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Through the Heart: A Novel
From the bestselling author of They Did It with Love , a chance meeting ignites romance and results in murder
Nora and Timothy have lives that are worlds apart. Nora lives in a small Kansas town, living paycheck to paycheck, working in a coffee shop. Timothy lives in Manhattan, responsible to no one and nothing except managing his family's millions. When these two meet, it seems like the beginning of a fairy tale. Except Nora is not your typical damsel in distress, Timothy does not quite fit the role of a gallant prince, and fairy tales don't include a dead body.
As Nora and Timothy take turns telling their sides of the story, the reader is caught in the net of their love, and the chilling murder that results. With big questions of love, fidelity, filial responsibility and the role of fate, Through the Heart is a page-turning love story with a jaw dropping twist readers won't soon forget.
Nora and Timothy have lives that are worlds apart. Nora lives in a small Kansas town, living paycheck to paycheck, working in a coffee shop. Timothy lives in Manhattan, responsible to no one and nothing except managing his family's millions. When these two meet, it seems like the beginning of a fairy tale. Except Nora is not your typical damsel in distress, Timothy does not quite fit the role of a gallant prince, and fairy tales don't include a dead body.
As Nora and Timothy take turns telling their sides of the story, the reader is caught in the net of their love, and the chilling murder that results. With big questions of love, fidelity, filial responsibility and the role of fate, Through the Heart is a page-turning love story with a jaw dropping twist readers won't soon forget.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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364 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
March 18, 2010
When I reached the airport Tuesday morning, I realized I had forgotten the latest fiction book I'd started, so I was forced to buy a couple of books in an airport bookstore. The paperback selection wasn't great, but I chose "Through the Heart" as one of the two books I bought.
Kate Morgenroth writes well and I really liked her female protagonist. However, there are so many holes in the story. While reading, I kept wondering, "Did Kate have an editor?"
Also, while the book's description touts an unexpected ending, I figured it out pretty early on in the book. Also, the afterword content wrapped up loose ends for the male protagonist and his parents, along with the female protagonist's mother, but didn't bother to say what happened to all of the other major characters. I found this odd. Again, I wondered where Kate's editor was.
This isn't the worst book I've ever read and it kept me busy on the plane, but I don't know if I'd recommend anyone actually buy it.
Kate Morgenroth writes well and I really liked her female protagonist. However, there are so many holes in the story. While reading, I kept wondering, "Did Kate have an editor?"
Also, while the book's description touts an unexpected ending, I figured it out pretty early on in the book. Also, the afterword content wrapped up loose ends for the male protagonist and his parents, along with the female protagonist's mother, but didn't bother to say what happened to all of the other major characters. I found this odd. Again, I wondered where Kate's editor was.
This isn't the worst book I've ever read and it kept me busy on the plane, but I don't know if I'd recommend anyone actually buy it.
November 29, 2009
This is a story told twice--once by Nora and once by Timothy. It is a love story. It is a murder mystery. It keeps you guessing to the very end because it is extremely cleverly written. The character development is deft, and the story moves along quickly with no small touch of humor running throughout. I had TREMENDOUS difficulty putting this book down. Trust me--you want to read this book.
May 30, 2018
This is such a fantastic book and, really, Kate Morgenroth is a fantastic storyteller.
This is a kind of book club book where what's happening right between the pages isn't the only thing that's happening and you know it. There's romance, and Morgenroth is a master at writing both female and male parts so adequately that you consider if she didn't have a male companion sitting next to her, and then there's the family drama.
And then there's the...
and somebody dies...
and your heart WILL be broken by the last page. That's all I'm gonna say about it.
This is a kind of book club book where what's happening right between the pages isn't the only thing that's happening and you know it. There's romance, and Morgenroth is a master at writing both female and male parts so adequately that you consider if she didn't have a male companion sitting next to her, and then there's the family drama.
And then there's the...
and somebody dies...
and your heart WILL be broken by the last page. That's all I'm gonna say about it.
December 9, 2010
Thought this was going to be a typical 'untameable big-city boy meets simple, small-town Midwestern girl and is smitten" story.... but it was captivating right from the start. Written in alternating points of view, his side, her side, and it was easy to feel their innermost thoughts. You know right away that a tragedy happens at the end, but you don't know who, or how, etc until the end. Well done.
Favorite Quotes:
"And I was so sure Nora and I would be different from other couples. I could look back now and think that was foolish. But I don't.
