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Family of the Heart #2
Heaven Help Heidi
From bestselling Christian fiction author Sally John comes the second book in a series featuring new beginnings and unexpected romance.
Welcome to the Casa de Vida--eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway's life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she's at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues--photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique--and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other's mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
Welcome to the Casa de Vida--eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway's life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she's at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues--photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique--and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other's mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
589 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2015
29 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Sally John
34 books97 followersSally John is the best-selling author of twenty novels, including the Side Roads series, the Safe Harbor series (coauthored with Gary Smalley), The Other Way Home series, The Beach House series, and In a Heartbeat series. A three-time finalist for the Christy Award, Sally writes contemporary stories that offer hope to readers in their own relational and faith journeys. She enjoys teaching writing workshops and spending time with her husband, adult children, and grandchildren. An Illinois native, Sally and her husband, Tim, live in southern California. Visit her Web site at www.sally-john.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 23, 2016
Heaven Help Heidi is the sequel to Between Us Girls. It is about a quaint little complex, Casa de Vida, surrounded by a twelve foot wall. Inside the walls are eleven cottages, lovely flowers, soft lighting and a merry fountain. Actually it is more like a group of tenants who are all of a family by choice, not blood. It is a place where people are drawn to in order to heal or seek a relationship with others. The owner of the complex, Liv, is a motherly caring person who walks around at night, stops at each cottage and prays for the occupants. Heidi Hathaway is a person who is at the top of her game selling real estate and has everything that she could want until she loses control of her car and is critically injured. She can't live in her condo because of the stairs and at just the right time, she runs in Piper, a tenant from Casa de Vida that has helped her with her wardrobe at a local department store in the past. Piper invites Heidi to go to talk to Liv about the possibility of living at the complex until she gets back on her feet. We see the tenants from Between Us Girls again and it is truly like a big home with friends that care about each other. Heidi really didn't want to live there at first but really doesn't have a choice and is slowly drawn into the group of friends. Casa de Vida sounds like a really great place to live and fellowship with others, one that I would love to visit. I am hoping that Heidi's partner, Val, will have her own story next. Great read!
March 29, 2015
Heaven Help Heidi is the second novel in Sally John’s Family of the Heart Series, although you don’t need to have read Between Us Girls first (although—as with most series—it is best to read them in order to avoid spoiling the storylines relating to the recurring characters). The series is set in San Diego, in the Casa de Vida Cottages in the fictional Seaside Village. As with Between Us Girls, the story starts with a young woman who needs a new start moving into Casa de Vida, befriending one of the existing residents, and finding the answers to questions she didn’t know she had.
Heidi Hathaway is a successful real estate salesperson, but horrific injuries sustained in a car accident mean she can’t drive and she can’t navigate the stairs in her beautiful three-story condo. Piper, a business acquaintance, invites her to move into a vacant cottage at the one-level Casa de Vida. Heidi accepts, mostly because she has no other options. Her ongoing health issues mean she can’t work to the capacity she used to, which means Val, her friend and boss, is having to take on more and more—but Val has problems too. Piper has her own issues. Her fiance died four years ago, and although she still misses him, she’s finally learned to cope without him.
What I thought lifted Heaven Help Heidi above Between Us Girls was the hidden linkages between the characters. Heidi moving into Casa de Vida is the catalyst that forces some of the minor characters to reconsider their perceptions of the past, and to look for reconciliation, and I enjoyed this aspect. The novel has underlying Christian themes, but while several of the characters (especially Liv) are Christians, it’s not in-your-face preachy Christian fiction (in fact, the Christian aspects felt a bit understated at times).
There is also a touch of romance in the novels (well, perhaps more than a touch). Part of me would like to see more on-page development of the relationship, but I think I see the point Sally John is making by keeping the romance low-key. We can’t rely on a man to come in and “fix” our lives. We have to sort through things with God first, and then we can come to a place where we are ready to share our lives with someone else. It’s not that we’re “fixed” (are we ever?), but that we know who we are in ourselves and in God. That knowledge and security allows us to open ourselves to new personal and professional possibilities. Thought-provoking.
