The Heart's Charge

 

In this second installment of her Hanger's Horsemen series, Karen Witemeyer uniquely tells the story of two couples: Mark Wallace and Katherine Palmer alongside Jonah Brooks and Eliza Southerland.  Mark and Jonah, whom readers have met in the previous installment, run into Kate and Eliza while delivering a baby to the foundling home the women run.  Will Mark and Kate-- who almost married one another back East years before-- gradually learn to trust again and communicate with one another?  Will Eliza, who has never felt as if she belonged anywhere, learn to accept Jonah's attentions despite his own secrets? 

Before reading The Heart's Charge, I was skeptical on two counts: that telling two love stories simultaneously would prove confusing, and that Witemeyer, despite good intentions, would struggle writing a story from two black characters' perspectives.  Luckily, she proved me wrong on both counts.  I actually enjoyed the double love story; it seemed to make the plot move more quickly, and there was no need to add pointless or frustrating obstacles for the characters to overcome before the "happily ever after."  Similarly, I thought Witemeyer handled the race issue beautifully.  She certainly didn't shy away from the struggles Eliza and Jonah had faced in society, history, culture, etc.  While I enjoyed At Love's Command, the first Hanger's Horseman novel, I definitely prefer this second one! 

I received a free copy from the publisher.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

April Reads

• The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner 
• 5 Stars 
• Set during the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and full of murder, mystery and intrigue, this was one of my favorites this month!  
• The Elite & The One by Kierra Cass 
• 3 Stars & 4 Stars 
• Since I started The Selection series last month, I just had to finish!  I liked the final installment better than the second, but they both filled their roles as brain candy admirably.  
• The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White 
• 5 Stars 
• Even though White (or her assistant) didn't think I was cool enough to be on the publicity team for this novel, I still loved it.  See my full review here.
• Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis 
• 4 Stars 
• Monster read this in 5th grade earlier this year while his class learned about the Great Depression.  The story took a while to get going, but the end was beautifully sweet. 
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 
• 3 Stars 
• The Hubby and I listened to this as an audiobook earlier this month.  While this post-apocalyptic story was compelling and certainly kept us entertained for hours, the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying.  
• A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden 
• 4 Stars 
• I've long been a fan of Camden, but her stories seem to have fallen into a predictable pattern.  This novel was not exception.  That said, I still enjoyed the story and its setting during the McKinley Administration.  
• The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin 
• 3 Stars 
• Set in January 1888, this historical fiction novel tells the story of a horrific blizzard that hit the Dakota territory and Nebraska just as schools released students for the day.  The novel tracks the decisions and fates of several different characters throughout the region.  While I found the subject fascinating, but tragic, the writing was a bit disjointed and the characters not terribly likable.  
• Winning the Gentleman by Kristi Ann Hunter 
• 4 Stars 
• This was a fun, light, historical fiction romance by one of my favorite authors.  You can see my full review here. 
• Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan 
• 4 Stars 
• Maybe 5 Stars 
• Despite a little too much emotional exploration, I truly enjoyed this book.  I had never even heard of the Pulaski steamship explosion, often referred to as "The Southern Titanic."  I always love when I learn something completely new from a book!  
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 
• 4 Stars 
• This is a heartbreakingly lovely story that follows several generations of two branches of the same African family.  One branch remains in Ghana while the other ends up in the US.  It was a difficult but powerful read.  
• Let It Be Me Becky Wade 
• 3 Stars 
• I really didn't love this contemporary Christian romance.  You can read my rant about it here.  
• Something Old by Rebecca Connolly 
• 4 Stars 
• Along with Mimi Matthews, Connolly is one of my go-to historical romance writers when I need something light.  Sweet, easy, clean, and romantic was just what I needed, and Something Old delivered.