Can they keep their friendship pure when their hearts long for more? McKenna Nichols, a young wife abandoned by her husband in favor of his work, is left alone to raise their autistic child. She promised to love him until death parted them. But when circumstances drive a wedge into their marriage and Dane chooses to escape what life has dealt them, how long can she be strong? Can she remain … remain faithful to her marriage vows when tempted by the friendship of an unlikely stranger?
Rudy Taylor, who senses McKenna’s loneliness and understands the difficulty of raising her daughter, struggles to keep his concern for the young woman biblical. Will McKenna’s faith in God and Rudy’s commitment to his Lord be enough to keep their relationship simple until McKenna’s husband one day returns?
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This is a fantastic debut novel from an author to watch. There was so much to love about this story: a struggling single mom, a kind and thoughtful hero, and a beautiful setting (both the Oregon coast and Alaska’s fishing communities). What captured me most was author Patricia Lee’s beautiful descriptions of McKenna’s autistic daughter, Sydney. This novel is thought-provoking and touching. Not to be missed.
Excellent book. I enjoyed every page. Thanks for writing this book
An Anchor On Her Heart by Patricia Lee is a most delightful contemporary Christian novel about love, friendship and our faithful God. It is the first book in the Mended Hearts series and I cannot wait to read the subsequent books.
The novel concerns the sea and a community. The sea is wild and untamed. There will be times when a rescue is needed. This reminds the reader that God rescues us from our situations. We just need to cry out to Him.
Sometimes God is quiet. “She implored heaven to hear her cry… God remained silent.” We must never equate silence with absence. God hears our cries and He always moves on our behalf but not always in the ways we expect.
As parents we long to keep our children safe. As they grow older it is not always possible but we can entrust them into God’s hands and cover them with prayer. “From your lips to God’s ears.”
At the heart of the novel is a beautiful six year old girl with autism. She captures the reader’s heart with her mannerisms. Those who understand her needs offer her love, patience and kindness, and are repaid in kind.
God is the God of restoration. He will restore the lost and the broken in ways we cannot begin to imagine.
There is a wonderful community atmosphere that delights the reader as the welcome extends beyond the pages.
This is my first book by Patricia Lee. I shall certainly be hunting out more, more, more.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
An Anchor on Her Heart by Patricia Lee
My rating is 4.5 Stars
Rudy is the ultimate hero. Not because he had served in the military or performed any dramatic rescue but because of his heart to protect. His failure to protect his sister and the failure in An Anchor on Her Heart caused him to hide in his guilt. He felt that he should have done more, not remembering that God’s ways are not our ways, and He doesn’t hold us accountable for not doing what He never intended us to do. (I also love the subtle pun of his name.)
I really enjoyed this book. The conflict that Rudy had over his attraction to McKenna while he knew that she was married was handled so well. Those who know me know that I hate stories that make me hope that married people get divorced or that one of them dies. Yes, I know that there are circumstances that make divorce acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. That isn’t what bothers me. It is the mindset of looking to divorce as a solution and being comfortable with it I object to. I want to keep my heart in the right place regarding the sanctity of marriage. Author Patricia Lee handled the situation in the book so well that she had me cheering for Dane and wondering how she was going to resolve the situation.
My heart broke for McKenna and the way that her heart broke. Though she had friends, she was so alone in so many ways. Her love for her autistic daughter despite the painful struggles they faced was so touching and sensitively written.
In addition to the wonderful spiritual journey the characters went through, this story had such fantastic descriptions of the activities of the fishing boat on the Bering Sea that I could picture them happening. I know so much more now and have a new appreciation for the men and women who perform such dangerous jobs to provide us with fish to eat.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.
Get a preview of An Anchor on Her Heart at AmongTheReads.net
I would like to thank Mountain Brook Ink for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
AN ANCHOR ON HER HEART by Patricia Lee is the first book in the Mended Hearts series. It’s the heart-warming story of McKenna Nichols that will keep you turning pages as her life, shared with her daughter – “a souvenir from a different life” – unfolds.
Technically married – helped financially but abandoned for over two years in any other way, McKenna has learned to adjust and to depend on her own resources. Not being able to come to terms of having an autistic child, Dane’s trips home from his job in Alaska become fewer and farther apart until he just didn’t come home. McKenna loves her daughter and wants the very best for her, but doing it alone has taken its toll on McKenna to where she really has nothing in her life outside of Sydney and her work – her photography and managing her parent’s business while they are out of the country.
That is until she met Ruby Taylor. Their meeting wasn’t typical. She was on an outing with Sydney taking photos while she played in the sand. When it came to everyone’s attention that a swimmer was in distress from the under tow, although fearful of what she might see, she has a feeling as if she needed to continue to photographic it. It makes her feel a special connection to the swimmer once he successfully makes it back to shore. When he’s thoughtful and kind to her daughter, more understanding than anyone else has been, it seemed destined that a new special friendship was about to bloom. Taking her wedding vows to heart even with distance and being deserted, McKenna knows that friendship is all it could ever be.
Ruby sees some of his sister, who he dearly loved, in Sydney and the attraction to McKenna grows. However, he knows she’s still married and that’s a line he will not cross. He loves the times they spend together and would do anything for the two of them. When a job opportunity comes up in Alaska that he feels the need to take, can he be the kind of friend he wants to be? In the vast fishing industry of Alaska, can he find this one particular man? Can he find Dane and tell him what he’s missing out on – talk some sense into the man? In the process, can he keep himself safe making it back home to his Mother who he knows couldn’t take losing him too?
