BOOK REVIEW: This Old Heart of Mine by A.J. Compton

Title: This Old Heart of Mine

Author: A.J. Compton

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 24, 2016

BLURB

Born with a severe heart defect, she’s spent her whole life in and out of hospital desperately needing a transplant.

Just days from death, her weak prayers are finally answered, and she receives a new heart; one that not only saves her life, but changes it forever.

Now fit and healthy, Ava is able to do things she only dreamed of, like get a job and some independence, fall in love, and finally live life to the fullest.

But her journey of self-discovery takes her to places she never expected. Along the way, Ava doesn’t just find the woman she was always meant to be, but she also finds out more about the woman who no longer is. The one who gave her this new life because she lost hers.

Faced with a devastating dilemma, Ava must decide whether the heart that’s pumping inside her body now belongs to her, or is still beating for someone else.

MY REVIEW

Ten hopeful and heartbreaking stars! 

There is something about AJ Compton’s voice that makes every word linger. It’s almost as if her prose has a soul and it ignites every reader’s passion. This Old Heart of Mine carries a soulful tone made poignant by the palpable stories of every character. A definite must-read! 

“I’ll believe in your goodness, and you believe in my strength.”

Ava was finally given a second chance to experience the real feeling of being alive. Her bucket list was full of adventures that would test how much this new heart of hers could handle. But she really did not know that among all those adventures, falling in love would be the hardest. The only thing that was obviously weak in Ava was her heart. Her personality was a bright light of courage and hope. Experiencing with her in this book was both exhilarating and fulfilling. 

Gabriel is the storm, but he’s also shielding me from it. In his arms, with his kiss, I am both shipwrecked and saved.

For some years now, Gabriel felt like he’s been living like a zombie; heartless, lifeless, pointless. Nothing shuts and shakes a poet deeper than loss. But when a new ray of light touched his dying soul, he knew he had to let go of the past and start a new path. I loved how Gabriel’s character unfolded. It was slow and supple, a bit predictable but the author still managed to maintain the depth of the unfolding. This was man was so poignant, he could be a walking poem. 

“I loved you,And lost you. Not all at once, But in stages.

“I lost you like I loved you, love; Deeply, endlessly, irrevocably, And in stages.”

I am absolutely addicted to AJ Compton’s prose. Her words flow so smoothly, almost like a light touch to the soul. From the very beginning of the book, she established an addictive rhythm of feelings and emotions that had me hooked until the end. The spark of the lead characters’ romance were not rushed but relished. The plot has been written before but never quite this poignant, as far as I’ve read. I am debating on whether calling it a light book because of how uplifting this was, or call it an ugly cry one because of the depth of the characters. Either way, This Old Heart of Mine really gripped me and I’m putting it on top recommended books this year!