To Capture Her Heart Book Review

The Southold Chronicles

Book Two

SUMMARY:  In an uncertain time, she faces a choice that will change her life forever.

     It is 1653 and Heather Flower, a princess of the Montaukett tribe, is celebrating her wedding feast when a rival tribe attacks, killing the groom and kidnapping her.  Though her ransom is paid by an Englishman, she is bound by her captors and left to die - until she finds herself rescued by handsome Dutch Lieutenant Dirk Van Buren.

     Still tender from her loss, Heather Flower begins to heal in the home of the Hortons, English friends of her people.  Torn between her affection for Dirk and her longtime friendship with Ben Horton, Heather Flower must make a difficult choice - stay true to her friend or follow her heart.

     Exploring a unique slice of history, Rebecca DeMarino transports you to the wild land that would eventually become Long Island, New York.

REVIEW:  Having read the description of this novel, my curiosity was peaked by the storyline and time period.  I loved how Heather Flower mourned the loss of her husband for at least six months, even though they had only just gotten married.  They were childhood sweethearts and it was welcoming to see her honor that relationship and what could have been instead of just throwing it aside and moving on.  I also liked how the author explained events that had occurred in the previous book so that I did not feel like something was missing as I read.

     Now, I did have trouble with quite a few things.  The feelings Dirk had for Heather Flower came developed way too quickly.  The first time they met was when he rescued her from the woods after being left behind by her captors.  Within no time, he is in love.  I know it can happen quickly, but that was just too fast.  Plus, Dirk is only mentioned a handful of times in the whole book before showing up at the very end hoping to marry Heather Flower.  The novel seemed to focus more on Mary and Barney Horton and their family than it did Heather Flower and her love interests.  Also, the ending seemed like the author was trying to hurry up and finish the story.  It just didn't feel right to me.  Plus, there really wasn't a climax in the story.  A section of the story involving Dirk and Heather Flower's captors could have been a good one but was not taken advantage of.

      All in all, this story was okay.  There was so much possibility that could have been utilized but wasn't.  

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

Rebecca DeMarino is the author of A Place in His Heart, book one of The Southold Chronicles, a series inspired by her ninth great-grandparents, Barnabas and Mary Horton.  She inherited her love of baking and gardening from her mother; a love of horses, reading and writing from her dad; and the wanderlust gene from both parents.  Rebecca lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Tom.  Learn more at www.rebeccademarino.com.