No, I think you should celebrate whenever you can. Take that momentary feeling of being lucky, that feeling of being on the right track, and enjoy it. It won't last." p 190
"If you think that money brings you safety and security, you should try having a lot of it, along with the feeling that there isn't a single person in the entire world who is there for you. Except that wasn't true. I had Nora. The thought gave me reassureance for a split-second---until I saw the danger in it. The power to make me feel better also gave her the power to hurt me. With love came fear. It's like sun and shadow. How do you separate them?" p 218
"When I was feeling more secure, I started to see his insecurities. Aren't relationships like that? It's like being on a seesaw. There are those precious moments when you're just even with each other, but you move through that, and then one person being down by definition means the other person is up. I knew he loved me, and I knew he was afraid. I discovered that, if you look, you can actually see everything. All you have to do is clear away your own fears. The things you think are so well hidden; we can all see them. That's the secret. Everyone can see everything." p 227
What is the thing you think gives you value? What makes you feel most yourself? what is it that you identify with? what is it that you think makes you, you? findout what that thing is, and then give it up. It is only then that you will be able to see what is left. And you won't be the same. You will be irrevocably, irretrievably changed. I know I was." p 228
"So you keep running after the things you want, because you think they will satisfy you---and you truly do think that in the past they gave you satisfaction. But the satisfaction itself, the real feeling of it, somehow slips the net. It's anticipatead and remembered but almost never experienced. " p 235
"I realized I had been so concerned with 'being' loved that I never asked myself if I knew how to love. I simply assumed I did. But that night, I discovered the truth---that a heart unbroken doesn't know how to love.' p 288
"How can you be happy for someone else if you are miserable? If you've been that miserable for so long? When you're that unhappy, that's all there is for you. Seeing other people happy...it just makes your unhappiness worse. It's not the way it's supposed to be, but it's the way that it is." p 301
" And as the police have discovered again and again, people don't believe the facts. They believe what they believe. And when the facts contradict belief, belief usually wins." p 310
Favorite Quotes:
"And I was so sure Nora and I would be different from other couples. I could look back now and think that was foolish. But I don't.
No, I think you should celebrate whenever you can. Take that momentary feeling of being lucky, that feeling of being on the right track, and enjoy it. It won't last." p 190
"If you think that money brings you safety and security, you should try having a lot of it, along with the feeling that there isn't a single person in the entire world who is there for you. Except that wasn't true. I had Nora. The thought gave me reassureance for a split-second---until I saw the danger in it. The power to make me feel better also gave her the power to hurt me. With love came fear. It's like sun and shadow. How do you separate them?" p 218
"When I was feeling more secure, I started to see his insecurities. Aren't relationships like that? It's like being on a seesaw. There are those precious moments when you're just even with each other, but you move through that, and then one person being down by definition means the other person is up. I knew he loved me, and I knew he was afraid. I discovered that, if you look, you can actually see everything. All you have to do is clear away your own fears. The things you think are so well hidden; we can all see them. That's the secret. Everyone can see everything." p 227
What is the thing you think gives you value? What makes you feel most yourself? what is it that you identify with? what is it that you think makes you, you? findout what that thing is, and then give it up. It is only then that you will be able to see what is left. And you won't be the same. You will be irrevocably, irretrievably changed. I know I was." p 228
"So you keep running after the things you want, because you think they will satisfy you---and you truly do think that in the past they gave you satisfaction. But the satisfaction itself, the real feeling of it, somehow slips the net. It's anticipatead and remembered but almost never experienced. " p 235
"I realized I had been so concerned with 'being' loved that I never asked myself if I knew how to love. I simply assumed I did. But that night, I discovered the truth---that a heart unbroken doesn't know how to love.' p 288
"How can you be happy for someone else if you are miserable? If you've been that miserable for so long? When you're that unhappy, that's all there is for you. Seeing other people happy...it just makes your unhappiness worse. It's not the way it's supposed to be, but it's the way that it is." p 301
" And as the police have discovered again and again, people don't believe the facts. They believe what they believe. And when the facts contradict belief, belief usually wins." p 310
June 7, 2011
Wow ... this book was really hard to rate. I'm pretty sure I would never read it again ... however, it was one of those that kept the pages turning and was impossible to put down. It had so many things in it to make me hate it ... first, a wimpy "heroine" that wouldn't stand up to those who were completely using her ... blatant infidelity by the "hero" ... and a very improbable romance. However ... there were a number of things to make me love it as well ... the heroine finally standing up to her mom ... the hero finallly realizing who he loved ... a surprise murder that completely changed the tone of the book ... and then of course the "who done it?" which surprisingly, was only the last few chapters. And while it didn't end with the fairy tale ending, it did take a horrible ending, and put some hope back into it, to make it a pleasant, but realistic, ending. I would have to say I'd recommend this book ... although it didn't have any fantastic literary value, it was a very enjoyable read.
