Review: Unique style, gripping plot, and a female lead with awe inspiring strength -- MUST READ!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 28, 2013
Shards of My Heart is a gripping story about a woman at a crossroads. Torn between two choices in life – keeping her family intact and working toward restoring the love she once shared with her husband or walking away with her children and seeking a fresh start and clean slate.Nina Powers is unlike any female lead I’ve read before. Part of her is strong and unstoppable. She puts the well being of her special needs daughter, Kylie, first above her own needs. It’s heart warming to read such devotion. Her husband has developed an addiction to prescription medication, and he is constantly lashing out at her, creating an unsafe environment for their children. Despite the constant tantrums and verbal attacks by Shane, Nina remains unaffected on the outside. She doesn’t play the victim card – in fact she loathes the word – and she doesn’t let herself drown in her sorrow over her dire situation (failing marriage, limited financial resources). Instead she searches for solutions to her problems and takes action. As Shane’s moods wax and wane, it’s compelling to watch Nina’s compassion and sacrifice. It’s beautiful to see such strength in such a heartbreaking situation.The story is a mix of empowerment and heartache. My heart was shredded for Nina and her children. This isn’t a story where every problem is magically resolved by the end and everyone gets his or her happily ever after. This is a true depiction of real life. Things are messy and left open ended. I think anyone who finds himself or herself in a situation similar to Nina’s will find strength in her story. The plot is realistic and it’s obvious Nicole has done her research regarding this subject matter. It’s a difficult subject to address among a pool of literature where every ending is what fairy tales are made of, but I feel like the author nailed this. She took a chance on darker content and prevailed.I also loved the unique writing style in Shards of My Heart. It’s written as if the pages have been ripped straight out of Nina’s journal. The narration and dialogue are casual and conversational. It’s a unique take on writing and unlike anything I’ve seen. I think this less traditional style fits the characters and story – Nina is unapologetically bold just like this twist on the typical novel. I tore through this novel in a matter of hours and hear through the grapevine there’s going to be more to Nina and Shane’s story. I can’t wait to see how the story continues!