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The Bodine Family #2
Heart of the Matter
Amanda Bodine''s Boss is so…bossy!
The hard-nosed newspaperman will only assign reporter Amanda Bodine fluff pieces about dog shows. She longs to prove herself with a serious front-page story. But then her own family becomes newsworthy. Suddenly, Ross Lockhart is sitting beside her at Sunday dinner, interviewing her relatives. And he almost seems…like part of the family. Until she realizes he''s after information that will tarnish the Bodine name! Time to teach the boss about the real heart of the love.
The hard-nosed newspaperman will only assign reporter Amanda Bodine fluff pieces about dog shows. She longs to prove herself with a serious front-page story. But then her own family becomes newsworthy. Suddenly, Ross Lockhart is sitting beside her at Sunday dinner, interviewing her relatives. And he almost seems…like part of the family. Until she realizes he''s after information that will tarnish the Bodine name! Time to teach the boss about the real heart of the love.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
11 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Marta Perry
198 books776 followersMarta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 22, 2024
An ok read, the characters were ok.
September 9, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book for a light summer read, "Twice in a Lifetime," in "The Bodine Family" series, so I thought I would try this sequel.
But this sequel had less summer sunshine, less beach, less Miz Callie and her compassion, less Lindsay and her charm.
Not very often, but occasionally, I run across a "Love Inspired" book that makes me think the male romantic interest is more suitable for a villain character than a romance. (The last such one I read was Lee McClain's "Small-Town Nanny.") Yes, "Heart of the Matter" did have a couple different characters as the villains.
In "Heart of the Matter," Ross showed himself to be primarily cranky, but also rude, domineering, enjoying intimidating others, manipulative, and cold-hearted in not caring about the people (C. J. and her grandma) that he would hurt with his news story. Not "marriage material," or even "dating material" for that matter.
After his cranky, rude tirade, he touched Amanda, innocently, on the arm. I know I like my personal space more than most people do, but that just "felt" wrong to me - intimidating, repugnant. He had not been invited into her personal space and had not earned the trust to be that close. One does not earn such trust with shouted put-downs and ultimatums. I would not have reacted as nicely as Amanda did. Probably would've just shrugged off his hand with the best look of disgust I could muster, never mind that he was the boss. But if he had persisted, there are a few good self-defense moves... Not fallen for him. He had "jerk" written all over him. If he had been able to work through the issues to come to real resolution and reconciliation, then possibly, but for most of the book, he just kept getting worse and worse.
A teen's negative attitude can't realistically be turned around so quickly in just one conversation. It takes work, on both sides of the issues, and is bound to be much more complicated than that.
Likewise, the lack of repercussions with C.J.'s landlord didn't seem very realistic to me.
Miz Callie gave out some very good and some very bad advice in this book.
First, the good: "You know perfectly well, Manda, that you rush right into doing things because they're good, and that's a beautiful quality. But maybe you need to take time to find out if they're the good things God has in mind for you."
Then, the bad:
Amanda had said, "I love him."
Miz Callie's response: "Then you'll want him to have his heart's desire, child. That's what loving is, even when it hurts."
Now, admittedly, Amanda took that advice into a different context, but it wasn't a good one, not when Ross's heart's desire was to get a news story that unnecessarily hurt other people (C.J. and her grandma.) I would say that it depends on what one's heart's desire IS. If it is hurting themselves or others, it's not good for them to persist in that, and it's not good for others to enable that. Enabling someone in a destructive path is not loving them. It is not good, not best, not nourishing for someone's own soul to behave destructively.
It would've been a more interesting story if the ending about Amanda's dad had been different, but probably the number of pages were too limited to discuss such a theme.
One of the characters in this book came to sudden belief in God while listening to another person pray. That stood out to me, because I've had a friend tell me that she became a Christian because she listened to someone pray. She'd tried to hold onto her beliefs, amid doubts in her early adult years, because of the verse, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it." - 2 Timothy 3:14. She recognized the genuine faith of those from whom she'd learned the tenets of Christianity, but as for herself believing, she didn't truly believe until she heard a friend praying aloud for her. She didn't believe, but then suddenly, hearing that prayer, she did. A beautiful thing, and a beautiful story.
In "Heart of the Matter," though, the character who came to faith, overhearing a prayer, seemed more tenuous to me. It seemed like this character now recognized there was a God (becoming a deist,) but not that Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins.
And even if this character had become a Christian, that does not mean that all the issues would suddenly resolve pleasantly. They would take time to work through, and there is the danger that the character would place faith in others (his love interest or family) rather than truly in God.
But this sequel had less summer sunshine, less beach, less Miz Callie and her compassion, less Lindsay and her charm.
