4 STAR REVIEW: I CAN STILL HEAR YOU by Nicole Black

Publication Date: February 22, 2021

“An excellent book for anyone who has suffered a loss, to remember that your loved ones spirit lives on through you.” —Jack Canfield, Coauthor of the New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul® series and The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be™

I Can Still Hear You is a powerful and deeply moving story which grapples with the universal pain of grief and the loss of a loved one. When Scarlett O’Connor loses her father at the age of thirty, she’s forced to face the shambles that her life has become. With no money and no savings, the only thing that waits for her is a cryptic map and a mysterious letter. With nothing left to lose, she embarks on a trip to Maui for her father’s final adventure—to begin a treasure hunt which will force her to look deep inside herself and come to terms with her pain and grief.

Accompanied by her less-than-supportive fiancé, a close childhood friend, and an enigmatic man who was her father’s old acquaintance, Scarlett must decode the mystery and find the hidden treasure. But she knows she must face her fears alone and calling upon the spirit of her father for guidance, she struggles to reconcile her emotions and uncover the treasure before her time in Maui comes to an end.

Perfect for fans of contemporary and women’s fiction, I Can Still Hear You is a gripping tale which will resonate with anybody who has struggled with the death of someone close. This book is a testament to the fact that even though we may have lost them, our loved ones stay with us no matter what challenges we face.

I Can Still Hear You by Nicole Black is a quick read with a powerful message from a recently deceased dad to his only daughter, Scarlett, who is thirty years old. 

Life has not gone as Scarlett’s planned. She’s currently unemployed from her low-paying, dead-end job after taking time off to be with her dad while he was hospitalized and dying. She has a boyfriend, Kevin, who she’s been dating for three years that her dad and best friend, Mark, don’t seem to like, and with good reason. 

Kevin never puts Scarlett first in his life, and he is always putting her down for her life choices. That is until he thinks there may be a treasure that brings her wealth. Then Kevin suddenly plays the doting boyfriend. Does she really need someone in her life that is so uncaring? He didn’t give off caring or loving vibes until recently. 

Scarlett and best friend Mark had a special bond growing up as childhood friends and neighbors, and it continues even though they’re on opposite coasts and haven’t seen each other in years. Once Scarlett’s dad dies, it’s Mark’s wisdom and kindness she relies on as he’s always there for her no matter what time of day she reaches out.

According to Scarlett, her dad has given her fortune cookie wisdom throughout her life. On his deathbed, she thinks that’s what he continues to do. Little does she realize the importance of what he tells her at that time and also throughout her lifetime. 

Her journey to fulfill her dad’s dying wish to find her treasure takes her from Santa Monica to Maui and to his estranged best friend, Dave. 

Ms. Black writes very descriptively of the trails, the hotel, the mountains, and the beach were vivid and made me feel like I was there, especially since I could visualize much of the narrative. As Scarlett continually sees a cardinal, both at home and in Hawaii, she realizes it may be her dad’s spirit with her. She also keeps getting signs from him and has wonderful memories of being on the island when she was a child with both her parents. 

As memories of many of her dad’s sayings flood back to Scarlett, she realizes the wisdom and importance of them and begins to act accordingly. She also starts to discover her own strength and the control she has over her own life.

There are twists and turns throughout the story, and it has a nice flow to it. The mystery does get solved, and some loose ends are tied up, but the story ended abruptly, and I wanted just a little more, especially with the surprise at the end.

Ms. Black is an author whose books I will look for if this is her caliber of writing. I loved the cover and its importance to the story.

Nicole Black is an author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur with a passion for sharing unique stories and helping people grow. For over twenty years, she’s worked in the business world as a corporate trainer in employee productivity and effective growth, where she’s helped some of the biggest brands in hospitality and entertainment grow sustainably through inspiring their employees. She’s been featured on platforms including TEDxWilmington, The Jack Canfield Show, Santa Barbara News Press, The George DiGianni show and The Tom Barnard Show. 

Through her writing, Nicole hopes to empower her readers and impart valuable lessons about grief, loss, and emotional growth. In her free time, Nicole enjoys traveling, yoga, and spending time with her wonderful daughter in their home of Santa Barbara, California.