I really enjoyed Heaven Help Heidi, and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Harvest House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Heidi Hathaway is a successful real estate salesperson, but horrific injuries sustained in a car accident mean she can’t drive and she can’t navigate the stairs in her beautiful three-story condo. Piper, a business acquaintance, invites her to move into a vacant cottage at the one-level Casa de Vida. Heidi accepts, mostly because she has no other options. Her ongoing health issues mean she can’t work to the capacity she used to, which means Val, her friend and boss, is having to take on more and more—but Val has problems too. Piper has her own issues. Her fiance died four years ago, and although she still misses him, she’s finally learned to cope without him.
What I thought lifted Heaven Help Heidi above Between Us Girls was the hidden linkages between the characters. Heidi moving into Casa de Vida is the catalyst that forces some of the minor characters to reconsider their perceptions of the past, and to look for reconciliation, and I enjoyed this aspect. The novel has underlying Christian themes, but while several of the characters (especially Liv) are Christians, it’s not in-your-face preachy Christian fiction (in fact, the Christian aspects felt a bit understated at times).
There is also a touch of romance in the novels (well, perhaps more than a touch). Part of me would like to see more on-page development of the relationship, but I think I see the point Sally John is making by keeping the romance low-key. We can’t rely on a man to come in and “fix” our lives. We have to sort through things with God first, and then we can come to a place where we are ready to share our lives with someone else. It’s not that we’re “fixed” (are we ever?), but that we know who we are in ourselves and in God. That knowledge and security allows us to open ourselves to new personal and professional possibilities. Thought-provoking.
I really enjoyed Heaven Help Heidi, and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Harvest House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
January 27, 2015
MY REVIEW...
I have often wondered what possesses an author to have multiple major story lines in one novel. Subplots are great! But a novel needs just one major story line. This one has two major story lines that interlace Two love stories, well three if you count the past love story of Liv McAlister and her quasi-love story with a dear friend. ACK!
Liv has a secret that is only alluded to when she meets Heidi. There is no reason to keep this a secret from the reader. We're in her head for crying out loud. She goes to a friend to discuss the problem, but we don't find out what the problem is. That is the worst kind of ploy authors and editors indulge in these days. Frustration bubbles up, not anticipation. There is no suspense, and when frustration increases to a certain degree, the reader is more likely to toss the book to the floor rather than keep reading to the end. That's what I did, so I have no idea how the thing ends. What's more, don't tell me because I really don't care.
Too many characters that feel two-dimensional rather than well developed into warm, real, messy people. Three-quarters of the way through, I gave up. I found out I really didn't care about any of the characters. I tried to, but by that time the Heidi story was so watered-down by the distractions of the other characters I just gave up.
Give me a story where two or even three characters are developed and finely woven into a smooth flowing story and I'll read every word to the very last page. I'll even read all the acknowledgements and the "About the Author" page. This is not that kind of story. This story is choppy. It feels disconnected, and there is far too much head jumping.
You have a sloppy driver get into a sloppy one-car accident (Heidi) and you have a deeply grieving woman (Piper) who was engaged, not married to a military man.
Piper didn't have years of memories of loving and living with her man. She was engaged, but she is portrayed as a "dead" woman as her story opens, and we are told she acts for years like she's devastated. Then suddenly, she blossoms into all tingling delight at the mere sight of a man. No depth, no build-up, no anticipation with that. Just goo-goo eyes and heart flip-flops. Perhaps that happens to teenagers: The flipping of emotions, the sudden attitude changes, the languishing and mercurial moods swings, but not to an almost 30 year old. Okay, there are moments when she realizes she hasn't thought of her dead fiance. She thinks she just might be able to go on with her life. Suddenly we find out she isn't happy in her job and she doesn't get along with her boss. Again, no build-up, nothing to indicate this contrived plot twist. This is both an editor and an author problem.
As for Heidi, she is a much more developed character. It is almost like this book was written about Heidi, and then some other characters were thrown in to pad the novel. This story would have been tremendous if all the focus was on Heidi. She makes the other characters seem like mere distractions, buzzing flies. The book is worth it just for Heidi. Her life is a mess. She has problems with what is actually important in life. It is fun watching her grow into a God-loving woman. I'm glad they changed the name from Take My Hand, to Heaven Help Heidi. The title fits perfectly.
Because of Heidi, I give it 2 stars of 5.
ABOUT THE BOOK...
Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
I have often wondered what possesses an author to have multiple major story lines in one novel. Subplots are great! But a novel needs just one major story line. This one has two major story lines that interlace Two love stories, well three if you count the past love story of Liv McAlister and her quasi-love story with a dear friend. ACK!
Liv has a secret that is only alluded to when she meets Heidi. There is no reason to keep this a secret from the reader. We're in her head for crying out loud. She goes to a friend to discuss the problem, but we don't find out what the problem is. That is the worst kind of ploy authors and editors indulge in these days. Frustration bubbles up, not anticipation. There is no suspense, and when frustration increases to a certain degree, the reader is more likely to toss the book to the floor rather than keep reading to the end. That's what I did, so I have no idea how the thing ends. What's more, don't tell me because I really don't care.
Too many characters that feel two-dimensional rather than well developed into warm, real, messy people. Three-quarters of the way through, I gave up. I found out I really didn't care about any of the characters. I tried to, but by that time the Heidi story was so watered-down by the distractions of the other characters I just gave up.
Give me a story where two or even three characters are developed and finely woven into a smooth flowing story and I'll read every word to the very last page. I'll even read all the acknowledgements and the "About the Author" page. This is not that kind of story. This story is choppy. It feels disconnected, and there is far too much head jumping.
You have a sloppy driver get into a sloppy one-car accident (Heidi) and you have a deeply grieving woman (Piper) who was engaged, not married to a military man.
Piper didn't have years of memories of loving and living with her man. She was engaged, but she is portrayed as a "dead" woman as her story opens, and we are told she acts for years like she's devastated. Then suddenly, she blossoms into all tingling delight at the mere sight of a man. No depth, no build-up, no anticipation with that. Just goo-goo eyes and heart flip-flops. Perhaps that happens to teenagers: The flipping of emotions, the sudden attitude changes, the languishing and mercurial moods swings, but not to an almost 30 year old. Okay, there are moments when she realizes she hasn't thought of her dead fiance. She thinks she just might be able to go on with her life. Suddenly we find out she isn't happy in her job and she doesn't get along with her boss. Again, no build-up, nothing to indicate this contrived plot twist. This is both an editor and an author problem.
As for Heidi, she is a much more developed character. It is almost like this book was written about Heidi, and then some other characters were thrown in to pad the novel. This story would have been tremendous if all the focus was on Heidi. She makes the other characters seem like mere distractions, buzzing flies. The book is worth it just for Heidi. Her life is a mess. She has problems with what is actually important in life. It is fun watching her grow into a God-loving woman. I'm glad they changed the name from Take My Hand, to Heaven Help Heidi. The title fits perfectly.
Because of Heidi, I give it 2 stars of 5.
ABOUT THE BOOK...
Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
March 24, 2015
Anyone who has read a Sally John book, knows they can expect a wonderful story. Heaven Help Heidi is the sequel to Between Us Girls and takes readers back to the Casa de Vida housing complex where strangers become family. By the time I finished the book, I was ready to pack up, move to California and search for this amazing place of peace, joy and belonging. Owned by Liv McAlister, the Casa de Vida is a group of 11 bungalows situated around a central courtyard, surrounded by a wall that keeps prying eyes out and peace in. The residents are varied from the ancient Coco, a former film star entering the first stages of dementia, to young Tasha and her mother, Riley, coping with the abandonment of Tasha's father when he realized his baby daughter was born with Down Syndrome. Liv never advertises vacancies in her bungalows, trusting that God will bring just the right person each time one becomes available.
Heidi Hathaway is a high-powered real estate agent who doesn't have time for anything as mundane as being stuck in traffic. When her attempt to speed through stalled traffic lands her in a crushed car with very serious injuries, Heidi must take a faltering step back from the life she had to create the life she now has. Slowing down is NOT in her vocabulary but even three months out, she still can't keep up or even move home to her three-level condo. Enter, Piper, a resident of Casa de Vida who sees the healing Heidi needs and knows the Casa had provided that in her life.
I love the way Sally John weaves several storylines together to make one amazing whole. While this is a stand-alone book I would definitely read Between Us Girls first to get to know the Casa peeps. You won't be sorry you spent time at the Casa de Vida in Seaside Village, California!
