The Accident

by A.M. Heath

Can a wrong number bring true love or only heartache?

Ashlyn Conner’s life is spiraling out of control. She's already lost her father, and now that her mom is battling thyroid cancer, she fears being orphaned at fifteen. When a friendly stranger texts the wrong number, Ashlyn finds a confidant she didn’t realize she needed. The more Ashlyn gets to know Chris Knowles, the more she’s convinced he could be the caring husband and loving father the Conner women so desperately need.

If only she’d been honest and hadn’t made him believe he was texting her mother, Danielle.

When the truth comes out, will she lose her friendship with Chris and damage her relationship with her mother? Or can God make something beautiful out of her lie?

Told through text messages and Ashlyn’s journal entries, The Accident is a heartwarming, family-centered story.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Christian, Novella

105 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2019

About the author

Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, ladies’ Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
After years of watching Scooby Doo, Matlock, and Murder She Wrote, I’ve partnered with my best friend to write Christian cozy mysteries under the pen name Chelsea Michelle. What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.

Reviews

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok so I've had this in my Kindle library for over a year. I finally decide to read it last night, thinking I wouldn't get very far. WRONG! I stayed up till 4am and devoured this emotional read.

One of my favorite aspects was that it's solely in text format and the occasional journal entry from Ashlyn. One would think the reader wouldn't get much depth into the characters or their day to day lives but boy oh boy, there was so much depth and emotion packed into this. Like I honestly felt tears coming on when Ashlyn would pour out her heart concerning her mom's failing health. And the part about Ashlyn lacking inspiration when it came to drawing and being in a fog was so on point and relatable for me. (replaced drawing with writing)

There were great Christian themes like dealing with bitterness, forgiving others and self and relying on God. Also there was the strained mother-daughter relationship that I believe was handled nicely. Proper communication on both sides is always a key to working towards a better relationship. And the parts about internet/stranger safety were also properly addressed. I really liked that Danielle (Ashlyn's mom) took action the way she did.

Chris was a likable guy and a great spiritual leader. Ashlyn's mom, idk. She came off nasty sometimes but in the same breath Ashlyn had her share of snappy, short remarks. They were both under a lot of stress and neither knew how to communicate with the other.

In short- this was a wholesome and moving story about family. The ending was beautiful and so sweet. 4.5 stars! I'll be checking out more by this author for sure.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because it was free one day and I’d never read anything by this author. I had it sitting on my kindle and didn’t even know what it was about when I started reading. I thought at first it was going to be a typical “finding love because of a wrong number” sort of story, but it wasn’t that at all. I loved Chris, and Ashlyn even though Ashlyn was lying. She was also hurting in so many ways. I loved the advice Chris was able to give to Ashlyn and Danielle. The relationship between Ashlyn and her mom was tough, but I loved the fact that it didn’t stay that way. No, it wasn’t easy, but it did get better. And yes, the author made it very clear that what Ashlyn did was wrong and could have had terrible consequences.
I don’t usually get emotionally involved in stories told in epistolary style, but I found myself tearing up twice while reading this. My heart ached for Ashlyn and Danielle and all they were going through.

Because this story is about a teen girl who pretends she’s her mom in replying to texts from stranger who got the wrong number, I wouldn’t hand it to a teen girl without making sure she recognized the dangers of such action.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from A.M. Heath! A truly unique book, with a story told entirely through text messages and diary entries. Its themes of mother-daughter clashes, dealing with a life-threatening illness, and feeling lost and alone, will resonate with so many people; and its Christian message of love and forgiveness will touch hearts. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy, and then read all of her other fantastic works also!
I received an advance copy to edit and review. I was not compensated in any way for my opinion.

[Abigail Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:

Genre: Contemporary fiction, romance.

My Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars.

Recommendation: 13 up for romance.

My favorite character is: Chris is so great with everything that goes on, I can’t say more because of big spoilers. But Chris is such a great guy! He was good at being there for a total stranger, and I loved how he was shown through the texts.

My Verse for Chris is James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (King James Verison)

And Ashlyn was so sad to read about at first! She was so easy to care for through her diary and texts.

My thoughts: Mrs. Heath did a wonderful job with this novella of a girl texting a man as her mother in hopes of her mom meeting him and Mrs. Heath showed how dangerous it is to text a stranger while still holding the attention of the reader! Normally I don’t care for books like this but I asked for an ARC since I love the author’s other works and trust her to keep me entertained! I loved how she pulled me in with the first word and I highly recommend this wonderful story!

