Chapter One

High in the hills of Berkeley, California, the omen hung in the stillness of the late afternoon air like a full moon yet to rise. Seeking refuge, Kate Kindrick huddled in the branches of the walnut tree flanking the driveway of the two-story brick home at 537 Spruce Street.

Kate, a six-year-old who was clueless about the rare seventh sense with which she was gifted—the ability to read human hearts coupled with keen intuition—felt squirmy in her skin. She sniffed at the air, her nose scrunching into a wrinkle. An odd scent seeped into her pores.

Pointing her index finger at the sky, she held it there as a lightning rod, fully expecting something telling to stick to it. Within seconds, as if a definitive substance had pinged her finger, she brought it down mere millimeters from her eyes. Sleuth-like, Kate examined every nuance, paying extra attention to the whorl pattern on her fingertip.

She touched the whorl to her tongue. A fearsome shiver snaked through her, one so potent she jolted, almost falling from the tree. Her fingers clutched frantically, grabbing at the limb and its leafy offshoots. Her body jerked upward forcing her weight to shift. After multiple unstable wobbles, she regained her balance. Even still, a feeling of dread had taken hold, had set up residence as surely as if a horde of poisonous snakes had moved in, their aliveness slithering deep within her.                                                                                   

Inside the house at 537 Spruce Street, an angel waited. She hovered respectfully atop the mound of white icing, atop a thing on Earth called a birthday cake. Her skin appeared to be a translucent plastic, and her eyes were radiant like blue topaz. Her wings, a golden-silvery hue, shimmered in a feathery quiver.

         The clock on the kitchen oven clicked, displaying new digital numbers. The angel blinked her eyes. It was now less than one hour before the party, the celebration of Kate’s entrance on Earth six years ago. Kate’s mother said it was the day she was born to life, and she was. And she wasn’t. Not from the angel’s perspective, anyway...

Reviewers say The Girl Who Could Read Hearts is Insightful, Riveting, Spiritual... A highly recommended, evocative read... Intriguing, suspenseful story. It brims with inspiration and daring while exploring intuition, angels, the afterlife & social issues.

Born gifted with a rare seventh sense—the ability to read human hearts coupled with keen intuition—protagonist Kate struggles to understand her capabilities. She is often bewildered by her unique perceptions combined with seeing symbols and panoplies of color in people s hearts. 

Kate's parents fear that their young daughter suffers from delusional psychosis. Their concerns are intensified by her claims that she has conversations with an angel. Yet it's her naiveté of the intuitive signs that augur trouble.

The Girl Who Could Read Hearts explores issues relevant to many of today s societal woes: prejudice, abuse, eating disorders, and limiting belief systems. Through the experiences of 6-year old protagonist Kate, it also delves into the mysteries of death, the afterlife and intuition. Full of spirit, this poignant story is riveting while being thought-provoking and insightful.