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The Heart Duet #1

My Heart Needs

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I try not to think too hard about the fact that in order for me to live, someone else had to die.

Everyone gets to live.
Some for longer than others.

For Violet, born with a life threatening heart defect that has controlled her twenty-one-years, life has been anything but easy.

When reality is a high-risk game of trial and error, Violet finds solace the only way she knows how - with a brush in her hand.

But everything can change in a heartbeat.

Surrounded by loving family and the best friend a girl could ask for, Violet must ask the universe for the biggest favour of all - the one that will keep her alive.

Tear-jerking, agonising and uplifting, My Heart Needs will give you hope for today and each day that follows after.

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2018

About the author

Nicole S. Goodin

34 books725 followers
NICOLE S. GOODIN is a romance author and mother of two from Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand.
In mid-2015, she started to write about a group of characters who wouldn’t get out of her head. Her first book, Rushed, was published in mid-2016.
Nicole enjoys long walks on the beach, pillow fights and braiding her friends’ hair. She dislikes clichés, talking about herself in the third person, and people who don’t understand her sense of humour.
Please feel free to contact her either via her website, email, Instagram, Twitter or on her Facebook page, she would love to hear your feedback. If you’re feeling really game, you can even sign up for her newsletter.

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5 stars
57 (61%)
4 stars
26 (28%)
3 stars
8 (8%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews49 followers
Want to read
February 9, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/9/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
I try not to think too hard about the fact that in order for me to live, someone else had to die.


Everyone gets to live.
Some for longer than others.

For Violet, born with a life threatening heart defect that has controlled her twenty-one-years, life has been anything but easy.

When reality is a high-risk game of trial and error, Violet finds solace the only way she knows how - with a brush in her hand.

But everything can change in a heartbeat.

Surrounded by loving family and the best friend a girl could ask for, Violet must ask the universe for the biggest favour of all - the one that will keep her alive.

Tear-jerking, agonising and uplifting, My Heart Needs will give you hope for today and each day that follows after.
Profile Image for Julie's Book Land Reviews.
448 reviews34 followers
August 22, 2018
This was such an emotional read. I loved every second of it. I will definitely be reading more books from this talented author.

I received a free copy of this book.
Profile Image for Kim  Brewing.
3,415 reviews34 followers
June 5, 2019
This is book one in a duet and in this book we meet present and past Violet. This book is written in such a way you can't help but be pulled into the story. I loved it!....off to read the next.
Profile Image for Anne OK.
3,803 reviews537 followers
September 17, 2018
An extraordinary story of love -- so fierce it sustained enduring the unimaginable. A young girl's struggles from birth with a "broken heart." At times this was beyond heartbreaking and I was totally enthralled by a family's total devotion and love for their daughter and making her life the best it could possibly be under the extreme circumstances.

This was a tremendously powerful story that touched my heart in so many ways. And I can't wait to move forward to the next book that will take us into Violet's grown up life.
Profile Image for Laura  Hernandez.
797 reviews83 followers
August 23, 2018
This was an incredibly emotional read for me and my heartache ached with every single word I read. I was so captivated by this story that I could hardly breathe at times as mother and daughter shared the obstacles that each endured. This book deserves more than five stars and I will never forget this powerhouse tale that leaves you utterly breathless.

{I requested an ARC and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions contained herein are unbiased and my own.}
Profile Image for Kathryn Dee at CLiK Books.
772 reviews24 followers
July 28, 2018
My Heart Needs - Nicole S Goodin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nicole S Goodin is a new author to me but I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read My Heart Needs. By no means a romance but almost a biographical journey.

A beautifully written story of Violet Miller, a gorgeous young woman who has overcome monumental health obstacles in the form of a congenital heart condition.

The story gives you a real insiders view of the depth and breadth of emotions that are lived through each day by these brave heart warriors and their devoted families.

Violets family are supportive and loving and her relationship with her BFF Lucy is inspirational and even though this story ends on a cliffhanger, I’m hoping that Ms Goodin will publish more about Violets journey very soon. I seriously need to see the culmination of this brave woman’s fight to regain bad live the life she truly desires.

Fabulously inspirational writing, upbeat at times but honest in its feel.

My favourite line from the book is....

“It’s really hard to live in the moment when you have no idea how long that moment is going to last, or how many more moments like it will follow”.

More please Nicole.
Profile Image for Marnie.
1,191 reviews23 followers
August 21, 2018
“Difference is nothing more than a matter of perspective.”

