Customer Reviews

Constant Heart, A

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I think this is supposed to be a Christian historical fiction with a strong romance theme, but all it really shines at is giving a comprehensive historical look at court life under Queen Elizabeth I.

The main characters occasionally make a vague reference to God, but that's about it. God certainly doesn't impact their lives at all.

As for the romance, the 'hero' is self-centered, childish, ambitious, cruel, emotionally abusive of his wife, and a few other unflattering things. I was rooting for him to die, not for him to win the heroine's heart. His wife, the heroine, does act consistent to her age and upbringing, but eventually her gullibility and willingness to destroy herself for her husband was too much for me to stay sympathetic to her.

Also, there wasn't much depth to their relationship. One moment, husband and wife were hating and/or fearing the other. In the next, they were madly "in love" (though the hero was mainly falling in lust with her in the "but I just can't resist her even though reason says I shouldn't" fashion). Despite being madly "in love," they'd have a simple misunderstanding and immediately be back to square one. They fluctuated back and forth like this for years without building any trust or belief in the other.

An additional problem was that both character viewpoints were written in first person. There was very little indication when the viewpoint had switched, so I was often confused by the switch.

The book gives an excellent look at what life was like at the time, but this focus on the historical detail slows the pace of the story. There were many scenes that seemed to have been put in solely to illustrate something the author learned about the time period. These scenes didn't move the story forward and could have been cut without harming our understanding of what was going on in the story.

If you'd like to see what life was like at the time without reading a textbook, this book is a very good way to do that. However, while the writing itself was fine, I felt the book's characters, pacing, and plot could have been much stronger.

There is no explicit sex, and I don't recall any cussing. Overall, this book was "clean reading."

Genre Reviews
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First, let me say that the cover is the most beautiful historical fiction cover I have ever seen. Second, I don't recommend reading this book if there are a lot of distractions. To get the full effect of the author's voice and the setting you need to be in a place where your concentration is not easily broken. Do this and you'll get sucked right in. I had to set aside blocks of time read to this book because it's not the kind where you can just read a page here and there. Once I got a chance to really read it, I became distressed that I had to wait to finish it. But life gets busy. At any rate, this book kept calling me to read it and that rarely happens to me with books, which is why I gave it five + stars.

Siri writes real thoughts and real life. The ugliness of that time...black plague, people being quartered and beheaded, etc. was not glossed over, nor was it written for shock value. It was simply told truthfully and that made the setting feel more real to me. Someone mentioned there being less content about God and faith than in secular novels. I disagree. I saw more content with a spiritual thread than is even found in some CBA fiction. However, the content was limited to the era and thus constrained by the culture. To write a viewpoint much different from how Siri wrote it, well, that would not have worked and would have blow the author's credibility. She had to show the way it really was.

I found this story very romantic as well. At first I wanted to smack Lytham around, but Siri redeemed him well. He became quite the hero, but was still flawed. Some of the marital conflict was hilarious and overall quite entertaining. I could feel their emotion and it was fabulously written. The love scenes were realistic, too, but tastefully done.

I despised the older woman who was continually advising Marget. And what happened with Lytham's former wife was simply tragic. Marget was innocent and the advice given nearly ruined her. The grieving she experienced was so real to me that I cried for Marget several times. It wasn't a heavy, lingering feeling from her pain, though, because I had not experienced the same thing. But I could identify with her. And like in the story about the Titanic, where you know the ship will sink, I kept reading with the anxious feeling of knowing that the cosmetics were poisoning her and I couldn't stop her from returning to court. I totally bought into the tension in this story.

Siri always makes me think about our culture and other cultures when she writes. I could see how women over the centuries have done just about anything to look beautiful. I found that concept fascinating and told many people about this story because of it. What a great premise! I'd always wondered why courtiers had such a high rate of infertility. If you wanted to be a mother, chances were better if you stayed far away from the queen and her court.

I also found the portrayal of Queen Elizabeth to be very well done. There was so much richness and depth to this story, I could go on for hours. But in short, the definition of love and faithfulness is explored in detail in A Constant Heart, and the way the author showed the many different perspectives was nothing short of brilliant. If you love realistic historical fiction that is honest and contains some edgy content, you'll want to devour this book!

I give this book three out of five stars, but in a split manner. If I were to rate the book solely upon my enjoyment and escape into it's historical aspects, it would be two stars; yet if I were to rate this book on the detail and descriptions of this historical journey at hand it would four stars. Thus, I settle at three. Starting out reading this book, I was quite distraught and not at all drawn in. The cover is gorgeous and the summary sounds interesting, but in the reading I was just not there. I searched the internet for some reviews to find what others might have thought and was shocked to find all but poor reviews, minus one that only praised the author and said nothing about the book.



