Customer Reviews

Desires of the Heart

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How dangerous is it to share your personal marital problems with a co-worker, one may wonder? Perhaps someone of the opposite sex really understand what women go through and how they think and offer the best advice based on shared information, or can they? In Beverly Taylor's Desires of the Heart, Carson O'Connor finds out the answer to this and more than he ever wanted to know.

Carson had no idea that sharing marital problems with a woman other than his wife, Katherine, would cause the problems that arose. The advice that Cindy Lomax gave to Carson was allegedly a sure-fire way to restore his marriage to Katherine. The two women were like night and day in build: one bosomy with ample hips, and the other thin as a rail, and willing to do whatever it takes to win back the love of her husband.

Like most men, Carson did not realize Cindy's intentions until their living arrangements started to become a problem, and the intermingling of their children took a turn that Cindy had not planned for in her quest to get what her heart desired.

At first I thought this would be a book full of drama, but it is far from that. Mental illness is on the rise, and author Taylor has written a story that raises awareness of it and the detriment it can have on the person and those around them. Yet, in the midst of the story, you can see God working things out behind the scenes to bring about restoration and peace.

This book was provided to me courtesy of the author for review purposes.


Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub

I just read and am in the process of writing a review for Desires of the Heart, my review will post under Urban Reviews.

However instead of a review here; this is my thoughts about the book as I read.
I must say as I was reading the book I was screaming mad at Carson. But then in his conversations with Cindy I realized she was feeding him these crazy things for her own purposes.

Knowing this didn't make me like him any more or less but it helped me to understand his actions. I truly enjoyed Kat and Natalie's relationship, because Natalie was able to tell Kat the tough stuff friends should be able to say.

Ms Taylor the Christ in you certainly clicked with the Christ in me with this story. In 2005 my relationship/marriage ended after 11 years. It was over because my partner didn't want to cheat on me. Same characteristics and excuses as Carson but instead of a work colleague it was a classmate with the motives dancing in the ear. Be careful who you vent to about your relationship. Unfortunately/fortunately for me my story ended differently than Kat's. (But God is still good)

I thank you Ms. Taylor for this story because I thought I was crazy in 2005, but like Kat the institution of marriage was as important to her as it is to me. Wonderful read for anyone interested in finding the first steps to looking on the heart.

Missy
Readers Paradise

A Christian couple encounter the normal problems of the world however they struggle with standing firm on their beliefs and applying those to the survival of their marriage.

They story is real! These are the kind of things we face every days as Christians whether married or not. We may as Christians appear sometimes puffed up or holier than thou. We're not perfect in any shape or form. We are out here dealing and facing the same struggles as non-Christians. We even make the same mistakes. However we live on the premise that we have a Savior who has paid the price for us and if I may quote a famous Gospel Artist that we are all very familiar with: "We fall down but we get up!"

There wasn't anything that I didn't like about this book. It has an anointing (God ability to do through us that we can't do for ourselves). The cover threw me off. I jumped right into the story and starting reading. I usually read forward and introductions before starting a book to get a feel of the read. I'm glad that I didn't. I think it may have prejudiced my spiritual discernment. Instead it opened my mind and gained my interest in a different way that had an effect on my own ministry direction.

Overall I was very impressed with the storyline and I look forward to the next book by Beverly Taylor.
Reviewed by:
Lawrence T. Williams
rwabookclub@yahoo.com
[...]

Ms. Taylor skillfully interweaves subplots involving wrong-headed solutions to marital problems of Carson and Katharine O'Connor; romantic rivals; and a mother/daughter team of scheming women. The reader can empathize even with Cindy (some of the time) and poor Deanna (her daughter), is a sad combination of malice and vulnerability, mostly thanks to her mother.

Natalie is Katharine's spunky, straight-talking best friend, and Freeman, is a good man in love with the wrong woman.

Not everyone can create realistic dialogue for children as the author has for CJ and Bethany O'Connor, much less capture a six-year-old's point of view.

