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Lisa Heidke

Autore di Lucy Springer Gets Even

7 opere 67 membri 8 recensioni

Opere di Lisa Heidke

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Informazioni generali

Sesso
female

Utenti

Recensioni

What fun to read a book about...
a) likeable characters (I want to be best friends with Stella and, if he wasn't interested in my new BFF, date Mike),
b) familiar territory (North Shore Sydney is like my backyard being that I live in Sydney CBD), and
c) contemporary antics (lots of coffee and wine drinking as well as modern day mom/womens issues).

Stella Makes Good is the story of three friends, Stella, Carly and Jesse, and their respective families. Each has their own struggles, but they stick together and support each other as best friends. Opening with a typical girls night out (that ends up not so typical), the story spirals in multiple directions for each while the characters are built and readers become intrigued by their lives, both past and present.

I'm not normally a contemporary fiction or chick lit reader -- I think this book could be classified as either or both -- but I was immediately swept into the world that Lisa Heidke creates. In fact, I read this book within a couple of days which is a record for me. I simply kept turning pages, regardless of chapter breaks. I couldn't help it as I wanted to find out what happened to these lovely, but real (i.e. troubled, sometimes nutty) ladies.

I'm hooked! Now I can't wait to read[a:Lisa Heidke|1894112|Lisa Heidke|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1288740038p2/1894112.jpg]'s latest book, [b:It Started with a Kiss|23668469|It Started with a Kiss|Lisa Heidke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417658508s/23668469.jpg|43275676].

I won this book through a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
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Segnalato
StephMWard | 4 altre recensioni | Nov 4, 2020 |
I think I'm a Heidke fan... review to follow soon.
 
Segnalato
juanita.kees | 4 altre recensioni | Sep 9, 2017 |
The Callahan Split is Australian author Lisa Heidke’s sixth novel but her first foray into the world of self publishing, supplementing her successful career in traditional publishing.

Professional doubles tennis champions, sisters Samantha and Annie Callahan, have each others backs both on and off the court. Riding high after winning a gold medal at the Olympics they are favourites to win the Australian Open, until Annie’s new boyfriend drops a bombshell just before their first match, and the girls relationship begins to falter. Samantha, ambitious and driven, is irate as a love-struck Annie loses interest in their childhood goal, and is completely devastated when her sister severs their partnership to pursue a singles career. Without Annie by her side, Samantha is lost and is forced to wonder if winning is really everything.

The Callahan Split is a story about sisters, Samantha and Annie share a close personal and professional bond which is severely tested when their goals in life no longer coincide. The main theme takes Heidke’s protagonists on a journey of self discovery, but it also explores serious issues such as depression, anxiety, and abandonment.

I didn’t relate particularly well to either sister initially. I found Samantha’s single-minded focus and emotional immaturity draining, and Annie’s desertion selfish. To be fair, the sisters have their reasons, not the least being their mother’s abandonment, which had a significant impact on them both, and I wasn’t entirely unsympathetic to the pressure they were both under as elite athletes trying to stay on top. Most of the story unfolds from Sam’s perspective, and I grew to appreciate the hard earned growth her character experienced. I felt her relationship with Violet and her family, and her romance with her coach, Bear, also softened her sharper edges somewhat.

I have to admit, I’m not that interested in tennis, though I spent several sleepless nights watching the Australian Open in 2003 as Andre Agassi and Serena Williams claimed the title, while nursing my newborn daughter, however I did enjoy the behind the scenes look this elite level sport, including the gossip about the on and off court antics of the players.

A tale of personal and professional adversity and triumph, The Callahan Split is an engaging story, another winner for Lisa Heidke.
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Segnalato
shelleyraec | Sep 11, 2015 |
Friday Jones is stunned when her husband of twenty years announces he needs a break and moves out of the family home. Though Friday readily admits their marriage has been strained for a while, exacerbated by the recent deaths of Liam’s parents and the family dog, Friday never imagined Liam would simply walk away. Heartbroken, Friday struggles through each day while caring for their teenage daughters and continuing to work part time as a naturopath. Liam has been gone for four months when Friday’s boss insists she takes a week R&R at a health spa, where Friday meets a charismatic married man and falls into a wildly passionate but sort lived affair. While Liam pursues his dream to become a stand-up comedian, and tries to keep up with his brother’s bachelor lifestyle, Friday’s best friend, Rosie, encourages her to spread her wings, setting her up with a much younger man and signing her up to KissmeCupid.com, while persuading her to help out with Rosie’s latest business venture hosting divorce parties. Friday is just beginning to pull her self together when everything starts to spiral out of control, her ex lovers won’t take no for an answer, the anonymous gifts on her doorstep suggest someone is stalking her, her daughter ends up in hospital, and then Liam wants to come home…

It Started With a Kiss, Lisa Heidke’s fifth novel, unfolds from the first person perspective of Friday and the third person narrative of Liam, exploring the themes of personal happiness, marriage breakdown, domestic drama and modern relationships. The story is told with plenty of humor and wit but doesn’t dismiss the seriousness of heartbreak and loss. I especially liked the realistic ending, which isn’t as neat as you might expect.

Heidke’s characterisation is always strong, Friday is an emotional mess but that is hardly a surprise given the situation, I imagine I would be too if my husband walked out. I thought Friday was a little too self obsessed at times, even a bit flaky, as evidenced by her failure to do anything about growing her business, but I could understand that Blake’s flattery would be irresistible given the recent blows to her self esteem.
Friday and Liam’s daughters are well portrayed, fifteen year old Olivia is a maelstrom of teenage contempt and self absorption, thirteen year old Evie is sweet and desperate for her parents to reunite.
I wasn’t really expecting to be privy to Liam’s side of things and I didn’t really want to sympathise with him but I did, a little, though I never really liked him much. His behaviour is pretty selfish, especially as he expects Friday to wait in limbo while he indulges in his mid life crisis.

I enjoyed It Started with a Kiss, it’s a quick, engaging read about love and relationships told in a way that is both entertaining and thought provoking. I’m still a fan
… (altro)
½
 
Segnalato
shelleyraec | Jan 3, 2015 |

Statistiche

Opere
7
Utenti
67
Popolarità
#256,179
Voto
½ 3.6
Recensioni
8
ISBN
26

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