Awakening Heart — Melody Carlson

Emma Davis is determined to break out of the isolation she's created for herself as the sole caretaker for her elderly grandmother. Although she's always been the "practical" one, a spur-of-the-moment visit to a travel agency sets her on a journey far from her small-town Iowa home.

A breathtaking cruise begins to soften the shell around Emma's heart as she learns to open herself up to new experiences and newfound friendships, but it isn't until her arrival in Papua, New Guinea, that Emma begins to truly realize her identity as a child of God. Amid the lush landscape of the tropical island, Emma regains her sense of purpose by caring for three motherless children, and befriending their father, Josh Daniels, whose own eyes reflect a haunting and painful memory.

Can the love Emma has discovered help conquer Josh's tainted and bitter past?