Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
15th out of 280 books
—
394 voters
Sophie's Heart
by
Lori Wick
After the tragic death of his wife, Alec Riley struggles to put his life back together. He and his three children are lost in their grief... until Sophie walks unexpectedly into their lives. Having left her native Czechoslovakia, Sophie has discovered the land which seemed so bright with promise is far from her dream. A highly educated woman, Sophie now finds herself keepi...more
Paperback, 426 pages
Published
June 1st 2004
by Harvest House Publishers
(first published July 1st 1995)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
This is another of my favorite books. It is about a woman who moves to the US from Prague in the 1980s. She has to find her place in this country while she works as a house keeper for a family that has recently lost their mother/wife. As with all of Lori Wicks books, it involves a romantic relationship between an man and woman as well as different character's relationship with God. It is uplifting and almost every time I read one of her books I find something that applies to my life right now ei...more
I've also read this book several times over the years. It is a bit more of an undertaking than The Pricess but still every bit worth it. This is another modern day fiction book that takes place after the mother of the family dies and Sophie, a new immigrant, comes to live with the family. There are many funny parts as Sophie tries to fit into the culture and many serious moments as she tries to help this family with their grief. This book always makes me cry! (in a good way, I love when a book c...more
Sophie's Heart has been the latest book in my list of 15 to read, and though I'm not normally a reader of "Christian Romance" it was nice to read a different type of book. It was sweet and sentimental and a great "chick book" to read. All thanks goes to Kali for lending it to me.
The story is about a woman named Sophie who is from Czechoslovakia, circa 1989 during the cold war, and how her faith leads her to the US where she, by chance, becomes a nanny for a family where the wife and mother has d...more
The story is about a woman named Sophie who is from Czechoslovakia, circa 1989 during the cold war, and how her faith leads her to the US where she, by chance, becomes a nanny for a family where the wife and mother has d...more
This book was on my to-read list for a while and I bought it a few months ago, but just now got around to reading it throughly. I actually do like some christian fiction, sometimes I'm in the mood for a clean romance,so the point is I didn't miss the smut, but I did miss a good entertaining plot, the whole book was just about how she baked, cleaned, and in the middle of the book her boss noticed she was a woman and a not-so-dumb one, because she can speak FIVE languages, yeah that's it FIVE, I'l...more
This book was pretty good. Yet, towards the very end, it focuse more on the courtship between Alec Riley and Sophie Velikinoja than anything else. I found that slightly annyoing.
Also towards the very end, there were a few pieces of adult content.
example:
(I'm quoting this from Lori Wick's book. not made up.)
"Did the doctor say when you were due?" It was such a wonderful, normal question.
"May 23."
"Almost to our anniversary."
"What if I'm in the hospital on our first anniversary?"
Alec just smiled....more
Also towards the very end, there were a few pieces of adult content.
example:
(I'm quoting this from Lori Wick's book. not made up.)
"Did the doctor say when you were due?" It was such a wonderful, normal question.
"May 23."
"Almost to our anniversary."
"What if I'm in the hospital on our first anniversary?"
Alec just smiled....more
I think this is one of my favorite Christian Fiction books. It's the first Lori Wick novel I ever read. I've put it on my 'keeper' shelf in my personal library. This book will be on the list of 'must-reads' for my granddaughters.
Sometimes we see Christian Fiction as either preachy or fake - this is neither. I've seen first hand the kind of grief, survivors guilt, growing love between a child's nanny and her employer (not myself) and am able to see this character-driven story as true to life. It...more
Sometimes we see Christian Fiction as either preachy or fake - this is neither. I've seen first hand the kind of grief, survivors guilt, growing love between a child's nanny and her employer (not myself) and am able to see this character-driven story as true to life. It...more
I never thought I'd read another book by this author; the two I read as a starry-eyed young girl were sufficient. Then I found this one. I think it's comparable with Janette Oke's They Called Her Mrs. Doc, a surprisingly refreshing read in a forest of mediocre series books.
I wonder if Sophie's Heart would be different if written today, and if it couldn't be much, much better than it is. Reading it, you feel like you're up in the ceiling fan, looking down on everything that's happening. You're n...more
I wonder if Sophie's Heart would be different if written today, and if it couldn't be much, much better than it is. Reading it, you feel like you're up in the ceiling fan, looking down on everything that's happening. You're n...more
The most beautiful, touching and heartfelt novel I've ever read! I'll be reading this one over many times. If we could all strive to be the kind of person Sophie is, what a wonderful world this would be.