January 17, 2010
Wow. This is a new novel from an author I enjoy, her first novel "They did it with love" was amazing and this is a great follow up.
It starts with a murder but the reader does not know who the victim is. Then the reader travels back in time to meet Timothy and Nora and discover how the two meet and fall in love. Told in alternating narratives, you get the story from both Nora and Timothy's point of view.
Nora is struggling in Kansas, she is almost finished with a PhD in economics when her mother is diagnosed with cancer and Nora has to move back home. Her sister Diedre is no help and she gets a job in a coffee shop to make ends meet. Her mother is a bitter, angry woman, and Nora has a hard time dealing with her. But her illness keeps Nora trapped in the town, until she meets Timothy.
Timothy is rich beyond her dreams and also has a horrible mother who rules the family with an iron fist. He has horrible relations with his siblings who are also unhappy in their own ways. He is an egotistical womanizer who handles the family finances until the mother sends him to Kansas and there he meets Nora...
This is a mystery but not an investigation. It does end with a crime but the story lies in what comes before and how situation progress to that point. And there are some surprises waiting along the way that make the story even more delicious... even though both Nora and Timothy have their problems you get caught in their stories.. neither are completely likable but you can't turn away... you keep reading until the end.
The characters make the book wonderful but I enjoyed the plot as well. She is a really good writer.
It starts with a murder but the reader does not know who the victim is. Then the reader travels back in time to meet Timothy and Nora and discover how the two meet and fall in love. Told in alternating narratives, you get the story from both Nora and Timothy's point of view.
Nora is struggling in Kansas, she is almost finished with a PhD in economics when her mother is diagnosed with cancer and Nora has to move back home. Her sister Diedre is no help and she gets a job in a coffee shop to make ends meet. Her mother is a bitter, angry woman, and Nora has a hard time dealing with her. But her illness keeps Nora trapped in the town, until she meets Timothy.
Timothy is rich beyond her dreams and also has a horrible mother who rules the family with an iron fist. He has horrible relations with his siblings who are also unhappy in their own ways. He is an egotistical womanizer who handles the family finances until the mother sends him to Kansas and there he meets Nora...
This is a mystery but not an investigation. It does end with a crime but the story lies in what comes before and how situation progress to that point. And there are some surprises waiting along the way that make the story even more delicious... even though both Nora and Timothy have their problems you get caught in their stories.. neither are completely likable but you can't turn away... you keep reading until the end.
The characters make the book wonderful but I enjoyed the plot as well. She is a really good writer.
August 16, 2010
Ok, it is very rare that I actually give up on a book. Normally I truck on through till the end and then decide whether or not it was a waste of my time. And usually, I end up being glad that I stuck with it. A good example was Pride and Prejudice. I used to hate the book because I could never stick with it, and one day I just decided: "OK. I'm going to read this if it kills me." Guess what...it's my favorite book. With all that said, I tried...and I mean TRIED to read this book. I tried putting it down. I tried sitting in a different room for new scenery, I tried reading it in the bathtub. I tried reading it drunk. I hated it... and I didn't finish it. Perhaps one day I will pick it up again...but readers be warned...if you are looking for a meaningful story about time travel and love, stick with Audrey Niffenneger's " The Time Traveler's Wife." It will give you WAY more bang for your buck.
December 23, 2010
I'm giving this book 2 stars (and not 1) only because I was intrigued in the beginning. The homicide investigation the book opens up with just ended up being a total dud. I did not relate whatsoever to any of the characters, which is always disappointing. I was also extremely annoyed when entire pages of an occurrence were copied and pasted, but changed according to the perspective of the character speaking in that chapter. i.e. Timothy's chapter: "Nora and I went out to dinner. I wondered what she was thinking, and pulled a lock of her hair aside." Then, Nora's chapter: "Timothy and I went out to dinner. I was lost deep in thought, but then he pulled a lock of my hair aside." Aaaaa....nnoying!
July 25, 2024
"𝐌𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐥𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐦𝐢 𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢 𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐯𝐨 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐋𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐯𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨, 𝐞 𝐦𝐢 𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐯𝐨. 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐢 𝐥𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭à, 𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧 𝐜𝐮𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧 è 𝐦𝐚𝐢 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐳𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐨 è 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐢 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞."
Nora ha 33 anni ed ha lasciato gli studi per accudire la madre malata, che non perde occasione per farle pesare il fatto che non abbia ancora un uomo. Nora, per provvedere alle spese, lavora in una caffetteria ed è qui che conosce Timothy Whitting, un quarantenne bello, istruito e molto ricco, che lavora nel campo della finanza, amministrando i beni di famiglia. I due iniziano a frequentarsi, tra dubbi e paure, fino ad un fatto tragico ed inaspettato che segnerà le loro vite...