(I received this book in exchange for my honest review and I am truly happy to provide it!)

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that when I first read the description of this book, it set off just about every possible alarm bell in my head. But then I read the first sample chapter, and it intrigued me enough that I knew I needed to read more...

So, yeah, in theory, the idea of a teenage girl accidentally meeting a man over text and getting to know him without her mother's knowledge is enough to send anyone running. Complicate that with the facts that a) Ashlyn gives her name and age as her mother's, b) she's obviously going through a lot and needs a real friend, and c) Chris is obviously a very sweet guy and not at all a creep, and my feelings got really complicated, really fast. Because the situation is entirely innocent--except for the fact that it actually isn't, when you take into account the lying and sneaking and the danger of the situation itself. So while I appreciated the sweet friendship building between Ashlyn and Chris, I was afraid the situation itself was going to end up being glossed over with a "well, everything worked out" attitude.

Um, yeah, no. It wasn't. At all. I was very relieved that the situation was discovered and corrected as early as it was. This story left no doubt in the readers' mind about the kind of danger Ashlyn could have put herself in or the serious consequences of her actions. And the time it took for her mom to step back and get perspective on the situation felt normal and understandable, even if my heart did hurt for Ashlyn over the whole mess. Overall, I felt like the author did a good job of not condoning Ashlyn's behavior even while using it to get the story rolling.

To be honest, I don't usually enjoy stories with a lot of family conflict, so I struggled a bit with the relationship between Ashlyn and her mom, although it was good to see the way they were finally able to work toward healing and understanding. Also, there were a few conversations (or parts of them), where I felt like it was a bit unrealistic for the characters to continue to use text as opposed to picking up the phone, for example, in the conversation where Danielle was describing their first kiss to her sister. I realize that wouldn't have been consistent with the style, but it did push things a bit past believability for me a couple of times. However, I loved all the hockey details and the way Chris and Ashlyn bonded over it. ;)

3.5 stars

Content--a teenage girl accidentally meets and continues to talk with an older man over text; lying and hiding the truth; the dangers of the situation are mentioned several times, including rape, sex trafficking, etc.; arguments between a mother and daughter; some kissing

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this little novella is the way it is written – completely through text messages and journal entries! I could read books in that format all day long. ;) It reminds me of my near-obsession of reading the Dear America books growing up. So fun!
The storyline was cute, and I thought Ashlynn was a very good character, and I understood her motives behind her actions. I didn’t really “bond” with the mother all that much; to be honest she kind of annoyed me at times. I felt for her in her illness, but her character just wasn’t one I loved. There was also a ton of LOL’s which felt a little overused, however that is coming from a person who never uses LOL, so. ;)
And of course, this is just my personal opinion. :)
I enjoyed this read though, and as I’m quickly coming to find, I definitely enjoy this author’s writing style! Very fun, engaging, and well-done!

[Katja H. Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This was a most unique plot and I really enjoyed it. It kept me hooked to see how it would all end up. I appreciated how it made a good story but also gave a good warning. I think this would be a good read for teen girls with cellphones as long as they understand that what Ashlyn did was really dangerous and they should never try it hoping it’ll turn out the same way. The only thing I disliked was the romance—kissing & touching before they got engaged. Chris was an awesome guy, though, and I liked Ashlyn, & her mother too after a while. So I wouldn’t hand it to a teenage girl unless I was sure she wouldn’t try any foolishness with her phone, but you can use your own judgement on that.

A Favourite Quote: “‘The right thing is ALWAYS harder to do. But God promised to help us walk the path of righteousness. Just pray for God to give you the heart to want to be humble, then go from there. I’ve learned that the real reason a Christian isn’t able to repent is because they don’t really want to. So start by praying that God will give you a heart to want to obey. He’ll honor that, and, in time, you’ll find yourself wanting to be humble and seeking God’s help in actually doing it.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Do these sorts of things always happen to you?’ ...
“‘Nope. But maybe I needed a little variety in my life. LOL[.]’
“‘Maybe. LOL But I'll stick to variety in my ice cream. I mean, variety in life isn't always so pleasant.’”

[Daphne Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading a book long ago about two people meeting by corresponding through letters....letters through the mail.
This book is a more updated version.
The character Ashlyn was a near perfect portrayal of a teenager raised in a godly home. I loved how Heath was able to show the mood swings and the budding maturity in the girl.
This was a quick and fun read, but it held subtle messages throughout. I'm glad I was able to read this book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Accident from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

If I could use one word to describe this novella, it would be adorable. I mean seriously, this is so cute!

