Heart of the Matter

by K.I. Thompson

Smart and sexy, Kate is Ellen's dream girl, but the dynamic TV newscaster doesn't know she exists. But one rainy night a near-tragedy changes everything when Kate is involved in an automobile accident and turns to Ellen for help.

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT, Romance, Lesbian Fiction, Academic, Fiction, Lesbian Romance

234 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2008

About the author

KI Thompson is the author of three novels, House of Clouds (2008 Sapphic Readers’ Award, and 2008 Indie Book Award and 2008 Goldie Award finalists), Heart of the Matter, and Cooper’s Deale (Bold Strokes Books). She also has short stories in the anthologies Erotic Interludes (2-5) by Bold Strokes Books, Fantasy: Untrue Stories of Lesbian Passion (Bella Books), and Best Lesbian Romance 2007 as well as Best Lesbian Romance 2009 (Cleis Press). She is currently working on her fourth novel, The Will to Wynne, a historical romance set during the American Revolutionary War. KI lives in the Washington, DC area with her partner and two much loved cats.

Reviews

[Kym Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was a good, easy read. The characters are flawed and likeable which makes it easy to connect to them. The ending felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the book but it was enjoyable.

[Angie Engles · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I didn't want to like Heart Of The Matter. Both main characters' insecurities, especially Ellen's unrelenting weight obsession, often saddle the romance with way too much emotional baggage. It makes me so sad and mad when likable women are always so down on themselves about their appearance. Ellen's tightly held conviction she needs to change her physical looks to be accepted by women like Sandra (a woman she half-heartedly dates while trying not to pine for Kate) could be exasperating if not for how so many of us know exactly what it's like to doubt ourselves so much.

Another contributing factor that keeps things real is the writing: "The veil of invisibility that so often came over Ellen descended quickly. For no reason, she felt rejected. A woman she thought attractive had glanced her way and found her wanting. If her life suddenly ended, she would never experience the one thing missing from her life--love." KT Thompson really makes your heart ache for Ellen and her pretty much paralyzing inability to connect with others with any kind of confidence.

The constant back and forth of "does she like me? oh, she couldn't possibly like me!" may be irritating to some readers, but I find that the ping pong of it all only makes the moments where Ellen and Kate interact during their meals and trip to Virginia that much sweeter and touching.

There are some truly great moments in Heart Of The Matter, like when Kate shares her philosophy with Ellen one night when they're alone together: "Romance is when the woman you love consumes you. She is your everything--all that matters, all that ever was and ever will be. You will gladly endure anything, any hardship, to avoid inflicting a second of pain on her. And you will love her until the day you die, never taking a moment of being with her for granted." It's one of the best scenes and _finally_ sets things straight on the fears that have plagued both women from the start...or so it seems.

Whether you end up loving or not loving Heart Of The Matter may very well depend on where you're coming from...and whether you like your love stories with deeply human and flawed characters. Having read more than my share of cutsey, cocky lesfic where things fall into place with way too convenient plot devices, I have to say I absolutely adore this one!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ratings - 3.5 ⭐️

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the characters, they had flaws and were well written. There communication at times was terrible and needed to be more open. I guess that’s what keeps a story going.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. This is the first by this author for me and I enjoyed her writing. The story involves two professional women, a professor of History and an on-air TV newscaster. An accident changes the life of one bringing her into the orbit of the other. The premise is a good one. What always baffles me is the non-communication that the couple has which sends them into tailspin’s when good honest conversation would move heir relationship along. I understand you need some angst in the romance genre but I would rather they knock heads in talking then drown in silences in their own heads. Loved the Civil War history in the book as a battlefield fan myself. Written in 2008 it hold up to the test of time. Will read more of Ms. Thompson’s writings.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had an interesting reaction to this book... for most of it I didn't like the characters that much (one was a bitch, another way too soft, when they could be much more balanced), but the sexual tension between them is well made and it kept my interest 'til the end.
Bottom line: not a good book, but with some interesting parts. KI Thompson knows how to write, but I'd prefer better characters.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an okay read, I sped through it and found it mildly enjoyable. I can't say I particularly liked either of the characters that much but I didn't hate them either.