È un thriller a due voci che vede protagonista una coppia: lei e lui si alternano nella narrazione della vicenda, che assume quindi un interessante duplice punto di vista, riproponendo anche in parte gli stessi fatti, raccontati da entrambi i personaggi. Il libro ha una struttura particolare, in quanto il racconto delle voci narranti viene interrotto da periodici intermezzi che hanno per oggetto l'indagine a tema omicidio, riportando statistiche, citazioni da saggi e studi relativi agli elementi che lo caratterizzano. Fin dall'inizio, quindi, si sa che qualcuno morirà, ma Kate Morgenroth costruisce bene la sua trama ed i suoi personaggi, e non è così semplice intuire i vari passaggi e riconoscere l'assassino. La struttura, tra l'altro, riesce sicuramente a sviare e condizionare i sospetti del lettore. Personalmente sono riuscita ad identificare il colpevole solo dopo l'eliminazione di alcune variabili. Non manca anche qualche colpo di scena e l'epilogo si dipana in un crescendo di suspense e curiosità. La scrittura è molto scorrevole e caratterizzata da frasi brevi e numerosi dialoghi. La trama presenta un unico salto temporale di due mesi, senza apportare comunque novità. Interessante come venga sottolineato il fatto che la maggior parte degli omicidi avvenga nella stessa cerchia di amici o familiari e che quasi sempre la vittima conosca il suo carnefice. La storia raccontata ne fa da esempio. L'autrice regala pensieri che fanno da spunto a riflessioni. Vengono affrontati anche temi quali la gelosia estrema, l'insicurezza, l'amore possessivo che porta alla richiesta di assurde prove d'amore, l'infedeltà, il sacrificio, l'attaccamento al denaro, l'incapacità di accettare la felicità altrui: "Come puoi essere contento per qualcun altro se tu sei profondamente infelice, e lo sei da così tanto tempo? L'unica cosa che conta è la tua disperazione, e vedere gli altri stare bene ti rende solo più infelice." Ma se tutto sembra avere una spiegazione, per quanto discutibile, solo l'amore manterrà il suo carattere di mistero, quale sentimento imprevedibile e spontaneo.
Nora ha 33 anni ed ha lasciato gli studi per accudire la madre malata, che non perde occasione per farle pesare il fatto che non abbia ancora un uomo. Nora, per provvedere alle spese, lavora in una caffetteria ed è qui che conosce Timothy Whitting, un quarantenne bello, istruito e molto ricco, che lavora nel campo della finanza, amministrando i beni di famiglia. I due iniziano a frequentarsi, tra dubbi e paure, fino ad un fatto tragico ed inaspettato che segnerà le loro vite...
È un thriller a due voci che vede protagonista una coppia: lei e lui si alternano nella narrazione della vicenda, che assume quindi un interessante duplice punto di vista, riproponendo anche in parte gli stessi fatti, raccontati da entrambi i personaggi. Il libro ha una struttura particolare, in quanto il racconto delle voci narranti viene interrotto da periodici intermezzi che hanno per oggetto l'indagine a tema omicidio, riportando statistiche, citazioni da saggi e studi relativi agli elementi che lo caratterizzano. Fin dall'inizio, quindi, si sa che qualcuno morirà, ma Kate Morgenroth costruisce bene la sua trama ed i suoi personaggi, e non è così semplice intuire i vari passaggi e riconoscere l'assassino. La struttura, tra l'altro, riesce sicuramente a sviare e condizionare i sospetti del lettore. Personalmente sono riuscita ad identificare il colpevole solo dopo l'eliminazione di alcune variabili. Non manca anche qualche colpo di scena e l'epilogo si dipana in un crescendo di suspense e curiosità. La scrittura è molto scorrevole e caratterizzata da frasi brevi e numerosi dialoghi. La trama presenta un unico salto temporale di due mesi, senza apportare comunque novità. Interessante come venga sottolineato il fatto che la maggior parte degli omicidi avvenga nella stessa cerchia di amici o familiari e che quasi sempre la vittima conosca il suo carnefice. La storia raccontata ne fa da esempio. L'autrice regala pensieri che fanno da spunto a riflessioni. Vengono affrontati anche temi quali la gelosia estrema, l'insicurezza, l'amore possessivo che porta alla richiesta di assurde prove d'amore, l'infedeltà, il sacrificio, l'attaccamento al denaro, l'incapacità di accettare la felicità altrui: "Come puoi essere contento per qualcun altro se tu sei profondamente infelice, e lo sei da così tanto tempo? L'unica cosa che conta è la tua disperazione, e vedere gli altri stare bene ti rende solo più infelice." Ma se tutto sembra avere una spiegazione, per quanto discutibile, solo l'amore manterrà il suo carattere di mistero, quale sentimento imprevedibile e spontaneo.
