What the Heart Wants

by Staci Hart

• ISBN10: 1495395561
• ISBN13: 9781495395567
• Publish Date: 30 January 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 19 January 2017
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Createspace
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

What the Heart Wants is a novella focused on Kat and Kim’s parents, set in 1984! I liked getting this glimpse into one of the instances where two gods were messing with people’s lives, but not for a competition. Aphrodite wanted Katsu to be happy, because he was caught in a horrible sham of a marriage. Meanwhile, Hera was working on Yuki, Katsu’s wife, to help her keep her man, since she’s the goddess of matrimony and all. Of course, we already know that Katsu winds up with Kim and they have two children together, but it was an interesting journey to get there.

I really liked learning more about how the Yazuka works in What the Heart Wants. Katsu is on a mission in Las Vegas which is how he first sees Kim. There’s an immediate connection there (thanks, Dita!) and he knows he can’t just walk away from her. I was a bit less than thrilled with how they got together though. I’m certainly glad that Katsu was honest about who he was, but Kim just accept that all too easily. Like, “Yeah, sure Mr. Married Gangster, I’d love to be your mistress after meeting you 18 hours ago!” I don’t think so. And after a month she can’t live without him and they’re planning on starting a family. It was a bit much all at once.

My favorite parts of What the Heart Wants, oddly, were Yuki and the fighting between Dita and Hera. Yuki really is awful. Katsu did try with her, but she’s just so selfish and manipulative that it’s impossible. She’s completely nuts, most in part to Hera’s needless meddling. I also loved Dita confronting Hera and calling her out on her crap! Dita may not be in a committed relationship, but she does know that love and commitment don’t always go hand in hand, and one does not automatically lead to the other, like Hera does. Tensions are super high between them!

In the end, I did like What the Heart Wants a lot. I just wish it had been less on the insta-love end of the spectrum.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[limabean74]

What can I say Staci is a writing MACHINE!!! About 2 months ago (give or take) she came out with Snake in the Grass and then she came out with What the Heart Wants companion for SIG that contains as much story as a full-length book. I swear when I was finished, I could have said this book was easily 300 pages. She packed so much in 66, yes 66, pages.

If you read Snake in the Grass (if you haven't, WHY NOT?!?!?!) then you already know a little about Katsu and Kim. The story is set in 1984, before they meet.
Can I just tell you that I seriously LOVED this story? At one point I was a nervous wreck thinking something was going to happen to Kim but since I already know what was going to happen I don't know why I was so worried LOL. I HATED. like I wanted to punch her face, Yuki was a JERK!!! Such a spoiled brat and I hoped and prayed she was going to get hers in the end (did she? I'll never tell) I loved Kat's parents before I read this book and I loved them even more now. Of course the Gods had something to do with the meeting of Kim and Katsu so to read about Dita & Perry in the 80's was fun. I know I shouldn't but I love how mean Hera is but the chemistry between her and Dita, I LOVE IT!!! They HATE each other and it works great. I missed my crazy gods this was such a great read to hold me over till the next book (maybe) :)

Staci Hart is a FANTASTIC writer she put so much in so few pages it really amazes me (not really because she is really that good). When I was finished, I really, 100% really, would have thought I read a full book knowing all the details I did about these two characters.

I gave What the Heart Wants by Staci Hart 5/5 Stars it was AMAZING, I absolutely loved it, Her writing style and her attention to details on each character is fantastic. If you read Deer in Headlight and Snake in the Grass this is a MUST READ!!! :)