Heidi Hathaway is a high-powered real estate agent who doesn't have time for anything as mundane as being stuck in traffic. When her attempt to speed through stalled traffic lands her in a crushed car with very serious injuries, Heidi must take a faltering step back from the life she had to create the life she now has. Slowing down is NOT in her vocabulary but even three months out, she still can't keep up or even move home to her three-level condo. Enter, Piper, a resident of Casa de Vida who sees the healing Heidi needs and knows the Casa had provided that in her life.
I love the way Sally John weaves several storylines together to make one amazing whole. While this is a stand-alone book I would definitely read Between Us Girls first to get to know the Casa peeps. You won't be sorry you spent time at the Casa de Vida in Seaside Village, California!
January 31, 2017
Sweet novel about the power of a close-knit community and the healing found in the love shared.
Casa de Vida is not a group of bungalows owned by Liv McAlister, where the group of people lives - it is a place of healing and transforming, where people find it easy to open up their hearts and experience the peace of heart. This is exactly what Heidi Hathaway needs - a successful businesswoman changed by a traffic accident into a suffering young woman with a chink in her armor. And the chink is what could make her more vulnerable, to show her beating heart to the world.
Piper Keyes lives in the Casa de Vida and her armor is nonexistent, as she is as sweet as can by, but her pain is still with her. Her beloved fiancé is dead and 4 years hasn't help to cope.
And even Liv has a pain inside - the children from her husband's first marriage see her as an enemy and even after his death they have not been able to forgive her.
But there is hope in trusting and waiting and letting God transform you.
A sweet novel! I love how the pain presented here is real, as all of the issues. There is no sugar-coating in recognizing the problems. The community is great and I strongly believe in the healing within the group of the people who love each other.
But the Casa de vida community's idea is both plus and minus for me - I mean I believe in the healing within the loving community, but not so much in the existence of such community per se - there must be some glue in holding the people together. Yes, I mean God. As much I don't like "preaching", I would support speaking about God in the Casa de Vida's people more here.
But I love Liv's genuine faith here, and her everyday walking and praying for her tenants. Truly, truly sweet.
Casa de Vida is not a group of bungalows owned by Liv McAlister, where the group of people lives - it is a place of healing and transforming, where people find it easy to open up their hearts and experience the peace of heart. This is exactly what Heidi Hathaway needs - a successful businesswoman changed by a traffic accident into a suffering young woman with a chink in her armor. And the chink is what could make her more vulnerable, to show her beating heart to the world.
Piper Keyes lives in the Casa de Vida and her armor is nonexistent, as she is as sweet as can by, but her pain is still with her. Her beloved fiancé is dead and 4 years hasn't help to cope.
And even Liv has a pain inside - the children from her husband's first marriage see her as an enemy and even after his death they have not been able to forgive her.
But there is hope in trusting and waiting and letting God transform you.
A sweet novel! I love how the pain presented here is real, as all of the issues. There is no sugar-coating in recognizing the problems. The community is great and I strongly believe in the healing within the group of the people who love each other.
But the Casa de vida community's idea is both plus and minus for me - I mean I believe in the healing within the loving community, but not so much in the existence of such community per se - there must be some glue in holding the people together. Yes, I mean God. As much I don't like "preaching", I would support speaking about God in the Casa de Vida's people more here.
But I love Liv's genuine faith here, and her everyday walking and praying for her tenants. Truly, truly sweet.
February 3, 2015
I have never read anything by Sally John I have heard good things about her books so I was very excited to read this book. The book is about a Heidi and her struggle through lifes challenges. I will say this much the story its self was well written and over all the story was good. I felt like the book had WAY WAY WAY to much going on. Even though it seemed that all the characters where tied together in one way or another and the transition of the was well written, to me it felt like there was way to many characters I honestly felt like I was reading a few peoples stories. I felt like if the book would have stuck with maybe two or three people as the main character and there story is would have been a lot better. I can't give this anything less the a 3 star rating because like I said over all the story was good. I was just really glad when it was over.
I was given a copy of this book from netgalley fro my honest review.
I was given a copy of this book from netgalley fro my honest review.
October 22, 2017
God and Family
God always is with us . He knows whether we need to humble ourselves and weather the storm or to be removed or delivered from it. God heals our hearts and friendships even in the worst scenarios. Always trust God.
