Matters of the Heart

By: Danielle Steel

Narrated by: Mel Foster

Hope Dunne has carved out a name for herself as a top photographer, known the joys of marriage and motherhood and the heartbreak of loss. In her chic SoHo loft, Hope is content with her life, finding serenity and beauty through the lens of her camera. She isn't looking for a man or excitement.

But these things find her when she accepts a last-minute assignment to fly to London at Christmas and photograph one of the world's most celebrated writers - an Irish-American author known for novels of thrilling literary darkness.

To Hope's surprise, Finn O'Neill exudes warmth and a boyish charm. Enormously successful, he is a perfect counterpoint to Hope's quiet, steady grace - and he's taken instantly by her. He courts her as no one ever has before, whisking her away to his palatial, isolated Irish estate.

Hope finds it all, and him, irresistible. But soon cracks begin to appear in his stories: gaps in his history, lies and bouts of jealousy unnerve her. Suddenly Hope is both in love and suspicious, caring and deeply in doubt, and ultimately frightened of the man she loves.

Alone, thousands of miles from home, her mind is reeling. Is it possible that this adoring, attentive man - like the characters in his novels - is hiding something even worse? The spell cast by a brilliant sociopath has her trapped in his web, too confused and dazzled to escape, as he continues to tighten his grip on her.

©2009 Danielle Steel (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great Story

Wow, Such a wonderful ending . Healing in the most Beautiful way. I had to go back and read parts that I felt touched me personally . As always never Disappointed with Daniel’s writings. I loved this book . Im sure I will read it again.

So painful and yet helpful

Good things about this book.. strong female, loved people in her life, worked hard, confident, historical info about Ireland, london and cape cod, info about socio- paths, and mirroring

Bad things
Abuse, manipulation, loss of lives, stubborn and ignorance from main character she saw so many signs and got so much evidence and ignored the reports! She could have yelled uncle but noooooo she kept going back!
I stopped listening to this audible about 5 times.. doom was looming and she was blinded by love and insecurity!! Finally I decided to see it through and I finished like ummm ok!
Well at-least I know traits of this type of person and will run the other way!!!

Crazy

This is book is different from other good love story . I don’t like the twist of it!

Excellent

Loved the story! Loved the performance! I truly enjoyed listening to this book by Danielle Steele.

Matters of the Heart

A story of a very controlling man and the woman who loved him until his control almost took her life.

Too dark

I feel like I was dragged through the dark and the sun didn't really rise at the end. Gave me a heavy heart.

Love story with more twists and turns, great summer reading

Jan Anderson
captivating and full of awe. Surely a survivor story. Beyond expectations and never doubt the greatest love of all

Much better than expected

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book actually had some depth which is a little unusual for this author I really enjoyed it. I felt like I learned something reading.It is one that I would listen to again and again. I felt like it was much better than I was expecting. I was expecting a readable but very shallow book and I actually got something that was very readable but with some depth and I would very highly recommend this one.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Matters of the Heart?

The main character's first photo session.

What does Mel Foster bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I didn't feel that this book should've been read by man. It's a woman story. I would love to have heard it read by one of the good women narrators, like CJ Critt or Barbara Rosenblatt -but not a man. It is a woman's story and it should be read by woman. I don't think that the narration did anything for the story. He'd be fine reading a John Grisham or something that is about a man, he's fine narrator.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved when the character continued to go back even when things weren't the way they should be. That was a very real emotion and it was very moving.

Any additional comments?

Reading about a sociopath was very interesting I think that we meet them every day and reading this book could help us to recognize certain behaviors. I found that some of the behavior was a bit like is used by cult leaders. I believe, I've heard it called love bombing.

Another Good Book

Another Good Book by Danielle Steel, read by a good reader

The Heart heals

great story line, fantastic narrator showed passion, concern could feel the love threw narrator voice.