To Follow Her Heart - A Review

Published - July 2016, Revell Books
Series - Southold Chronicles Book 3
Author - Rebecca DeMarino
Title - To Follow Her Heart
Format - ebook, paper
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Summary (from Amazon):
It is 1664 and Patience Terry is devastated to learn that Captain Jeremy Horton's ship has been shipwrecked off the coast of Barbados, with no survivors. She had hoped that Jeremy would someday give up the sea and settle down with her in Southold, Long Island. Unaware his memorial service is being planned, Jeremy is rescued and aboard a British Naval Gunship with secret orders to attack New Amsterdam and claim it for the British Crown. When he makes his surprise return to Southold--and to an overjoyed Patience--it's not the happily-ever-after his beloved had hoped for. 

My Thoughts:
I wanted to read this one only to find out how the series ended. I honestly wasn't impressed with the first two books, so I had very low expectations for this one. Like the first two, this one didn't really hold my attention. Also like the first two, it is rich in detail. 

I didn't care for Patience from the first book. But I'll admit that she grew on me, and by this book, I actually liked her. I did love Jeremy though. He made the first two books bearable. And this was his story. 

I found that this one was much more adventurous than the first two. It also seemed that the characters had developed more. Did I enjoy it? Somewhat. Was I glad to read it to finish the series? Yes.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction

Rating - 3.5 stars

To Capture Her Heart - A Review

Published - July 2015, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - The Southold Chronicles Book 2
Author - Rebecca DeMarino
Title - To Capture Her Heart
Format - ebook, paper
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In 1653, Heather Flower, a Montauk princess, is celebrating her wedding when her groom is killed and she is taken captive. Though the English pay her ransom, a handsome Dutchman, Dirk Van Buren is the one who ultimately rescues her. Still grieving, Heather Flower goes to stay with her aunt near the English settlement of Southold where her longtime friend, Benjamin Horton, lives with his parents and siblings. Both of the young men are determined to win Heather Flower's heart, but which will she choose?

I like history. This one is very well done historically. The author has obviously researched the time period and the Indians. I also like to be given a little credit as a reader. I'm an intelligent person, and while I know that the average adult book is written on probably a 7th or 8th grade reading level, I have never felt like the author was talking down to the reader. I felt that way in this book. I'm not saying that the story wasn't good - it was, but I'm saying that I felt that I was being "talked down to" as a reader. I felt like the author was purposely trying to insult her reader's intelligence. That said, let me go on with what I enjoyed about the book.

I enjoyed getting to see Benjamin grown up. In the first book, he was a child. In this one, he's a young man. I also enjoyed getting to see the Horton family growing and Mary and Barnabas adjusting to the changes of their growing family. I also enjoyed the history. There is so much I didn't know about America's early history that I found rather fascinating.

The love triangle was obvious and felt, too me at least, that it was just there. I knew early on who Heather Flower would choose. I felt that aside from Benjamin and his family, that the characters weren't developed as well as they could have been.

I will say that the excerpt for the third book has me wanting to read it.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, early American history

Rating - 3 stars

A Place in His Heart - A Review

Published - June, 2014 by Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Series - The Southold Chronicles Book 1

Author - Rebecca DeMarino

Title - A Place in His Heart

Format - ebook, paper

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Mary Langston longs to be loved and cherished by a husband. When her father arranges a marriage with a man from her childhood, Mary begs him to not arrange it. Her father agrees to allow the widowed baker, Barnabas Horton, to court her instead. Barnabas loved his wife. He always will. But he knows that his young sons need a mother, and he's been touched by Mary's gentle heart. They reach an agreement and marry and soon set off for the New World. Mary loves her husband and his sons. But what her heart longs for the most is his love in return. Will she ever truly be Barnabas's wife or will the ghost of a woman long gone haunt their relationship and future?

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I thought the cover was amazing and it pulled me into the book. I found it to be pretty slow moving though.

Both Barnabas and Mary had issues to work through and to let go. I enjoyed how they came to work through those issues. But I felt that there could have been more depth in their characters. The author did a really great job in describing the harsh conditions of the New World.I also found it interesting to read the author's note at the end of the book where she explains that this story is based on her own ancestors and their journey to the New World.

While I didn't particularly love it, I didn't dislike it either. It was really just ok. Still others may love this book.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction

Rating - 3 stars