’t mine to begin with.

And neither of our hearts will survive rejection.

 

For once I’m not going to be my funny self (I think I’m funny, even if you don’t) with this review. From the beginning to the end I was captivated with the story of Becks & Rhys.

Becks has always had a heart problem but it came to the point where her heart was failing and she needed a new heart. The day that happens….

“There’s a heart?” I ask, dumbfounded. “For me?” Dr. Patel nods. “If you choose to accept it, of course. And if all goes well, it should be here within an hour.” “Oh my God,” escapes from my lips. A heart for me.

Becks has such a positive outlook on life and is a fighter and a survivor. She is strong, sassy and I really liked her. She is a painter and a talented one at that.

Rhys has moved from Boston to Birmingham to look after his half sister Charlotte. She has a non verbal form of autism. He has scars on the inside. I’m very impressed with Rhys. He was great when he was trying to do the right thing for him after his childhood and his Ma’s ‘friends’

He is becoming the man he wants to be even before he met Becks. He is a mechanic where he works for his Gramps and he ‘tinkers’ whereas he is a sculptor more than a tinker. An open secret is that his Gramps and Larry aren’t purely in a business-orientated relationship. They’re from a different time though, so they’d never admit to it, even now. I loved how Rhys gave him love advice at the end. Even he deserves a happily ever after.

Rhys doesn’t particularly like it in Birmingham that is until he meets Becks at a petrol station. Rhys has had it tough and he is angry but he has it under control. Becks tells him her secret and opens heart to him although he saw the scar before her admission.

 

I was surprised how well Becks was dealing with everything until she had a rejection episode that is some scary shite. She forgot to take her meds. But there was also a strong part of survivors guilt and realising that in order for you to live someone died. That you should live any that as if it is your last.

“Every heartbeat is borrowed time.”

After the rejection episode she tries to push Rhys away.

“I’m literally dying as we speak! Whatever it’s tomorrow, three months from now, or a year, at some point, my body is going to reject my heart. Because that’s what my body does! And then I’m fucked. I-“

“Don’t you think that,” I tell her, my breath ragged. I cup her face in my hands. “Don’t you ever Think that Becks. Because you have my heart. And I won’t allow you to reject it.”

“You deserve to have a normal life, Rhys,” she whispers.

“This is normal,” I tell her. “This is what being human is about. We lead our lives. We choose to be happy. We get sick. We have those who love us and help us get through everything.”

BEST. BOOK. BOYFRIEND! He tinkers her the best thing ever.

 

Becks receives a letter from the donor’s family.

Dear Recipient:

I want you to know how much Montana means to me and how I am comforted that she ensured a better quality of life for someone else. She was a cheerleader, a straight A student and bought a car from her after school job. It doesn’t matter if it was a car crash or something else.

But Montana was always a ray of sunshine wherever she went, so I imagine she’s burning bright within you. Full of life. Full of love. Take care of my Baby girl’s heart for me. I know she’s looking after both of us.

You have something that is vital but doesn’t really belong to you. It is gift but can also be a burden.

I loved the epilogue.

Three years later, three years strong, three years of leading a miracle.

Where Becks and Rhys meet the donor family on Thanksgiving.

She’s listening to her daughters heart. My heart. “I can….” Her voice trails off through her tears. “I can hear Montana in there.” And it’s because of Montana, died 16 that I am alive, it’s not perfect but it is my happily ever after.

I can hardly imagine how hard it was to write this book, Ms. Hayes you have my greatest respect. As the reader you think of mortality and how much we take for granted. I know that I was probably imagining it but I felt as if my heart hurt and how lucky I am.