Silent Heart

by Claire McNab

Book Overview

Silent Heart (Classic Reprint) Paperback by Claire McNab (Author) This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1562800361
• ISBN13: 9781562800369
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Naiad Press
• Length: 173 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Slow going but worth a look

I bought this book as I am a fan of Clare McNab's mysteries and I wanted to see what she could do with a straight romance novel. I liked the book, but wouldn't have called it the best McNab novel I have ever read. I found the story difficult to get into, and the characters were quite unsympathetic for me at first, but I decided to persevere because of my liking of this author. I agree that this book covers issues that most romance novels don't go near, and it should be applauded for that, but I was left, ultimately, unfulfilled by the storyline which closed in too much of a rush for me. That said, I still give it four stars. I think it is just a subjective thing for me.

Wow ! This novel packs a punch

What starts off as a lovely and well written romance with terrific humor soon becomes a drama of people overcoming tremendously emotional issues to fulfill their hopes and dreams. I liked both main characters more and more as the book progressed and only wish it were longer as I did not want to leave them. Do not miss this book. It deals beautifully with heart wrenching issues and at it's core is a wonderful portrayal of people you will admire and care for. from the publisher's web site - Victoria Woodson, a highly regarded associate professor at a Sydney university, is an authority on erotic writing of the Victorian era. Her passion for this literature amply compensates, she believes, for the unfulfilling male relationships she has dropped from her life. A savvy commercial publisher has pounced on a book Victoria intended for an academic audience. Victoria is shocked and disconcerted to see The Erotic Muse become a world-wide bestseller. Reyne Kendall, an experienced and award-winning journalist, is assigned to do an in-depth feature on the woman behind the bestseller. Victoria dreads the sort of aggressive, probing person Reyne is likely to be. Her misgivings prove to be more than correct. Reyne is self-made, irreverent and tough, and has little respect for the cloistered world of academia which is Victoria's sanctuary. Reyne brings one other volatile ingredient - she is boldly out as a lesbian.

A real gem

This is a little known gem of romantic fiction that goes to places that the more pedestrian romances never go: Victoria is an expert on Victorian erotica, but has never been able to complete an erotic encounter of her own. Her relationships with men fail. When her relationship with Reyne is more emotionally satisfying and physically arousing she has to accept that she is a lesbian. But even with Reyne she can't find release. It is only with Reyne's support and willingness to wait that Victoria finally finds the courage to shine a light on her repressed past. Victoria's healing happens far more quickly in fiction than real life, which is my only quibble with the story. This is a stirring, emotional story that goes to dark places. But in the end love brings out all the light.

Well-written, sophisticated

I am a lover of romance and I really enjoyed this book. I also like McNab's mysteries, but I think the writing here shines even more as some difficult issues provide the background to beautifully complex characters who find happiness but not without pain. Just like real life. I think I'll be using this book as a standard I hope other writers will strive for.