Years of drinking, sex, and poor lifestyle habits have caught up to 50-year-old Patrick. His days on Earth are numbered. But fate always has a way of intervening. An accident involving a teenage boy, gives Patrick a second chance at life. He receives the boy's heart, linking them not just physically but emotionally. After the transplant, Patrick begins to have strange dreams. Is this normal? Is this unusual? Who or What is the cause of all of this? Patrick's body has physically accepted his new heart. But Patrick's new heart has not accepted him or his lifestyle. Patrick has to change, to do that he has to learn about his donor.
By accident, Patrick learns that the heart of 16-year-old Drew Beamish saved his life. The author took a unique approach to tell the donor's story. Jill Dawson writes about Drew's ancestors and how they shaped his life.
The book alternates viewpoints between Patrick, Drew's ancestor Willie, and Drew. It was hard for me to get into. I wasn't always sure what was going on. There are no chapters, the book is broken into eight parts. It's a minor thing to point out, but if the pacing is off that is a big deal for me. The pacing was too slow for my tastes. I happen to like when a book has chapters instead of being broken into large sections. I know when I can stop or take a break. There is the anticipation of something new when a book has chapters. With this book, I wanted to get back to the present-day stories but it was hard to know when those sections were coming.
Overall, the writing wasn't my cup of tea but I did enjoy the premise. I could totally see myself reading another Jill Dawson book!
Rating: Give it a try
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher (Harper Perennial) as part of a blog tour with TLC Book Tours.
I'm glad you'll be looking for more from this author! Thanks for being a part of the tour.
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