October 7, 2025
Quick read. I was engaged with the book the whole time. A murder happened and we don’t even know who it is. The story of Timothy and Nora is shown throughout the book. Then bam the ending reveals who died and who killed the person. It was shocking and threw me a curveball. The person was completely unexpected. I wasn’t a fan of Timothy and his family. Same goes for Nora’s family. Everyone is messed up. Makes me feel like getting along with your family just because it’s your family is a joke. If they’re horrid to you then they can fuck off. Pretty good writer, I wouldn’t mind reading more of suspense romance books. Very interesting.
October 11, 2020
I don't know why I picked this book up. The back of the book seemed intriguing, but I usually don't read modern love stories. The main characters were fairly well developed and you really connected with how desperate her situation was. There was very little chemistry between her and the love interest, who turned out to be a real douche. The promised excitement didn't happen until the very end and left a bad taste in the mouth. No happily ever afters here.
December 18, 2025
The ending was a mess, and the metaphysics were unexplained, but it was a quick read and didn't require much effort--which is sometimes what you want in a book by the fireside on a rainy day.
No one in the two main families was at all likeable (although a few side characters were fun), and the romantic leads had serious mental health challenges (borderline narcissistic male and a paralyzing victim mentality for the female). What a match!
No one in the two main families was at all likeable (although a few side characters were fun), and the romantic leads had serious mental health challenges (borderline narcissistic male and a paralyzing victim mentality for the female). What a match!
May 6, 2024
De eerste keer dat ik het boek had gelezen had ik de afloop nooit kunnen verwachten. Dit is nu de 3e keer dat ik hem heb gelezen en het blijft toch wel een van mijn favoriete. Omdat je verschillende perspectieven krijgt, en ondanks dat het eigenlijk geen happy end heeft. Vind ik het verhaal lijn gewoon zo mooi
July 4, 2017
I really liked the story line. It was interesting. However the writing itself was very amateurish.
August 23, 2018
Really great writing !!
November 17, 2019
I am in between a 3 and 4 star rating. Story had me for sure; wanted and needed to keep reading. I like just a little happier ending. Still a good read but definitely a different read.
March 26, 2021
A who done it with a great plot twist. And an odd attempt to romance city bigwig and midwestern gal.
February 6, 2022
Really worth reading this tragic mystery story. Well-written, fast paced.
November 13, 2023
so tragic but yet beautifully written- what love is, can be, or could be?
Read
March 9, 2024this book is about two unhappy people. I couldn't find any reason to finish it
June 19, 2024
Sometimes good, sometimes quirky
June 22, 2014
Nora and Timothy are completely opposites in terms of core values and family history. While Nora is taking care of her ill mother, Timothy is tired of one night stands with his best friends girlfriend. Yet there is something about their undeniable attraction that glues them together and although they try to resist temptation, they cannot help but yield to each other unexpected demands. As their relationship progresses, love and murder collide in this epic novel about secrets, love, intrigue and betrayal.
There is nothing interesting about Nora, not only is she far from interesting but others think that she is a plain and fragile woman looking for love. Siblings has made it hard for her to reach her highest potential because they practically use her. Even though she is highly educated with two degrees, she is stuck working at a coffee job that she has grown accustomed too. Neil her worrisome manager wants her to explore all what is there to offer. Yet she thinks that she is content with her life, not realizing that she is wasting her life away. Dan her typical ex will do anything to get her back and rumors that circulate their small town began to take a toil on her. It is hard to keep things private when her mother expects her to take care of her all her life. Nora is torn between the hype about romance and the thrill of being single. Life in Kansas cannot be anymore predictable, that is until she meets Timothy.
In contrast, Timothy is the financial expert for his family for years. However many disputes has been occurring because his mother picks favorites. Additionally, nothing is looking good as far as the romance department and he wants someone else to trigger his emotions. Celia his best friend ex makes a good roll in the hay but nothing sparks outside the bedroom. Timothy brothers are as confused as he is as to what to about their life. Dealing with an anorexic sister is not making anything better, with her absurd claims and secrets. On the other hand, everything changes when he meets Nora who he instantly falls in love for. Love at first sight has never been sweeter, but when she moves to New York, her life is in jeopardy.
Dangerously wicked, intrigue, love, romance, lust, envy and pride collide in this extraordinary novel!!! I love the way Morganworth writes, her characters are so empathetic, they make you root for them to prevail in the end. Nora was so naive to what was going on but ultimately I think she wanted what was best for her mother in the end. The ending ALWAYS has to be good for a perfect thriller and this was was better than good, 5/5 perfect execution with great characterization!
HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended! Morganworth "They Did It With Love" was an amazing thriller and this one was no exception!
There is nothing interesting about Nora, not only is she far from interesting but others think that she is a plain and fragile woman looking for love. Siblings has made it hard for her to reach her highest potential because they practically use her. Even though she is highly educated with two degrees, she is stuck working at a coffee job that she has grown accustomed too. Neil her worrisome manager wants her to explore all what is there to offer. Yet she thinks that she is content with her life, not realizing that she is wasting her life away. Dan her typical ex will do anything to get her back and rumors that circulate their small town began to take a toil on her. It is hard to keep things private when her mother expects her to take care of her all her life. Nora is torn between the hype about romance and the thrill of being single. Life in Kansas cannot be anymore predictable, that is until she meets Timothy.
In contrast, Timothy is the financial expert for his family for years. However many disputes has been occurring because his mother picks favorites. Additionally, nothing is looking good as far as the romance department and he wants someone else to trigger his emotions. Celia his best friend ex makes a good roll in the hay but nothing sparks outside the bedroom. Timothy brothers are as confused as he is as to what to about their life. Dealing with an anorexic sister is not making anything better, with her absurd claims and secrets. On the other hand, everything changes when he meets Nora who he instantly falls in love for. Love at first sight has never been sweeter, but when she moves to New York, her life is in jeopardy.
Dangerously wicked, intrigue, love, romance, lust, envy and pride collide in this extraordinary novel!!! I love the way Morganworth writes, her characters are so empathetic, they make you root for them to prevail in the end. Nora was so naive to what was going on but ultimately I think she wanted what was best for her mother in the end. The ending ALWAYS has to be good for a perfect thriller and this was was better than good, 5/5 perfect execution with great characterization!
HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended! Morganworth "They Did It With Love" was an amazing thriller and this one was no exception!
August 17, 2011
Though I thought that this was a really interesting story with good characters and plot twists, there were quite a few literary elements that kept the author from really taking this the next step. First of all, the formatting of the book was a bit distracting; I did like the chapters switching back and forth between the different points of view, but I did not like the random interspersed Investigation Chapters. I can understand that the author was trying to build suspense and give enough little hints to keep you riveted, but an astute reader would have already picked up on these hints and would have found the insights into Investigation as unnecessary and irritating; which is exactly how I'd describe them. Further, the titles of the chapters got to be obnoxious after awhile, but that might be just a personal preference. I really don't see the point of titling a chapter if it is just going to tell you something as mundane as "Nora's Version of the Date" - it is a bit insulting as a reader that the author doesn't think you're going to understand what is going on.
On a more positive note, I really did like the author's character development all around. I really liked the relationship created between Nora and Neil and I felt like I had fairly solid ideas on who these people were - the only characters I really wanted to know more about were Nora's family, specifically her mother, since she turns out to be such a complex character. Again, I think the author held out from giving too much away to build suspense, but the actions at the end didn't seem entirely warranted given the descriptions given.
Overall I'd say that this was an ok read, but I wouldn't really recommend it. I found myself wanting to get to the end just to be done with it rather than pure enjoyment.
On a more positive note, I really did like the author's character development all around. I really liked the relationship created between Nora and Neil and I felt like I had fairly solid ideas on who these people were - the only characters I really wanted to know more about were Nora's family, specifically her mother, since she turns out to be such a complex character. Again, I think the author held out from giving too much away to build suspense, but the actions at the end didn't seem entirely warranted given the descriptions given.
Overall I'd say that this was an ok read, but I wouldn't really recommend it. I found myself wanting to get to the end just to be done with it rather than pure enjoyment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2011
Through the Heart by Kate Morgenroth, was a book that I barely could put down. The main character Nora was a educated women who had given up her life, just to go home to a manipulative needy family. Although the dynamics of her family insidious one could have not imagined what would happen to her at the end. I found it to be extremely tragic.
The other main character, Timothy was the man that Nora had met, perhaps loved. Although opposite of Nora in social status, comes from a rich family of certain dynamics of its own. Unsure where his life/relationship is going, he meets Nora, and is smitten by her because she was different from other women he is used to. Although he is having an affair with his best friends wife Celia, he doesn't feel anything for her and for some reason, he compartamentalize different feelings for Nora and Celia. Timothy is a complex character, he portrays someone who I think is manipulative, narcissistic but yet is able to show love, compassion, and be protective of Nora.
Both mothers of Nora and Timothy where alike in many ways, they were selfish but in different ways. Nora's mother was extremely dependant on Nora, and even pretended to be sick and dying; Timothy's mother,was a go getter, worried about investments and money management.