God always is with us . He knows whether we need to humble ourselves and weather the storm or to be removed or delivered from it. God heals our hearts and friendships even in the worst scenarios. Always trust God.
February 10, 2019
A nice easy read. I’ve loved Sally’s characters throughout her writing. I wonder if she will ever make this series a trilogy.
June 16, 2017
Heaven Help Heidi is a great book
Heaven Help draws the reader's attention with great character building. You feel like you know each person and are their own personal cheerleader. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a God honoring novel that keeps you turning pages. It is a 5 star book because it captures your heart and attention.
Heaven Help draws the reader's attention with great character building. You feel like you know each person and are their own personal cheerleader. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a God honoring novel that keeps you turning pages. It is a 5 star book because it captures your heart and attention.
March 5, 2019
Again, not anything revolutionary but a sweet return to my college Christian novels phase while traveling. Interestingly, there were some threads left hanging or plot lines ready to begin, but it doesn’t seem like this series is going to continue on.
Sally John fans will enjoy, but otherwise, not a must read.
Sally John fans will enjoy, but otherwise, not a must read.
March 5, 2021
Way to many characters to keep track of. Numerous times I had to stop and think, "OK, who is that now?" The story line was ok and relatable and that is why I am giving it 3 stars.
November 30, 2025
Heidi had a car accident and moves to Casa de Vida. A place for recovery and rest. It ends up being community and family. Each resident has a story.
January 27, 2015
Sometimes as a book reader/reviewer you come across a novel that is written so well, it doesn't feel like you're reading a story, it feels like you're a part of it. Sally John is one such writer. This is a first for me reading any of her books and now I know, I have quite a few to add to my to-be-read pile from her. In Heaven Help Heidi, we see life not only through the eyes of the main character Heidi Hathaway, but from the secondary characters as well that intersect her life in profound ways.
Heidi was living an ordinary life until the accident changed everything. Once strong willed, athletic, determined and successful, completely independent from anyone, she would now how to re-evaluate her life. This was a divine calling in her life, one she won't see played out in greater detail until more time passes, but now she will have to give up some of her independence and learn to rely on the family she has as well as the people God so graciously brings into her life. Knowing she can't live in her high rise condo any longer while she is recovering from a car accident that should have claimed her life, she meets Piper Keyes who takes her to Casa de Vida where a small 1927 cottage is available completely furnished just waiting for her. It's perfect and there seems to be an unexplained peace coming from just being inside the 12 foot high walls that keeps this sanctuary a secret from the outside world.
It is here that everything will change for Heidi. She will learn what is means to have friends that will go above and beyond for you. She'll experience that the childhood friends she once had are changing now that Heidi is living at Casa de Vida. The business she helped create is about to undergo a transformation that will change everyone who is part of it. Like a carefully orchestrated complex piece of music, by the time you get to the end of the novel, you can see how God masterfully created great things to come from the trials everyone had to face. It will show you that while you may not see what is going on, just knowing God is in control of it all is something worth being a part of. I love the relationships Heidi develops not only with Piper, but with her childhood friend Adam, her twin brother Hudson, and the motherly wise angel Olivia who dispenses love as freely as she does prayer to those who need it the most.
I received Heaven Help Heidi by Sally John compliments of Harvest House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a beautiful novel that illustrates the importance of faith, family and friends in our life and makes me wish I lived at Casa de Vida. This is such a wonderful and heartwarming novel about adversity, second chances and making the most of what you have in life and for that I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. This is the second novel in the Family of the Heart Series and includes a Reader Discussion Guide at the conclusion of this novel.
Heidi was living an ordinary life until the accident changed everything. Once strong willed, athletic, determined and successful, completely independent from anyone, she would now how to re-evaluate her life. This was a divine calling in her life, one she won't see played out in greater detail until more time passes, but now she will have to give up some of her independence and learn to rely on the family she has as well as the people God so graciously brings into her life. Knowing she can't live in her high rise condo any longer while she is recovering from a car accident that should have claimed her life, she meets Piper Keyes who takes her to Casa de Vida where a small 1927 cottage is available completely furnished just waiting for her. It's perfect and there seems to be an unexplained peace coming from just being inside the 12 foot high walls that keeps this sanctuary a secret from the outside world.
