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What Matters Most
by
Luanne Rice (Goodreads Author)
With every New York Times bestseller, Luanne Rice illuminates yet another of the secret wonders of the heart. Her unforgettable evocations of family, friendship, and loves lost and won in such novels as The Edge of Winter, Sandcastles, and Summer of Roses give voice to our most powerful emotions. Now she brings back two of her most beloved characters to tell of their journ...more
Mass Market Paperback, 496 pages
Published
June 24th 2008
by Bantam
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My library is slim with books on tape. I picked this up for the pretty picture as I had not heard of Luanne Rice.
I apologize to anyone who bothered with my in progress reviews. This book was tedious. By the 7th cd, I was vested enough to want to finish it. During the 8th cd, I was angry and turned it off for a couple days. Then I listened to portions of the last CD and decided to go back and finish.
I think the end was sufficiently acceptable. I did require a general...more
I apologize to anyone who bothered with my in progress reviews. This book was tedious. By the 7th cd, I was vested enough to want to finish it. During the 8th cd, I was angry and turned it off for a couple days. Then I listened to portions of the last CD and decided to go back and finish.
I think the end was sufficiently acceptable. I did require a general...more
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From a writer's standpoint, I completely and honestly appreciate the ending of this book. Well done!
From a readers standpoint, I was saddened and a bit dissapointed by the ending.
Overall, the book was well worth the read and entirely heart-breaking.
From a readers standpoint, I was saddened and a bit dissapointed by the ending.
Overall, the book was well worth the read and entirely heart-breaking.
This book was quite good, I'm not a big fan of Luanne's writing style but the story was good. There is a lot happening, especially toward the end. And there are about 4 climaxes to the story, so you're never bored. Her writing is simple but repetitive, and she keeps mentioning people eyes. We get it, they're blue. And I did at times want to put the book down, or skip to the end and just find out what happens. But I think if you stick with it you might like it. It's not the best book, the charact...more
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I was prepared to say this was among some of the best books I've ever read.......until the surprise ending. I know that some authors feel they can't always be "happy happy", but I can't help it, I like happy endings. I read to get away from stress and tears. I'll say this....if making you cry was the scale this book was rated on, it would get a full mark.
Now to be a little more objective.....Sister Bernedette should never have entered the convent. She never fully g...more
Now to be a little more objective.....Sister Bernedette should never have entered the convent. She never fully g...more
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Okay, I've been reading this for a couple of weeks now, and I'm almost done. This just goes to show that I'm not very good at updating my stuff on this website! I love LuAnne Rice's books. They are easy-to-read love stories without the extra fluff that some romance authors like to put in. I also like how she adds a certain twist to each book - these are definitely not your average love story books.
I am enjoying this book, but it has not been my favorite from this author. I absol...more
I am enjoying this book, but it has not been my favorite from this author. I absol...more
Adorei!Devorei o livro, ao contrario do que pensava não tive qualquer problemas com as partes religiosas do livro. Mas gostei mesmo muito, achei as personagens cativantes e adorei a historia do James/Seamus e da Kathleen.
This was the worst love story I've ever read. I actually stopped to read portions to my husband and we laughed out loud at the sappy, ridiculous events.
A woman who is now a nun, and the groundskeeper at the abbey, take a trip to Ireland to see how the son they had together is getting along. Horror of horrors, they find that instead of the happy family they envisioned him gaining from the orphanage, he was never adopted and ran off to be on his own. This starts a search for the son, a...more
A woman who is now a nun, and the groundskeeper at the abbey, take a trip to Ireland to see how the son they had together is getting along. Horror of horrors, they find that instead of the happy family they envisioned him gaining from the orphanage, he was never adopted and ran off to be on his own. This starts a search for the son, a...more
Anne
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Recommends it for:
for a good beach read
Recommended to Anne by:
Patricia Kelley
An interesting story that spans time and the Atlantic Ocean between Connecticut and Ireland. Two Irish orphans remain close until the parents return for the girl, Kathleen; without her, James runs away. As the story unfolds, the reader discovers that the parents of James are a Catholic nun and the grounds keeper of the school of which she is superior. Sister Bernadette and Tom find their son in Ireland and are able to reunite him with his sweetheart Kathleen who moved to America 10 years earlier...more
You can't go wrong with Luanne Rice books. She has such a gift for laying out beautiful words. This is the 4th book of hers I've read. It does start out a little confusing, I must say. I think she's trying to create suspense, but I was left wondering at more than one point just what was going on here. I'm going to stick it through, however, because it's getting better. Luanne Rice is great.
1/20/10 update: I finished the book. I did find it hard to sympathize with Bernie, without givi...more
1/20/10 update: I finished the book. I did find it hard to sympathize with Bernie, without givi...more
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Este foi um livro que sem dúvida me surpreendeu pela positiva, é já o terceiro livro que leio da autora, e apesar de não a considerar nem perto das minhas favoritas, tenho um certo prazer a lê-la.
Como já antes tinha dito, os livros desta autora são, para mim, óptimos depois de ler alguns livros mais intrincados, com mais informação e principalmente se forem séries, pois temos que nos lembrar de quase tudo o que é dito de livro para livro... A escrita que encontramos nestes livros é t...more
Como já antes tinha dito, os livros desta autora são, para mim, óptimos depois de ler alguns livros mais intrincados, com mais informação e principalmente se forem séries, pois temos que nos lembrar de quase tudo o que é dito de livro para livro... A escrita que encontramos nestes livros é t...more
I received a signed copy of What Matters Most by Luanne Rice for free through Goodreads First Reads.
If you believe in true love, irrational passion, and miracles, you will enjoy this novel. What Matters Most by Luanne Rice is quite the romance. Rice explores spirituality, the depth of human emotion, the power of relationships, and the impact of personal conflict though an ensemble cast of interconnected characters. The novel’s unique and captivating plot has the potential to keep...more
If you believe in true love, irrational passion, and miracles, you will enjoy this novel. What Matters Most by Luanne Rice is quite the romance. Rice explores spirituality, the depth of human emotion, the power of relationships, and the impact of personal conflict though an ensemble cast of interconnected characters. The novel’s unique and captivating plot has the potential to keep...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I just now finished this fabulous book -- though I must admit I could barely read the last 30 pages I was crying/sobbing so hard!!! Honestly, I couldn't see the pages. I dropped everything else I was reading when this book arrived Thursday but really started reading it voraciously Friday night, read until 2 AM and then have been reading it all day today. This is the story of Sister Bernadette and Tom Kelly from Sandcastles and their trip to Ireland to try to find the son they gave up for adoptio...more
From Publishers Weekly
True love never dies—but it may need the helping hand of the Virgin Mary and the luck o' the Irish to survive in Rice's latest, effectively a sequel to last year's Sandcastles. Sister Bernadette Ignatius (the former Bernie Sullivan), Mother Superior at the coastal Connecticut Star of the Sea Academy, travels to Dublin with Tom Kelly, the academy's ombudsman, seeking James, the son they gave up over 20 years ago. In a parallel narrative set up in a prologue, young Jame...more
True love never dies—but it may need the helping hand of the Virgin Mary and the luck o' the Irish to survive in Rice's latest, effectively a sequel to last year's Sandcastles. Sister Bernadette Ignatius (the former Bernie Sullivan), Mother Superior at the coastal Connecticut Star of the Sea Academy, travels to Dublin with Tom Kelly, the academy's ombudsman, seeking James, the son they gave up over 20 years ago. In a parallel narrative set up in a prologue, young Jame...more
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My Mom recommended this book. I thought it was ok but I never really felt invested in the characters. I thought Bernadette was selfish, wanting the best of both worlds and expecting Tom to sacrifice his whole life to receive nothing from her in return. I also thought it was really weird that a nun and the people around her would use the word "God" or "Jesus Christ" in vain and not think anything of it. Do nuns really do that?
I read this book not knowing i was reading a squeal, however, that did not confuse the story or characters at all. I plan to read the first book and maybe by doing so I will appreciate this novel a bit more and I can then give a better review. But for now, this book was good and showcased strong characters and a intricate storyline, but I just did not find it that interesting as in "I need to read right now interesting".
I didn't want to like this book. I am generally disappointed by romances and try to avoid them. A friend gave me this book and I got hooked and finished it quickly to find out what happened. Sister Bernadette is the head of Star of the Sea in Connecticut and the 25 nuns who live there.She returns to Dublin with the help of Tom Kelly to track down the child she put up for adoption 20 years before. A good story.
I bought this and read it on my cruise because, I stupidly neglected to download a new book to my Kindle before I left. I didn't realize I would be unable to do it on the ship. Duh!!! It's a quick, easy read. I started out really enjoying it. However, towards the middle of the book it became very unbelievable. It's the first time I read anything by this author, and I probably would not rush to read another one!
This is a follow up to Sandcastles Luanne Rice seems to keep the location of her stories the same but different characters. In this book and in most of Luanne's books they take a twist that you cannot predict. The search by Bernadette and Tim for their son that they gave away at birth, and what matters most which is love. She weaves their story with just enough description of the characters and places to catch your interest. Another good read leaving me thinking about what matters most.
Unlike Sandcastles, the book from which this one stems, I was thoroughly engaged and fully invested in this novel, particularly a few of the characters. I actually liked the side story line of Sr. Bernadette and Tom in Sandcastles much more than that of the main characters, so I was pleased to pick up with them again in this book. What grabbed me even more here was the tale of James (Bernie and Tom's son given up for adoption right after his birth)and Kathleen, together since babyhood in an o...more
Another great book from Luanne Rice for sure. This romantic book is far off from those other cookie-cutter 'love-you,love-me' book, it have religious elements too. I love the characters and could almost 'see' some of the story unfold on the pages as it catches my emotion as well. The story is both heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. Would make a great book to read in quite times.
I knew I was in trouble when the spine label said ROM for romance but I gave it a go anyway. It's no bodice ripper for sure but there were just too many story lines for me. The book could have been half as long if we'd just dealt with the main theme and forgot about the rest of it. Waaay too many characters and even the main ones didn't keep the same names thru out!
This was an awesome story...loved the characters and what they went through touched memories that I have.
Emotionally charged and beautifully written. Luanne Rice has a way of digging deep within the soul and challenging your beliefs.
We are all affected by choices...from our ancestors, our parents, our siblings, our spouses, our children, even our friends...it's what we do with those events that can either make or break us.
I felt such controversy with what h...more
Emotionally charged and beautifully written. Luanne Rice has a way of digging deep within the soul and challenging your beliefs.
We are all affected by choices...from our ancestors, our parents, our siblings, our spouses, our children, even our friends...it's what we do with those events that can either make or break us.
I felt such controversy with what h...more
I had a hard time putting this book down right from the start. I love stories about a love so strong it endures for years, even when the lovers are kept apart. It was full of emotional, believable characters, romance and suspense. I loved this story and have already loaned it to a friend. I will be looking for more Luanne Rice books to read after this.
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Luanne Rice is the author of thirty novels including the forthcoming Little Night (Viking/Pamela Dorman Books.) Five of her books have been made into movies and mini-series, twenty-two have been consecutive New York Times bestsellers and two of her pieces have been featured in off-Broadway theatre productions. She divides her time between New York City and the Connecticut shoreline.
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