scottishlindsay's review
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kirstyoughton's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read many of Trisha’s books before but I am glad I picked this one up. The cover of the book is beautiful and at the same time totally deceiving and you realise this once you get into the story!
It’s certainly a love story with a twist (a dark and spooky one!) Cass isn’t the type of character I normally read about with her interest of writing dark and twisted novels and her attitude towards love. At first she is the mistress of a very arrogant man who clearly doesn’t care about her and only wants one thing from her (you can probably guess what that is) You end up wanting her to get out of that situation and find someone who will care about her and love her for who she is. Will she find someone who will give her the happen ending she deserves? Well you will have to read the book to find out.
I found all of the other characters likeable and interesting in their own unique ways. Orla seems to be the total opposite to Cass yet they are really close friends. Jason seems like a lovely man. As for Dante, well he is such a mystery and your intrigued to find out his backstory. Don’t even get me started on Cass’s parents!
I love the way Trisha describes the scene in each chapter to the pub to haunted Manor House, you can see each setting in your own head so clearly. ‘A Good Heart is Hard to Find’ is a beautifully, gripping and unique read you just don’t want to put down. I give this book 4*/5* 😊
It’s certainly a love story with a twist (a dark and spooky one!) Cass isn’t the type of character I normally read about with her interest of writing dark and twisted novels and her attitude towards love. At first she is the mistress of a very arrogant man who clearly doesn’t care about her and only wants one thing from her (you can probably guess what that is) You end up wanting her to get out of that situation and find someone who will care about her and love her for who she is. Will she find someone who will give her the happen ending she deserves? Well you will have to read the book to find out.
I found all of the other characters likeable and interesting in their own unique ways. Orla seems to be the total opposite to Cass yet they are really close friends. Jason seems like a lovely man. As for Dante, well he is such a mystery and your intrigued to find out his backstory. Don’t even get me started on Cass’s parents!
I love the way Trisha describes the scene in each chapter to the pub to haunted Manor House, you can see each setting in your own head so clearly. ‘A Good Heart is Hard to Find’ is a beautifully, gripping and unique read you just don’t want to put down. I give this book 4*/5* 😊
elong75's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
***Copy From NetGalley in return for an honest review*****
I'm a big fan of Trisha Ashley's and was looking forward to reading this - knowing it was one of her early novels reissues under a new title and thinking it was one I hadn't read. However, it was clear to me within a few pages that I had read it back in the day - before I started obsessively tracking my reading (or possibly when I was using a different book tracker which shut down and I had to migrate across and lost a few things in the process).
Anyway, this is Singled Out under a new title and tells the story of schlock horror writer Cass, who was disowned by her parents when she took up with a married man 20 years ago and who is now wondering whether he really is the man for her at all. She's approaching her mid40s and desperately wants a baby, but Max has just taken a job in America for a year with the disabled wife he told Cass only had a few years to live two decades ago. So she starts to look around for other options - maybe her best friend Jason, but he has a wicked temper and his wife is mysteriously AWOL or there's the new mysterious bloke up at the Hall who she finds disturbingly appealing. Add to this her twin sister - always her parent's favourite - turning up suddenly out of favour and Cass's life is taking a turn.
I enjoyed this mostly for the clues it gives to what Trisha has go on to do - there's an eccentric dad, a hippy-ish heroine, the dark and brooding hero and the tight-knit female friendships that we've got used to all here in slightly proto form. This is a bit weirder and a bit less developed that once Trisha hit her stride a few novels later and Cass is one of the wetter and weirder heroines. The big absence (compared to Ashley's most recent books) is that there's no cooking. Cass lives off pub food and shop-bought pizzas and so there's no lovely collection of recipes for baking or chocolatey treats to imagine. So it may split the established fans a bit as it's so different.
I'm a big fan of Trisha Ashley's and was looking forward to reading this - knowing it was one of her early novels reissues under a new title and thinking it was one I hadn't read. However, it was clear to me within a few pages that I had read it back in the day - before I started obsessively tracking my reading (or possibly when I was using a different book tracker which shut down and I had to migrate across and lost a few things in the process).
Anyway, this is Singled Out under a new title and tells the story of schlock horror writer Cass, who was disowned by her parents when she took up with a married man 20 years ago and who is now wondering whether he really is the man for her at all. She's approaching her mid40s and desperately wants a baby, but Max has just taken a job in America for a year with the disabled wife he told Cass only had a few years to live two decades ago. So she starts to look around for other options - maybe her best friend Jason, but he has a wicked temper and his wife is mysteriously AWOL or there's the new mysterious bloke up at the Hall who she finds disturbingly appealing. Add to this her twin sister - always her parent's favourite - turning up suddenly out of favour and Cass's life is taking a turn.
I enjoyed this mostly for the clues it gives to what Trisha has go on to do - there's an eccentric dad, a hippy-ish heroine, the dark and brooding hero and the tight-knit female friendships that we've got used to all here in slightly proto form. This is a bit weirder and a bit less developed that once Trisha hit her stride a few novels later and Cass is one of the wetter and weirder heroines. The big absence (compared to Ashley's most recent books) is that there's no cooking. Cass lives off pub food and shop-bought pizzas and so there's no lovely collection of recipes for baking or chocolatey treats to imagine. So it may split the established fans a bit as it's so different.
clairebearboo's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
Cassandra Leigh is a gothic horror writer and a long-time mistress to college professor Max. Max is currently in the States with his disabled wife on sabbatical which leaves Cass time to review their situation. He's always promised to leave his wife for her, but that was a long time ago and she would like a child. Other men on offer are her best mate Jason who's estranged wife is 'missing' and the mysterious Dante who just moved into the local haunted mansion.
I struggled with Cass a lot throughout this book. She's a wonderful character in so many ways, but how she was so oblivious to Max's bad intentions made me slightly crazed. Dante is lovely and perfect for her. This is a fun read, just vintage Trisha Ashley.
I struggled with Cass a lot throughout this book. She's a wonderful character in so many ways, but how she was so oblivious to Max's bad intentions made me slightly crazed. Dante is lovely and perfect for her. This is a fun read, just vintage Trisha Ashley.
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