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Playing with Heartstrings
When Sienna McBride placed her baby for adoption at eighteen, she never dreamed that two years later she'd find herself falling for someone who resents his birth mother for not keeping him. A relationship that screams "baggage" is the last thing she has time for, especially with her last-chance Juilliard audition approaching. She can't afford any distractions if she's going to get back into the school she turned down because of her pregnancy. But that's exactly what new convert Aaron is turning out to be-a devastatingly handsome, butterfly-inducing distraction. One that's making her reconsider the importance of attending Juilliard. The future of their relationship rests on whether Sienna can live a lie or trust Aaron with the truth. If only she felt confident in either decision.
- GenresLds FictionRomance
230 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Lydia Winters
3Ìýbooks182ÌýfollowersLydia Winters decided in first grade that she’d grow up to be three things—a mom, a teacher, and a writer. She’s lucky enough to have accomplished all three tasks. Lydia received her bachelor’s in history education from Utah Valley University. Soon after leaving her teaching career behind, she became a mother to adorable twin boys, who guarantee her life is never dull.
Lydia is married to the most supportive man in the world. He regularly takes care of the twins and cooks dinner so she can escape with her laptop to chase her dream of being a writer. When she has time for hobbies, Lydia is a reality TV junkie, loves to cross-stitch, and sometimes even finds time to play the piano. She eats way too much chocolate and wishes she liked things like running or yoga.
Lydia is married to the most supportive man in the world. He regularly takes care of the twins and cooks dinner so she can escape with her laptop to chase her dream of being a writer. When she has time for hobbies, Lydia is a reality TV junkie, loves to cross-stitch, and sometimes even finds time to play the piano. She eats way too much chocolate and wishes she liked things like running or yoga.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 19, 2015
Cute cover. Emotional. Great characters. I was invested from start to finish. LDS fiction. Adoption, music. Clean.
November 15, 2015
Playing with Heartstrings revolves around Sienna, a teen girl who placed her son up for adoption. Two years later, Sienna is in college studying music and meets Aaron. An attraction forms between the two, but their budding relationship is threatened by Aaron’s view on adoption and how he resents his birth mother for giving him up. As Sienna struggles with her secret, she wonders if her relationship with Aaron will survive once the truth comes out.
I loved how the author explored the subject of adoption from both sides. I liked Sienna’s explanation of why she chose to place her son, Hunter up for adoption and I also liked how she had an open adoption and how she got to spend time with Hunter. In the scenes with her and Hunter, you can feel how hard the adoption was on her, yet in her heart she knew she did the right thing and Hunter was with the right family. As for Aaron, he himself was adopted and he feels like an outcast in his family, throughout the story you see examples of how his family treats him differently and understand why he feels the way he does. Aaron feels resent me towards his birth mother and doesn’t understand why she gave him up, and he sets out to find answers.
Throughout the story, Sienna struggles with when and how to tell Aaron. I understood she was scared and worried how he would react, the more she put it on hold I wanted to yell at her to “just tell him already.�
Aside from the adoption issue, there were other obstacles in Sienna and Aaron’s relationship. One was Jared, a guy Sienna was seeing before she met Aaron. Jared was a great guy and even though he and Sienna weren’t exclusive, I felt bad when Sienna broke up with him. Another person who causes trouble for Sienna and Aaron is Dane, Sienna’s ex-boyfriend and father of her child, who contacts Sienna about wanting to see Hunter.
My main critique with the story is the ending; I thought the last chapter wrapped everything up too quickly. For instance, it mentioned Aaron meeting his birth mother and instead of just mentioning in a paragraph, I would’ve loved to have seen that scene play out.
Other than that, Playing with Heartstrings is a cute, romance story that will tug at your heartstrings.
I loved how the author explored the subject of adoption from both sides. I liked Sienna’s explanation of why she chose to place her son, Hunter up for adoption and I also liked how she had an open adoption and how she got to spend time with Hunter. In the scenes with her and Hunter, you can feel how hard the adoption was on her, yet in her heart she knew she did the right thing and Hunter was with the right family. As for Aaron, he himself was adopted and he feels like an outcast in his family, throughout the story you see examples of how his family treats him differently and understand why he feels the way he does. Aaron feels resent me towards his birth mother and doesn’t understand why she gave him up, and he sets out to find answers.