From back cover:
"After the tragic death of his wife, Alec Riley struggles to put his life back together. He and his three children are lost in their grief until Sophie walks unexpectedly into their lives.
Having left her native Czechoslovakia, Sophie has discovered that the land which seemed so br...more
From back cover:
"After the tragic death of his wife, Alec Riley struggles to put his life back together. He and his three children are lost in their grief until Sophie walks unexpectedly into their lives.
Having left her native Czechoslovakia, Sophie has discovered that the land which seemed so br...more
This is quite possibly the perfect romance, with all the right themes and messages. Rita was by far my favorite character and I'd love to see her return in a later novel -- maybe finding her own unique path to love the way Alec and Sophie did. I fell more in love with the children than the main characters.
Out of 5
Style of Writing: 1
Originality/Creativity: 3
Character development: 2
Plot development & flow: 2
Enjoyment Factor: 1
Overall Rating: 1
I give this book a one based on the fact that I didn't finish it. I bought this book on my kindle but returned 3/4 of the way through because I really didn't care how it ended and wanted my money back.
This book is about an immagrant named Sophie during the late 1980's who travels to America fulfilling her and her grandmothers life long dream.
In Chicago s...more
Style of Writing: 1
Originality/Creativity: 3
Character development: 2
Plot development & flow: 2
Enjoyment Factor: 1
Overall Rating: 1
I give this book a one based on the fact that I didn't finish it. I bought this book on my kindle but returned 3/4 of the way through because I really didn't care how it ended and wanted my money back.
This book is about an immagrant named Sophie during the late 1980's who travels to America fulfilling her and her grandmothers life long dream.
In Chicago s...more
I was extremely disappointed in this book. I've read one other book by Lori Wick and I really enjoyed it. But this one was way over the top and too much. By the end I couldn't get through it fast enough and I ended rolling my eyes and some of the cheesy conversations. I thought the characters were too sentimental. They cried way too much and too often, they prayed ALL the time. It seemed like there was at least one prayer on every page. I remember there was a time that Sophie and Mr. Riley were...more
Sophie's Heart is a contemporary, heartwarming Christian romance about a grieving widower and his three children who hire Sophie, a Christian immigrant from Czechoslovakia, to be their cook and housekeeper. It's a fun journey seeing how the family comes to love Sophie and how she slowly becomes more Americanized. Throughout the book, the author reveals Sophie's heart through her prayers and one can see what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by reading this book. I enjoye...more
Feb 11, 2011
Melissa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Christian romance
Shelves:
christian-fiction,
clean-romances-western
I read the book The Princess by Lori wick a couple years ago and thought I would give another one of hers a try. But after reading Sophie's Heart I remembered all the reason's I didn't pick up more of Wick's books. I like a good Christian romance but the preaching gets to me if it is too heavy and this book was a little much for me. The main character was soooo good it was over the top for me. The way the children talked was also an issue. I have children around the kids in the books ages and th...more
This was a wonderful Christian book about a Czech woman coming to the States during a politically turmoltous time in her country to make a life. She leaves her grandmother back home which is very hard for her.
At first she finds a job in Chicago as a busgirl in a nice restaurant but it is very hard and she is not treated well. Because she does not speak English well, she is treated as ignorant when in reality she knows 5 languages fluently and worked as a translator in her native land.
She meet...more
At first she finds a job in Chicago as a busgirl in a nice restaurant but it is very hard and she is not treated well. Because she does not speak English well, she is treated as ignorant when in reality she knows 5 languages fluently and worked as a translator in her native land.
She meet...more
I read this EVERY year, it's a tradition. Timeless story, amazing characters, wonderful lessons, awesome ending. What more could you want?
A bit predictable, but a beautiful read. Lovely how Sophie gently works her way into the hearts of the children.
Ii would have to say that this is one of my favorite Lori Wick books. Sophie is so funny, especially at the end. Once again, the way the characters talk isn't very realistic, but the storyline picks up the slack.
There is one thing in here that I didn't like. A guy questions why Sophie wears pants, and she comes back with the fact that she is wearing women's pants. Excuse me, but what is the difference ?! Sure, the pants for females may be cut to accentuate the figure more, but there is no real...more
There is one thing in here that I didn't like. A guy questions why Sophie wears pants, and she comes back with the fact that she is wearing women's pants. Excuse me, but what is the difference ?! Sure, the pants for females may be cut to accentuate the figure more, but there is no real...more
I read this book many many moon's ago but I still remember it. I might even have to reread it. Its a great story and I remember not being able to put it down. The story line(a bit hard to remember since its been at least 10 years since I read it) was about Sophie who be comes a nanny to three children who's mom has died. The father is still dealing in his grief. Sophie slowly starts to bring love and God back into the family and ends up finding love alone the way.