In other words, what is your definition of ‘normal’? In the world of ‘heart kids’ those whose lives are spent often within the walls of a hospital’s cardiac suite, whose chests bear the mark of their bravery and their close shave with death, a life saving zip, this is their normal. In the outside world, not so much. Normal is flawless skin and the continual observation of the curious and the cruel, and, this is the life that Violet has lived with her own family, bolstered by the support of the beautiful family pair of cardiac nurse Linda and her daughter Lucy.

I really loved how this perspective is summed up at the end, where Violet’s biggest concern is the life or death situation of her heart. That someone else has to die so that she can live. Whereas, she would give anything to be like everyone else, half worried to death about the number of selfie likes on Instagram, going out with someone new, sex, or even shopping. This difference is her normal.

The layout is quite different to what I’ve read before, and I love the multiple POV’s in this book, because every character is invested. I did, however, start to find it a little back and forth for my concentration (I have the attention span of a goldfish), and this is the only complaint I have.

Certainly no complaints with plot points for sure because there is so much information about Violet’s heart condition, and we can see that Nicole Goodin has done her research! From symptoms to named procedures and their outcomes, these facts were artfully woven throughout the book, and I can’t even get started on the emotions that our characters feel, and in turn conveyed themselves to me. This is an amazing book – absolutely.

One last thing, If I could put a hit out on Nicole Goodin right now, I would – seriously! I damn near skipped through the second half of the book looking for someone, and they’re right there, IN THE LAST BLOODY SENTENCE!!!

This is a duet, so remember there’s a cliffhanger. Hope I don’t have to wait too long. 4.5 Stars.
Profile Image for Texas.
1,683 reviews395 followers
August 19, 2018
My Heart Needs #1 - By the second page I couldn't stop reading; a newborn dying with only a twenty percent chance of surviving the first of three surgeries. Heartbreaking. The story is told with alternating chapters. The past to the present is told by Violet's mom, Violet and Lucy, Violet's best friend from birth practically. Violet is born in 1993, so her and her family's journey from then until the present consists of all the heartbreak and drama, and the medical advancements to the present day. All the characters are real, believable, and their interactions, dialog and actions are a joy to read. Yes, the first two pages has the reader in tears, but the love and humor felt by all brings continuous smiles to the reader. Yes, there are bad times but everyone pulls together to make the best of these situations.

This is such a well written story, complete with vivid descriptions and runs the gamut of emotions. The author's writing style is perfect for this type of story; in everyday language and in plain English. I couldn't put the book down, it was so mesmerizing and I was deeply immersed in Violet's story. I can't wait to read My Heart Wants, the second part of this series. 5*
Profile Image for Deborah Carter.
Author 7 books5 followers
April 4, 2019
Oh my goodness. Had this in my 'to read' list for a while now. Wishing i'd picked it up earlier.
Nicole S. Goodin, I was reduced to tears reading parts of this beautifully written story.
Have to admit, I was so close to thinking something awful toward the end and was relieved when what i thought would happen, didn't. Unless you have something hidden up your sleeve for when i pick up your next story.
I am left wondering if you did a load of research for this story, or, is some from a personal experience?
The emotions, though processes, and overall mentality of your main character kind of blew me away and left me hoping more people could be so kind in their way of thinking of others.
Well done. an easy 5 star.
Profile Image for anuelina.
328 reviews
August 25, 2018
Some of us will get a long forever, others a shorter one, and there’s not a lot most of us can do to alter that.

Wow. This is just wow. I am speechless.

I loved how this story was told on different point of views. It made it feel so real, you saw what the people nearest to Violet were thinking.

Violet was so grown up. She had such a beautiful soul. She was more mature than her age. She was passionate and determined to live. She was a fighter. And she fought so hard.

This story made me cry multiple times. It is so beautifully written. Will definitely read the next book of the series!