What ive learned in this book is that no matter what social status you belong to, problems do not discriminate, it is dealt with in different ways, with different resources and different experiences. But the gist of it is that problems exist maybe its not apparent, but does exist behind closed doors.
The other main character, Timothy was the man that Nora had met, perhaps loved. Although opposite of Nora in social status, comes from a rich family of certain dynamics of its own. Unsure where his life/relationship is going, he meets Nora, and is smitten by her because she was different from other women he is used to. Although he is having an affair with his best friends wife Celia, he doesn't feel anything for her and for some reason, he compartamentalize different feelings for Nora and Celia. Timothy is a complex character, he portrays someone who I think is manipulative, narcissistic but yet is able to show love, compassion, and be protective of Nora.
Both mothers of Nora and Timothy where alike in many ways, they were selfish but in different ways. Nora's mother was extremely dependant on Nora, and even pretended to be sick and dying; Timothy's mother,was a go getter, worried about investments and money management.
What ive learned in this book is that no matter what social status you belong to, problems do not discriminate, it is dealt with in different ways, with different resources and different experiences. But the gist of it is that problems exist maybe its not apparent, but does exist behind closed doors.
August 3, 2011
Through the Heart by Kate Morgenroth is a romance with a number of twists, but what stands out is the murder and how it fits into the story. It's a near perfect romance in that it leaves out realistic details and instead focuses on glamour, excitement, idealized sexual love, and mysterious events. The prose is effective and Morgenroth builds suspense, by interspersing info about the woman, the man, and the murder.
I read it in one night and have mixed feelings about how to rate it, hence three stars, a cop out only available in a system with an odd number total.
The plot is rich boy meets poor-in-money, rich-in-spirit and intellect, and, of course, beautiful, girl. They fall in love and seem to overcome obstacles—her mother and debt, his family and playboy ways—to be together forever.
But, two folks hope to prevent this happy ending. The first is his best friend’s wife, with whom he has hot sex, who, the night before the wedding, tells the girl to come to his room in a few minutes hoping girl will catch them in the act and call off the wedding. Instead, girl sends BFW’s hubby to the room. Girl is still willing to marry boy and says she loves him, but now a second plan to keep them apart unfolds. When the murder occurs, who is the victim and who is the perpetrator?
Surprisingly, girl’s mom who has been faking cancer to keep daughter at home taking care of her, decides to kill boy, and when she can’t, kills girl instead. A page turner indeed.!
I read it in one night and have mixed feelings about how to rate it, hence three stars, a cop out only available in a system with an odd number total.
The plot is rich boy meets poor-in-money, rich-in-spirit and intellect, and, of course, beautiful, girl. They fall in love and seem to overcome obstacles—her mother and debt, his family and playboy ways—to be together forever.
But, two folks hope to prevent this happy ending. The first is his best friend’s wife, with whom he has hot sex, who, the night before the wedding, tells the girl to come to his room in a few minutes hoping girl will catch them in the act and call off the wedding. Instead, girl sends BFW’s hubby to the room. Girl is still willing to marry boy and says she loves him, but now a second plan to keep them apart unfolds. When the murder occurs, who is the victim and who is the perpetrator?
Surprisingly, girl’s mom who has been faking cancer to keep daughter at home taking care of her, decides to kill boy, and when she can’t, kills girl instead. A page turner indeed.!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2010
I had a little trouble getting into this book at first, but I was glad I stuck with it!
Nora worked in a coffee shop named Starbox, not to be confused with Starbucks. Her best friend is Tammy. Tammy seemed to have a gift of predicting the future. Every prediction that Tammy made for Nora was right on. She was never wrong.
Nora lives at home with her mom who has cancer. She does everything for her mom and feels guilty going anywhere, so she usually stays home with her mom. Her mom seems like such a baby. She seems to guilt her into staying with her all the time. Nora needs to get out and have her own life.
Nora meets Timothy at her job. He is not from her town but is just visiting. Nora doesn't go out with him much and doesn't tell him about her mom and why she can't go out. He wants her to go back to his hometown to visit, but she doesn't want to leave her mother alone.
This book goes back and forth from Nora's point of view to Timothy's. I like this aspect of the book. It's nice to see what two people are thinking about the same situation.
In the end, Tammy makes a prediction that Nora really should have believed, because it came true and I didn't like what happened.
Nora worked in a coffee shop named Starbox, not to be confused with Starbucks. Her best friend is Tammy. Tammy seemed to have a gift of predicting the future. Every prediction that Tammy made for Nora was right on. She was never wrong.