1. The characters. This novella is a mere 105 pages and fitting any kind of meaningful character building in there is extremely challenging. However, Heath did it brilliantly. Each character is explored through at least one facet of their psyche: Ashlyn with her insecurity, Danielle with her uncertainty, and Chris with his faith in God. To make any good character stick, this is the perfect technique. I'll get into this a little later, but to briefly explain: this is an epistolary novella meaning instead of being writing from POV's in the traditional manner, it's written in the form of letters (or in this, more modern take, in text messages and journal entries). Basically, through written, outward means instead of more inward POV means. The point is, we get to know the characters based on what they say and how they say it. We have no access to their direct actions (as told by a narrator or otherwise) and we have no access to their thought process. This introduces a really interesting element into the character building and their interactions.

2. The plot. Somehow, within the span of 105 pages, Heath manages to fit in both a macro and micro plot line (the love story and the smaller interactions that take place throughout). They worked really well and kept me reading a at a nice pace. Without getting into spoilery territory, I'll just say that there's always constant tension that is perfectly applied.

3. The romance. Referring back to what I said in my intro, this is by far the cutest aspect. The whole romance is based on Ashlyn lying to Chris when she was first texting him and pretending she was her mother which is a new type of romance planting that I've never come across. That whole pretense made for such an interesting romantic development between Chris and Danielle (once she was actually the one texting him). It turns into this great slow burn romance that is so sweet.

4. The format. Getting back to what I was talking about in the character section. Being an epistolary novella, this work provides some interesting perspectives and forced me, as the reader, into a new role. Heath does a great job with the texting format and how it works into real life texting. For example, she includes time stamps for the texts and during difficult conversations or when a large chunk of text is sent, there are pauses in the time between replies (5:17pm to 5:20pm instead of 5:17pm to 5:18pm). These little details made all the difference to me. I did find, from time to time, however, that Heath slipped back into the her more traditional writing style for a few lines without properly blending it into the 'scene.' Small instances but they happened just enough to give me a jolt. That being said, I want to take just a moment to talk about the POV's (or, perceived POV's). Heath does such a nice job differentiating voices for different situations. For example, in the beginning, Ashlyn is pretending to be her mom until she genuinely gets into conversation with Chris and that's shown in the cadence of the text messages. We get to see her true voice in her journal entries and it was so interesting to see a character try to mask their own voice and only slightly succeed because of their own unconscious motivations. Can you tell I love the mechanics of epistolary novels?

The Final Verdict:
A sweet, thoughtful take on a different kind of romantic beginning with an interesting structural framework.
4.5 stars

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the way the author told the story using texts and journal entries. How many of us have ever dialed the wrong number? Ashlyn is a teenage girl who has lost her dad and now may be losing her mom to cancer. She is very lonely and finds herself isolated at times from everyone. Ashlyn really needs a friend and perhaps God has a plan . When Ashlyn receives a text message from someone she doesn't know, I think she was so desperate to talk to someone, that she responded to the text. As she begins to text the wrong number back, a friendship develops between her and Chris.

Chris is a very grounded man who has compassion for others. I loved how he was always willing to pray with Ashlyn and listen to her pour out her problems. We get to know Chris better as he describes to Ashlyn his likes and love for God. Ashlyn really wants to find someone to love her mom and thinks that Chris is perfect for her.

I really enjoyed the journal entries from Ashlyn because we were able to feel her insecurity, her lost relationship with God and need for a family. She doesn't want to lose her mom, but she doesn't want to be alone in the world either.

Danielle who is Ashlyn's mom will soon have a big decision to make when she discovers what Ashlyn has been doing with her phone. Her reaction is perfect and I like the way she handled it in love. Will Chris be able to reach out to Danielle and share a friendship with her?


