A Humble Heart

By: R. L. Mathewson

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

After wasting too many years on the wrong man, Dana is finally able to free herself and her two children only to find herself thrown into the spotlight when her books become an overnight sensation. Suddenly, her normal quiet life is gone forever and she's forced to deal with paparazzi, offers from porn companies, magazines, Hollywood and crazed fans all while trying to keep it together for her kids. She never dreamed she'd catch the eye of the most sought after bachelor in the world. Things like that just didn't happen to women like her, or did they?

Having a life? What the hell was that? Edward couldn't remember what it felt like to live his own life without someone watching his every move. Thanks to the paparazzi and the internet nothing in his life was sacred. Out of desperation to keep some semblance of a life, he stops living his own. His family and work are all he has left until he's made an offer he simply can't resist. Working with the famous author forces him to open his heart and take a chance. Winning the heart of the woman he loves while the world watches is anything but easy, but he never thought it would be dangerous. His only hope is that they get through it together... and alive.

©2010 R.L. Mathewson (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Started slow but became a exciting, speeding train

I almost didn't continue after the first three chapters. I am all for character building, but there was a little too much inner dialogue for me in the beginning. But once the characters met and the story took off, I really enjoyed it. It gives a real hard look at what becoming a celebrity can mean to the individual and their family. Just make sure to give it a chance past the first three chapters.

Pretty Good

This was a real sappy story, but I found it refreshing. It was a bit too sweet, but I found the drama and romance to be fairly balanced. It was really too good to be true, but sometimes, you just want a feel good book and/or one that is not too dramatic.

I enjoyed the book. This is my first book by this author and I will try others by him. I was not bored. I got pass the stuff that probably was unreal, however, some of it is truly how life really is. It was good to see an underdog, Dana, to find herself, and get what she wanted after all she had been through. She had a low-life first husband and clearly deserved more.

If you are looking for a serious book with everything in the right place, give this a pass. If you are looking to enjoy a fun, romantic book mixed with life and a bit of drama, then this will fit the bill.

The narrator did an okay job. I have heard better, and worse. she was adequate - actually when I started listening she is the one that pulled me in.

great story

loved it, sad the bodyguard died. I hope he has his own story...I would love to read it...and the other bodyguards too...

Fun read!

This is a well written story with lots of twists and turns ending happily ever after like all love stories should. There are several questions that are raised but not pursued, but it does not detract from the overall story.

Humble Heart

Loved it. couldn't stop lustenung to it. if you love a good drama love story you'll love this one.

Pretty good start to the series :D

3.5-4 stars

This was a pretty good story. I liked Dana and Edward and enjoyed their story. I've read some books from Mathewson's "Neighbor from hell" series which I really liked this book isn't like the book I've read from that series. In this book there's very little conflict between the main characters. It seems to be more of outside forces fighting against the hero and heroine rather than them fighting against each other or themselves.

Dana is a strong woman and the mother of 2, Elizabeth and Cole. When the book starts she's married to Jeff who is a real jerk. She wrote a book and had sent it out to publishers and it was her hope of a way to get away from Jeff. Luckily she got a book deal and divorced Jeff (but found out he'd been cheating on her for years). She moved to California and made a life for her and her kids. She also transformed herself, getting in to exercise and training for triathlons (in her free time between caring for her kids and writing books). She's thrilled when her first book gets made in to a movie but isn't sure what to think about the part of the contract that says she'll co-write a book with the lead actor of the movie, Edward.

Edward is a headlining actor that has had a good career. Unlike most hot actors, Edward actually isn't a man-whore and tends to concentrate on his work rather than sleep around. He also has other interests including reading and Edward loved Dana's books. When he gets the offer to play the lead in the movie made from Dana's first book he jumps at the chance. The opportunity to co-author a book with her is icing on the cake.

The agreement to work together on the book means that Dana will have her own trailer on the set of the movie filming so her and Edward can work on it when he has time between scenes. At their first meeting Edward is put off by her a bit until her realizes that she's treating him just like anyone else...something he hasn't had the pleasure of for a long time and something he finds he likes. Once they actually start working together they find they both like the other and they work very well together. Edward meets her kids later that day and finds her really likes them. Elizabeth and Cole are polite kids that are cute and lovable. Edward starts spending time with Dana and her kids, going on trips to the grocery store, going over to her place some nights to work on their book and even taking the kids to a carnival. Over the next couple weeks they both find that they like each other but the friendship seal hasn't been broken yet as Edward finds himself a bit out of sorts and not smooth at all around Dana. Eventually that gets sorted out and Dana is all for having Edward around. She's strongly attracted to him and he's great with her kids so she's willing to trust him enough to bring him in to her and her kid's lives in a more serious way.

The story is a combination of sweet and sour. Their relationship is mostly sweet, the sour coming from outside sources. One area of drama is Dana's ex who tries to make trouble but fortunately he dug his own grave so he didn't make too much of a pain of himself. There is also issues with psycho stalkers and fans that brings danger in to Dana and Edward's lives multiple times in the book. To be honest, once they get together, Dana and Edward have very little conflict with each other but what other's throw at them is a little scary. If real actors out there suffer from this level of psycho behavior around them just because of their fame I feel sorry for them! Well I kinda already did but I'd feel even more sorry for the famous than I already did. Needless to say, Dana and Edward have to go through a lot of drama. On the good side, their relationship and family life is great as well as their careers. The book takes place over a decent amount of time so we get to see their relationship progress and really get to see them starting their lives together. They have to endure some drama and heartache but they do get their HEA.

This was a pretty enjoyable story. I like the characters and the dynamic between Edward and Dana. They had a sweet but solid and strong connection that I really liked. There were a few moments of humor (like Edward on the radio show) but overall I wouldn't call this a humorous story. It was enjoyable though and I plan to read the next book in the series. I'd recommend this book. :)

Disappointed

How could the performance have been better?

I am a huge RL Mathewson fan but I just could not get into this book. I think a lot of it had to do with the narrator. It sounded like my mom was reading this book to me and trust me that is not good! I think that hurt the book. Maybe if I have read it instead of the audio version I might have enjoyed it more.

Refreshing

Finally, a book that can deal with a relationship without the canned romance plot! I like that the characters dealt with the relationship and obstacles like mature adults. The sign of a good author is when they don’t fall into the romance/break-up/get back together plot. This book had many obstacles for the couple to deal with, and the growth of the relationship was done together.
I loved the authors “neighbors” series, which is one of my favorite series. This book doesn’t have the humor of the neighbor series, but is just as enjoyable to read!

A little too long

I don't normally complain that stories are too long, but this one dragged on and on. I would have been satisfied several hours prior to when the book actually ended.
I also wasn't that big a fan of this narrator. Her voice didn't match what the words were saying. For example, she didn't sound concerned when it said"she said sounding concerned" or angry when the text said the character sounded angry.

a delightful treat filled with love & passion. 

Really really loved it, once I started it I couldn't put it down! Dana was in a horrible crappy marriage and had two kids. She submits a story she wrote and it gets purchased for publishing. This provides her the money to get a divorce and give her kids a better life. Once her story is a success she's asked to write more and eventually ends up having to write a book with Edward Pierce, the actor who will be playing the hero of the story when it's made for the big screen. Edward is somewhat quiet and not really into the Hollywood scene that he's forced into with being an actor but he understands why he has to "play the part". Meeting Dana is a breath of fresh air to him in comparison to all the actresses, Hollywood people and obsessive fans he's usually exposed to. While writing together they get to know each other and eventually fall for each other. That's the first half of the story, the second half is all the ups and downs of being in a relationship with a famous actor/famous author: no privacy, people constantly wanting your time, leaving for filming for long periods of time, crazy fans, things along those lines. After a few pitfalls they eventually get their happily ever after.
Basically, it's a romance novel full of twisted turns, hot smoking scenes although an extra one wouldn't have hurt the plot lol ;), stomach clenching moments, a determined woman with a strong back bone, a sexy guy who adores his family, lots of drama, loyalty and LOVE!!