What the Heart Remembers by Debra Ginsberg

What the Heart Remembers by Debra Ginsberg
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads: Whispers of the past…

When young Eden Harrison receives a heart transplant from an unknown donor, her seemingly charmed life falls apart. Haunted by dreams of people and places she doesn’t recognize, Eden is convinced that her new heart carries the memories of its original owner. Eden leaves her old life behind as she is mysteriously drawn to the city of San Diego.

Whispers of the mind…

There, Eden becomes fast friends with Darcy, a young woman recently widowed by Peter, her wealthy, much older husband. But Darcy is unsettled by her inability to mourn, and more unsettled by recurring thoughts of Adam, a young musician she was having an affair with--who has suddenly vanished.

Whispers of the heart…

Yet, the more Eden learns about Darcy, the more she realizes that all is not as it seems, and she begins to suspect foul play behind Peter's and Adam’s fates. As the tension around them escalates, Eden’s mysterious dreams become more and more frequent. Can Eden listen to what her heart is trying to tell her before it is silenced forever?

My thoughts: The story is intriguing as it deals with cellular memory and a little bit of paranormal, mystery, and romance. The mystery comes in with Eden's sudden gear shift from doting fiance to a near personality change as she feels the pull to San Diego and a certain restaurant. She has odd dreams that repeat themselves and feel very real yet show scenes of a life she hasn't lived. There are a number of mysteries to be solved in this story, some of which pose questions without answers. That was my one complaint. That and some sudden scene changes. There is a murder committed, possibly more. The biggest question answered is who's heart is beating in Eden's chest and why is she remembering things that didn't occur in her life?

The idea of cellular memory is a lot like muscle memory. I may not remember exactly how to play a piece on the piano until I sit at the piano and, without conscious thought, I can play a long forgotten song. My fingers know the keys. Or riding a bike. The difference is that the memory is within the heart and a transplant patient is having the memories of the important aspects of the donor's life and death. The patient is drawn to the same people.

The romance is between Darcy and Peter, Darcy and Adam, and Eden and Derek. While Eden abandons her life in Portland, Derek continues to pursue Eden and the idea of cellular memory. Eden is torn between who true self and the person that used to own the heart she now has. It is an interesting concept and the story is well written. It isn't altogether believable as it escalates yet the concept is not altogether unbelievable, either.

It's a good, solid read.

3.5 stars

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*I received a free copy of this book from publishing company in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.