Megan and Crystal Jacobs are twins, but they lead completely different lives. Megan spent most of her life in and out of hospitals with a heart condition. Crystal is married and has her dream job as an architect. Megan finally gets her heart transplant, but still can't get over checking all of her vitals all the time. While Megan was in the hospital her best friend was Caleb who was also waiting for his transplant. For some reason, Crystal just couldn't be there for Megan. Crystal was too afraid that she would lose her. This caused strife between the twins.

Years lately, Megan gets a letter from the hospital letting her know that if she wants she can meet the parents of the girl whose heart she received. At first, Megan wants no part of this but then decides to meet the parents. While she is there, the parents share the journal that their daughter kept with Megan. Megan reads the journal and finds that the girl had a bucket list of what she wanted to do in her life. Megan decides that she is going to do this for her. After making her plans, Crystal calls and asks if it is ok for her to go with her.

Together the twins make their plans and set off to do everything on the bucket list. As they travel from country to country, the old feelings that they used to have for each other are coming back. Crystal confides in Megan that her marriage is not all that it is cracked up to be, and she and her husband are having problems. Megan begins to realize there is more to life than constantly worrying about whether her heart is going to take all of this. One way Megan is getting a better perspective on life is to write a blog about her adventure. She is also able to reconnect with Caleb, and they realize there may be more there than they both thought. But when they finally return home after an insightful journey, will the twins figure out what they want in life?

THE HEART BETWEEN US is a well- written story by Lindsay Harrel. I wish that I could have done something like this with my two sisters! This book made me miss them very much. I enjoyed the way that Harrel describes the countries they travel to throughout the book. I felt like I was right there with Megan and Crystal. This was a great book; it has some romance, but mostly showed the bond between sisters. Glad that they found their way back to each other. I would love to see a sequel to this storyline. Did both sisters get what they really wanted out of life?

Book Summary

Lindsay Harrel presents a powerful story of healing, adventure, and learning how to live life to the fullest.

Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide in her small Minnesota hometown and living with her parents, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.

When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship.

As Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that she can finally share it with the people she loves most.