Customer Reviews

Matters of the Heart

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

While an avid reader, I rarely write reviews but was disturbed after reading this book. I feel the author was attempting to show how manipulative and devious a sociopath is, but had her character stay with the man for far too long. I feel it sends a dangerous message to both men and women. In the story, Hope is shown to be a strong woman. She is a woman who has lost much, but has been able to move through the pain and loss. I realize that a true sociopath can manipulate anyone, but as a message for young women, in particular, I think Hope should have left Finn the first time he was abusive. I think it sends a poor message that a strong, 44-year-old woman would stay with a man after he had been both mentally and physically abusive.

Well, the big news is that this book lacks the usual repetition Steels' last books always have. Who knew it would take her 100th book to break the cycle? We'll see if it continues.

This is a predictable story. Since the book jacket and in my opinion the above copied reviews from other sources have given you all the details to the story, not much is a surprise. I found myself disliking Hope because she is such a weak woman. It was irritating to me that the story dragged on on if Hope stays with Fin when all the signs of this man not being good were plain as day. The ending is just as predictable.

I read the book in a day. Its a fast read. Get it from the library for free, certainly not worth paying for.

Ever since MOMA showed an exhibit of her photography when she was thirty-eight, Hope Dunne has become famous. She was recently in India and Tibet, but now is back in her Manhattan Soho loft just before Christmas. Hope enjoys her lifestyle though at times misses the intimacy she once had when she was married for over two decades to sexagenarian Paul who suffers from Parkinson's disease; but Hope especially misses her late daughter. She captures that combination of serenity and passion though a camera lens.

Her agent Mark Webber asks if she would like to do a shoot of popular Irish-American author Finn O'Neill; she agrees. She meets her assistant on the job Fiona Casey and they travel to Ireland together. Hope finds the bodacious warm Finn a delightfully charming opposite of her quiet manner. He seems attracted to her and overtly displays his feelings as he tries to sweep her off her feet. At his remote estate, she falls in love only to begin to unravel his tale of omissions and lies, but mostly it is his jealous rage when there is no remote reason bothers her. She realizes she is acting schizoid as her heart tells her to trust Finn, but her brain tells her to flee back to Manhattan before it is too late. She wonders if he is an overly concerned somewhat possessive lover, a sociopath, or worse.

This is a typical Danielle Steele contemporary character driven thriller that fans of the author will devour once Finn enters the picture as the audience will wonder if he is a villain or hero; if he is a hero than Hope is paranoid. The story line is filled with angst, perhaps too much as everyone carries tons of baggage even secondary players like Robert. Yet readers will relish Hope's dilemmas she believes she has found love but fears she has found obsessive love; either way she understands it is MATTERS OF THE HEART dictating to the mind how to feel and act.

Harriet Klausner

I was a little surprised at the reviews of this book. I thought it was very realistic story about a sociopath and his prey. A previous review said that Hope should have left much sooner, but how would you know how you would react in the situation, being manipulated on a regular basis, always confused and terrorized. I think it was a true depiction of how a person in this situation would react after what they are up against. It is disturbing but it is true and most likely hits home for people that are in the same type of situation. It doesn't get more real until you are there and have gone through what she went through. Hope is a very honorable, admirable person and came out of it stronger, whereas some people are not so lucky. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, read it in 2 days and feel a little more knowledgeable about the subject, thanks to Danielle Steel's beautiful storytelling. She never fails to deliver.

I've read many Danielle Stell novels over the years and this one leaves me on page 118 wondering if I can read any more. From the sound of the other reviews, the book must get better later on, but the lack-luster writing, repeating and predictability of the book so far just makes me want to return it to the library! I hate not finishing a book, but this just may be one for the leave it pile.

From the beginning, I started to get a bad feeling...never pulled me in!!! Did not fall in love with main character, she tried too hard to make this woman interesting...she never got there. I finished it and was quite disappointed!!!

This is my FIRST Danielle Steel and if it is typical of the quality of her writing it will be my last....boringly long, repetitious ad nauseum (I was listening to it on CD so was unable to skip ahead easily without missing plot elements) it takes a supposedly intelligent, strong woman much too long to admit that her lover is bad news. Nevertheless despite being well aware of what was happening to her, Hope (cutesey name!) lingers on, succumbing to blatant pressure. I have worked with victims of spousal abuse and understand the dynamics which were in general accurately depicted but the plot moved at a snails pace. Educational for someone who doesn't understand the many types of DV out there but tediously told. Note: many sociopaths never get violent. They just manipulate people to death!

I am a huge Danielle Steel fan, but I could hardly finish this book; It was predictable with no surprises at all.

Danielle Steel is still repeating herself and is using words to fill the pages of her novels. I don't know why I read her but since I have OCD, I have to:-).

The title character was very stupid. She risks her life for a liar and still goes back for more. I can't comprehend this type of person. But then I am not afraid to be alone.

When Hope Dunne, a well-known photographer and a wealthy woman, is given an assignment to fly to Ireland to photograph Finn O'Neill, a famous Irish-American author noted for his tales of darkness and treachery, she isn't sure she wants the job. Hope has suffered a great mamy losses in her life, including the death of her young daughter, and the end of her marriage, and is content with her life in New York. She isn't looking for love or excitement, but she takes the job, almost on a whim, and is immediately swept off her feet by Finn O'Neill, a handsome, charismatic man who literally oozes charm from every pore.

Finn takes her to his palatial estate in Ireland,which he claims is his ancestral home, and woos her unrelentingly. They make passionate love and seem to have everything going for them. Finn is kind, generous, and sweet and swears he loves her, and soon succumbing to his charm, Hope happily accepts his proposal of marriage. But before long cracks begin to appear in the perfect facade. Hope catches Finn in several lies, small at first, but increasingly serious that leave her shaken. She begins to wonder if for all his boyish charm and professions of undying love Finn is really sincere, and when she questions him he gets angry and belligerent. But it isn't until he demands that she give him an unspeakable amount of money, in the millions, that he really gets nasty and threatens her when she refuses. Before long Hope, alone in a desolate part of Ireland, with no friends nearby, becomes terrified and is afraid for her life as she realizes,almost too late, that Finn is a dangerous sociopath who will stop at nothing. The suspense is thrilling and never lets up, and proves once again that Danielle Steele is a top-notch story teller.