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Review: A Heart's Desire - Crossing Midian #1

A Heart's Desire book cover on blue background

I find coming-of-age stories so meaningful because they depict how the trajectory of an entire life can be transformed during such a pivotal stage. A Heart's Desire by Cynthia Frederick falls into this category and delivers not only one story, but three stories all wrapped around a series of events.

I am grateful to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

Wesley had always struggled with breaking away from his family's expectations, but now he’s made a big decision that will change everything. He’s finally taking his story into his own hands when a childhood best friend re-enters his life and makes following through on his new commitments more difficult than he had thought.

Anna has her own family struggles that have made her wary of any new relationships. Past hurts have seen to it that trust isn’t something that comes easy. But can she trust herself to take the leap when she has a chance to change things for the better? Or will she simply continue to hide behind her carefully built walls?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This was an incredibly touching coming-of-age story about three friends who have known each other since childhood. I loved that the author took the time to delve into each person's story and the challenges they are facing as a result of growing up and having to navigate life. I truly felt like I got to know Wesley, Emmett, and Anna and understand their unique upbringings and deep friendship. These young adults are also surrounded by some incredible characters who act as a found family, further immersing me into a loving and tight-knit community on the pages. A Heart's Desire not only introduced me to people who love well, but most importantly, pointed to God as the source of love.

This was quite an emotional book that gripped me as it explored the themes of parental abuse, parental abandonment, and parental pressure all in a way that made me want to fold my arms around Wesley, Emmett, and Anna. Though the main characters are young adults, there are still plenty of lessons to learn as older adults as well. Those wanting to read a book about God's faithfulness with characters who are easy to love will enjoy this title, especially as it tackles significant life changes and the call to place our hope in Christ.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

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