Linda D. (stormyinAlabama) -
Helpful Score: 2
From cover:
In 1886 New York City, the tenement fire killed Ma and Da Gallagher, leaving their three offspring orphaned. The oldest eight year old Maelle has no time for grief as she watches adults split the trio into different families. She gives the new parents of baby Molly the family bible and she gives her brother Mattie the family photo. She vows to them to one day find them even as everyone calls her Mike as her short haircut leaves her looking like a boy. In 1902 Louisiana, traveling photographer Mike Watts continues her search for Mattie and Molly. Mattie has spent a lifetime being discarded by one family after another as he currently lives in Texas. Teenaged Molly was too young to remember the fire, her siblings, her biological parents, or even her birth name as the only family Isabelle as she is called ever had was the Standlers of Kansas City and they just died but her older Standler brother scornfully informs her who she truly is. --- Although the plot device of having siblings separated via the orphan trains with one eventually seeking the others has been used a lot, Kim Vogel Sawyer refreshes it in MY HEART REMEMBERS by rotating the story line between the three lead characters. Thus the audience obtains a deep look at what happened to the trio a decade and a half after the fire radically changed each of their lives. Historical fiction fans will appreciate the saga of the three Gallaghers
In 1886 New York City, the tenement fire killed Ma and Da Gallagher, leaving their three offspring orphaned. The oldest eight year old Maelle has no time for grief as she watches adults split the trio into different families. She gives the new parents of baby Molly the family bible and she gives her brother Mattie the family photo. She vows to them to one day find them even as everyone calls her Mike as her short haircut leaves her looking like a boy. In 1902 Louisiana, traveling photographer Mike Watts continues her search for Mattie and Molly. Mattie has spent a lifetime being discarded by one family after another as he currently lives in Texas. Teenaged Molly was too young to remember the fire, her siblings, her biological parents, or even her birth name as the only family Isabelle as she is called ever had was the Standlers of Kansas City and they just died but her older Standler brother scornfully informs her who she truly is. --- Although the plot device of having siblings separated via the orphan trains with one eventually seeking the others has been used a lot, Kim Vogel Sawyer refreshes it in MY HEART REMEMBERS by rotating the story line between the three lead characters. Thus the audience obtains a deep look at what happened to the trio a decade and a half after the fire radically changed each of their lives. Historical fiction fans will appreciate the saga of the three Gallaghers
I was so glad to find that there was more to the story. I don't read much, but by accident, I got the sequal, but stopped and got this book first and then continued. It was easy to read and kept my interest, which is hard to do, as I'm not an avid reader. Even more, I was surprised about the talk of God and what he does. I was very pleasantly surprized. Wonderful and uplifting.....
Helpful Score: 1
Great read by author! Some parts were a little slow, but by the middle of the book I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see how they found each other, and by the end of the book I was in tears wishing there was more to read.
Debbie E. (Debbieeohio) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 151 more book reviews
Could not put this book down. Unbelieveable writing. she keeps you guess.so Heartfuland the books almost brings you right intothe story. can't wait to read another of her books . once I started it only put it down when I couldn't keepmy eyes open any longer. LOL!!! finished it the next day.
Beverly J. (bevrich) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 78 more book reviews
Excellent. Three orphans, brother and sisters seperated. How they found each other again.
Mary Q. (gnomelover) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
Well written and worth the time to read. Educational and informational
Jennifer G. (mimommyj) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Couldn't put this book down and by the end I was wishing there was more to read!
Robine S. (robine4206) -
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read and kept my attention from the moment I opened the cover. I enjoyed the Biblical references and found them to be relevant to current life situations. The book wasn't written as a sermon but yet it had some wonderful points to make about life and handing difficult situations with grace and dignity. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The only thing that bothered me was the use of modern day term by the characters to describe their situations. I don't think, and I might be wrong, that they had the term "stressed" in the early 1900's. It's a nice pleasant read.
Avanell C. (mizznell) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 10 more book reviews
Very good read. Kim is an excellect author. It will keep you turning the pages.
A wonderful book. Kim Vogel Sawyer did a great job of drawing the reader in and keeping my attention throughout the book. A delightful story. Couldn't put it down.
Jessica B. (thesharpflat) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
This was a very touching story. Each of the siblings' lives are eye-opening to the conditions of many orphans from the time period of the "orphan trains" of 1854-1929. I enjoyed following each child's journey of faith and the search back to each other.
Gerry H. (FrontRoyalGerry) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 209 more book reviews
Another wonderful story by Kim Sawyer - I highly recommend this book!
Glenda L. (GammaGee) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 49 more book reviews
This is an awesome story that will bring tears to your eyes of sadness and then tears of happiness. I shows you just how good the Lord is when you trust always in Him first. I loved this story very much.
Really enjoyed this book. Especially their reference to God and how He led them along the way.
Dont' want to spoil it for others, but loved the ending!
Dont' want to spoil it for others, but loved the ending!
It was sad but had a good ending. I really liked this book!
Jennifer M. (mccullar) reviewed My Heart Remembers (My Heart Remembers, Bk 1) on + 55 more book reviews
You didn't really know how they were going to find each other, just that you knew that they were. And with what. This book was a little hard to fallow in the beginning, but I didn't want to put it down.
