New young adult novel by V. Romas Burton, “Heartmender”

Vanessa Romas Burton is a graduate of Lord Botetourt and she helped create the Botetourt Buddies program while she was a student at the school. After graduating from high school, she went to Liberty University. After getting Married, she became an Air Force  wife and most recently a mother.

She is currently living in Ohio where he is stationed, but her husband’s and her own family live in the Roanoke Valley and Botetourt. When she started finding a career, the writing skills came to the forefront. She uses much symbolism in this, the first of her trilogy of young adult novels, through her life experience and her education. Here is her bio, her pen name is V. Romas Burton.

V. Romas Burton grew up bouncing up and down the East Coast where she wrote her first story about magical ponies at age seven. Years later, after studying government and earning an M.A. in Theological Studies, V. Romas Burton realized something even bigger was calling out to her–stories that contained great adventures and encouraging messages. Because she couldn’t find exactly what she was looking for, V. Romas Burton decided to write her own great adventure. When she’s not writing, she spends time reading as many books as she can, watching YouTube videos and taking care of her adorable son. “Heartmender” is her debut novel. You can visit her online at www.vromasburton.com

Here is a synopsis of her book, Heartmender:

“In the land of Barracks, the economy thrives on the barter of their citizens’ most precious commodity—a human heart. Each year, the Heart Reign festival is thrown for those who have become of age to trade their hearts for their deepest desires. And this year is Adelaide Tye’s year to trade.”

“After despising Heart Reign for years, Addie endures her Extraction and discovers that her heart isn’t gray and dying, like all other hearts in Barracks, but bright red, alive, and teeming with power.”

“With a warning from the extractor of hearts, Addie rushes through Heart Reign to make her choice—trade her heart to Schism, the monster who took her brother years before, or go in search of the Mender—a mythical man said to purify hearts and save her own heart. Either decision will rip her away from the one man who has always been by her side.”

“Knowing there is only one real choice to make, Addie jumps through Schism’s red door and is thrust into a dark and dangerous realm where she is faced with making a trade she may not survive.”

The “Heartmender” book can be purchased in hardback, softcover and e books through Amazon.com and she will be around the area in the November. Watch for book signings.

–Cathy Benson with V. Romas Burton, photo courtesy of V. Romas Burton