Even the seemingly minor subplot involving Vincent's production company turns out to be important. You will enjoy the ending (beautifully foreshadowed and yet a surprise).

Excellent novel. Riveting to say the least. Bravo and Encore to the author. Highly recommended reading.


Reviewer Belle
A Book Case Review

It is very funny how our hearts speak to our minds in different languages and the understanding get lost in the decision making process. I was very reluctant to read due to following a novel of many sequels of another and was lost in the repeating plots. I vowed to read no more novels.....until I offered this one to a co-worker who gave it a sensational rating and raised my curiosity. I am glad I did.

Katharine O'Connor demonstrated strength and patience even at her utmost time of weakness to remain faithful to her husband and her Lord. Keeping a guard over her heart to God first, her husband second and herself last made this novel a worthy lesson of "waiting upon the Lord'.

As in marriage- one wife per life, it is the same in friendship and Natalie Harper certainly portrayed to be that one per life for Katharine. Women have many friends in her circle and all have different roles to play and a certain time to exist.....but you only get one friend for life.

The characters have been intertwined superbly thus making the plots of each storyline vibrant and full of energy leaving you breathless and waiting to exhale each moment. While the conclusion give much details of a happy ending of a marriage restored, there is still and inquiring thought if Carson really understood his wife's actions with W. Freeman who knew when to let go and take a bow out as she did his with Ms. Windy Cindy who thought her arms were long enough to box with God and win another woman's husband.

Falling into the temptations of adultery and fornication is a dangerous move. Ms. Taylor has demonstrated through divine prayer of her characters (where there are 2 or more) will God step in to show up and show out, making deliveries to free all captives...even little Bethany. Marriage can survive any evil when our hearts desires are turned to pleasing God. Divorce is not the answer and should be avoided at all cost to prevent any dangers of adultery ...whether it be in the heart by lust or in the flesh by lust....this marriage proved to be honored ...as Carson took full responsibility for his family being placed into dangerous situations even Ms. Cindy encouraged Carson to "work it out" with his wife as she deemed the wife worthy....and the redeemer saith it is so. Kudos to the author!

Courageous Women Witnessing
Atlanta, Georgia

Carson and Katherine O'Connor are a married couple of twelve years with two kids. Like any marriage, of course, they have problems. Katherine still loves Carson dearly but their feelings are not mutual. Katherine accepts a lot of physical and mental abuse but still continues to love Carson for better and for worst as she stated in her wedding vows. Carson and Katherine begin to lose their faith in God and do not communicate with each other to resolve their problems. Carson then seeks counseling through a co-worker, Cindy, who takes complete advantage of the situation. Carson makes a decision to leave Katherine and his children due to his changed feelings and appearance of her. Katherine cannot handle Carson's absence from her family and makes another decision that will change her life forever - cosmetic surgery. Will this be the best decision for Katherine? Will Katherine get Carson back? Will Carson realize the error in his ways?

"Desire of the Heart" is the most heart-wrenched and spiritual love story I've read this year! I really enjoyed reading this novel as it was similar to our daily lives - married or single. I will look forward for more books by Beverly Taylor in the future. Good job!

Reviewed by: Tekisha

Katharine and Carson O'Connor's marriage has hit the bricks in Beverly Jackson's most recent offering, Desires of the Heart. Will Katharine let go and let God, or will she defer to her own thoughts and feelings and jump into action doing what she thinks is best to save her marriage? Will Carson succumb to his flesh or will he stand firm on his religious beliefs?

I enjoyed this selection. Touching upon marital woes of infidelity, pornography, and deception, the author does a good job in weaving a storyline ripe with twists and turns to keep me reading. I wanted to know what happened in the end. Faith plays a major role in both Carson's and Katharine's lives. Readers can decide for themselves the levels of faith each character exudes when placed in certain circumstances and faced with life-altering decisions. Supporting characters, Cindy and DeAnna Lomax, lend to the latter theme of deception. Although, Cindy and DeAnna are the antagonists in this selection, I found myself, at times, empathizing with DeAnna because of her age and suffered loss. Cindy on the other hand, using her position and beauty for the wrong things, was quite the conniving one.