Honesty plays a big role in the story and Ashlyn will soon discover that her dishonesty could hurt the people she cares about. It is a beautiful story of love, forgiveness and knowing that God has a plan for each of our lives. The author writes a story filled with compassion and gives readers characters that need each other. It is a exceptional way to tell a story that allows readers to see characters that are vulnerable and lost at times. Don't miss this story of hope and finding love.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my Facebook post as soon as I finished reading the last word of this book, I just finished reading “The Accident by Anita Richardson Heath and the tears are falling it was a wonderful book but it made me miss mom so much more but I’m so glad I read the book even with that and I recommend the book to anyone that wants a fun book about three serious issues, cancer and a young girl texting an older man and a troubled relationship between a mother and a daughter. This book was so worth the tears.
This story is written as text messages and diary entries. It was a fun read. The texts were so "real" that I even sent a private message to the author to ask her if she had experience with cancer, I could feel the heartache and pain when the texts were about cancer. The mother and daughter relationship was written with "real" knowledge also. This book is a quick read, I read it in about 45 minutes, but it was filled with so much emotion, just as her other books.
I strongly suggest that after reading this story, you read the "Dear reader" section at the end of the book, especially if you are questioning the texting part between Chris and Ashley.
I was given a complimentary copy by the author. These opinions are my own.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Accident is a quick and original type story as it’s written with text messages and diary entries. Chris Knowles text to a wrong number ended read by a troubled young Ashlyn. The text messages continued until Ashlyn’s mother received one. A meeting, more text messages and encouragement provide a new future for the characters?

A.M. Heath has a way of drawing characters into her stories that bring smiles, tears and moments of true bliss to readers. There’s an interwoven Christian message that is not pushing or over emphasized.

I received an e-copy of this sweet novella from the author. I was not required to write a positive review but have expressed my own thoughts.

[Kimberly Bowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! A.M. Heath has done it again! She has written another page turner that I absolutely could not put down until I read the last word! This is a short story and is easily read in one sitting. I love the way she chose to tell the story---through text messages and journal entries. It leaves no guessing as to what a character might be thinking or feeling. It is all put out there for the reader. It was so easy to love the characters, even through their flaws.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a clean read or someone who wants to read something in one sitting. Regardless of who chooses to read this story, you will not be disappointed!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language: G (0 swears, 0 "f"); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
This is a cute story that comes from an odd beginning. I was surprised by the very Christian beliefs and advise freely discussed between characters but felt that it was pretty natural and sincere dialogue. A good afternoon read for a happily ever after ending.

[Kathryn Munsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Yes in real life it could have been a horrible situation. But the author handled it well I think. She talked about the bad stuff while giving us a sweet love story. Where a teenage girl needed a father in her life and the Mom needed a husband.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! A.M. Heath knows how to draw readers into her books and this reader couldn’t put it down until I was finished. Actually, I was shocked when I reach the end because I was so caught up in it.
The whole book was text messages and journal entries. YES! This made the book so much more interesting and I’ve never read a book like this before. Even though it was written this way we still were able to learn about each character and their flaws and strengths. I kelt wondering how the problems could ever be solved but A.M.Heath and her excellent skills in writing answered all my questions.
I liked how she uses her characters and storyline to explain the truth about God and the scriptures in the simplest way.
I gave 5 stars because it was remarkable, written in an unique way and fast paced.

I received a copy of this book and I was not compensated in anyway for my honest opinion.

[Alicia Ruggieri]

Big things come in little packages. :-) And that's true for this short, sweet novella that surprised me with its intense yet not-forced spiritual message. I got sucked right into the engaging storyline of a single mom with cancer whose teenage daughter has a hard time dealing with the blows of life... and her relationship with her mom. (spoiler) Enter the "accidental" meeting with a godly, wise man who gathers this broken twosome together in his loving heart. Really a beautiful contemporary story, great for both teens and adults! Loved it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I enjoyed reading this book, because love between two people was the result of a text message sent to the wrong person. It was actual text messages and journal entries so written in a unique way. It was great, and I always like stories with a HEA ending.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story told through text messages and a diary. This was quite interesting and kept me reading. Ashley’s loneliness and her Mother’s illness is something that people can relate to. Kids can get into all kinds of trouble when a parent is ill and not able to oversee them. I thought it was neat how the romance got started then how cautious Danielle was when she found out her daughter had been texting a stranger. A different kind of book for me and I really enjoyed it. If you’ve never read A. M. Heath’s books you need to get started.
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique format; epistolary. Although I have read a couple like that before, they were in handwritten letter-style. This one was in texts. Definitely modern, and definitely different. Nevertheless, this was an interesting story. Christian fiction, and I could relate as I'm a Mom to multiple teen daughters! I appreciated the author's sensitivity displayed both in the story as well as the "facts" at the end. I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet romance that is quick and easy to read. One of the first books I have read that was written in text messages and diary entries. I loved the characters and hoped every thing would come out happy in the end. Really enjoyed. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[Emily Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire book is told through text messages and journal entires. A unique story that is a quick read. It deals with a lot of real issues with a Christian perpective. While I had my reservations when I starrted this one, they were quickly dispelled after I read the first chapter. A cute read that is worth looking into.

