My Heart Remembers

Such a tender, heartwarming story. I read this book in two days. I did not want to put it down. My mother-in-law gave this to me two weeks ago for my Birthday. She has been very inspired recently by books from her favorite Christian book store and wanted to share her love of this author with me. I truly loved how the characters were developed and woven together in simple love and commitment. The best part was that the "religious" or "spiritual" component was sincere, subtle when called for and very appropriately intertwined in the storytelling. I have always gone to church and have lived with a relationship with Jesus, with God, but I have to share I don't like "it" crammed down my throat...you know what I mean? (Big generalization, but show more most can relate) This story was genuine and the praying and witnessing pieces were so well received and yes tears were shed. I love a good book that makes me cry happy, fulfilling tears. I will seek more of her books FOR SURE. Sincerely, Jen show less

I wasn't going to finish it at first, but once I got into it, I really liked it. Her characters are real and not too goody-goody, just because they are Christian.

The story of three immigrant siblings who are orphaned after a fire in their New York City tenement building. How different their lives are after staying in an orphanage and then sent on the "orphan train" to Missouri. They each grew up in very different worlds, but will a common passion to provide a better life for orphans bring them back together again? This is an excellently written book that makes you laugh and cry and shows God's hand in our lives to bring about His ultimate goal for each of us.

I did not know ahead of time that this was a religious book, I stuck with it, and was overall disappointed, the ending was all wrapped up with a neat little bow no loose ends. It was too neat and cheerful for me. And that just never seems realistic to me. I did enjoy the beginning of the storyline, and I liked the main characters.

Nice story but too trite to be true. Girl traveling around the US taking photo's and finding her family after years of searching, and they all were happy to be found. Not very realistic.

The author
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren. Visit her web site at www.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information.

The synopsis
Orphaned in a tenement fire, three Irish-immigrant children are sent to Missouri to be adopted. Despite eight-year-old Maelle's desperate attempts to keep show more her siblings together, each child is taken by a different family. Yet Maelle vows that she will never stop searching for her brother and sister... and that they will be together one day in the future. Seventeen years later, Maelle is still searching. But the years have washed away her hope... and her memories.

The review
I have been reading various books tagged with Christian Fiction this year. The first time I picked up a book with that tag I was very interested in the story but scared of the level of Christianity the book would have as I am not a religious person and can get annoyed when I get the feeling there is a message that being Christian is the only right way. True by picking up books with a Christian fiction tag you know you are taking a risk but you might scare yourself out of a good story too by avoiding it and honestly I have been reading a few of them now and none where annoying until now.
My Heart Remembers is everything I was afraid to find by dabbling the Christian Fiction tag. The way Mrs. Smallwood told Mattie at least twice how happy she was he picked up a bible. One time was enough and the second time it happened it did not even make sense. There are more examples where religion is written in the story without it making sense. If the author would have chosen to leave it to the more subtle messages the book would have been more enjoyable for me.
Characters are various. While I felt really for Molly and Mattie I had a harder time placing Maelle specially in the whole setting of time and religion. I cannot imagine a woman behaving like that.
The story is written pretty solid though flaws can be found. The two star rating is really based on my annoyance so please do not take this review as your only source there are plenty of people who really liked this. I might just have to duck and hide from the Christian tag for a while again. show less

One of the best books I've ever read. Three children separated after becoming orphans when their parents died. The facts were based on true events so the book really drew me in.