Review - A Crowded Heart by Andrea McKenzie Raine

Book Cover

Year Published: 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction with a little bit of romance

Blurb:
Willis Hancocks is a bright, ambitious young man who wants to break out of his small-town existence and make a difference in the world. When WWII breaks out, he rushes to enlist, despite his parents' disapproval. As the world falls apart, Willis finds a way to forge through and finds solace in an incomparable friendship and a surprising, brief encounter with a love that takes hold and eventually threatens to jeopardize the life he strives to build while battling his post-war demons. While Willis is set on building a new world for himself with a single-minded goal for personal success-a lucrative, purposeful, easy lifestyle-obstacles are continuously thrown in his path, and he must embrace, overcome, or dodge them entirely. In the course of the choices he makes, and the destiny that is chosen for him, he unwittingly drags the people who are closest to him down into the darkness.

About the Author:
Andrea McKenzie Raine grew up in Victoria, B.C. where she still resides. She is a long time attendee of the Planet Earth Poetry reading series at the Moka House Café, formerly known as Mocambopo. Andrea holds a B.A. in English Literature and a Certificate in Public Relations from the University of Victoria. She is a poet, novelist, book reviewer, and government correspondence writer. Her poetry has appeared in Mocambo Nights anthology, Canadian Literature, Quills, Tempus by Rubicon Press, Leafpress, Boulevard Magazine, Ascent Aspirations magazine, Poems from Planet Earth anthology and various chapbooks edited by Patrick Lane. In 2005, she published her first book of poetry A Mother's String through Ekstasis Editions. She also recently published her first novel, Turnstiles, through Inkwater Press, as well as a prequel novel titled A Crowded Heart.

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My Take on the Book:
I loved the writing style as well as the story - though there were times where I didn't agree with some of the character's choices, and hoped that things would have turned out differently, even though they didn't. This awesome book got a five star rating from me and I got a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Last Word:
This is an author I'm going to be following for sure - especially after reading such a great book!

Enjoy,
Carmen. 

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