[S.G. Willoughby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel bad for giving it 3 stars. Let's make that 3.5, shall we? I'm just overly stingy on the stars. (Also, kinda loopy writing this review, so bear with me ;)) Overall, I liked this book. It was a quick, easy read with well-defined character relationships. It also had an interesting and unique premise/style, tackling the pros and cons of virtual friendships with candid honesty. But... again, I feel bad for saying this... it had the potential to be even stronger. The journal entries in particular bothered me. I don't know about you, but I don't tend to write journal entries as if I was writing a novel. (I mean, they certainly get long, but I don't tend to use dialogue tags and omniscient 1st person POV.)

With that said, though, this was good. The father-daughter relationship between Chris and the MC was my favorite part of the novella. Though Chris did get a little preachy sometimes, but that's an occupational hazard I suppose. And I did appreciate the portrayal of thyroid cancer. I think it was done well, and I appreciated getting to see it from a family member's POV. The sick person isn't the only one affected.

Questionable Content:
Sensual Content: One kiss, nothing else. Implications of what could have happened to a teenage girl befriending an unknown middle-aged man, but nothing said outright.
Profanity: None.
Violence: None.

[Loretta Marchize · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars

Prose: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Prose:
This book is entirely made up of texts and diary entries. I thought the author carried it out very well, and I did not once feel as if it should have been in traditional style.
Romance:
Cute! Not over the top, only one described kiss, and I really enjoyed the sweetness of it all.
Characters:
Very relatable. Ashlyn is very different from me, but I still really liked her. And the father/daughter relationship, because you don't see much of that now.
Plot:
Moved quickly. As it was all texts/diary entries there was never a full moment.
Overall:
I really loved this cute story! A.M. Heath really showed the father/daughter relationship well and handeld some of the harder topics in the story amazingly (teen safety) Definitely a good read.
Content:
One kiss- fine for pretty much any audience

[Cinnabug · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet novella about finding love “accidentally” (nah, that would be God, not an accident). I really enjoyed that the story was told through text messages and journal entries. I found that fun, refreshing, and easy to follow, since in these days I probably text more than I speak. Most of the texts seemed very natural and flowed well, but there were a few between the sisters that were extremely long—maybe emails would’ve been more convincing in relaying bigger chunks of information at a time?

I also enjoyed the many teachings this little book included. Ms. Heath did a fine job of showing God’s love and explaining biblical truth in them telling of this story.

[ArynTheLibraryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The experience of an epistolary story is unique and fun. The characters are very real and raw, "unfiltered" as if it were a real text or journal entry. I was hooked and read it in one sitting this morning. I agree Ashlyn should have talked to someone about what was going on, and I feel like that was addressed thoroughly without beating it to death. But I also understood how having someone 'outside the bubble' was a huge help.

All in all, a great, quick read, and a lot to think about, as a parent, as a person, as a believer.

(Caught this one on sale, chose to review it here.)

[Darla Damron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun novella to read! It was well written and it did not seemed rush or have the story cut-off. I loved the Hockey info and remember all of the events talked about. Spiritual Content was spot on and well weaved into the story.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet heartwarming story.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for free and then forgot about it. But one night I couldn't sleep and found it by "accident" while scrolling through my kindle. ;)

The premise of a story told completely through text messages intrigued me since that is primarily how I talk to my closest friends. As a result, the style made for a quick and often relatable read.

There are obviously concerns about texting a stranger in today's world. However, I felt like A.M. Heath did a good job drawing the lines. The dangers were vaguely expressed without making me uncomfortable. Nevertheless, if that is a triggering topic, please do what is best for you!

The only thing that bugged me was Ashlyn's character arc. In the beginning she was very hurt and lonely, and I related to her emotions in a number of ways. But in the middle she became angry, bitter, and snappish. I don't know, I suppose people react to hurt that way. It just didn't seem to fit the character I'd come to know. :)

That ending though... It was so precious I nearly cried. I love a good happily ever after. <3

Anyways! Those are my thoughts. I'm looking forward to trying another A.M. Heath book soon. :D

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashlyn answers her mother's phone and through the conversation is lets on that
she is fat her mother.

When her mother's finds out about her conversations with this stranger named Chris, she
takes away Ashlyn's phone privileges as well as her social life with her friends.

Ashlyn's mother is going through cancer treatments and Ashlyn feels like she is all alone,
because it is just she and her mother. Her mother is always tired or too busy for Ashlyn.

This is their story. Did God hear Ashlyn's prayers?