Sara Martin is a bright young woman just graduating from college and looking toward the future. Sara and her Aunt have carefully reconstructed their world after a gruesome homicide cut short the lives of her parents when Sara was only eight years old. When tragedy strikes once again, Sara discovers a hidden family secret. She was adopted and never told. Feeling lost and alone, Sara makes a fateful decision. She embarks on a quest to locate her birth parents.
With the aid of a close friend, Sam Evans, and a charismatic private investigator, Sara enters into a world of uncertainty. Little does Sara realize how this decision will forever change her life and the lives of so many others. Follow Your Heart is an exercise in love and compassion, a must read for all who believe in the power of love, and the strength of family.
Professional Reviews
Heart Warming Story
David Baughn writes: Follow Your Heart touches your heart with an inside look at how it feels for an adopted person to discover their birth parents. An entertaining, well written story that conveys the emotionally charged consequences for all the characters involved!
Though I ended up never being adopted...I was placed for adoption at birth. I ended up in the foster care system. At 36 I began "the search" for my birth family. I found myself reliving many of my own experiences as I read. Searching is such an emotional roller coaster but no matter the results...the journey is worth it.
Thanks for sharing this journey with the world. I hope sharing my story will have the impact on peole as yours does!
Lori Paris’ first novel, “FOLLOW YOUR HEART” is sure to become a favorite. Persons needing to have a guide or a gentle nudge in finding birth parents will surely be captured in heart, mind and spirit with Lori’s book. While reading Lori’s book, I kept thinking how “in depth” and emotionally turbocharged the characters appeared. It was one day after I completed the book, that I found out Lori’s book was fiction based on truth. A truth, so undeniably real, it was almost as though the characters were alive in my mind. Sara Martin, the heroine of the story is catapulted into a nightmare—a nightmare of uncertainty. As a small child, Sara’s parents were viciously murdered. Her only living relative, Aunt Irene, fondly called Reni, takes on the task of raising Sara and teaching her the skills Sara will need as an adult. With Reni’s help, Sara becomes a warm, loving soul whose only aim in life is to please her aunt, who has instilled in her, the will to succeed. The story begins with college graduation, a time of excitement and realizing she would soon have the opportunity to fulfill her dreams. Sam Evans, the love her life, although Sara wouldn’t admit it, became thrust together in solid friendship and love with the sudden death of Reni. Sara, disheveled and alone turns to Sam for support. Fear grips Sara when she finds out, through papers locked in a safe deposit box, that she had been adopted. What would Sara do? Would she hire a detective to search for her birth parents? Would she be welcomed with open arms or suffer the unknown? How will she react to learning the in-depth reason for being given up for adoption? What were the circumstances surrounding her birth parents and the decision that would unravel the very essence of time—urgent time for patience and understanding? What is the meaning and symbol for the title, “FOLLOW YOUR HEART?” It’s all revealed in Lori’s book—a book of warmth, love, compassion and truth. “FOLLOW YOUR HEART” and read Lori’s book. 5 stars, Lori!
Reviewed by Melissa Fonseca
4/7/2003
I have enjoyed the book and wish you could help me in finding my parents. I don't have much money to spend on a detective or anything in that matter but I have all the information about my parents and what agency I came from. I wish you can help me in that perspective. thank u so much for taking the time to read this.
Lori Paris reveals the complexities and challenges of the ability to search for a new identity through FOLLOW YOUR HEART. Lori understands and conveys courage and daring in this unfolding journey where nothing is guaranteed. Her work demands insight and balance of emotions with integrity and clarity of processing. She gains both and enables the reader to share a new perspective as the journey is traveled together. The reader can only gain from this work.
Judas Priest..that's the FIRST chapter? However did you put so much emotion and concern for people WE JUST MET into so short a space? Beautifully crafted, compelling work Lori.
Sven Robinson
I loved this book! A surperb job in bringing the reader close to the characters and in bringing a beautiful message as well. Although focused on adoption, the problems, feelings, hope and encouragement carries to issues we all face and makes a great read for everyone. Thanks, Lori, for a beautiful, well-written story.
Reviewed by J. Torgerson
11/13/2002
Sounds like a sweet tale that would interest many. Best of luck...
My family adopted a child when she was five and she located her birth parents with our help and has a relationship with them, now. Good luck with your book.
A homonymless man writes shows what it's like to look up the laid he skirts when you’re lying prone(d) to the sidewalk, beer / joint / needle dangling from your hand /lips / arm.
In a post-coup America, an Illinois farm boy is drawn into the resistance by his brother's death. Captured, he is given a choice: betray his friends, or the girl he loves will be lobotomized.
