Review: What the Heart Wants by Tiana Laveen

 Can one heart change the lives of many?

Ambitious financial planner Emily Windsor is the golden child of an elite New York family. Proud of her family roots, she disdains those who are different from her and embraces her entitled, wealthy lifestyle. Emily feels her life is perfect until her congenital heart condition is pronounced terminal and she’s given just months to live.

Cameron Davis is an outspoken, mixed-race social activist. His greatest joy is his soulmate, Brooke Coleman, an up-and-coming New York City jazz singer who's as talented as she is kind. But his life and heart are shattered when Brooke is killed. As her heart gives its last beat, it is quickly readied for transplant—her final act of selflessness.

As one life ends, another begins. After Emily receives Brooke’s heart, her worldview begins to change—almost as if Brooke has also given Emily a piece of her soul. As Emily struggles to understand her new thoughts and feelings, she turns to Cameron for guidance. Can love shine its light once more on two broken hearts?

 

My Review:

A life changing, emotional romance.

I was hooked on this book from the very start.  I thought I knew how the story would play out, but I was so wrong.  I found myself intrigued by the story and it took me through so many emotions.  This book is more than just a romance.  It also covers a lot of social issues that people are facing in our country right now.  

When I first started reading, I didn't like Emily because of her sense of entitlement and her less than desirable personality.  But after her heart transplant, she changed drastically.  She was now seeing the good in the people she previously disliked and judged.  She also started taking on some of the traits of her donor.  This all became clearer when Emily met Cameron, Emily's heart donor's boyfriend.  He answered a lot of questions Emily had been wondering about.  I enjoyed seeing Emily and Cameron's friendship grow into a romance.  I also liked how Cameron opened Emily's eyes to what his people were going through. This is my first book from this author and it definitely won't be the last.