Willa By Heart - By Coleen Murtagh Paratore - Book Review

Willa By Heart - By Coleen Murtagh Paratore - Book Review

Willa's family owns The Bramblebriar Inn and has two weddings to juggle at once. Summer is always a special time on Cape Code for Willa Havisham. Especially since Willa and Joey Kennelly are known as the most compatible couple at Bramble Academy. To Willa's delight the local community theatre announces auditions for Our Town. Willa feels Joey and her are destined to play the leads. Much to her dismay a new girl arrives in town and is awarded the lead opposite Joey. What is Willa to do, to insure Joey stays hers? And on top of all that Willa needs to contend with her mother's new pregnancy and her confusing feelings of becoming a big sister.

"Mariel is fascinating. No wonder JFK is intrigued. No wonder he likes her. How can I compete with that?"

Not all is black and white for Willa. Willa's role as assistant wedding planner to her mother takes an unexpected surprising turn when she accepts a dance with a Southern gentleman. The ever evolving lives of Willa and Joey may change their plans forever when the truths uncovered send her reeling and her own insecurities are revealed.

Coleen Murtagh Paratore illustrious career includes The Wedding Planners Daughter, The Cupid Chronicles, Mack McGinn's Big Win, 26 Big Things Small Hands Do, and Catching the Sun. Learn more about Ms. Paratore at: http://www.coleenparatore.com

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine for the National Writing for Children Center. Donna began writing for children about two years ago and her publishing credits include numerous print and ezine publications and is the Marketing Manager at Stories for Children Magazine.

Title: Willa by Heart

Written by: Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Ages: 12 and up

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7470-3

Published: January 2009

Hardcover: 223 pages

Price: $15.99