Not very often, but occasionally, I run across a "Love Inspired" book that makes me think the male romantic interest is more suitable for a villain character than a romance. (The last such one I read was Lee McClain's "Small-Town Nanny.") Yes, "Heart of the Matter" did have a couple different characters as the villains.
In "Heart of the Matter," Ross showed himself to be primarily cranky, but also rude, domineering, enjoying intimidating others, manipulative, and cold-hearted in not caring about the people (C. J. and her grandma) that he would hurt with his news story. Not "marriage material," or even "dating material" for that matter.
After his cranky, rude tirade, he touched Amanda, innocently, on the arm. I know I like my personal space more than most people do, but that just "felt" wrong to me - intimidating, repugnant. He had not been invited into her personal space and had not earned the trust to be that close. One does not earn such trust with shouted put-downs and ultimatums. I would not have reacted as nicely as Amanda did. Probably would've just shrugged off his hand with the best look of disgust I could muster, never mind that he was the boss. But if he had persisted, there are a few good self-defense moves... Not fallen for him. He had "jerk" written all over him. If he had been able to work through the issues to come to real resolution and reconciliation, then possibly, but for most of the book, he just kept getting worse and worse.
A teen's negative attitude can't realistically be turned around so quickly in just one conversation. It takes work, on both sides of the issues, and is bound to be much more complicated than that.
Likewise, the lack of repercussions with C.J.'s landlord didn't seem very realistic to me.
Miz Callie gave out some very good and some very bad advice in this book.
First, the good: "You know perfectly well, Manda, that you rush right into doing things because they're good, and that's a beautiful quality. But maybe you need to take time to find out if they're the good things God has in mind for you."
Then, the bad:
Amanda had said, "I love him."
Miz Callie's response: "Then you'll want him to have his heart's desire, child. That's what loving is, even when it hurts."
Now, admittedly, Amanda took that advice into a different context, but it wasn't a good one, not when Ross's heart's desire was to get a news story that unnecessarily hurt other people (C.J. and her grandma.) I would say that it depends on what one's heart's desire IS. If it is hurting themselves or others, it's not good for them to persist in that, and it's not good for others to enable that. Enabling someone in a destructive path is not loving them. It is not good, not best, not nourishing for someone's own soul to behave destructively.
It would've been a more interesting story if the ending about Amanda's dad had been different, but probably the number of pages were too limited to discuss such a theme.
One of the characters in this book came to sudden belief in God while listening to another person pray. That stood out to me, because I've had a friend tell me that she became a Christian because she listened to someone pray. She'd tried to hold onto her beliefs, amid doubts in her early adult years, because of the verse, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it." - 2 Timothy 3:14. She recognized the genuine faith of those from whom she'd learned the tenets of Christianity, but as for herself believing, she didn't truly believe until she heard a friend praying aloud for her. She didn't believe, but then suddenly, hearing that prayer, she did. A beautiful thing, and a beautiful story.
In "Heart of the Matter," though, the character who came to faith, overhearing a prayer, seemed more tenuous to me. It seemed like this character now recognized there was a God (becoming a deist,) but not that Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins.
And even if this character had become a Christian, that does not mean that all the issues would suddenly resolve pleasantly. They would take time to work through, and there is the danger that the character would place faith in others (his love interest or family) rather than truly in God.
December 29, 2018
It was interesting to see Ned Bodine's saga continue and to find an additional piece of the puzzle. I was surprised in how that came about.
I can empathize with Amanda's work struggles about which stories she was assigned and being taken for a fluff reporter rather than one with skills. She does seem to be a good mentor to C.J.
I do wonder which makes the reporter: the ruthlessness to pursue a true story even if someone gets hurt or the caring aspect for the human interest or some combination of the two. I suspect it's a combination--there are times when someone is going to be hurt by the truth but there are also times that a human interest angle can make a story more intriguing to me.
I can't see Amanda liking Ross romantically given his behavior--though he does develop a "heart" by the end and starts thinking beyond the "next big story" that will restore his journalism career to its former prestige. Perhaps there might be hope for them in the future if his change of heart is a true one--but not as quickly as it happened in this novel.
I can empathize with Amanda's work struggles about which stories she was assigned and being taken for a fluff reporter rather than one with skills. She does seem to be a good mentor to C.J.
I do wonder which makes the reporter: the ruthlessness to pursue a true story even if someone gets hurt or the caring aspect for the human interest or some combination of the two. I suspect it's a combination--there are times when someone is going to be hurt by the truth but there are also times that a human interest angle can make a story more intriguing to me.
I can't see Amanda liking Ross romantically given his behavior--though he does develop a "heart" by the end and starts thinking beyond the "next big story" that will restore his journalism career to its former prestige. Perhaps there might be hope for them in the future if his change of heart is a true one--but not as quickly as it happened in this novel.
January 23, 2024
I had to take a star. Sorry, but... There were definite cheats going on, here.
