The Heart That Breaks Congressman Kiel Whellen had been chosen by the president himself to negotiate with terrorists during an airline hijacking. The stakes were his own fiancée was aboard the plane. But in the tragedy he failed to avert, Kiel’s love perished. And Rhiannan Collins, young wife and mother, lost her husband, her children, her dreams…
The Love That Heals The years haven’t erased Rhiannon’s sorrow; nor has she forgotten the man she holds responsible. And he’s here, aboard the luxury yacht on which she ekes out a living as a blackjack dealer. She’s determined to hate him—until Kiel dares her to let passion make two hurting hearts feel, touch, and care again. But also aboard is someone who could shatter Rhiannon’s world…unless she fights for her future with the only weapon she has left—the invincible power of a woman’s love.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
Heather Graham wrote this book in 1985 and has published its story line is applicable after 9/11. The story does not include the paranormal - where Graham has made her money over the past few years - but rather includes a keen focus on trusting one's intuition. However, Graham stays true to her tradiontal themes of man versus woman, man almost loses woman, and man wins woman. This book also addresses mourning and finally overcoming the tragic lose of loved ones.
I liked it, but I agree with the other reviews which expressed concern over the "manhandling" of Rhiannon by Kiel throughout the book. Also, I had trouble finding him to be a likable character simply because he was a politician. I think the author should have made him a military man instead. But overall a sweet love story.
Congressman Kiel Whellen failed to negotiate an airplane hijacking. The plane crashed into suburban D.C. killing most on board, including his fiance and many people on the ground. Rhiannon Collins husband, small son & 6 month old daughter were among those killed on the ground. Consequently, she hates the Congressman and life in general. She takes a job as an assistant to wealthy Donald Flagherty, where she also doubles as a blackjack dealer. When Donald hosts a cruise with world leaders to discuss nuclear disarmament, Kiel is aboard. The sparks fly between Kiel and Rhiannon and she starts to feel again Then the same terrorist strikes again on board the ship and they must fight together for their lives and their love. Unusual story, well done, several bedroom scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Rhiannon loses her husband and 2 children in a plane accident caused by terrorists. She struggles to get over her grief and spends her days working as a hostess for a philanthropist. Congressman Kiel whellan was the lead negotiator with the terrorist and also loses his fiancee in the crash. For some reason, which was beyond me, the heroine blames the hero for the crash. Most other people would focus on the terrorists themselves but not rhiannan.
As soon as they meet, Kiel is drawn to Rhiannan and he decides that he will have her and will drag her kicking and screaming back to an appreciation of life.
The main problem with the couple is that Kiel always seems to be on the edge of violence with her. He is either grabbing her wrists painfully, pushing her, trapping her etc. They argue constantly and this generally pushes him over the edge. He also ignores pretty much everything she says and simply refuses to listen to her objections. When the ship that they are on is again threatened by the same terrorist ( flagged from the outset) , Rhiannon over hears something which causes her concern but when she tells Kiel about it, he dismisses her concern and shouts and roars at her - apparently on the basis that he knows that she is right but that because she is the little woman, she has no right to know what is going on, as this was a matter for the men.
I think that the book was published in the 80 s but the reality is that Kiel came over as pretty abusive and the kind of guy who nowadays would get done for sexual harassment.
The heroine was kind of annoying as well.
She behaves irrationally and seems entirely self absorbed for most of the time. For example when he locks her in the first class cabin to isolate her from other passengers when there is a fear that plague is spreading on the ship, the heroine's main reaction is to throw a hissy fit in the most silly fashion , rather than to acknowledge that all passengers have been locked in, that all passengers are being given a vaccination and that these are basic safety measures which everyone else has to put up with and so sulking at Kiel seems highly immature and pretty stupid.
Rhiannon Collins lost her husband and children when a hostage-held plane crashed into her home. She blamed Congressman Kiel Whellan for their deaths when he failed to avert the tragedy. Now, two years later, Rhiannon is working through her grief as a blackjack dealer on a luxury clipper. Kiel is one of the guests. He finds her attractive and decides he will cure her of her grief.
I see from various reviews that many people liked this story. I'm not one of them. This was a typical 1980's romance with an alpha jerk hero and a doormat heroine. The hero manhandled the heroine through out the book. I don't know how many times "his painful grasp brought tears to her eyes". Every plot device was thrown into this story, including a plane crash, luxury cruise, bubonic plague, terrorists, and death by jellyfish. My rating: 1 Star.
Uma Nova Esperança Heather Graham Super Saabrina 01 2004
Me surpreendeu muito, tava esperando uma coisa, mas o texto diz outra, muito melhor do que imaginei.
A princípio fiquei muito desconfiada do Kevin, muito seguro e intimidador, mas logo percebi que era uma característica da personalidade e não por maldade...
Roberta é uma dama de gelo que derrete gradualmente como o fogo de Kevin. Além do mais, ela trabalha como hostess, o que dá todo um charme e um ar de mistério pra figura da moça.
Fora o romance, ainda há terroristas, seqüestros, doenças, quarentenas e tudo que poderia ter num drama policial ou algo parecido, muito interessante.
I have read many books by this author in many of her different writing styles and have enjoyed some more than others but this was one of her older books but still a good read.