Nora lives at home with her mom who has cancer. She does everything for her mom and feels guilty going anywhere, so she usually stays home with her mom. Her mom seems like such a baby. She seems to guilt her into staying with her all the time. Nora needs to get out and have her own life.
Nora meets Timothy at her job. He is not from her town but is just visiting. Nora doesn't go out with him much and doesn't tell him about her mom and why she can't go out. He wants her to go back to his hometown to visit, but she doesn't want to leave her mother alone.
This book goes back and forth from Nora's point of view to Timothy's. I like this aspect of the book. It's nice to see what two people are thinking about the same situation.
In the end, Tammy makes a prediction that Nora really should have believed, because it came true and I didn't like what happened.
August 11, 2016
I'm actually very surprised Kate Morgenroth isn't as famous as Gillian Flynn. Her writing is flawless and sharp, so much so, that I've already requested another one of her books from my local library. I do not understand why her books aren't getting more notice or recognition. With that being said, I thought this book was fantastic. It paints an interesting picture of the dynamics between lovers, parents and children, and siblings. What I enjoyed most about this book is that Morgenroth gives us very few hints about what could have happened. As a reader, you don't really know what to expect until you actually get to the page where the event happens. In fact, I didn't know who the corpse was until near the end of the book. As one who loves a good mystery, there is something very thrilling about not knowing anything about the story while I'm reading it. Best of all, she tells the story from the two main characters' point of view - Nora and Timothy. Are they really in love or are they fooling themselves? Does one feel more than the other? Is the union really too good to be true for both of them? Morgenroth gives you just enough to keep reading and reading until you find out for yourself. You will savor every single moment of those bread crumbs.
March 23, 2010
What a surprise! I really, genuinely enjoyed reading this story, which I didn't expect at all. Don't get me wrong, I bought it thinking I would like it, but after I started it I just wanted to keep reading (and practically finished it in one sitting). There's something about the characters she writes that although I don't think I would like these people if I met them in reality, I still wanted to know more about them.
From the beginning you know that Nora is going to die, you just don't know how or why. Most of the time with murder mysteries the ultimate objective of solving the whodunnit distracts from my enjoyment in reading the story. In this case, I loved reading about Nora and Timothy, letting their story sink in without worrying that I have to wonder who kills her. I loved that. In fact, there wasn't much that I didn't love about this story.
I will definitely be reading more by this author. Highly recommended!
From the beginning you know that Nora is going to die, you just don't know how or why. Most of the time with murder mysteries the ultimate objective of solving the whodunnit distracts from my enjoyment in reading the story. In this case, I loved reading about Nora and Timothy, letting their story sink in without worrying that I have to wonder who kills her. I loved that. In fact, there wasn't much that I didn't love about this story.
I will definitely be reading more by this author. Highly recommended!
August 13, 2012
Taking care of her mother after finding out that her mother had leukemia was just what was right to Nora. She didn't regret it, per se, but she wasn't exactly happy in her small-town Kansas life. A brilliant woman with a mind for economics who left graduate school in order to work as a coffee shop manager, Nora didn't ever see Timothy coming. The pair were as different as different could be and yet, somehow, theirs was a love that worked - that neither one of them could ignore or walk away from.
Unfortunately, it was a love that was never going to last.
Kate Morgenroth's novel is told by both Timothy and Nora, each taking their turn in telling what happened on the night before their wedding. It's fast-paced and engrossing. I had a very hard time putting the book down. She uses the element of foreshadowing by interrupting Nora and Timothy's accounts with police investigation notes, but leaves her reader guessing until the last twenty or so pages just who the dead body belongs to.
Unfortunately, it was a love that was never going to last.
Kate Morgenroth's novel is told by both Timothy and Nora, each taking their turn in telling what happened on the night before their wedding. It's fast-paced and engrossing. I had a very hard time putting the book down. She uses the element of foreshadowing by interrupting Nora and Timothy's accounts with police investigation notes, but leaves her reader guessing until the last twenty or so pages just who the dead body belongs to.
May 6, 2012
Hmmm. 2.5 really. It took me a long time to get into this book; after that, I wasn't sure if I was actually into it or I just wanted to get it over with. The 'twist' was not shocking to me; I figured it was one of two people (and it was one of those two). The story itself ... I think Timothy was designed to be disliked, but I really didn't see anything too likable in Nora either. She, too, was a game player, a manipulator, and self-righteous. The family dinners were terribly boring, I didn't care for the style the story was told in (the back and forth perspectives, repeating the dialogue, the backwards glances of sudden 'knowledge'). I can't say I liked the book, but there were some passages I liked, little bits and pieces about life and seeing people as they are. Would not reread this; it's the second book from this author that I've read, and I'm undecided on reading more from her.
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