Heart Stopper Paperback – March 1, 2012

This novel is so compelling that it was hard for me to put down.So many questions needed to be answered and mysteries to be solved. The characters got into situations that seemed impossible for them to survive.The people in this book are all very interesting and unusual. Ireland was described so beautifully, that I would love to go there for a long visit.There is something very special about the way RJ Samuel writes. I am not sure if it is because the story is going in one direction and then all of a sudden it goes another way, or if it is the detailed descriptions of the people and places, or maybe because it is sprinkled with love. Whatever the reason, her books are addictive and I just can`t get enough.

SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: POC author/MC, not a romance, out of your comfort zone, unusual job, possibly other categoriesThe author works in this field, and it was most likely as factual as possible.I'm a science nerd: I have a biology degree and I worked on 1970s aviation electronics communication and navigation radios while in the US Navy, so this book probably appealed to me more than many other readers. What started out as a few heart attacks became a very complex case of errors, accountability, and greed. The chemistry between the MCs added a little bit more to the story, but the focus was almost entirely on the mystery. The romance complications involved between the two women was explained near the end, and everything made sense as far as how that part turned out. I enjoyed the story, but I don't think it'll be everyone's cup of tea. STEM/STEAM nerds, readers interested in cardiology-related things, and/or people into medical mysteries would be the ones to enjoy it the most.

I'm sure a lot of research went into to this Novel in regards to the pacemaker. I found the subject interesting and was very impressed by the mix of both fact and fiction. The way the pacemaker was used in the plot showed the creative mind of R J Samuel, who, by the way is one of my favorite Authors. Loved the characters, especially Priya and Reyna, and as always R J brought them to life. I felt the connection between these two from beginning to end. Always in anticipation of this Authors next Novel. I highly recommend this one, as well as anything written by R J Samuel.

I liked the story, however I felt like it was a bit slow. Even though I like everything about it, it did not get me as some books right from the beguning. I think it was more half way when things actually started moving still, not enough. Is it worth to read? Yes.

I enjoyed the plot. It was different and kept me reading. The editing wasn't great. Some typos, missing words, double words. That is always disappointing.

Heart Stopper is RJ Samuel's first book. Priya and Reyna are well developed, and the setting well described. It takes place in Galway, Ireland, with several references to street names, town names and landmarks. There are several mysteries within the plot that need to be solved, revolving around a medical clinic and research related to implanted heart pacemakers.I have a medical background, and I found the medical premise to be believable as it was written, even if it was fictionally enhanced. I like technical details, and find that technical descriptions add validity to the premise. The constraints of research are illustrated, including the fact that researchers are often blinded as well as the participants in a study.Priya is an incredibly intelligent PhD, but has been numbed into a sort of dullness due to past emotional trauma. She must wake up her brain and re-engage in order to solve the complicated problems in which she winds up being involved. Reyna also has a troubled background, and a great deal of anger and confusion toward Priya that slowly evolves. She takes much longer to reveal her secrets, but makes her interest in Priya noticeable if not clear. Priya is somehow involved with the death of Reyna's brother, and they must team up to understand how and why. The other characters help to support without distracting, and the list of possible suspects continues to grow. The relationship between Priya and Reyna is pained as one might expect, but they both are trying to overcome their differences. There is a great deal of tension that builds between Priya and Reyna, which I appreciate as a draw to continue reading. Reyna's mother helps to push things along, and brings a much softer edge to Reyna's carefully guarded character and the interactions between the two women.The dialogue flows, and it is easy to follow why some things are revealed, and some things are held back as the book progresses. The timeline is set using a distantly related character in alternating chapters that underscores the main purpose of the pacemaker mystery, but reveals little bits at a time, to keep from giving the solution away.I was able to really feel for Priya and Reyna in Heart Stopper, buy into the story, and appreciate the technical aspects that made it all believable. Heart Stopper kept me hooked. I look forward to more books by RJ Samuel.

This is RJ Samuel's first book, but I read it after her later novels. I started out paying much attention to the beautifully crafted sentences and trying to picture the scenes full of atmosphere. But as I went along and got caught up in the story I forgot everything else and just wanted to know what happened and why and how. So I stayed up until three in the morning to find out.I really don't mind the lack of sleep - it was worth it. An amazing story with characters I cared about (still do) and a very satisfying feeling at the end.