
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle
ARC provided by author in exchange of honest review
☆☆☆☆☆ 5 "To The Moon and Back" Stars ☆☆☆☆☆

Have you ever read a book that left you emotionally raw and yet touched you to the core? Heart of Marley by T.K. Leigh was that book for me. It was simply beautiful. It had characters that consumed you. A story that will grip you and leave you in awe. Heart of Marley was indeed an emotional journey to be experienced. Two hearts..two souls...two best friends..two siblings united by a bond that transcends all odds. A bond that has withstood hardship, pain, loss, suffering and darkness. In this beautiful well written book, T.K. Leigh will take her readers on a truly emotional touching vulnerable tale of the matters of the heart. It will open your mind to topics that must not be swept under the rug. And it will leave you magically spellbinded in the beauty of love, hope, family, friendship and light.

Readers were first introduced to Dr. Cameron Bowen in the Beautiful Mess Series. And in Heart of Light, we finally got to know the real Cameron Bowen. The surfer doctor who found love and light in Jolene. They say love heals and he did just that with Jolene. He slowly mended and erased all the shattered pieces of Jolene’s heart. He was her sun. He was her protector. Simply, he was hers and he did everything in his power to make her see that their love will save them. They were each other’s light. But we never got to know the real meaning of why “Light” is so important to Cameron. And in Heart of Marley, T.K. Leigh will take us back to a time of where readers got to know the first women who owned Cameron’s heart. His twin sister, Marley Jane.
Marley and Cameron were each other’s best friend and were inseparable. They were each other’s HEART. Twins connected by a strong bond of love, loyalty, and trust. Cameron would not be the man he is today without Marley Jane. She was his soul and the reason why Cameron’s heart is filled with hope, goodness, and love. She was his light.

Marley and Cameron did not have an easy childhood. First they dealt with an unexpected death of their father then witnessing their mother crumble to the abuse of drugs. But the most shocking and saddening thing was when Marley was repeatedly raped and abused everyday as child from the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. This traumatic event ripped every fiber of light in Marley. It left Marley shattered and broken. Pieces of Marley were scattered and these pieces were barely holding onto place if it weren’t for Cameron. He was the glue that kept Marley from completely being shattered. Slowly, Cameron tried to fix and help Marley but behind the happy face that Marley puts on lies a broken girl.
Darkness and pain was the only world that Marley knew. She had family that loved her but their love was not enough for Marley to escape the haunting memories. In this gut wrenching and heartbreaking tale, T.K. Leigh exposes the raw vulnerable side of the relationship between Marley and Cameron. She also showcases the power of love. It heals. Marley found two sources of light in Cameron and Douglas, her boyfriend. But sometimes, darkness has a way to creep back in. And for Marley, she was stuck. She wanted to erase the painful memories and welcome the light but sometimes the pain was so hard for her to deal with.

Heart of Marley is not a romance story but a tale of life’s journey. Life is not perfect. It is not clear cut and sometimes it takes on another road. Marley and Cameron’s journey begins at a time where darkness only surrounded them but in the end they found the light. I really have no words to express how amazing this book is. T.K. Leigh had me glued to my kindle and had me in tears. Heart of Marley is a book to EXPERIENCE. It reminds us all to never be afraid to get help and speak up. And most importantly, nothing can dim the light in your heart. So if you are looking for a book that will grip and touch your heart, then I highly recommend you read Heart of Marley. Love this book to the moon and back!! <3