It is here that everything will change for Heidi. She will learn what is means to have friends that will go above and beyond for you. She'll experience that the childhood friends she once had are changing now that Heidi is living at Casa de Vida. The business she helped create is about to undergo a transformation that will change everyone who is part of it. Like a carefully orchestrated complex piece of music, by the time you get to the end of the novel, you can see how God masterfully created great things to come from the trials everyone had to face. It will show you that while you may not see what is going on, just knowing God is in control of it all is something worth being a part of. I love the relationships Heidi develops not only with Piper, but with her childhood friend Adam, her twin brother Hudson, and the motherly wise angel Olivia who dispenses love as freely as she does prayer to those who need it the most.
I received Heaven Help Heidi by Sally John compliments of Harvest House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a beautiful novel that illustrates the importance of faith, family and friends in our life and makes me wish I lived at Casa de Vida. This is such a wonderful and heartwarming novel about adversity, second chances and making the most of what you have in life and for that I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. This is the second novel in the Family of the Heart Series and includes a Reader Discussion Guide at the conclusion of this novel.
February 9, 2015
"Metal crumpled. Glass popped. Airbags burst. Sharp edges sliced and heat seared. The world vanished." Casa de Vida is truly a piece of heaven on Earth. The colors, the sights, the sounds, the people, the wonderful, beautiful people....not to mention the unbelievable low rent......and the beach a short walk away.....I think I may need to call Liv and see if she has a vacant cottage.
What? Sally John? Seriously, now you tell me Casa de Vida is completely fictional? After I finish reading?
Casa de Vida was described with such incredible detail that I would love to live in a place like it. Heidi is in for a large number of surprises when she settles into her cozy cottage. She is in need of a place of healing. I really had a number of issues brought to my mind as I read this book as it deals with PTSD and stepmothers and their adult stepchildren. I experience PTSD and I am also a stepmother to adult stepchildren. I identified with several characters due to these specific issues. I simply could not put the kindle down and tear myself from the screen until I saw these issues and others resolved for the lovable characters.
I love the way the characters did not need to preach at others to show their love as they simply lived as Jesus did and showed love to others. I am thrilled to rate this new-to-me author 5 stars for this book and I will be telling everyone about this book.
I received a free kindle version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
What? Sally John? Seriously, now you tell me Casa de Vida is completely fictional? After I finish reading?
Casa de Vida was described with such incredible detail that I would love to live in a place like it. Heidi is in for a large number of surprises when she settles into her cozy cottage. She is in need of a place of healing. I really had a number of issues brought to my mind as I read this book as it deals with PTSD and stepmothers and their adult stepchildren. I experience PTSD and I am also a stepmother to adult stepchildren. I identified with several characters due to these specific issues. I simply could not put the kindle down and tear myself from the screen until I saw these issues and others resolved for the lovable characters.
I love the way the characters did not need to preach at others to show their love as they simply lived as Jesus did and showed love to others. I am thrilled to rate this new-to-me author 5 stars for this book and I will be telling everyone about this book.
I received a free kindle version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 24, 2015
Heaven Help Heidi
Sally John
Harvest House Publishers
Copyright 2015
Everyone see's Heidi Hathaway as a typical So Cal woman her friends say she is so typical she has become a cliche. Soon an accident leaves Heidi broken in body. About a month after the accident Heidi is still struggling and then she meets Piper, Piper is a real estate agent who is temporarily renting Heidi a cottage until she is more on her feet and can go back to her Condo, Heidi finds it strange though that Piper prays before renting to a tenant, although Heidi can use all the prayers she can get.
Soon Heidi finds herself battling PTSD and an addiction to pain pills after the accident because she only wants to forget that her life is falling apart she wants to pretend her life is not falling apart.
Soon Heidi discovers her limp is not going away and her friends do there best to encourage her to accept it and be thankful it was not worse the accident very nearly killed her.
Will Heidi learn to accept what happened to her in the accident? Will she comes to terms with her limitations?
Will Heidi come to realize that there are others who hurt far worse than she does?
Will she find true joy?
Find out and pick up a copy of Heaven Help Heidi you won't regret it.
Five out of five stars...
Happy Reading Friends...