The characters in this story each desire something, be it love, money, a mate, or a parental figure. Beverly Taylor tells a story of the lengths people will go to in order to save what is theirs or to get what they want. The themes that stood out mostly for me is learning to love oneself before we can make anyone else happy and giving our cares to God, knowing that He works things out for the good of those who believe in and trust Him.

Review by Tavares S. Carney

The Greek word for "the heart" is LAY-BAWB and it means the inner man. So it's no wonder when you read that "God looks on the heart" that He is in fact doing just that...looking inside of us. When you meet the love of your life, what are you looking at? Carson O'Connor finds out the hard way that outer appearances might not last, but when you make a commitment to God or His people to love and cherish, you have to look at the heart to sustain the years together.

Carson and Katharine O'Connor have been married twelve years. Katharine is still in love with her man, but Carson is drawing bored with Katharine. He misses the fun they use to have, He mentions that she no longer wears make-up and walks around the house unattractive. After two children, Katharine is no sore eye. As a matter of fact, she has maintained a coke bottle figure. But when she is in her home, she doesn't see the pressure to dress like she's going to the boardroom.

It looks like this might be their last year together if Cindy Lomax has her way. Somewhere along the ride, Carson decides to listen to Cindy and winds up driving their marriage into a ditch. Ms. Lomax; the school counselor, isn't counseling Carson on getting back on track with his marriage but about how to divorce Katharine in less than 90 days. What Ms. Lomax doesn't bank on is Katharine's belief in the constitution of "l-o-v-e," and what God anoints, let no man put asunder.

God's favor, the reflections of scripture and the genuine friendship between Katharine and Natalie warms my heart. Rather than lie to her friend when Katharine asks Natalie a question; the author writes the following to give the reader a glimpse of her love for Katharine: `Sometimes even a soft voice is powerless against a broken heart." Desires of the Heart is an excellent read by Beverly Taylor.

Reviewed by Missy for Urban Reviews

My teen group read the author's teen novel and loved it. It's been a while since I reviewed a book. I saw the author at a book signing and didn't know she had wrote another book.

It's so refreshing to read a Christian fiction without all the church drama. This is an intelligent and beautifully written story about love, deceit and friendship.

The story unfolded like a good Lifetime movie. Cindy was a treacherous woman and her daughter was following in her footsteps. Each chapter made me want to read another to see what would happen next and how things would turn out. It opened up with me not liking Carson with his rude self! Katherine seemed to be too good for him but in the end he saw the light and repented.

I love everything in the middle. So much excitement. You just didn't know what tricks Cindy would come up with next. I agree with the reviews that this is a most enjoyable story. But honestly, I wouldn't have breasts and buttocks implants just to please my husband to compete with another woman. If he don't love me for who I am then to haides with him. It makes me think he is freaky or something. But when all is said and done, it wasn't even like that. Katherine jumped to conclusions and went through the agony and suffering for nothing. No, I can't say for nothing. She went through all of that so God could show up and show her. I also enjoyed the conversations that Katherine and Carson were having with God.

I wanted to whoop that lil Deanna's behind. She really, really missed her real dad, but you just don't try to steal someone elses father to replace yours. I like the fact that the author didn't babble on and on with the storylines like some authors work I have read. She brought it to you and moved on.

Ms. Taylor's DESIRES OF THE HEART is a welcoming breath of fresh air in the Christian fiction genre. She took it back to its roots. I hope there is a sequel. I would love to see Cindy get redeemed.

This is reminiscent of Temptation by Victoria Christopher Murray. I recommend this to anyone who likes inspiration Christian fiction such as that.

Love will sometimes not be realized as such until it's too late. "Desires of the Heart" tells the story of Carson and Katharine as they are split from their perfect lives as Cindy Lomax comes into their lives. Carson, strayed by Cindy's charms, soon finds himself realizing his mistakes, but the damage may already be done, and the faith of love could be irreparable. "Desires of the Heart" is a riveting romance, sure to please.