The Heart of the Matter

by Kristy Dykes

Dr. Jeris Waldron would rather help children than worry about hair and makeup. Widowed from a demeaning husband, she overcame her insecurities by pursuing a career in child psychology. With a new practice and a new role as children's director at church, Jeris hopes to win some young hearts for the Lord. But her own heart is quickly won by little Brady Moore. As a single parent, Luke Moore has little time for dating. But he'd like to marry again someday, and Brady wants a mommy. Luke's only trouble is finding the right woman-one who loves the Lord and is gorgeous, too. A little matchmaking and Brady's endearing ways throw Luke and Jeris together. But can Luke overcome his vain prejudice? And will Jeris allow her tender heart to trust again? Will they let God show them the heart of the matter?

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 4, 2007

About the author

Kristy Dykes—wife to Rev. Milton Dykes, mother to two beautiful young women, grandmother, and native Floridian—was author of hundreds of articles, a weekly cooking column, short stories, and novels. She was also a public speaker whose favorite topic was on "How to Love Your Husband." Her goal in writing was to "make them laugh, make them cry, and make them wait" (a Charles Dicken’s quote). She passed away from this life in 2008.

Reviews

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I was introduced to Christian romance through the Love Inspired brand, I really haven't ventured into other publishing companies with that specific genre in mind. And so this would be another first for me as such while unfortunately it didn't really make the cut for me.

First of all this particular book didn't quite lead off with the Bible verse as those in the Love Inspired books do so I wasn't quite prepared for the "message" of this particular book. Although the verse isn't placed front and center it does appear in the following pages at least a few times so the reader gets the offered verse and is then reminded later of that same such verse.

To me, though, what I didn't quite like about this book was its whole superficial facade. The main male protagonist only wanted a wife who was beautiful on the outside and would be accepted by his elite work clients, the pastor praised the good looks of his fashionable wife and encouraged her to give our sparrow female protagonist a makeover, which of course related in the drab sparrow becoming quite a fetching swan. And yep, yep, I know the story turned its focus from shallow outside appearance in most cases to inner beauty but it was just too little and and much too late for that particular message.

It also felt like the story was way too repetitive and this mostly around secondary characters to give them a bit more of a nuance to their actions without quite fleshing them out. Such a sad waste of an opportunity to make characters that would have been more fun, more relatable and not quite as dull.

Also unlike the previous mentioned brand this book didn't really have a follow-up Bible study based on the underlying message. Instead a questionnaire was only included to ask the reader inquiries into what the reader would like to see from the publisher in the future and whether they may rate the book as good.

All in all it wasn't good but nor was it totally bad so I would just say for those looking for Christian romances, stay with Love Inspired.

[Cornelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich habe schon Heftromane mit mehr Tiefe und umfangreicherem Geschehen gelesen. Vielleicht liegt es auch an dem Leihbuch "Wie man die richtige Ehefrau findet...für christliche Männer" von 1954, nicht mehr ausgeliehen seit 1955, aber dem männlichen Protagonisten aufgedrängt wird. Danach ist es nur noch ein Abhaken der Eigenschaften (bsp.weise sie sollte die gleichen Bücher lesen, daß man sich intelligent mir ihr unterhalten kann, aber zu intelligent sollte sie nicht sein) der zukünftigen Ehefrau und beten um eine.

[Tegan Utterback · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it started out kind of slow. BUT….I love little romantic reads just like this! It just warmed my heart that Jeris took in Brady like he was her own and to see Luke fall in love with her.