Sally John
Harvest House Publishers
Copyright 2015
Everyone see's Heidi Hathaway as a typical So Cal woman her friends say she is so typical she has become a cliche. Soon an accident leaves Heidi broken in body. About a month after the accident Heidi is still struggling and then she meets Piper, Piper is a real estate agent who is temporarily renting Heidi a cottage until she is more on her feet and can go back to her Condo, Heidi finds it strange though that Piper prays before renting to a tenant, although Heidi can use all the prayers she can get.
Soon Heidi finds herself battling PTSD and an addiction to pain pills after the accident because she only wants to forget that her life is falling apart she wants to pretend her life is not falling apart.
Soon Heidi discovers her limp is not going away and her friends do there best to encourage her to accept it and be thankful it was not worse the accident very nearly killed her.
Will Heidi learn to accept what happened to her in the accident? Will she comes to terms with her limitations?
Will Heidi come to realize that there are others who hurt far worse than she does?
Will she find true joy?
Find out and pick up a copy of Heaven Help Heidi you won't regret it.
Five out of five stars...
Happy Reading Friends...
July 20, 2015
I loved this book! The multiple story lines were great and equally fascinating. Both women went through incredibly hard things and it was inspiring to see them learn to live again. I also liked that we got multiple perspectives, including Heidi's brother Hud, friend Adam, and landlady Liv. It was wonderful to see Heidi's faith journey as she went from only depending on herself to wondering if there could be Someone out there. Liv McAlister was such a wonderful character, so peaceful and loving as she mothers all of the tenants at Casa de Vida. She truly lived the love of Jesus to everyone. She had such a welcoming way about her, as did all of the tenants. They were all wonderful characters. It really felt like a cozy and safe place; I would love to live there! The romances were sweet, from the new ones just blooming to ones continued from the previous book. I haven't read the first book yet, and the story did mostly work as a stand-alone, but I definitely want to find out more about the secondary characters and where their stories began. This was my first Sally John book, but it definitely won't be my last! I highly recommend it!
I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2015
I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.
Once I got into this book, I really enjoyed it. I don't recall why I didn't fall into it right away; it was interesting, especially with the opening car crash and then the switch to a different character's perpective. I must have had a lot going on because when I picked it back up this week, I read it very quickly.
The romance is fairly average - I fully expected Heidi to end up with who she did at the end. What really made this special for me was the character development and the exploration Heidi goes through in finding herself after her accident. I like every character in this book. Every. Single. One. Even those that are more tertiary characters rather than secondary characters. I want to live at Casa de Vida. The sense of community and love that flowed through that courtyard was tangible and inviting.
I was very happy to see this is only the second book in the series; it will be easy to catch up and future stories to look forward to!
Once I got into this book, I really enjoyed it. I don't recall why I didn't fall into it right away; it was interesting, especially with the opening car crash and then the switch to a different character's perpective. I must have had a lot going on because when I picked it back up this week, I read it very quickly.
The romance is fairly average - I fully expected Heidi to end up with who she did at the end. What really made this special for me was the character development and the exploration Heidi goes through in finding herself after her accident. I like every character in this book. Every. Single. One. Even those that are more tertiary characters rather than secondary characters. I want to live at Casa de Vida. The sense of community and love that flowed through that courtyard was tangible and inviting.
I was very happy to see this is only the second book in the series; it will be easy to catch up and future stories to look forward to!
April 23, 2015
I am, once again, disappointed by one of my favorite authors. After reading the first title in this new series, I was leary about picking up the second. But, I had to give the second book a chance, because, after all, things could improve, right?
Wrong. I'm afraid my favorite author, who penned some amazing books, like the "In A Heartbeat" series, and "The Other Way Home" series, has lost her inspiration. These characters have no depth, they move along the surface, and I simply did not care for them. The writing felt sloppy to me, and that's a shame, since I know the author can do so much better. It took weeks to finish reading this, and that is because I forced myself to keep reading.
Reading is supposed to be fun; it's not a chore, but this book made me feel like it was. Needless to say, I am glad to hear that no other books are planned for this series, even though Mrs. John has left herself to develop more uninspired stories. The idea for the books was good, but she just didn't pull it off the way I know she could have.