I would totally want Violet be my book girlfriend.
Profile Image for Kimberly Garner.
1,256 reviews29 followers
August 20, 2018
A beautiful and heart wrenching story about life and death, and everything in between. Violet has a heart defect she was born with. She shouldn't have made it as far as she did, but not only is she still around to tell her tale she handles it with grace. This is not a romance, it's fiction, and it's so beautifully told. It will make you cry your face off, and that is a good thing, but I need to read the second book quickly since this one DOES end on a cliff hanger and I really need more of Violet's story.
Profile Image for Natalie Miernicki.
730 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2018
What an emotional roller coaster that was!! DAMN I can’t even imagine the courage and pain this family must have gone through making the tough decisions they did for the love of a sick child. Wow what a heart-warming story of love, determination and living life to the fullest given some tough circumstances. Nicole has done a wonderful job in creating a story that quite literally tugs at your heart strings.. I laughed and cried all throughout this fantastic story, I can’t wait to read the conclusion to this duet.
1,628 reviews1 follower
August 23, 2018
OMG! AMAZING!
An amazing read that will take your breath away! A non-stop bundle of raw emotions to keep you on edge tissue in hand needing to turn the pages! An very well executed storyline with an endless supply of twists making it impossible to put down, intense, moving, heartwarming, gutt-wrenching, exciting and enjoyable! A no holds barred myriad of emotions that will take and take from you but will give you just as much in return leaving you begging for more!. An amazing must read!
Profile Image for Deb.
7,000 reviews28 followers
October 12, 2018
Very few people have to go through the things the author put these characters through. This provides a look inside at the birth of a child who needs surgery and the impact her life has on the surrounding people - her parents and her friends as she defies the odds and survives. It was a journey which makes you think. It makes you so very emotional you will need multiple boxes of Kleenex in order to get through the book.
3,909 reviews29 followers
August 23, 2018
The book is a good teen and young adult read. The story is a well executed story line with an endless supply of twists. The characters are good. The story is intense, moving, heartwarming, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, exciting, enjoyable, and emotional read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jennifer Richey.
1,991 reviews
August 26, 2018
Violet is born with a heart problem she wasn’t supposed to live but by some miracle she did. This heart wrenching story tugs at your heart you will cry from each page what violet and her parents went through I’m still tearing up. Can’t wait to see what’s next this author writes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Wendy Livingstone.
18.1k reviews224 followers
August 31, 2018
This is the first book in a duet, and tells how Violet is born with a congenital heart defect, and as she struggles from childhood into adulthood. This is a beautifully written story, which pulls at the heartstrings throughout, and is about family love and support. This is emotional and heartbreaking, and I cannot wait to read the next book in this awesome series!
Profile Image for Krista.
1,141 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2018
As a parent, this book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Violet has been dealt a rough hand from day one, but she has the grace and toughness to handle it. Her best friend Lucy is the best at keeping it real. I like how you the different POV's between Leanne, VIolet and Lucy. I would have liked to have seen her dad's and her siblings POV though. Good story!
Profile Image for Phyl.
1,487 reviews18 followers
November 15, 2018
Oh my poor heart, I knew reading this was not going to be easy but damn. I couldn’t imagine the heart break of a sick child. Thank goodness her sibling were cool. I kinda liked how different all three kids were. I loved her bestie Lucy it’s exactly wanted she needed. Great read I’m off to read the next
Profile Image for Angela Adams.
10 reviews
December 12, 2018
Get the tissues ready because this book is an emotional roller-coaster! I fell in love with Violet and how strong and determined she is. It was heart wrenching seeing her deteriorate over the years and it made me think of all those parents and children that have to go through things like this in life. Can not wait to read My heart wants
1,679 reviews13 followers
August 22, 2018
If I could give this one 10 stars, I would! I have never read a book that has characters with heart conditions done so well. My son has the same heart defect as the primary character, Violet, and I could relate to the things the parents were feeling too! Very good! I highly recommend!
Profile Image for evieo17 .
4,744 reviews45 followers
August 26, 2018
Gah this book. I stayed up all night to finish it. I can relate to Leanne and how she was always worrying over Violet but I can only imagine what Violet is going through. The ending left me a mess. I need to know what’s happening next.
14.7k reviews82 followers
August 26, 2018
This is a really weepy story which will have you hoping for a happy ending. She has suffered all her life with a life threatening heart condition. Besides painting as an outlet. Follow her struggles and hopes

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,017 reviews12 followers
February 19, 2019
5 Amazing Stars! A beautiful and heart wrenching story! Make sure you have the tissues on hand you will need them! Nicole Goodin takes us on journey about Violet's life, beening born with a heart condition! So damn happy l did not have to wait for more of Violet's story!
Profile Image for Karen.
1,558 reviews15 followers
August 28, 2018
The book is a good storyline that is gripping and interesting. The characters are engaging and well developed. I did like reading this book.
580 reviews9 followers
August 29, 2018
Absolutely loved every word of this book...loved the characters and and emotional storyline. Loved that it was told from different POV's...cant wait to read the next book in the duet
Profile Image for Shelley Salter.
296 reviews2 followers
February 16, 2019
I cannot express enough how wonderful this book and the sequel were! I finished them both and was instantly ready to turn around and read them again!!!! I HIGHLY recommend!!
Profile Image for Laura Jackson.
174 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2019
Absolutely brilliant

Different to the books I usually read but I loved it even though it made me cry! Can't wait to read book two.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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