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The Nordic Heart #4
The True Heart
‘Romance for the thinking woman.’ – Valisa Iskander, Head of Fixi London Publishing
What is true happiness?
London 1990. When Kaisa suffers a third miscarriage, her submarine officer husband Peter is devastated. Kaisa, who has chosen a job with the BBC over the traditional life of a Navy wife on a marriage patch in Scotland, feels guilty. Has living apart from her husband to pursue a demanding career, contributed to her inability to keep hold of a baby?
But childlessness pales into insignificance when her old friend Rose tells Kaisa about a former lover’s serious illness. The consequences of Duncan’s condition could wreck Kaisa and Peter’s future.
And then life takes another heart-breaking twist … Can love conquer all?
The True Heart, the fourth, standalone, book in Helena Halme’s acclaimed The Nordic Heart Romance Series explores what true love is.
Read this new dramatic European love story today!
What is true happiness?
London 1990. When Kaisa suffers a third miscarriage, her submarine officer husband Peter is devastated. Kaisa, who has chosen a job with the BBC over the traditional life of a Navy wife on a marriage patch in Scotland, feels guilty. Has living apart from her husband to pursue a demanding career, contributed to her inability to keep hold of a baby?
But childlessness pales into insignificance when her old friend Rose tells Kaisa about a former lover’s serious illness. The consequences of Duncan’s condition could wreck Kaisa and Peter’s future.
And then life takes another heart-breaking twist … Can love conquer all?
The True Heart, the fourth, standalone, book in Helena Halme’s acclaimed The Nordic Heart Romance Series explores what true love is.
Read this new dramatic European love story today!
201 pages, ebook
Published November 16, 2017
9 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Helena Halme
30 books226 followersHelena Halme is a Prize-winning Finnish author based in London. Her books include The English Heart, a best-selling romantic novel, which won an Awesome Indies badge on publication. Her other titles include The Faithful Heart, The Good Heart, The True Heart and The Young Heart in the Nordic Heart Series and Nordic family drama, Coffee and Vodka. Helena has also written a Cold War spy thriller, The Red King of Helsinki.
Helena is the winner of the John Nurminen prize for best thesis on British politics, a former BBC journalist, and has also worked as a magazine editor and a bookseller and, until recently, ran a Finnish/British cultural association in London. Her articles have been published in the CoScan Magazine, The ScanMag and the Finn-Guild Magazine.
After gaining an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, Helena is now a full-time author and mentor. She lives in North London with her ex-Navy husband and an old stubborn terrier, called Jerry. She loves Nordic Noir and sings along to Abba songs when no one is around.
Helena is the winner of the John Nurminen prize for best thesis on British politics, a former BBC journalist, and has also worked as a magazine editor and a bookseller and, until recently, ran a Finnish/British cultural association in London. Her articles have been published in the CoScan Magazine, The ScanMag and the Finn-Guild Magazine.
After gaining an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, Helena is now a full-time author and mentor. She lives in North London with her ex-Navy husband and an old stubborn terrier, called Jerry. She loves Nordic Noir and sings along to Abba songs when no one is around.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 10, 2018
The Young Heart - My first book by this author and I have conflicting thoughts after reading all five books sequentially. I usually chain read as many books by one author as possible, but I had to pick up other books to take a break from Kaisa. This is introduction to Kaisa the main character and several supporting characters of the Nordic Series. Kaisa is a 14-year-old female. Her thought processes, or lack of, her experiences with her family members and her friends-to-lovers relationship with a 21-year-old man. I was fortunate to read this book before I read the other four books in the series and found the foundation set in this story explained some of her decisions she made in the other books. But it is not a must read to understand the other books.
