To Follow Her Heart (Southold Chronicles #3) by Rebecca DeMarino | Historical Romance Review

To Follow Her Heart

The Southold Chronicles #3

Rebecca DeMarino

Historical Romance

Duty and love are powerful forces. 

Only one has the power to make 

her life complete.

It is 1664 and Patience Terry is devastated to learn that Captain Jeremy Horton's ship has been shipwrecked off the coast of Barbados. There were 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 sails aboard a British warship 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 quite the happily-ever-after his beloved had hoped for.

With a finely tuned sense for authentic historical characters and settings, Rebecca DeMarino plunges you into a world of tall ships, daring journeys, and yearning hearts.

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My Thoughts

Have you ever watched a two hour movie and thought it would have been much better if they had condensed it to half the time? That's how I felt after reading To Follow Her Heart. It wasn't a bad story it just seemed to drone on and on. I know that seems to be a bit harsh but it's my honest opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the series and I really like portions of this book but overall it was a let down for the final book in the series.

I enjoyed seeing where Mary, Lizzie, and Heather Flower were since we left them in book two. But the main storyline which involved Patience and Jeremy left me scanning paragraphs and skipping ahead. I totally get what DeMarino was trying to put forth but for me it just seemed to be the same song over and over and over and it got old. 

Now would I recommend this book to others . . . that depends. If you've read the first two books in the series then I say an emphatic YES! Even with the redundant main story it is worth reading to get another peek into the lives of Mary, Lizzie, and Heather Flower. If you are reading this book as a stand-alone then my recommendation isn't as hearty. DeMarino is a talented storyteller and she has an eye for detail that fascinates rather than bores. So if you are a fan of Historical Romance I say give it a try but I would really recommend reading the entire series. 

Other Reviews For This Author

A Place In His Heart

To Capture Her Heart

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To Capture Her Heart (The Southold Chronicles, Book 2) by Rebecca DeMarino {Historical Romance Review}

To Capture Her Heart

The Southold Chronicles, Book 2

Rebecca DeMarino

Historical Romance

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.

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My Thoughts

The book that began this series, A Place in His Heart, was the first book that I read by Rebecca DeMarino. It was a fascinating tale about the journey to the New World with Barnabas and Mary Horton. To Capture Her Heart picks up the story several years later when the colony is well established and their son Ben is a grown man thinking of settling down. He's recently been dumped by his intended so now he is determined to win the affection of his childhood friend Heather Flower.

When the story begins we are swept up into the rescue of Heather Flower by Dutch Lieutenant Dirk Van Buren. While everyone is grateful that Dirk was able to rescue Heather Flower he is still Dutch and most of the townspeople don't trust him. But right away he captures Heather Flowers affection much to the irritation of Ben.

As the story moves along the author continues to give us a bit of insight into the beginnings of our great nation. It's easy to romanticize it all but even after leaving the persecution and establishing a colony there were many obstacles to face and conquer.

I enjoyed the continuing story of the characters that we met in A Place in His Heart. I also look forward to the third book in the series. There's a sneak peek in the back of the book that will make you wish it would hurry up and be published! Rebecca DeMarino does a splendid job of combining history and romance to keep the pages flying.

When a book is part of a series I'm always asked if it can be read as a stand alone novel. The answer this time is probably but you'll be missing out on so many details from the first novel that I wouldn't recommend it. In my opinion I think you need to know the background of the Horton family to understand some of the dynamics going on. I say just treat yourself and read both books . . . and then pick up the third when it is out!

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A Place in His Heart by Rebecca DeMarino ~ An Historical Romance Review and Giveaway

A Place in His Heart

The Southold Chronicles, Book 1

Rebecca DeMarino

Historical Romance

Back of the book:

She could cross an ocean, 

but could she ever win his heart?

Anglican Mary Langton longs to marry for love. Left at the altar and disgraced in her small hamlet, she is being pressured to marry the eligible son of the London milliner. Puritan Barnabas Horton still grieves the loss of his beloved wife, but he knows his two young sons need a mother.

With tender hearts, Mary and Barnabas take a leap of faith and wed. But when Barnabas's secret plans to move his family to the New World to escape persecution come to light, Mary's world is upended. How could she possibly leave her papa and her dear sister?

And will she ever reach the secret places of her husband's broken heart?

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My thoughts:

Coming to America stories are some of my favorites. I'm just captivated with the courage and strength it took for our ancestors to make their way to America from foreign lands. With just the promise of a better life they packed up very little and set sail to most likely never return.

A Place in His Heart is one such story. I was immediately drawn to Mary Langton. She has such a tender heart and just wants to be loving and helpful to those closest to her. When we meet her she has recently been left at the alter and her family is in the midst of trying to repair the damage that scandal has brought to their home. Mary's beloved father wants her to marry a family friend, but she is repulsed by him. Quite unexpectedly Mary is drawn to the recently widowed Barnabas Horton. 

Barnabas is struggling to balance running a business and taking care of his two young sons. Marrying the beautiful Mary seems to be the perfect  solution. Barnabas finds Mary to be attractive and kind but his heart still firmly belongs to his late wife Ann. 

Mary's father and sister have great reservations about the marriage, least of which is the differences in religion. The Langtons are Anglican and Barnabas is a Puritan. Being a Puritan in England in the mid-1600s is very risky. The call of the New World is very appealing to Barnabas. 

I was completely spellbound with the journey that the Horton family embarked upon to the New World. With each turn of the page my opinion of Mary continued to grow. With each setback or challenge she just seemed to increase in her faith. That's not to say she didn't have her struggles. Being the second wife is never easy, especially when the husband still pines after his deceased love. Becoming a mother to two little boys, one of which is old enough to vividly remember his mother, is no easy task, yet Mary rises to the occasion and showers the boys with her love.

The ending of the book is very fulfilling and yet leaves you eagerly anticipating the second installment in The Southold Chronicles. I cannot wait to read the continuing saga of these brave and fascinating people. Ms. DeMarino is set to make her mark among the great authors of historical romance.

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