Kim Bowman

I received this book in the Early Reviewers program.

For me, Romance has never been a favorite genre to read, and anything following might not be of interest to those who are aficionados of the genre.

I understand that reading fiction requires “the suspension of disbelief”, but the premise that ‘Phantom Heart’ is built on is pseudoscientific, obviously in defiance of hospital and police protocols, and just silly.

A man arrives at a hospital who has clearly been in an accident. The hospital administrator contacts the father (a friend) of a recently deceased man, because the injured man, while speaking unintelligibly, claims to be that deceased man. Here’s the first thing that surprised me: doctors not realising that death means an end to life. My first question was about the ‘stranger’s’ medical treatment. It wouldn’t be too hard for a doctor to see that this man had very recently undergone major chest surgery (a heart transplant, no less!) and yet no attempt seems to be made to discover his identity! It’s just a case of, ‘Well he claims to be x, so let’s go with that.’ Where was their duty of care to this poor, befuddled man?

Then we are told that this is a case of ‘cellular memory’, and that the heart that has been transplanted into him is now in charge of his memories because this sort of thing happens. No, it doesn’t. Never. Scientific fact: the heart pumps blood around the body, and does not hold memories which is the job of the brain. And that still doesn’t excuse hospital staff or police from trying to find out who the rest of the person (everything except the heart) belongs to. Oh, and if they now know where the heart went to, how hard could it be to find out his identity?

To continue without even more serious spoilers would be impossible, but I will say this: the ending, while eminently predictable, has its own moments and details of spectacular silliness.

I could only come up with three positives for ‘Phantom Heart’: it was easy to read, had some nicely written sex scenes, and provided some (unintended) chuckles.… (plus d'informations)