Wrong. I'm afraid my favorite author, who penned some amazing books, like the "In A Heartbeat" series, and "The Other Way Home" series, has lost her inspiration. These characters have no depth, they move along the surface, and I simply did not care for them. The writing felt sloppy to me, and that's a shame, since I know the author can do so much better. It took weeks to finish reading this, and that is because I forced myself to keep reading.
Reading is supposed to be fun; it's not a chore, but this book made me feel like it was. Needless to say, I am glad to hear that no other books are planned for this series, even though Mrs. John has left herself to develop more uninspired stories. The idea for the books was good, but she just didn't pull it off the way I know she could have.
November 2, 2016
3.5 stars
The second book in John’s Family of the Heart series takes readers back to the cozy Casa de Vida. This novel lacks a bit of the cohesiveness of the first (some of the residents are mere afterthoughts rather than true characters), yet the same spirit of love, family and faith are present and are superbly appealing.
Heidi Hathaway is a high-powered real estate broker who wants nothing more than to get ahead. When an accident waylays her plans, Heidi is forced to curtail everything in her life that matters to her. She moves into the Casa de Vida, but learning to let go of dreams and create new ones proves difficult. With the help of family — both blood and created — Heidi slowly learns to move forward.
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...
The second book in John’s Family of the Heart series takes readers back to the cozy Casa de Vida. This novel lacks a bit of the cohesiveness of the first (some of the residents are mere afterthoughts rather than true characters), yet the same spirit of love, family and faith are present and are superbly appealing.
Heidi Hathaway is a high-powered real estate broker who wants nothing more than to get ahead. When an accident waylays her plans, Heidi is forced to curtail everything in her life that matters to her. She moves into the Casa de Vida, but learning to let go of dreams and create new ones proves difficult. With the help of family — both blood and created — Heidi slowly learns to move forward.
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...
February 26, 2015
Sigh, I loved this book. Like seriously loved it. I don't typically gravitate towards contemporary fiction but I am so glad I picked up this one. I was immediately drawn in and hooked. The Casa residents are so well developed and feel like family. Heidi's transformation is both subtle and disarming. So worth the read and the missed hours of sleep. Prepare to be transferred to the Casa de Vida family in California. I promise you'll miss them when the book is over.
April 21, 2015
This is one of those books you don't want to end. I'd read Between Us Girls and fallen in love with the characters. So I was thrilled when Heaven Help Heidi came along. I could see the courtyard of Casa de Vida. I imagined each cottage and felt its ambiance. But most of all, I felt the characters were friends who I want to go visit. I sure hope there are more books coming in this series. I'd love to see what happens to Val. Great book!!
April 19, 2015
This was the first book by Sally John that I've read. I'll be reading more. I enjoyed becoming part of Liv's Casa family. Their stories were warm and interesting. The way their lives were intertwined was sometimes surprising, but always believable. I'm going back to read the first book in this series.
August 20, 2015
When Heidi is in a terrible car accident she must rebuild her life with a whole new perspective. She is unable to work for quite awhile and moves into Casa vida where she meets a whole bunch of new people who embrace her and make her feel whole again. Will she embrace the new "her" or slide back to who she used to be? Read and find out!
June 27, 2016
Although the love stories are predictable, the other relationships are intriguing. I think she could have gone into a lot more depth if it was one person's point of view instead of several, or even just one couple. I would like to know more about the changes that happened and the depth of thought and emotion that was behind them.
October 6, 2020
Heidi in the beginning of the book has a car accident and wound up in hospital scarred and traumatised to drive again. She moves to her parents house as she can't move around on her own in her own condo. Then her parents decides to move out and she has to move somewhere else, she finds this quaint cottage in the Casa de vida which she decides to move in.
March 29, 2016
The beginning had me hooked and then it all was quite normal. Slow pace material. I didn't feel emotionally connected.
Had a happy ending. Clean and uses real life situations to trust in God. Just not a page turner.
Had a happy ending. Clean and uses real life situations to trust in God. Just not a page turner.
February 24, 2015
Great book! Sally John is an amazing story teller. To read a complete review, go to: http://agardenofdelight.blogspot.com/
February 19, 2015
sweet story.
March 8, 2015
A beautiful story about over coming all different kinds of obstacles...... I loved all the different POV and how effortlessly Sally John was able to switch back and forth.
March 18, 2015
Excellent book. Better than the first. Looking forward to number 3.
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