This is an in-depth story about Kaisa and Matti's relationship, so it may be good to read first, or not. While the book was well edited, thank you Ms. Halme, and I understood the Nordic and Russian cultures from history books and personal experience, I just didn't care too much for Kaisa, but she is a child in many ways. This book stops and The English Heart picks the story up. There's infrequent vulgar language and the sex is not explicit. 3*
The Nordic Heart series: I bought this set, else I would not have read the next four books. I bought the set before I read the prequel The Young Heart. Simplistic in writing, which is OK, and well edited, which is great, but I was disappointed in what could have been a great set of books. I've been aware of The Englishman and Helena Halme for over a year and was really looking forward to an interesting and entertaining series. I understand cross-cultures (been there, done that), alienation, abuse and misunderstandings, but her use of alcohol and promiscuous behavior along with her mindset is unsettling in how Kaisa handles life and problems. There are interesting descriptions of the different locations and the characters develop more with each book, except Kaisa she remains Kaisa, although in the last book, she does better with Peter. There's infrequent vulgar language and the sex is not explicit. Each book continues with my review. I'm not sure which was a better deal, this boxed set or a cuppa of English coffee as described. 3*
The English Heart #1 (aka The Englishman) - Well edited and easily read with a simplistic, choppy writing style, and interesting descriptions of Sweden and Finland and some good main and supporting characters. There's a lot of music references that don't do anything for the story but give a timeline, if you know when the music first played. The movies help explain some of her mindset.
Picking up where the prequel The Young Heart ended, Kaisa mets her Englishman, a likable but dumb young man and begins the start of their long distance relationship. By the time I finished this book I really disliked Kaisa. She's immature, self centered and very selfish, and doesn't want to learn from her mistakes. She knows what not to do, yet goes full-bore and repeats her mistakes again and again. She uses everyone without regard, doesn't consider the consequences of her actions and is about as social as a rock. 3*
The Faithful Heart #2 (The Navy Wife) - They're married now. Kaisa thinks she a feminist so she doesn't support her husband or her marriage. She thinks she's being a "navy wife" if she cooks his breakfast before he leaves in the morning; she wants to sleep late and she doesn't have a job. She won't work on her marriage and expects Peter to do everything. Instead of communicating with her husband, she screams and rages. Instead of working out solutions to her problems, real and otherwise, she remains the immature, selfish and anti-social idiot increasing her alienation from everyone. I really, really dislike Kaisa and feel sorry for dumb Peter for falling in love with this moron. Unfortunately, he gives in to her anger, instead of telling her to grow up. 3*
The Good Heart #3 (The Good Officer) - Kaisa abandons Peter right when he needs her most. Typical behavior from her, it's always about her. Her actions causes Peter to face a court martial, which affects his career in the Navy. Rose plays a large part in this story by helping and mentoring Kaisa with her career and life choices. Kaisa still ignores Peter's family. 3*
The True Heart #4 - Together but still with problems, Kaisa still isn't a likable character. She does do better with supporting Peter in his career. The past comes back to bite her hard, but she does better handling things than she did in the other books. She's 30, she should have learned something from all her mistakes. This is probably the best of the books but only the last 50 percent. She's still selfish, but others are supporting her. She still doesn't interact much with Peter's family. 3*
This is an in-depth story about Kaisa and Matti's relationship, so it may be good to read first, or not. While the book was well edited, thank you Ms. Halme, and I understood the Nordic and Russian cultures from history books and personal experience, I just didn't care too much for Kaisa, but she is a child in many ways. This book stops and The English Heart picks the story up. There's infrequent vulgar language and the sex is not explicit. 3*
The Nordic Heart series: I bought this set, else I would not have read the next four books. I bought the set before I read the prequel The Young Heart. Simplistic in writing, which is OK, and well edited, which is great, but I was disappointed in what could have been a great set of books. I've been aware of The Englishman and Helena Halme for over a year and was really looking forward to an interesting and entertaining series. I understand cross-cultures (been there, done that), alienation, abuse and misunderstandings, but her use of alcohol and promiscuous behavior along with her mindset is unsettling in how Kaisa handles life and problems. There are interesting descriptions of the different locations and the characters develop more with each book, except Kaisa she remains Kaisa, although in the last book, she does better with Peter. There's infrequent vulgar language and the sex is not explicit. Each book continues with my review. I'm not sure which was a better deal, this boxed set or a cuppa of English coffee as described. 3*
The English Heart #1 (aka The Englishman) - Well edited and easily read with a simplistic, choppy writing style, and interesting descriptions of Sweden and Finland and some good main and supporting characters. There's a lot of music references that don't do anything for the story but give a timeline, if you know when the music first played. The movies help explain some of her mindset.
