The Legacy of Lucy Harte: A poignant, life-affirming novel that will make you laugh and cry

This was a great little read. Grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go till the end. The characters were amazing and you got to know them well without too much description. The scenery was the same way, beautiful but not over done. Great book to finish up my summer reading.

I hated this book and skimmed most of what I thought was drivel. Maggie who has had a transplanted heart for 15 years, is totally self-absorbed and "oh, poor me". She knows a transplanted heart is good for around 15 years so what does she do that anyone living on borrowed time would do? She becomes a drunk. Ok, so she's going through a heart breaking divorce, pun intended, but hey lady, you going to spend what time you have left moaning and groaning? (No wonder her husband left her.) For the second time, her salvation is her donor who has left behind a list of things she wanted to accomplish in her life, so at the donor's brother's urging, Maggie sets out to fulfill her donor's wish list. Best that can be said is she changes for the better. I suspect that most transplant patients, myself included, appreciate life in a way that Maggie doesn't. As I said, I skimmed most of the book; pretty much skipped to the end, because time is precious.

In the beginning, I thought this book seemed a bit fanciful; however, I was soon drawn in and realized there would be a very strong message here. I’m a strong believer that we don’t have all of the answers surrounding our lives and beyond, but I have an equally strong belief that we should all take the opportunity to provide others with a longer life if at all possible. Thank you, Emma Heatherington for the reminder!

How does one live on borrowed time? Maggie O’Hara knew that the heart given her to have a second chance in life was only good for fifteen years; every day that she will live after that is a bonus. Even with this knowledge, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for herself when her husband left her for another woman (which woman wouldn’t anyway?). No matter if she was living on borrowed time, she couldn’t help but use what little time she had to wallow in self-pity. Until she met her heart’s big brother; until she embarked on that journey for Lucy Harte (I am sure that was intentional – Harte – Heart).It is amazing how we are transformed when we really stop and slow down, and take notice of not only what we are doing to ourselves, but more importantly of how we are affecting other people. It is only by slowing down that we realize and acknowledge the things and the people who are really worth our time and energy. We all deserve down times, and it is just sad that most of us don’t realize that until it’s too late sometimes; when almost all that is important have slipped away because we were too busy. Maggie was on borrowed time and she made good use of whatever little time she had left. It is true what is said: “Live every day as your last, because one day it will be.” We can only wish we all knew when that day will be…Simply written, but filled with heartfelt emotions, this story is a heart-breaker, a tear-jerker, but it is also full of love and hope that uplifts the spirit and pushes us to move forward. I believe it also accomplished another purpose, that of raising awareness on organ donation. Great read overall.

This book started with a protagonist whom I really disliked as she wallowed in the self pitying world of her own making. Slowly, ever so slowly, she began an awakening to a much greater, sweeter, gentler life. By the end I found myself cheering for her.

I liked the premise of living with someone else’s heart and trying to follow their dreams. I often got upset my the main character’s self Indulgence and pity,but I was a good read for the most.

I just read this small jewel of a book and I so loved it. I think it's one of those books that you can keep referring to when you feel low to remind yourself that only the fact of being alive is such a great gift and that we must make the most of it instead of mopping around over our problems.The Legacy of Lucy Harte is the story of Maggie, who got a heart transplant and her donor was a small girl, Lucy, who died in a car accident. Maggie, who has outlived the life expectancy for someone who had had a heart transplant, is at a phase where she finds her life a bit out of control; an impending divorce, a strained relationship with her brother, growing drinking problem.....But then Maggie is contacted by Lucy's brother, Simon. Simon has a mission for Maggie and that is to fulfil Lucy's bucket list if she was still alive. Will Maggie go for it? How will this impact on her perspective on life? I'll let you discover this amazing read.This story will stay with you and make you think about whether you are really leading the life you can and are meant to live.

This book should be read by everyone! I loved it for multiple reasons, one being I am a retired critical care/ER nurse and know how important organ donors are to the living. I also know very few people understand the importance of donating an organ which could save another’s life. Thirdly it was so touching to read the love that truly came from someone who had received the gift of prolonged life and passed that love on. It touched my heart,

I paid for this book, which is a rarity for me when the author's not known to me or hasn't been recommended. I'm not sure how I happened upon it now. I was probably drawn to its great title and the synopsis would've easily sold it to me. A fascinating story. I did get a little bogged down maybe two-thirds of the way through and also nearer the beginning, though for differing reasons. There are a few too many errors for my liking and quite a bit of needless repetition, I thought, as well.However, it more than redeems itself as you progress and I was sobbing at the ending.....loved the doctor's name in the final scene as well......tied everything together nicely, I thought. At times I wanted to smack Maggie near the beginning, especially as the answer to all her woes was to sling another glass of wine down her neck !!There were quite a few words missing from sentences...."in town of Tain" or "Yes, food would the next stage".....immune suppressing needs hyphenating, she wrote woman and not women, he when she meant she, we had missed speechmarks, CEO's didn't need an apostrophe, straight-laced should be strait-laced and complementary should be complimentary. VERY annoyingly, she wrote boys school minus an apostrophe when she'd already written it correctly on the very same page. For me, all of these nitpicking things should've been picked up by a good editor.At one point Maggie replies to her own thoughts as opposed to a question from a friend which I found baffling and again, I was totally confused by this passage. There's definitely something off about how it's presented-"Jeff and I have lots of mutual online friends and I know I run the risk of his photo popping up on my newsfeed is a huge probability and I will sink into further self-pity when it happens." Reading it out aloud I believe if she dropped 'I run' from the sentence it would make a lot more sense. She also mentioned that Lucy wanted to throw a dinner party for strangers, which she hadn't mentioned at all !! Nothing about strangers had been referred to.....I'll try another by this author but no more if it has as many mistakes, I'm afraid.

Maggie O'Hara received the most precious gift of a second chance of life and following some upsetting times, receives a letter from the donors family. Taking on the challenge to live some of the life left behind by the donor, Maggie travels and experiences new friends, new lovers and puts the past firmly behind her.I absolutely loved this story and can't believe it took me so long to retrieve it from my Kindle reading list and actually read it. Maggie is a likeable character and there are times this story reminds me of "Ps I love you" but this doesn't detract from it being well written and heart-warming. The ending was good aswell and the story stayed with me long after I'd finished it.

It was a beautifully written book. The characters were brilliant. The whole story is very moving and took you on an emotional journey. It felt like it was happening to a close friend which made it more emotional. Without letting anything out I loved the way she handled the end of the story. It makes you laugh but have tissues at the ready because it makes you cry as well. Would highly recommend this book.

Fab fab book detailing the important and emotive issue of organ donation both from the transplant recipient point of view and the views of the donor family who make that very brave decision to save the lives of others. I'm on the receiving end of that having received the gift of life in a new kidney last August and life has been bliss for me from that day. I have written to them in the way the hospital like us to just to say thank you and tell your own story with no personal identification. I'm so forever grateful to the greatest hero I never knew who saved my life. Also the family for agreeing to donating their loved ones organs!! This novel tops Louise Jensen The Gift as its a more realistic account of the emotions and feelings of both recipient and donor family. A must read for everyone as it is inspirational I. That shows how we should appreciate life and how good it is to be alive!!

i'm a big reader but i've never left a review for a book before. This book just ticks every box for me. i love the powerful message behind it about organ donation, the story had such an uplifting feel to it and it made me feel genuinely happy when reading it. i couldn't put it down! the characters in the story are so lovable and i could imagine each of the scenes they were in so vividly. it would be amazing to see this as a movie!!