Awaken My Heart (Avon Inspire) [Paperback]

DiAnn Mills (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2008

1803, the colony of Texas Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, has never agreed with her father's harsh treatment of the poor mestizos who first inhabited the colony of Texas. When rebels kidnap Marianne, in hopes her father will trade back their land for her freedom, she realizes her loyalty lies with her abductors, not her father, who plans to marry her off to the don of a nearby estate.

Armando Garcia is the locals' reluctant leader, but his people revere and depend on him. Knowing that without his leadership they'd be forced from their land, Armando accepts his role, but does not approve of the latest attempt to manipulate their enemy. When he learns that Marianne actually speaks his language, of her loyalty to his people, and of the faith that keeps her strong, Armando is faced with a difficult decision. Will his newfound love keep him from letting her go? Or will he set her free and risk losing their land forever?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The land we know as Texas was also the beloved homeland of another culture and was defended to the death. This love story is filled with characters who have passion for land, culture and love.” (Romantic Times BOOKclub )

From the Back Cover

Can two people hold on to their love and faith in a world that considers them enemies? Set in 19th century Texas, Awaken My Heart tells the story of Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher. Weston Phillips is in the midst of a struggle with the 'mestizos' who have long held the land that Phillips now claims to own. His insistence that they abandon their homeland leads to a rebellion. When the rebels kidnap Marianne, in hopes that Phillips will trade the land for her freedom, she meets the infamous rebel leader, Armando Garcia. Unaware of what his people were plotting, Armando hates that the struggle has come to this. He arranges for Marianne's escape, but not before becoming enchanted with this brave young woman who has taken it upon herself to learn his language and whose faith seems to guide her through the most difficult situations. When Marianne returns to her father, Phillips' only concern is that the man who has promised to marry Marianne, an eldery don of a nearby estate, will still have her as his wife. When Marianne runs into Armando while out riding one afternoon, she cannot escape the joy that she feels upon seeing him again, and it is clear he feels the same way. Yet as Armando learns to lean on the faith that keeps Marianne strong, they must ask themselves how much they are willing to risk to give their love a chance.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 261 pages
• Publisher: Avon Inspire (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061376019
• ISBN-13: 978-0061376016
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #592,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. DiAnn's first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books in print, which have sold more than a million and a half copies.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of the Year Awards from 2003 to 2008. DiAnn was also a Carol Award finalist in 2010 & 2011. She received the Inspirational Reader's Choice award in 2005, 2007, and 2010, and was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a RITA Award finalist in 2010. In 2010, DiAnn won the Christy Award for Breach of Trust and in 2011 she won the Christy Award for Sworn to Protect, the first and second books in her Call of Duty series.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive; Romance Writers of America's Faith, Hope and Love chapter; and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.


Awards
2011 Christy Award Winner - Sworn to Protect
2011 Carol Award Finalist - Pursuit of Justice
2011 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence Finalist - Pursuit of Justice
2011 Golden Quill Award Finalist - A Woman Called Sage
2011 Award of Excellence Finalist - Pursuit of Justice
2010 Christy Award Winner - Breach of Trust
2010 Inspirational Reader's Choice Winner - Breach of Trust
2010 RITA Finalist - Breach of Trust
2010 Carol Award Finalist - Breach of Trust
2008 Christy Award Finalist - Lightning and Lace
2005 Inspirational Reader's Choice Winner - Footsteps
2005 Inspirational Reader's Choice Winner - Novella At the End of the Bayou from Hidden Motives

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another worthwhile novel from DiAnn Mills, April 23, 2008

By 

Stacey (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Awaken My Heart (Avon Inspire) (Paperback)

DiAnn Mills' "Awaken My Heart" is a story of love between enemies in the territory of early 1800s Texas. Marianne Phillips is a white woman whose father thinks of her as nothing but an opportunity to gain wealth when he marries her off to a rich older man. Armando is the leader of a group of Mexicans who refuse to leave their homes even though their land is a conquest of Mr. Phillips' to graze his cattle. Armando and Marianne meet initially by chance, then have an opportunity to get to know each other's hearts when Marianne is kidnapped by one of Armando's men.

Although this is not my favorite DiAnn Mills work, it is an enjoyable read. The best part of the book is where Marianne, a Protestant, shares with Armando, a Catholic, that he does not need a priest to have a relationship with God. Armando's initiation of that relationship brought a tear to my eye.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her best historical fiction novel to date! Very romantic!, February 10, 2008

By 

Michelle Sutton (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Awaken My Heart (Avon Inspire) (Paperback)

I've read many books written by Diann Mills, and this story is my favorite. It's definitely the most romantic book, in my opinion, that she has ever penned. Life in 1800s Texas was portrayed in such a way that I got a strong sense of the culture during those hard times. Marianne had some difficult choices to make and she had to choose wisely. Several gritty and edgy topics arose in this adventurous tale and I applaud the author for her excellent portrayal of the destructiveness of domestic violence, alcoholism, and greed. Her clear portrayal of true faith is also to be commended. The author contrasted traditional religion with a relationship the believer has with the Living God, and the hope and true peace such faith produces.

Armando was the ultimate hero. He was strong, yet compassionate, dedicated, yet torn because of his past. The author's description of him made me think of Antonio Banderas. Zorro here I come! Ah, what a tale of love! It was so passionate and felt so real it swept me off my feet. I loved every yummy kiss and the emotion I experienced as the hero and heroine dealt with all of the things separating them, along with all of the things drawing them together. Fabulous romance. Great historical fiction. This story gets my highest rating. It's a real page turner! The Avon Inspire line has some of the best, most inspirational and romantic historical fiction I've read to date!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and Courage, May 7, 2008

By 

Domino (Houston, Texas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Awaken My Heart (Avon Inspire) (Paperback)

Armando. He's a man of great courage and passion, but a reluctant leader. He's a hero who draws admiration from men and women, but walks restlessly through life, not sure where his happiness will be found. Not sure it will be found.

Marianne. She's a bold woman, full of life. In many ways like her father, yet still waiting for his approval.

When Marianne is brought to Armando as a captive of his people, he regrets the decision that was made. He respects her, is surprised by her, and grows to love her. But she could never love him. Or could she?

What will become of Marianne? Will she be happy in an arranged marriage to Don Lorenzo Sanchez, a respected older Spaniard?

Wrestling with the truth of her feelings, she's drawn to Armando, her captor. He releases her, but she dreams of him, longs for him. How could she fall in love with her father's enemy?

DiAnn Mills captures our hearts with this romantic adventure.