Picking up where the prequel The Young Heart ended, Kaisa mets her Englishman, a likable but dumb young man and begins the start of their long distance relationship. By the time I finished this book I really disliked Kaisa. She's immature, self centered and very selfish, and doesn't want to learn from her mistakes. She knows what not to do, yet goes full-bore and repeats her mistakes again and again. She uses everyone without regard, doesn't consider the consequences of her actions and is about as social as a rock. 3*
The Faithful Heart #2 (The Navy Wife) - They're married now. Kaisa thinks she a feminist so she doesn't support her husband or her marriage. She thinks she's being a "navy wife" if she cooks his breakfast before he leaves in the morning; she wants to sleep late and she doesn't have a job. She won't work on her marriage and expects Peter to do everything. Instead of communicating with her husband, she screams and rages. Instead of working out solutions to her problems, real and otherwise, she remains the immature, selfish and anti-social idiot increasing her alienation from everyone. I really, really dislike Kaisa and feel sorry for dumb Peter for falling in love with this moron. Unfortunately, he gives in to her anger, instead of telling her to grow up. 3*
The Good Heart #3 (The Good Officer) - Kaisa abandons Peter right when he needs her most. Typical behavior from her, it's always about her. Her actions causes Peter to face a court martial, which affects his career in the Navy. Rose plays a large part in this story by helping and mentoring Kaisa with her career and life choices. Kaisa still ignores Peter's family. 3*
The True Heart #4 - Together but still with problems, Kaisa still isn't a likable character. She does do better with supporting Peter in his career. The past comes back to bite her hard, but she does better handling things than she did in the other books. She's 30, she should have learned something from all her mistakes. This is probably the best of the books but only the last 50 percent. She's still selfish, but others are supporting her. She still doesn't interact much with Peter's family. 3*
November 21, 2017
Terribly moving love story and I am so glad to have found this author when I nabbed a copy of the first story in this series (The Finnish Girl)! The prose is well-written, clear and simple, conveying a complicated life for Finnish-born Kaisa and her British Naval officer husband Peter. She builds such a full world for them, with lots of family, friends, work colleagues, and past acquaintances that shaped their lives. This couple's relationship suffered through separation, loneliness and infidelity and yet still survived. The plot really gained momentum as it moved along and supplied some major twists and heart-stopping surprises along the way. (No Spoilers!!).
I did not get around to the other three middle books in the series, but now I know I will have to because I trust they will be every bit as rewarding to read as this one!
I did not get around to the other three middle books in the series, but now I know I will have to because I trust they will be every bit as rewarding to read as this one!
November 21, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book . Wow what an emotional roller coaster. This moving story is about Kaisa who works for BBC and her husband Peter is a British Naval officer. Kaisha suffered her third miscarriage and her husband was devastated. She felt guilty thinking that her over demanding job contributed to her miscarriage. Lots of twists, infidelity, living separately, an old flame, illness and more drama than you can imagine. A good read that you will enjoy.
August 2, 2018
The True Heart by Helena Halme is book 4 of The Nordic Heart Romance Series.
This story will keep your interest. It has plenty of plot twists, . It deals with infidelity, living separately, an old flame, illness just for some of the drama. The end is a big twist that I did not see coming.Helena Halme writes with emotion,frustrating and most of all believable.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
This story will keep your interest. It has plenty of plot twists, . It deals with infidelity, living separately, an old flame, illness just for some of the drama. The end is a big twist that I did not see coming.Helena Halme writes with emotion,frustrating and most of all believable.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
May 12, 2018
Wow! I’ve read all 4 books in this series. I just couldn’t put them down. Beautifully written with a deep insight into realistic relationships. Emotional, frustrating and believable. Thank you Helena.
January 8, 2018
As enjoyable as ever - with a big twist in the end! Didn't see that coming!
April 14, 2018
Wonderful
I won this from Goodreads, I was not required to give a favorable review. This is a wonderful book about love & forgiveness and overcoming things.
I won this from Goodreads, I was not required to give a favorable review. This is a wonderful book about love & forgiveness and overcoming things.
May 4, 2018
Way too slow
I managed to get a third of the book read. But nothing was happening of any interest. Could this book move slower? I give up.
I managed to get a third of the book read. But nothing was happening of any interest. Could this book move slower? I give up.
May 6, 2018
Absolutely loved the book. What a great love story!!! Highly recommend.
Received book thru Goodreads Giveaway,
Received book thru Goodreads Giveaway,
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews