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What Matters Most (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,848 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
With every New York Times bestseller, Luanne Rice illuminates yet another of the secret wonders of the heart. Her unforgettable evocations of family, friendship, and loves lost and won in such novels as The Edge of Winter, Sandcastles, and Summer of Roses give voice to our most powerful emotions. Now she brings back two of her most beloved characters to tell of their journey across the sea to unravel the mysteries of a shared past—and two undying love affairs.… What Matters Most Sister Bernadette Ignatius has returned to Ireland in the company of Tom Kelly to search for the past—and the son—they left behind. For it was here that these two long-ago lovers spent a season of magic before Bernadette’s calling led her to a vocation as Mother Superior at Star of the Sea Academy on the sea-tossed Connecticut shore. For Tom, Bernadette’s choice meant giving up his fortune and taking the job as caretaker at Star of the Sea, where he could be close to the woman he could no longer have but whom he never stopped loving. And while one miracle drew them apart, another is about to bring them together again. For somewhere in Dublin a young man named Seamus Sullivan is also on a search, dreaming of being reunited with his own first love, the only “family” he’s ever known. They’d been inseparable growing up together at St. Augustine’s Children’s Home, until Kathleen Murphy’s parents claimed her and she vanished across the sea to America. Now, in a Newport mansion, that very girl, grown to womanhood, works as a maid and waits with a faith that defies all reason for the miracle that will bring back the only boy she’s ever loved. That miracle is at hand—but like most miracles, it can come only after the darkest of nights and the deepest of heartbreaks. For life can be as precarious as a walk along a cliff, and its greatest rewards reached only by those who dare to risk everything…for what matters most.
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"This is a follow up to Sandcastles Luanne Rice seems to keep the location of her stories the same but different characters. In this book and in most of Luanne's books they take a twist that you cannot predict. The search by Bernadette and Tim for their son that they gave away at birth, and what matters most which is love. She weaves their story with just enough description of the characters and places to catch your interest. Another good read leaving me thinking about what matters most."
— Juan (5 out of 5 stars)
What Matters Most Listener Reviews
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" My first Luann Rice book. Decent story, but I really couldn't identify with any of the characters. Found myself skimming through pages so I could move onto something else. "
— Danielle, 2/18/2014 -
" Loved this book!! Ireland orphanage pair find each other and their parents after years. "
— Angela, 2/17/2014 -
" Sequel to Sand Castles and is a must read if you read the first book. Luanne Rice really captures the feelings of a family! "
— Claudia, 1/30/2014 -
" I have been reading a lot of new authors lately and I just read this one and I have to say it is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a book whose characters wil be with me a long time. It is not a romance novel but a truly inspiring love story that takes place over 23 years and in Ireland and Connecticut. Wonderful book, I have shared it with all my friends. "
— Stacey, 1/28/2014 -
" This was a great story! Wonderfully written. Held my attention from beginning to end! "
— Debbie, 1/27/2014 -
" I literally sobbed at the end of this book. And I got so mad at Nancy for recommending it. But I really enjoyed it. "
— Joan, 1/16/2014 -
" This book moved me to tears. A beautifully-spun story. "
— Anderson, 1/5/2014 -
" I adored this book! All I can say is, what a beautiful story and it also takes you to Ireland. "
— Cindy, 1/5/2014 -
" Loved this book...powerful and unique love story and loved the vivid descriptions of Ireland. "
— Deborah, 12/17/2013 -
" This was a good train book. Nothing special. "
— Kelly, 12/14/2013 -
" A good curl up by the fire on a cold winter evening kind of book! "
— Tamara, 12/10/2013 -
" More Luanne Rice. Great love story in the end. "
— Meredith, 12/4/2013 -
" This story is amazing. One of my favourite books of all time. "
— Lisa, 7/16/2013 -
" Stupid book. A lot of Catholic stuff. Would not recomend this to anyone. "
— Becky, 10/30/2012 -
" I liked the story. It was sweet and kept me listening. "
— Shannon, 7/23/2012 -
" I would've given it three stars until the ending. Then it becomes some weird combo of The Thorn Birds meets Ghost. Dumb. "
— Tiffany, 7/19/2012 -
" Two couples, Bernadette & Tom, and James & Kathleen, share a history. I enjoyed learning a bit about the Catholic culture with nuns. Set in Dublin and Connecticut, the family interactions were well developed, but the book did drag a bit. "
— Karen, 7/9/2012 -
" Science fiction? A woman has a child and enters the convent?! "
— Kriley1227, 3/14/2012 -
" This almost reads like a trashy romance novel. Other than James/Seamus the characters are not really very likeable. I've enjoyed other novels by Rice, but this one left me feeling yucky about the story and the characters. "
— Catherine, 2/26/2012 -
" I liked this book however, I almost gave up on it a few times. One chapeter would hold my attention but the next two or three would'nt. "
— Kathy, 11/2/2011 -
" Very good book. I would read more by this author. "
— Arlene, 8/5/2011 -
" I lived this beautiful story if love and disappointment, with the underlying message that Gods miracles of love are around us every day! It's a must read! "
— Barb, 6/4/2011 -
" A nun & her former lover journey to Ireland in search of the son they gave up for adoption. "
— Kitty, 3/4/2011 -
" I think I have read another of her books that took place in previous years. Good book. "
— Joann, 2/20/2011 -
" I enjoyed this book. I really can't talk about it at all without giving away the plot. But it is definitely a different kind of love story. "
— Niki, 1/24/2011 -
" one of luanne rice's best! but still, there's this question in my mind that remained unanswered: who's Brendan McCarthy's parents? "
— Jan, 1/19/2011 -
" Good story about Family, Love and Devotion, Hardships and Life Consequences. The book bounces between the States and Ireland surrounding the intertwining lives of 4 characters. "
— Rene, 1/18/2011 -
" Enjoyed the story, but some of the language bothered me. "
— Valerie, 11/14/2010 -
" I was hooked. I had the audio in the car and the book in my purse so I didn't miss a moment. the end was a SHOCKER. I cried though :( "
— Jessi, 11/11/2010 -
" I liked the story. It was sweet and kept me listening. "
— Shannon, 10/27/2010
About Luanne Rice
Luanne Rice is the author of more than thirty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Sandcastles. Many of her novels have been made into movies for television. Her short stories, essays, and articles have been widely published in magazines and newspapers. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
About Blair Brown
Blair Brown is an award-winning narrator and a Tony Award–winning actor. Besides earning several AudioFile Earphones Award, she received the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration in 2020. She has appeared on Broadway, in film, and on television in numerous miniseries and TV movies and received five Emmy Award nominations for her starring role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.