Published on 08/5/2009

Sam Diamond has lost faith in women. He's been married, divorced, and burned in the dating world. He swears off relationships and will settle for hot, one-night stands instead. When his best friend sets him up with the beautiful, equally broken Rachel Conroy, Sam can't keep away. Rachel, a well-schooled pupil of the Kama Sutra, awakens something deep inside Sam that has lain dormant for too long. In "Anywhere the Heart Goes" by author Tim Smith, Sam decides that maybe he can give this love thing another chance, but will Rachel hurt him, too, and turn this hardened bachelor's heart to stone?

Anywhere the Heart Goes by Tim Smith: Book Review

eXtasy Books (2009)
ASIN B002GPVBSC
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (7/09)

Burned out on relationships and on being hurt, Sam Diamond is only interested in playing the field. When his close friend, Ron, asks to set him up, at first he isn’t interested, but finally he does change his mind. Married to Wanda, Ron frequently espouses the benefits of being in a committed relationship. Sam doesn’t quite buy it, but he does listen. Ron of course, is not always 100% content in his relationship with Wanda, yet he does love her and feels that being with her is worth making compromises. Wanda, of course, is the one pushing Ron into convincing Sam to meet her friend Rachel.

Rachel has also been very hurt in relationships. She is extremely cautious, however, based upon what Wanda has told her, she is also intrigued about meeting Sam. On their first date, both feel a major physical connection to each other, however, as their relationship progresses; they continue to allow their fears to hold them back emotionally. It is these fears that they have to work through in order to really be able to succeed with each other. Meanwhile, as they are working through their “stuff,” Rachel and Sam enjoy some incredibly fulfilling and erotic moments.

As I read “Anywhere the Heart Goes” I was really impressed by the author’s inclusion of the doubts and fears that both Sam and Rachel were experiencing. He really tapped into what a lot of 40-something women are feeling. The fears and frustrations were perfectly expressed in Wanda’s character. I also liked that he took us into Sam’s heart and showed us what he was experiencing. Sam was portrayed as a real man, with real fears and insecurities. As in many real relationships, the characters weren’t saying much to each other about them. Instead they were holding them in, which in turn held them back from experiencing true happiness. We also got a realistic look at Wanda and Ron’s married relationship. Again things weren’t perfect for them; however, they knew that they would be happier with each other than anyone else. So they both work at it.

Reading “Anywhere the Heart Goes” by Tim Smith was a really nice surprise for me. This was a book that I, as a 40-something divorcee, could really relate to. Plus the author does an excellent job in creating his sensual scenes.