Hand On Heart

Heart surgeon Miller presents his personal reflections on the nature of life, addressing the subjects of sex, self-interest, God, Schopenhauer, music, compassion, life as a heart surgeon, and the finality of death.

The "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Compass of Pleasure" examines how our sense of touch is interconnected with our emotions Dual-function receptors in our skin make mint feel cool and chili peppers hot.

Fans of Jodi Picoult, Susan Lewis, Mitch Alborn and Alice Sebold will love this mesmerising, emotive and enthralling novel from international bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde. 'An extraordinary and unforgettable book - powerful, poignant and incredibly moving. I read the whole thing at a sitting, and absolutely loved it' -- SUSAN LEWIS 'Compelling new book' -- Woman's Own '...powerful emotions are aroused. A compelling, thoughtful read' -- Choice Magazine 'Impossible to put down' -- ***** Reader review 'This book is AMAZING!!!' -- ***** Reader review 'An absolutely amazing read which drew me in from the first page and wouldn't let me go until I had finished' -- ***** Reader review 'Very well-written...a gripping tale' -- ***** Reader review ********************************************************************************** SHE'S BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO LIVE, BUT DOES SHE KNOW HOW? One girl: Vida is nineteen, very sick, and has spent her short life preparing for death. But a new chance brings its own story, because for Vida to live, someone had to die. One man: Richard has just lost his beloved wife in a car accident. He hasn't even begun to address his grief, but feels compelled to meet the girl who inherited his wife's heart. Someone else's heart: In hospital Vida sees Richard and immediately falls in love. Of course he dismisses her as a foolish child. But is she? Can two people be bound by a second hand heart?

A moving novel about grief, guilt, and the unpredictability of love, for fans of Everything, Everything and All the Bright Places. Jonny knows better than anyone that life is full of cruel ironies. He's spent every day in a hospital hooked up to machines to keep his heart ticking. Then when an organ donor is found for Jonny's heart, that turns out to be the cruelest irony of all. Because for Jonny's life to finally start, someone else's had to end. That someone turns out to be Neve's twin brother, Leo. When Leo was alive, all Neve wanted was for him (and all his glorious, overshadowing perfection) to leave. Now that Leo's actually gone forever, Neve has no idea how to move forward. Then Jonny walks into her life looking for answers, her brother's heart beating in his chest, and everything starts to change. Together, Neve and Jonny will have to face the future, no matter how frightening it is, while learning to heal their hearts, no matter how much it hurts. (Features select graphic novel illustrations from Jonny's sketchbook.)

Words from Ms. Torres: "I take my FAS and turn it in to a teaching tool to help others learn what I go through every day of my life." "If one person listens to what I have to say, then I have done my job. This is what I was born to do. I have won many awards for my work. The awards I've won have been great, but my biggest award is knowing that my message is being delivered and knowing that I might be helping so many people and unborn babies. . If I can prevent one more child from this awful syndrome I will be happy. My ultimate goal is to get the word out there that FAS is 100% preventable. I want everyone to know about the effects of alcohol on the fetus. My advice, my plea, is that you PLEASE, PLEASE do not drink while you are pregnant, even if you plan on giving your baby up for adoption. Let your baby fulfil his or her dreams and live a normal life. For all the fathers to be, you play an important role in this too. You must be encouraging and supportive. Staying away from alcohol yourself would be helpful." What others are saying: Thank you for sending your book to me. I read it all, and I wanted to cry. What a wonderful sacrifice you and your family took on. It is wonderful what you have done and how Chanel has grown and turned out to be a wonderful young lady. You are certainly a very special person blessed by God from the beginning. I love you very much. Aunt Gloria"Ms. Torres is a true light in a world that needs more education on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and its effects on unborn children. She has opened doors that will never be shut. She has just begun to educate the nation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome." Deborah Thornton, SEDNET Project Mangement"Ms. Torres is the epitome of self-advocacy and embodies strength, resilience, and determination. She is courageous and tireless in her quest to educate others regarding FAS; and is compassionate and determined in her mission to empower and advocate for other young adults with disabilities." Barbara Shannon, School PsychologistLast night, I received a copy of Signing with a heavy hand and heart, Love Mommy: A journey through fetal alcohol syndrome by Mrs Sondra A Torres and Miss Chanel E Torres from Ms. Torres. I opened it and couldn't put it down until I was finished. This story of a young woman living with the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome (a birth defect that is 100% preventable-all pregnant women need to do is not drink when pregnant) is moving, sometimes funny and always inspirational. I quickly grew to care about Chanel and her adoptive family. Ms. Torres creates a vivid picture of what it is like to live with and care for children with special needs. In relatively few words, Torres brings her family to life-its struggles and its joys. The feelings of love and joy are powerfully conveyed while not minimizing the challenges presented in raising a child with FAS. As a teacher and parent I laughed and cried and wished I could meet this brave girl and her loving mother. Torres is compassionate towards all, including birth parents, but my heart breaks for the children who struggle with this disability. It is a daily battle for which there are some effective interventions but no cures. I will say that Ms. Torres left me more hopeful for these children than my experience as a teacher had-her powerful home environment is definitely a plus for Chanel."CHANEL TORRES IS AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS TO BOOK THIS SPEAKER FOR A PRESENTATION, PLEASE GO TO advocatefortheunborn.wordpress.com

Reproduction of the original: The Hand but not the Heart by T.S. Arthur