I Carry Your Heart


Fiction - Womens
267 Pages
Reviewed on 06/14/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Barbara A. Luker is a late starter, yet some would say better late than never and if you are a fan of her writing you might agree. After years of working in local government, she discovered a long dormant passion for writing that cumulated in the release of her first book "Remembering You" followed in 2022 by her newest novel "I Carry Your Heart". These women's fiction works are love stories with a bit of mystery thrown in.

A life-long resident of Minnesota, most of her works have a Minnesota connection and each book centers on a solid love story, family and what we do for those we love.

She survived an F4 tornado that destroyed three-quarters of her hometown and, maybe more impressively, survived over three decades working for the City of Saint Peter and the 12,000 people that "pay her salary".

Her readers love that she is so knowledgeable about the small details in her books and praise her research, but in reality it's a lifetime of living that forms the basis for much of her writing.

She shares her life, and a lot of times her computer keyboard, with her polydactyl rescue cat Annie. For information on upcoming works and to join Barbara's email community, please visit www.authorbarbaraluker.com, or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorbarbaraaluker or Instagram at www.instagram.com/barbaraaluker.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mariam Tijani for Readers' Favorite

The news of Abigail Ward's death was a shock to her family and neighbors. Everyone said Abby was the kindest and most generous person they knew. It was surprising that she died of a heart attack after her 80th birthday party, as she had looked healthy and full of life. It was an almost perfect day save for Abby's little fight with her daughter Deborah. The duo didn't seem to be getting along for some time. After Abby's death, the will instructed that only her granddaughter Krista should have access to her house. Abby loved her granddaughter Krista dearly and they were very close. Krista was instructed to find a hidden secret about Abby's past. She makes a shocking discovery about her grandmother's affair with her first love. Will this secret break the family and change their views of Abby? Find out in I Carry Your Heart by Barbara A. Luker.

I Carry Your Heart is a beautiful story of undying love, sacrifice, passion, and kindness. Abby was such a wonderful woman who was selfless in all her deeds and emotionally strong. Many parts of the book stirred my emotions and I enjoyed reading Abby's love story. Although there are few characters, the main ones were fascinating to discover. I was completely glued to the book and eager to read all about her past. It's a great book, not wordy, and a perfect story that could make readers feel emotional too. Well done, Barbara A. Luker, I did enjoy reading this book. Get yourself a copy as soon as possible!

Mary Hergert

I loved this book, couldn't put it down. Finished in less than a week. Great job Barb!

Other Authors

Here’s what other authors have to say about “I Carry Your Heart”

“It was captivating….I found your writing to be wonderful. You created vivid, real characters. I felt like I knew them.” ~Mary Ellen Bramwell, author of In Search of Sisters


Author Luker has captured so many emotions within the pages of I Carry Your Heart. The reader is drawn into the love of Abby and Theo, who are meant to be together, but sadly, they can't be. Together, they share an undying love that most of us can only dream about, that lasts for six decades. They live their separate lives, all the while keeping their love for one another a secret from those around them. Then, for one week a year, they find the happiness they should have had, when they can escape to their own little world, just the two of them. -- LeeAnne James, author of Justice for Loretta

This is a fun book! On page two we learn Krista's beloved grandmother Abby kept a secret for over sixty years. Barbara Luker's engaging writing pulled me right in. I was so carried away by this story of love, romance, and secrets, I read it straight through in one sitting. What a gift to read an uplifting story! ~ Sasha Lauren, author of The Paris Predicament


Barbara, I was so glad to read your novel - thank you! I feel like I should write something profound about it, but this is how it struck me. I couldn't put it down. You made me cry and nearly forget I had two toddlers to make lunch for! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story, even if I'll be moping around the house all day—ha! I Carry Your Heart is a beautiful dual-timeline story of star-crossed lovers and the difficult decisions they had to make. Abby’s devotion to helping others and making them happy (often at her own expense) was moving, at times frustrating, and ultimately a sweet testament to the delicate balance we all strive to achieve. The story was a showcase of so many types of love—passionate love, steadfast devotion, and the love of family and friends. Barbara A. Luker will break your heart in the best way. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the characters since finishing the story. I’m looking forward to reading more of Luker’s writing (with a box of tissues nearby). ~Anna Daugherty, author of Outside Of Grace


I Carry Your Heart is a dramatic story about love, secrets, and the long-reaching consequences of our choices. It’s a testament to the skill of the author that even though about halfway through the book I wanted to smack the main character upside the head, I was thoroughly invested in finding out how her story ended. The author deftly illustrates the idea that while we can’t change the past, we can do our best as we keep moving forward. I’d hand this book off to fans of Elin Hilderbrand or Kristin Hannah. ~Amanda Waters, author of With You