Second in a series, this saga is extremely well-written and characterized, and that's NOT the norm for 'Love, Inspired' novels. This seamlessly picks up where the last book ended, which was also a boon for it. The on-going hunt for Ned Bodine and the love of the clan is infectious.
HOWEVER... there were issues. The first being that we're not told *HOW* Adam knows Ned is still alive. It's just lobbed at us like a backhanded tennis ball out of nowhere at the end of the book. Un. ACCEPTABLE. You don't cheat like that. If something is proven? PROVE IT. You're a writer, for Pete's sake.
Second, I'm irate that they've introduced MORE characters that won't have stories. Win Bodine would make a fantastic story. Cole would make a fantastic story. I'm half-hoping there's another semi-related series that takes up their tales, because I want more, and I'm aggravated that I only have four books, here.
Which is probably a silly complaint, but... !!!!
Second in a series, this saga is extremely well-written and characterized, and that's NOT the norm for 'Love, Inspired' novels. This seamlessly picks up where the last book ended, which was also a boon for it. The on-going hunt for Ned Bodine and the love of the clan is infectious.
HOWEVER... there were issues. The first being that we're not told *HOW* Adam knows Ned is still alive. It's just lobbed at us like a backhanded tennis ball out of nowhere at the end of the book. Un. ACCEPTABLE. You don't cheat like that. If something is proven? PROVE IT. You're a writer, for Pete's sake.
Second, I'm irate that they've introduced MORE characters that won't have stories. Win Bodine would make a fantastic story. Cole would make a fantastic story. I'm half-hoping there's another semi-related series that takes up their tales, because I want more, and I'm aggravated that I only have four books, here.
Which is probably a silly complaint, but... !!!!
August 2, 2019
I did not have the benefit of having read the first book in this series but with the background provided in the story I didn’t miss much. I liked he writing style and the portrayal of the characters (The grandma in particular!).
May 1, 2022
Kinda cliche. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.
December 30, 2024
A great story line. Had my attention from the first few pages. Recommend reading
September 5, 2013
I'll be honest, this book almost got 2 stars. It was definitely not a favourite. The 'hero' is portrayed as self-serving and heartless for a good portion of the book. Yes, his back story was shared so you understood where he was coming from, and he did eventually pull his head out of his bum and realise what was really important in life, but when you (the reader) don't even LIKE the hero by the time the heroine realises she loves him . . . ?
There were 3 redeeming qualities in this book for me, which boosted it back up to a 3 star rating:
#1 ~ the very fact that I disliked Ross so much means that his character was well-written, and I'm a sucker for well-written characters
#2 ~ Miz Callie. I fell in love with this grandma when I read 'Twice in a Lifetime', and she's just as wise and spunky as ever in this book. Key point of 'a-ha' wisdom for me was when she asked Amanda if she had prayed about the good things she was trying to do . . . and that we need to make a distinction between the good we want to do and the good God wants us to do.
#3 ~ the family history aspect: I love that the search for what happened to Ned Bodine is continued in this book and cannot wait to find out what happens next in their genealogical research! :)
There were 3 redeeming qualities in this book for me, which boosted it back up to a 3 star rating:
#1 ~ the very fact that I disliked Ross so much means that his character was well-written, and I'm a sucker for well-written characters
#2 ~ Miz Callie. I fell in love with this grandma when I read 'Twice in a Lifetime', and she's just as wise and spunky as ever in this book. Key point of 'a-ha' wisdom for me was when she asked Amanda if she had prayed about the good things she was trying to do . . . and that we need to make a distinction between the good we want to do and the good God wants us to do.
#3 ~ the family history aspect: I love that the search for what happened to Ned Bodine is continued in this book and cannot wait to find out what happens next in their genealogical research! :)
January 23, 2015
Enjoyed the mystery behind the scenes of the characters Amanda and Ross, both employees of a newspaper in the Coast Guard town of Charleston. Tough hearted Ross has to prove he's worthy of a metropolitan paper while he's editing for a smaller one. Amanda Bodine of the plentiful Bodines has her own points to prove as she tries to get more reporter experience than barbeques and farmer's market news. When Ross hears of rumors that the Bodines may be involved in a military scandal, he uses Amanda to get near her family . . .
October 21, 2010
A fun work related Christian romance. Easy to read.
September 1, 2011
Wasn't great but wasn't bad.
Read
August 31, 2011The 2nd book in the Bodine series & still haven't found out what happened to Ned. She's a great author, I really like her style
November 18, 2012
Another good read about the Bodine clan.
March 6, 2014
Amanda Bodine and her boss Ross Lockhart are at odds many times during the course of the book, yet fall in love...
December 8, 2015
Cute. A nice clean story with the chance to get to know multiple family members in the Bodine Family. A little suspense, a little mystery and of course...a little love. ;)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews