Hearts on Fire by T. Renee

Four foster sisters, on different life trajectories, are the focus in Hearts on Fire, a powerful work of women’s fiction by T. Renee.

All four young women are alumni of a state-run group home close to their current residences in a housing project just outside of Philly. Unfit mothers, Sophia and Madison, break the monotony of their meaningless existence by occasional stints in jail. Pretty Tameka (Meka) lets herself be abused in her quest to be genuinely loved, and practical Letti, who doesn’t let personal tragedy get in the way of her goals. She’s on a fast-track to success – until she meets Lucas Tibadeaux, a young prosecutor, who quickly poses a threat to Letti’s very existence.

From start to finish, this novel is gritty and sometimes painful to read, but only because of the strength of Renee’s storytelling and characterization. She pulls no punches, using urban slang and a flow of expletives to underscore her realistic portrayal of life in the projects. All four characters are clearly defined and each have an integral part to play in the unfolding drama.

Despite some grammatical challenges and a penchant for overly long paragraphs in places, Hearts on Fire is a powerfully evocative novel about society’s other half, painting an unapologetic portrait that commands a visceral response from the reader.

Book Links