While he’s away, can McKenna and Livy, Ruby’s Mom, help Sydney to achieve all she possible can? Can they work with her to further her education and to open her up to new things even if they have to use unconventional ways?
AN ANCHOR ON HER HEART is a story of determination, resilience, love, closure, opening up your heart when it’s been shut down for so long, celebrating small achievements, doing what’s right because it’s the right thing to do, true friendship, sacrifices and second chances. Patricia Lee tells an emotional story weaving all these along with a wonderful thread of faith that it can’t help but touch many of your emotions within the covers of this fabulous book, which you won’t be able to put down once you start reading. A wonderful Christian book that I would highly recommend to everyone – and I have! FIVE STAR
An Anchor on Her Heart by Patricia Lee is the first in the series, Mended Hearts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this debut novel. Capturing my attention quickly, An Anchor for Her Heart was written around several topics including autism, spousal abandonment, and reconciliation.
Set on the beautiful Oregon Coast, An Anchor on Her Heart introduces the reader to McKenna Nichols is a young mother of a beautiful little girl is who autistic. Upon learning of the child’s diagnosis, her father began to accept employment in fishing boats in Alaska. The jobs took him away from the family for longer and longer periods of time; the last time McKenna heard from him was over two years ago, although he continued to support her and their daughter financially.
When Rudy Taylor befriends the young mother and her daughter, he finds himself attracted to McKenna but when he finds out she is married, he chooses to keep the relationship at a friendship level, despite his growing feelings of affection.
I found this story to be a breath of fresh air. At this point, in many books one might find on the shelves, the couple may find themselves rationalizing reasons to begin an affair; McKenna remains faithful to her marriage vowels and Rudy respects those boundaries. Additionally, the author surely has personal experience with children with autism, the public education system, and the challenges faced by parents of children with autism.
Thoughtfully written, this novel explores marital fidelity, grace and one of the biggest challenges facing many today, autism.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Just Read Tours and am not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.
This story pulled me in like a riptide and tossed me like waves on the ocean. The emotions are raw, the issues very real, and Ms. Lee does not make light of them, or downplay the reality of a child with special needs.
That Dane chose to leave rather than stay when his daughter was born gutted me. McKenna’s devotion to him was admirable—but maddening. That she honored her marriage vows was beyond honorable.
The setting—the Pacific Northwest and Alaska—were as much a part of this story as the characters. I was fascinated with the aspects of the fishing industry, and have a new appreciation for the men who make their living.
The attraction between McKenna and Rudy was as tumultuous as a storm on the Bering Sea—and as treacherous. As a reader, I wanted to see them get together. As a Christian I applauded them both for honoring God’s Word. The tension was taut and sometimes unbearable.
I did not raise a child with special needs, but I was a single mom and I could identify with McKenna too well in some of her deepest struggles. I appreciated Ms. Lee for portraying McKenna in such a realistic light.
I cheered, I scolded, I cried. And I surely adored Sydney
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
ALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, An Anchor on Her Heart, Patricia Lee , Mended Hearts Series
My Thoughts on An Anchor on Her Heart:
This book is so good. It tugs at your heartstrings. As a nurse and mental health specializing one, this book really drew me in. I wanted to clap several times while reading at how wonderful Rudy was. And his mom. Oh wow, I love Rudy’s mom Olivia. She’s just so sweet. How fun to have a great bonus grandma like that!
The author has a great writing style. I was drawn in and before I knew it I’d read half the book. It was only my kids waking up and wanting breakfast that made me realize I had meant to do something besides reading that morning. You’re going to love it!
Characters. Oh my. These characters. They’re to die for. Literally. I would. They have become my best friends. And I have to agree with the Woodstock survivor (giggle) that McKenna’s husband should be painted yellow. I just cannot imagine abandoning my child because they weren’t “perfect”. No one is perfect.
As most know I’m a mom of many. I love kids. Definitely would adopt all the children that need homes if I could. So you could say that children hold a special place in my heart. Special needs children do too. We have adopted a few with what I classify as minor special needs. They’re not members of the hospice and most people wouldn’t know that had any “issues” if I didn’t tell them.
So while autism isn’t something I personally deal with on a daily basis I love how the author decided to portray such a central character as having autism. I loved how well the author did with making it believable and bringing autism to the masses. So many times it’s just a glancing nod towards autism or it’s a nice little character that is very high functioning autistic.
I would say that everyone needs to read this book. It’s a great romance of very realistic proportions. And you might learn a thing or two about autism while you’re at it.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
4.5 Stars
When I read the synopsis of this book, I wondered how the author was going to pull it off. A married woman who hasn’t seen her husband in months and a hero who isn’t that husband?
Y’all, Patricia Lee managed to not only surprise me but did so without making any one of the people involved the bad guy (or gal). Perhaps that’s because, at its heart, this book is about the love between friends and the sacrifices made for those you care about.
I felt McKenna’s loneliness and frustration as a single parent raising a child with autism. Lee puts the readers in the situation as they experience the challenges and need for answers right alongside McKenna.
Rudy and his mother’s experiences with autism make them such great resources and support for McKenna and Sydney. And just like Rudy, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this sweet little girl.
An Anchor On Her Heart yanked on my heartstrings while leaving me content with the way everything worked out.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.