I was frustrated that we didn't see Ellen confront Sandra and was waiting for the reveal that Sandra only went out with her to get her son into the uni but it never happened, for both Ellen and Kate to do some proper healing re. their physical appearances (I don't expect them to just vanish but they never even had a discussion about their insecurities).

I was also waiting for an actual proper confrontation between Ellen and her sister but we got a lukewarm 'confrontation' (if you can even call it that) which basically just ends with it being okay that her sister is constantly super homophobic towards her because her husband is having an affair with a man. Obviously that sucks but it seems like she's been homophobic for a lot longer than the few years the affair has been going on and It really didn't sit with me that the sister was made out to be the victim - and their parents never make any effort to tell her to stop being a homophobic a-hole to her sister. She also never once apologizes to Ellen.

There was also a SUPER gross line when Kate and Ellen are about to sleep together and Kate says something like "it's taking all my effort not to force myself on you" YIKES. That is not hot or romantic and it made the whole scene very uncomfortable.

All in all, this isn't a bad read per se, it was entertaining for what it is however compared to the masterpieces of fxf fiction that are Jae's books, this fell very very far from the mark.

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contemporary romance from 2008. Ellen Webster is a professor of US history in Washington DC. Her neighbor is popular tv broadcaster Kate Foster. When Kate is left scarred by a terrible car accident she doesn't want to leave her condo. Ellen reaches out and offers to get groceries and befriends her. Both are insecure about their looks. Ellen is concerned about her weight but if I read the book right she is 5' 7" and weighs 150 pounds. I don't think this is extreme for a woman in her 40s. Kate's look are important to her field of work. There was also a strong lack of communication between the two even as they develop feelings which is frustrating. I think the story was fine but didn't age well in the 13 years since it was written.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, while a decent romance, had so many flaws it's ridiculous! How can anyone say a 150 pound woman is "fat", "voluptuous" "flabby"??? Better she should be a 110 pound skeleton? Why did Ellen's mother never intervene on her behalf when her horrible sister was calling her names and belittling her. A hugely accomplished woman, sidelined by fear and self disgust. It's maddening. I have little issue with Kate's issues after the accident. Her whole life was turned upside down, which was actually a good thing in turning her into a caring human. I am glad they worked it out. But I hated the "fat" shaming!!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Got about halfway through and I just couldn’t anymore. I didn’t care for the Civil War aspect. I get that one of the two main characters is a history professor, and that the trip was to be a turning point for the leads. I just could not care less. And when and already frustrating book turned into a history lesson, I was just done.

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was actually pretty terrible. I finished it out of pure stubbornness and to see if there was any redemption in the ending. There was not.

[Naanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty enjoyable read; I liked the premise of the two being neighbors, and one being reliant on the other after her car accident. I also like reading about people having scars, and being hesitant to show them to partners, something I thought this book did well. I would have given this four stars if there hadn't been so much focus on one character's weight and her negative body image issues. It was really distracting and sad for me. (After reading her call herself fat for several pages, we learn she weighs only 150 pounds, which is...not what I was expecting)

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

i generally liked the book. I have read a lot of novel like this one.Women doesn't know the other exist until a terrible accident that the fall for each other while helping each other with some flaw.

I can't explain it maybe it was the writing but i would read it again.i don't even like happy ending but i loved this one.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

Ellen's body issues are so true in today's society as well as Kate's insecurities about what happened to her as a result of her accident was also accurately depicted as well. The Civil War depictions made me want to know more about that time period and their love story. Was sweetly told.

Job well done!

[Alli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished this book because I felt obligated to once I started it. But I honestly could have cared less about the characters; I had no sympathy for one lead, the other was just annoying, and the best I felt was when I finished it and could put it aside.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst lesbian romance novels I've read lately, and I've been reading some real doozies. The characters are horrendous with neither lead being particularly sympathetic or likable. Basically a love story between a door mat and an egotist. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

[Jen Keyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a slow reader and read it in day. i personally liked it.