Throughout the story, Sienna struggles with when and how to tell Aaron. I understood she was scared and worried how he would react, the more she put it on hold I wanted to yell at her to “just tell him already.�
Aside from the adoption issue, there were other obstacles in Sienna and Aaron’s relationship. One was Jared, a guy Sienna was seeing before she met Aaron. Jared was a great guy and even though he and Sienna weren’t exclusive, I felt bad when Sienna broke up with him. Another person who causes trouble for Sienna and Aaron is Dane, Sienna’s ex-boyfriend and father of her child, who contacts Sienna about wanting to see Hunter.
My main critique with the story is the ending; I thought the last chapter wrapped everything up too quickly. For instance, it mentioned Aaron meeting his birth mother and instead of just mentioning in a paragraph, I would’ve loved to have seen that scene play out.
Other than that, Playing with Heartstrings is a cute, romance story that will tug at your heartstrings.
August 5, 2016
This was a super good book. Sienna is at a prestigious arts school in Philadelphia working on her music major and hoping to get into Juilliard. She meets two great guys who she both likes and respects, but one captures her heart completely. But she is torn on how much she should share about her past, especially when the guy she is falling for despises his birth mother, feeling she was selfish and took the easy way out. Having placed a child in adoption herself a couple years ago, she knows this could be a deal breaker when she reveals the truth. I really liked the characters and the story flowed smoothly. The theme of adoption and teenage pregnancy was beautifully handled and made me think and ponder. I realized when I finished that there is a book before this about Sienna’s life when she got pregnant in high school. I want to read that now, although not having done so didn’t detract from this story one bit. ***I won this in #booktrek16 contest and highly recommend it for those who like clean romance with sensitive themes.
November 4, 2015
I was sent a free copy of this book for my honest, unbiased opinion. I'm not going to lie, I was a little hesitant reading a LDS book, mainly because I'm not that familiar with the Mormon religion. That being said, I LOVED the book! You don't have to know anything about the religion to understand or appreciate the book.
The book focuses on Sienna, a young woman who got pregnant as a teenager and gave her baby up for adoption, and Aaron, a young man who was adopted as a child and feels out of place in his family. As the two become closer, Sienna is forced to decide if she should keep her history of being a birth mother a secret, or risk telling Aaron. Then throw in the fact that Sienna's baby's bio dad comes back into the picture and I couldn't read the book fast enough.
I loved the book for more than just the story, I love how clean and innocent the book is; it's very refreshing in this day and age.
The book focuses on Sienna, a young woman who got pregnant as a teenager and gave her baby up for adoption, and Aaron, a young man who was adopted as a child and feels out of place in his family. As the two become closer, Sienna is forced to decide if she should keep her history of being a birth mother a secret, or risk telling Aaron. Then throw in the fact that Sienna's baby's bio dad comes back into the picture and I couldn't read the book fast enough.
I loved the book for more than just the story, I love how clean and innocent the book is; it's very refreshing in this day and age.
February 29, 2016
3 1/2 stars.
Really cute story about the two different sides of adoption. Sienna has placed her baby for adoption and Aaron was adopted as a baby and resents the birth mom.
It was different to see Aaron's perspective and how he learned to get through it. I liked how the relationship between Sienna and Aaron developed and how she was able to work through her own issues.
It's a fast read and an adorable romance between the main characters.
Really cute story about the two different sides of adoption. Sienna has placed her baby for adoption and Aaron was adopted as a baby and resents the birth mom.
It was different to see Aaron's perspective and how he learned to get through it. I liked how the relationship between Sienna and Aaron developed and how she was able to work through her own issues.
It's a fast read and an adorable romance between the main characters.
December 7, 2015
This sweet and thoughtful book gave me a deeper look into what adoption would be like for the birth mom. I'd never even thought before how someone could be carrying a child that was truly meant to be with another family. Heavenly Father always has a plan. I liked the love story and the main character, Sienna's, passion for the piano and music which has always played a part in my life as well. It was clean and sweet.
October 26, 2016
As a young teen, I probably would have loved this book, but as an adult I am bothered by the ending. The character actually says that she doesn't care about her education now, because now she has a man! What a terrible message for young women and what a bad view it would give the non-lds readers of the Mormon attitude towards gender relationships. Go to Julliard, idiot! That's nice that you're in love, but you need to maximize your own abilities, not just rely on him to make you happy. Ugh!
June 16, 2016
Ambivalent ending
The story was engaging, but I feel it shortchanged delving into an important bit of character growth in favor of "god heals all hearts."
The story was engaging, but I feel it shortchanged delving into an important bit of character growth in favor of "god heals all hearts."
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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