The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang – a Review

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Description:
When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

Review:

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang is the 3^rd book in her The Kiss Quotient series.  We meet our heroine, Anna Sun, who is a very talented violinist, currently on leave with burn out.  Her career blossomed when she did a You Tube video, which she ended up with recording deal, an international tour and became a prodigy; but the pressure of expectations from management and fans alike caused a mental block, forcing her to take a leave.  Anna is struggling, especially with her family and her boyfriend, and decides to go to a therapist for help; which will diagnose her with ASD (Autistic Spectrum).  Anna has lost all her confidence, and even allows her family and boyfriend to tell her what to do.  Things will slowly change, when the boyfriend decides to date other people, before they commit to marry each other. Anna will decide to listen to her friends and joins a dating service, to shake up her own life.

Quan Diep, our hero (whom we met in the earlier book), is recovering from a serious cancer battle, that is now fully cured.   When he sees Anna on the dating site, and asks her to meet for dinner.   Anna is surprised to meet Quan, who is not only handsome, but also tattooed and rides motorcycles.  Quan sees the beautiful Anna, and slowly he gets her to talk more, as he senses her shyness; Quan is the perfect man for Anna, as he is patient, and caring.

They end up on a one-night stand, with Quan seeing how scared Anna was, it did not get too far. However, both are attracted to each other, and decide to give it another chance, allowing each to deal with their issues and to begin to trust one another.  In a short time, their relationship escalates to sizzling chemistry, with Anna learning how to enjoy sex, which her boyfriend never gave her satisfaction.  I will say that sex was a major background of this story; but they made such a wonderful couple, which had me rooting hard for them.

Quan is determined to win over Anna’s family, which he knows is going to be difficult. Especially when Anna’s father gets sick, and she has to help be a caregiver for him. I love how Quan was so sweet and wonderful with Anna, slowly helping her learn to get past her anxieties, lack of confidence and moving on with her life.

The Heart Principal was a sensual, emotional, heartwarming, heart wrenching and sexy story.  It was amazing to see Quan help Anna through her fears and anxiety, always being there for her. To say too much more would be spoilers, and you need to read every single page of this book.   There are many sensitive issues throughout, such as Autism, Cancer, Anxiety, Caretaker, Family issues and fears.  But true love will conquer all. This was so well written by Hoang, as she manages to keep us glued to our seats with this wonderful story, with a fantastic couple.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher