From the #1 bestselling author of the beloved Calendar Girl books comes the first in a witty, wise and emotionally compelling new series, where coming home is just the beginning… birthday, Suda Kaye opens another of the letters her mother penned before she passed, heeding the advice inside as she fills her life with experiences. From Italy to Australia, from Rio to Russia, she’s slaked her wanderlust. And then, on her twenty-eighth birthday, she opens the letter that sends her home.
Returning to Colorado means confronting everything—and everyone—she left behind, including her cherished sister, Evie, and her first love, Camden Bryant. Suda Kaye and Cam spent four years and one unforgettable night together. Given the way she ran out on him, it’s no surprise that he’s wary, resentful…and engaged to someone else. Evie, hardworking and überresponsible, just wants her sister to put down roots at last.
For Evie’s sake, and her own, Suda Kaye is trying to build a new life, all the while wondering whether it’s too late to come back home—or if the most important part of her never really left.
Don’t miss To Catch a Dream, the next book in Audrey Carlan’s The Wish series that will brings readers a poignant and honest look at life’s most complicated relationships.
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Very beautiful and heartwarming read. Suda is a free-spirited like her mother. Before Suda’s mother passed she penned a letter for each of her girls to open on their birthdays. To much of Suda’s sister disapproval, Suda took off wandered and experienced the world for years. She checked in with her sister every so often. She dated many men she met along the way but never settled her heart for love. On her twenty-eight birthday, Suda opens the letter and this one sends her home to Colorado. Suda finally come back to face her sister Evie and her first love Camden whom she left brokenhearted many years prior. Evie has a lot of resentment toward Suda for abandon her all alone. Camden is still hurt and beyond angry – he cannot understand how Suda could discarded their relationship like yesterday trash. Suda is ready to settle and start to put down roots. It’s will not be an easy feast as she needs help from her sister and Camden. She has a lot of hurdle to overcome because the people that know her the best are not totally convinced Suda will be ever be content with this new life. The one person Suda must try the hardest is Camden who not only her business investor but also the person she still loves deeply. I do feel for Suda though – she can’t help who she is. Suda made some hard decisions and she had to live with the heartache as well. Will Suda finally find a way to spread her wings, find her HEA, and still plant roots? Ooopfs, this one is full of angsts, slow burn, emotional and passionate. What the Hearts wants is a heartfelt, gorgeous story about a young lady self-discovery, family, friendship, forgiveness and second chance romance. Unique and unforgettable!
Deeply Emotional and Powerful.
This is a story about love. The love of a man for a woman and her love for him. The love of a sister for a sister and vice-versa. The love of a granddaughter for her grandfather and his love for her. The love of a daughter for her deceased mother who gave her daughter the advice to fly free. The love of a man for his parents and brothers. There is so much love expressed in this story that it is almost overwhelming. Yet it is heartwarming.
I found all the characters in this story to be quite realistic and I truly enjoyed Suda Kaye’s and Camden’s journey to their Happily Ever After. The storyline flows smoothly and the descriptions are amazing. This has been a truly enjoyable read.
Absolutely fabulous! It’s an emotional journey full of love, heartache, passion and joy.
A beautifully woven tale of love and discovery! What the Heart Wants broke my heart, multiple times, but with any Audrey Carlan story, I had faith in the journey. She’s truly the only author that make me shed cathartic tears and come back for more. This has been my favorite book of 2020 and I’ve read it twice within the last week. Such a poignant and emotional story that will inspire you to not take a second for granted, love with all your heart and follow your dreams. I can’t wait for Evie’s story next!
Evie and Suda have suffered an incredible loss but the way they deal with it is different. Evie becomes more responsible and Suda goes where her heart tells her. She left many people behind including Cam. What will happen when she faces what she left behind?
Suda Kaye Ross goes on a journey that takes her away from home to explore, live, laugh and love, she is a wanderer and loves the thrill of traveling and the excitement of the unknown just like her mother Catori. Suda is passionate, strong willed and a gorgeous human inside and out. Her soul is pure and full of love for those she loves. She is the type of woman with a spirit and soul that you grow up wanting to emulate because it radiates care and love and all that is good in the world. She is brave and jumps in head first and goes for it all always! I was enchanted by Suda Kaye from page one and I wanted her and her vibe in my life. From the get go, I felt like Suda could be my sister, or my friend or my confidant.
Audrey Carlan brings the magic in this sexy women’s fiction novel. The journey is brilliant, magnificent and poignant in a path of self discovery for Suda Kaye. The words that Ms. Carlan writes are so powerful and full of life that Suda will forever be etched in my heart. As I was reading, I was a champion rooting for Suda Kaye to find her way, to make amends and to find the one true love that she was looking for. I found all of this and more. She is the most endearing character, who can make you laugh out loud like no other or make you want to drop your jaw to the ground with how forward and comfortable in her skin she is in.
Her passion for life propels this story to one of the greats in my list of books. And the lessons of love that Suda Kaye gets from her one true love Camden, leaves me with a desire to find a man so well suited to love Suda Kaye like Camden. He is so perfect, noble and authentic in his passion for the woman that he loves.
The secondary characters add to the richness of this book so much. Evie, the big sister who has a bit of a chip on her shoulder, but a love for her sister that is awe-inspiring. Toko, who is the grandfather who all of us want to have because he is wise, loving and stable in his love and guidance for his granddaughter’s.
Read this book. Trust me, you will fall head over heels for it just like I did. I am elated that I got to go on this journey with Suda Kaye. As an avid Audrey Carlan fan and reader, I think this book takes the cake and will wow you beyond all expectations. Dare I say that this series may just be my new favorite of this dear author of mine.
Loved it!
I could not have adored this story more!! This tale of second chance romance, of coming home after years away, of sisters, of a deep need to follow wherever the road leads. Audrey Carlan blew me away!! There was something authentic and deeply wonderful about Suda Kaye as a character. I loved her outlook of living her life fully, of finding the beauty in every experience, and for trusting her soul. The deep connection with her sister, Evie, was simply wonderful and what I think we all hope we find. As was the influence of her mother and the truly special connection with her even in death.
But it was the reconnection with Camden that just brought this story full circle. The way their attraction leapt off the page to me, even when Cam is frustrated with her that did me in! These two were passion personified. I mean holy hotness Audrey!! I loved Camden in all his alpha, “you left me but damnit I still love you” glory. I love that he both fights his desire for Suda Kaye but can’t stop himself around her at the same time. But it’s when he finally owns that his life isn’t complete without her that he comes alive.
I love a second chance story; there’s just something that hits me in the feels about them. What the Heart Wants was all of this and more. It was as much about the love between Suda Kaye and Camden as it is a story of coming home, finding your place and your inner home.
5 Stars! Suda Kaye takes after her mother with her wandering/exploring heart, so when she opens a letter on her 18th birthday from her now deceased mom, she can’t resist following in her footsteps to go explore the world, leaving her sister and boyfriend behind. Ten years later, the letter on her 28th birthday suggests it is time for her to start to put down roots. She returns to her sister’s house and is trying to figure out the next phase of her life. Little did she know she would run into Cam, her first and only love who she had left behind. This is a touching story that pulled me in from the beginning as Suda Kaye works on what is next for her, in addition to dealing with Cam and Evie’s (her sister) feelings of loss and somewhat betrayal from when she just picked up and left them without warning. This book had a different feel than what I typically see in an Audrey Carlan book, but I really enjoyed this heartwarming story (with some typical steam mixed in) and could barley put it down. I am also now looking forward to Evie’s story.
Suda Kaye will take you on a journey through life. She is a free spirit but ready to put down some roots. She will win her way into your heart & set down roots into your soul. This story is beautiful. It will show you the true meaning of a soulmate & a sisterhood.
If you’re on the hunt for that 5-Star read, the kind of read you know from the very start it’s gonna be something special, the kind you find yourself never wanting to end, but when it does, you just sit back in awe…well this is it. “What the Heart Wants” by #1 NYT bestselling author Audrey Carlan, delivers this and more.
“Wanderlust may be inside of us, but we decide when to set it free.” – Audrey Carlan
#FlyFree, #Wanderlust, #NoRegrets
I’ll admit, it took me a minute to warm up to Suda Kaye. Her choices in life were hard to wrap my head around, and I think it’s because I have family like this. She spends years traveling everywhere, leaving behind her first love, her sister, her grandpa. But now she’s back, and everyone has missed her but doesn’t trust that she will stick around.
Now Camden, that is a book boyfriend I can get behind. His sincerity, possessive alphaness while also not being controlling, the way he puts his whole heart out there. The way he is with his family. And oh what a great family- all those brothers? So much potential for future romances. Not to mention a bunch of other characters in this story screaming for their own happy ever afters.
Like I said, it took me a minute, but I got sucked in and fell in love with Suda Kaye and Cam, and I’m even more interested in the possibility of other books.
Audrey Carlan is one of my favorites and she doesn’t disappoint with this latest book. WTHW is a beautiful story full of feelings from the sisters journey to second chance romance. I was hooked from the 1st page. I love Suda Kaye’s free spirit and adventure for life and wherever it takes you. I’m excited to see where the other books take us on this journey! All the stars + some!
What the Heart Wants is a beautiful story about finding one’s self, sometimes at the expense of others. Suda Kaye is a beautiful, carefree spirit, while her older sister Evie is more down to earth and responsible. Evie helped to raise Suda Kaye after their mother passed away. Mom left letters for the girls to read on their birthdays each year. “Fly Free” were the words written to Suda Kaye on her 18th birthday. She took those words to heart and left everything she knew to spread her wings and travel the world, leaving behind her boyfriend Cam and her sister Evie.
After 10 years Suda Kaye returns, hoping to open a shop and rebuild her relationship with Evie. Suda Kaye and Cam end up meeting up again and the sparks fly as they are thrown together through the business.
“The heart wants what the heart wants, and my heart wants you” was my favorite line in the book and says it all.
Audrey never disappoints with her writing. I highly recommend that you read this book. I can’t wait to read Evie’s story.
Love all of Audrey Carlan’s books!! I waited 6months to read this book due to my mother passing away from cancer. Suda Kaye and her sister Evie lost their mother to cancer, upon her death they were given an inheritance and a stack of letters to be opened on their birthdays. This is Suda Kaye’s story of 2nd chance romance, learning lessons of loss, love of self, sisterhood and family while traveling the world and coming back home. I CRIED lots but laughed and smiled at the end !! Highly recommend this series and all of Audrey Carlan’s books!!
Books 2 is – To Catch A Dream
3.5 stArs
Suda Kaye and Evie are struggling with their mother’s death when their grandfather gives each of them a stack of letters from her, to be opened on the days/dates indicated. That day changes their lives. Suda Kaya starts her traveling journey just as her mother had. Now back home after a decade away, she is struggling to find her place and lay down her roots, Evie’s resentment and coming face to face with the first boy she ever loved. I enjoyed Suda Kaye and Camden’s story. I love Ms. Carlan’s writing. I just wished there was a bit more conflict/angst between the two characters. I felt like it was all easy sailing once they got together. I am still very much looking forward to book two. I can’t wait to see what is in-store for Evie and Milo.
Love the bond between everyone
All this author cares about is sexual experiences.
Ce roman est le 1er tome d’une série de quatre romans écrits par Audrey Carlan. Alors que le tome 2 doit sortir en VO en mars prochain, sachez qu’Hugo New Romance sort les deux premiers tomes ce jeudi. J’ai passé un super moment en compagnie de Suda Kaye qui nous offre ici une histoire de seconde chance, de découverte de soi, de famille et d’aventures.
Il est vrai que la côté bohème de Suda Kaye Ross peut être déroutante et à 18 ans, elle va tout quitter ( sa soeur et son petit ami) pour vivre librement sa vie. Cette épopée à travers le monde est l’accomplissement de la promesse faite à sa soeur . Elle va déployer ses ailes pour profiter de la vie à 200%. Pourtant , si elle accomplit cet épanouissement personnel, elle va ressentir le besoin de se poser à nouveau près de ses racines à Colorado Springs. Elle y retrouve sa soeur Evie qui a toujours été à ses côtés malgré la distance et qui sera l’héroïne du second tome. Suda Kaye pourrait donc avoir fait preuve d’égoïsme dans le sens où le jour même d’un drame personnel , elle a laissé deux êtres chers panser seuls leur blessure dans une incompréhension la plus totale. Son esprit bohème ne vient pas par hasard puisque sa mère l’avait également. Laissant une série de lettres à découvrir à des dates précises, elle s’arrangera donc pour être présente à sa manière. J’ai aimé en apprendre plus sur ce personnage nomade et sans attaches. On va comprendre les réticences de son entourage quant à son retour et au fait qu’elle va se stabiliser cette fois ci.
Nous aurons des scènes attendrissantes entre soeur car l’amour entre notre héroïne et Evie est sans failles. Elles sont toutes les deux de natures différentes et notre électron libre pourra compter sur sa soeur pour un atterrissage sans fracas. Certaines scènes sont plus dures car des vérités devront être dites et Suda Kaye devra faire face à la réalité. Elle a butiné que ce soit dans son épanouissement personnel ou dans sa vie privée et son projet d’installation est donc surprenant. Sa Boutique Gypsy Soul est donc le reflet de son côté sauvage et intrépide mais sera aussi une preuve d’une maturité qui pourrait faire son apparition. J’ai parfois sourcillé vis à vis de ses décisions ou de ses remarques mais rien de bien gênant. C’est un électron libre qui va devoir se poser et s’apaiser. Le fait de revoir son ancien petit ami , celui qui a compté, sera une nouvelle épreuve mais elle ne va pas se dérober et va devoir cohabiter avec sa présence récurrente dans cette vie sédentaire étant donné qu’il va investir dans son affaire. Il est évident que l’alchimie d’antan est toujours présente mais les choix du passé pourront ils être expliqués et rationnalisés?
Candem Bryant est un personnage que j’ai également apprécié . Nous avons un peu son point de vue mais il n’est pas dominant étant donné que nous suivons la perspective de Suda Kaye. C’est un homme d’affaires accomplis, qui est fiancé et qui semble donc avancer dans la vie. Pourtant le retour de cet amour de jeunesse sera un ouragan qui pourrait bien balayer des choses sur son passage. Il aimerait qu’ils redeviennent amis mais cela sera t-il possible? Il est clair qu’il est là pour épauler notre héroïne et c’est quelqu’un de loyal. On va par la même occasion en apprendre plus sur sa famille qui est très soudée et qui sera là à chaque étape. Ses parents adorent Suda Kaye et la revoir sera donc un plaisir. Ses frères sont également Team Suda Kaye mais il ne faudra pas oublier dans l’équation Brittney Cooperland. Il sera temps de tirer un trait sur le passé pour écrire une nouvelle page.
Bref, j’ai passé un agréable moment de lecture avec ce roman que j’ai trouvé différent des autres romans d’Audrey Carlan. Certes , on retrouve la sensualité de sa plume dans la deuxième partie du récit mais ici, on part aussi à la découverte de personnages qui ont des quêtes à mener . Ce fut une lecture très agréable et j’ai hâte de lire la suite sur Evie.
I have never written a book review but I had to write one for this book. This book is one of the worst books that I have read in a long time. I ALWAYS finish a book but I had to stop reading this one. It was torture to get through the first half, where I stopped. The author uses the phrases: “he licked his lips, she licked her lips, he cupped her face, cheek, head etc.” over and over to the point of adnauseam. The author repeatedly describes the male characters in the same manner, which sounds like a teenage girl describing the football quarterback. The plot was elementary and ridiculous. Don’t waste your money!!!!