This is a lovely story about a widower and his children and the housekeeper who comes to take care of them. Of course, there are little upsets throughout the story which get in the way. However, I found that most of the story was just a little bit "too" easy to solve the turmoils as they unfolded. There is a great deal of religious input that might be offputting to some readers. However, this would be a good story for a young adult to read. There is no sex or swearing
I like this book, but on re-reading, I'm less impressed than I was before. The author cannot write. Her characters are all perfect, even though she gives them flaws, they're too goody-goody (though this is supposed to be inspirational fiction, I realize), and they lack depth. The story is good, but predictable and forced. I don't tend to read genre romance, so though I understand this is the norm, I thought it was annoying. Entertaining, yes. Good fiction, no.
This was a sweet book. I am much more private in my spirituality than the characters in this book, bot once I got past that, the story was quite enjoyable. It was especially so because I have been to Prague, Chicago, Middleton, Bayfield, and Green Bay; I've been to The Shoe Box and Woodman's. I have a friend who is from Mazomanie, which is a tiny little town in WI. It always adds to my pleasure when I can relate geographically!
It isn't my usual type of book. But I picked it up by chance at my church's library, and I've got to say it's been a pleasure to read this book. It only took a few days to get through it. Each character had such an amazing story and I love how one old couple unsure of God accepted Christ, and others grew closer to Him all because of one woman's true heart for Christ and the way she shown the light for Him in everyone she met.
Okay, I liked it. It's not Jane Austen; the writing could use some tightening up. Lori Wick understands grief and the grief of a family who suddenly lost their mom gripped me. If I read it today, I would most likely give it a two or three star.
But I remember a day in 1995 spent in airports and airplanes, unable to stop reading but also unable to control the tears and sobs the book provoked.
But I remember a day in 1995 spent in airports and airplanes, unable to stop reading but also unable to control the tears and sobs the book provoked.
Great book. It is about loss and finding love again. How one person can touch another's life. How God is ever mindful of our needs and how he directs our lives to help us help each other. It's about the small miracles He blesses us with. The courage He helps us find to make it through the trails placed before us. If we remain true and do the things we are suppose to in the end he will bless us.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is one of my first Christian romance novels that I owned and Lori Wick became one of my favorite authors...I love her relationship with her grandma and she had to leave Prague in order for her to have a better life...I can relate with that...you find that sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side at first....but God is always in control
I got this book in school a couple of years back and i've read it like 100 times. (Ok not 100. LOL) I think Lori Wick did a fantastic job with this. It shows anything's possible with God. If only we can just believe and pray. Really. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sophie particularly inspired me to learn other foreign languages :). LOL. But really, Great Book!
Quick easy read. Purely for entertainment value. The story line was completely predictable and a little cheesy, but sometimes it is refreshing to have something to read for entertainment value. Here is the brief sum up Alec's wife dies in car accident and he hires Sophie an immigrant from Czechoslovakia as a housekeeper/maid to help out with his family and ends up falling in love with her. The book falls into the Christian Romance genre and was clean and uplifting
I have never read a book where I smiled almost the entire time while reading. This book will provide you with so much hope and you'll long for so many things, but end up being content. It is impossible not to enjoy each and every character for what they are. God will touch your heart as you read and you'll think about your own relationship with God also. I really enjoyed this book.
I would give this a 4.5 stars if that were an option. It was well written, emotionally moving, and it had a substantial spiritual message (rare, even in Christian fiction). My only qualms were that the romance scenes were a bit too descriptive and I thought her wording in the last chapters was awkward as she tried to wrap up the storyline.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fantastic book | 7 | 36 | Nov 28, 2012 03:01am |
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Lori Wick is known as one of the most versatile Christian fiction writers on the market today. From pioneer fiction to a series set in Victorian England to a contemporary novel, Lori's books (over 5 million in print) continue to delight readers and top the Christian bestselling fiction list. Lori and her husband, Bob, live in Wisconsin with "the three coolest kids in the world."
More about Lori Wick...
Lori Wick is known as one of the most versatile Christian fiction writers on the market today. From pioneer fiction to a series set in Victorian England to a contemporary novel, Lori's books (over 5 million in print) continue to delight readers and top the Christian bestselling fiction list. Lori and her husband, Bob, live in Wisconsin with "the three coolest kids in the world."
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Pretense, and Bamboo and Lace are also favorites.
Mar 18, 2009 04:59am