Straight to the Heart

STRAIGHT TO THE HEART is the story of Monique Oliver's gradual metamorphosis. Just months away from her fortieth birthday she is given a pink slip by her employer of fifteen years, and about the same time her boyfriend ends their relationship. Monique could not have imagined she would be single, jobless and without prospects for either loss, at this stage of her life. After too many dismal relationships, she has sworn off men until she recaptures her emotional balance. But behind each dark cloud is a silver lining, and for Monique it is an offer to run a bed and breakfast in her mother's hometown, Washington, N.C. She uses this opportunity to help her uncle and his ailing wife and to get away from the issues confronting her in Atlanta. When she arrives in Washington she feels like a man-magnet, every one is flirting with her no matter their ages. But Monique is not interested, she is determined to stick to her resolution, that is until she sees contractor Russell MacDonald. But, there is a hitch, Russell is not the flirting kind and certainly not with Monique, he thinks she already gets too much attention. Monique wants to change his mind, but she must first change her ways. Bettye Griffin has written a lightly comical story with the warmth and sincerity of a small town. The secondary characters add just the right filler for the story and they compliment the lives of the hero and the heroine. The pull of STRAIGHT TO THE HEART beckons readers in a way I have come to expect from this author. This is a good summer read. Reviewed by aNN of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

In Bettye Griffin's "Straight to the Heart," a newly single Monique Oliver is pushing forty and looking to find out why she can't sustain a relationship. Her "investigation" leads her to North Carolina, where she falls into the job of running a bed and breakfast for her uncle and dying aunt. Used to be alone, Monique is stunned when men hit on her left and right--and yet the only man she wants attention from, Russell "Mac" McDonald, won't give her the time of day.This is just the beginning of Griffin's novel, a work that I really enjoed reading. It was quiet, in that sweet, good-natured way. It focused on the relationship between Monique and Mac without using sex as its anchor, which is always a good thing. Griffin also sets up nice subplots and allows the reader into the lives of the minor characters, who are as important to the story as Monique and Mac.My only issue is that the story ended too abruptly, which threw me because I expected the novel to last at least another chapter or two.Despite that, this is a book I would definitely recommend to those who love romance novels about real, mature relationships.Shon Bacon

Monique, a mature woman must face the facts that she needs to do some soul searching cause at 40 years old, her life is crumbling and it is not everyone around her. Monique has decided to go on a voluntary sabbatical from men. She is going to do some deep down soul searching and will not get involved with any man until she has turned herself inside out and right side up. As she moves back to her moms hometown, and is faced with a family crisis, she indulges in working for her uncles bed and breakfast. Just as she thought this vacation from men would clear her thoughts, in walks the handsome,strong, construction workers supervisor, who will be in town for a while. Monique has men drooling over her and showing her mad attention, but the one and only man that she can even consider thinking about is not showing her the time of day. Mac is strong,responsible and when he first lays eyes on Monique red flags jump out at him. He realizes that he needs to let her be, his better judgement tells him to stay away,but as time goes on he realizes that his eys like what they see. After spending sometime together and becoming friends, they come into a bump in the road and Mac realizes that his first instincts of Monique were true, but even when your mind tells you one thing, your heart feels another. Monique realizes that she has to change and then as circumstances evolve she learns along with Mac that she has changed and definitely for the better. With this story you learn and will understand that physical beauty is only an attribute to getting the recognition of admirers, but is not the foundation of sustaining a relationship and finding a soul mate. You will also find that the one thing that you think makes you beautiful, you may be able to live without. What really makes a person is not where you work, how much money you make, where you live or where you are from, and not how long your hair is or flawless your skin is, your beauty is much deeper. Also, you will learn as Monique learned that it is not always about YOU!! If you are not careful, you may wake up and find that you are the only one that thinks that You are all that and then some, and then you will have YOU all to yourself, while those you had are involved and committed to someone else. I recommend that you read "Love Affair" along with this one, so you will have a complete understanding of Monique. This is not a smoochy, ooooooooooh romance, but a very real story of love lost and love found.

In Ms Griffins 7th novel "Straight To The Heart" we come face to face with Monique Oliver who has loved and lost over and over again. When Monique looses not only in love but her job she sets out to reinvent her self. Can old habbits be changed to new ones? Can she do it alone or will she need a little help from her friends and family? The subtitles for each chapter gives insight with each new step taken toward improvement. In the unique style of Ms Griffin "Straight To The Heart" is a warm, cozy read that allows you to look into the mirror of your soul to see if you need to change. Ms Griffins', novels are great starter romances for teenagers.

I really enjoyed this book! This story is about one woman's self assessment of her life after approaching the big 4-0 and finding herself jobless and alone, although in her heart she always felt she was the catch of a lifetime. I found myself understanding Monique Oliver more as the story unfolded, and she became a more endearing character that you found yourself pulling for as the story progressed. Monique is a character from one of Bettye's earlier books, and anyone who's read Love Affair or From This Day Forward, will remember that Monique frequently said exactly what she was thinking from a self-centered perspective and let her mouth get her in trouble. Monique has the opportunity to help out a relative with his business and move to a small town where she can get away, re-evaluate her choices and discover what is going wrong because "she" is the only constant in all her disastrous relationships and the men are quickly running the other direction. She has decided to take a break from men until she gets it all figured out, but then she meets "Mac" McDonald, a traveling businessman who comes to her relative's B & B for a two-week stay. Mo tries to catch his eye, but he seems to be the only man in the small town who is NOT showing any interest - outwardly anyway! Will Mo repeat her same mistakes of the past? Will "Mac" give her a chance and find out if she is more than meets the eye? The story takes you through their developing relationship and the drama of their intertwining families. There are many endearing characters and a very believable storyline that keeps you interested to the very end. A great, thought provoking book!