It is my understanding that this is the first historical from this author and although I hear her chick-lit is to die for her historical is lacking. That is not all together necessarily a full fact. The entire novel is full to the brim of historical details and facts that are painted in an array of images that could show any reader what the years of the mid-sixteenth century would appear to be. The descriptions of the clothes, the places, the people all are fascinating and plenty enough true to fact. I would highly suggest this book as a supplemental reading to be added to someone studying the Elizabethan age and wanting to find a further glance in the era.



Where I do not find my joy is in the personalities and partially the writing. The story is two from two different characters' POV and switches back and forth quite drastically without any warning and sometimes it is difficult to interpret who speaks. Other than that it is the personalities of the characters that are quite drab. I kept thinking to myself of the grey skies of London, and that is quite how I felt about this story. The idea is good and could be a fabulous book if made longer with more depth to the persons involved. But reading this story was quite painful. There was no joy only sadness and I felt it with every turn of the page. I could not interpret or assume how things would turn out and in that way they were quite a mystery. Yet in the context of day by day happens I felt quite like screaming at the insolence and blindness by how these characters lived.



Some have said that this was a very thinly veiled attempt at criticizing and lecturing people of today's society with beauty attempts, and although I can see that opinion in a manner, I would not call this a poor attempt. The story can relate and does bring to light some great value on the harsh truths that are known of women living in such a stage devoted to such a cause that is beyond their owns well-being. Yet it does it in an elegant and educational manner.



With all that said. I would not suggest this book as a light heart-ed Christian Historical Fiction to escape into the lives of those in a courtier of Elizabeth I. It is just not quite in that category. By most standards it is not a Christian Fiction as God is not mentioned in much reverence or detail nor is his role at all hinted to more than any secular novel. However, as a book for historical and educational value, I could easily suggest and see this being read and used for vast discussions and open minds and curiosity to know more about British history. So as confusing as this must sound, it solely depends upon why you wish to read this story as to whether or not you would enjoy it. That is up to you.

This was my first read of Siri Mitchell's; I am ever in search of good books that are "clean" -- no sex, drugs, violence, profanity, etc. etc. - and this book definitely delivered on that score. I also give it a good rating for its historical elements. Mitchell weaves interesting details of life in the Elizabethan era into the story so that you truly get a sense of that time and place.

However, I rate the book much lower in terms of characterization and plot. Latham's attitudes and actions towards his wife swing back and forth in ways that come across as contrived and unconvincing. Marget's continued reliance on Lady de Winter's advice, even after she realizes Lady de Winter does not have her best interest at heart, doesn't make sense. And Marget's reaction when she realizes that the love poem was written by Nicholas rather than her husband doesn't make much sense, either. She is unfazed; however, human nature alone would seem to dictate a much deeper and stronger reaction that. The love poem is what has sustained Marget through her difficult marriage and then, 3/4 of the way through the story, she finds out that her husband didn't write it at all, but that is was written by his friend/valet. And she just shrugs and says, oh, well?! In fact, the whole character of Nicholas and his role in the story is puzzling. He is far more gallant than Latham, far less shallow, and is the one who truly seems to care for and understand Marget, and yet he is relegated to a background role.

All in all, I would have to say that the beautiful cover is the best part of this book! I liked it well enough that I would be willing to give Siri Mitchell another try by reading one more of her books. However, I didn't like it well enough to run out and buy all of her books.

So the truth is, I love a good romance. Epic romances are maybe my favorite of all books, there's nothing like a huge sweeping romance to engage your mind and heart. This book is very much the kind of romance I enjoy...there's enough other story to keep it from being a straight romance, but the romance is very present and very enjoyable.

I'm also learning that I have a fascination with this sort of historical. The glimpse into court life in this book is far from favorable, yet very informative. Marget is a very likeable character, a woman who wishes only to be in a marriage of love--completely devoted to her husband-- at a time when marriages of love were not acceptable. In fact, the level of devotion the queen sought from her subjects seems so ridiculous to me. I don't think I'd really be all that interested in people fawning all over me only because of what I could do for them. The cost to the courtiers and the common people was very high.

Although it took me a few pages to get into the story, once I got into it I was sold. I devoured each page, following Marget and Lytham's love story and their struggles, the harmful fashions of the time, their desperate attempts to gain the Queen's favor, and their daily joys and sorrows. Highly recommended for fans of romance or historical fiction. (I'd like to mention that even though this book is published by a Christian publisher, it has broad appeal and there is no didactic writing in the story)

I've never read anything by this author before but after reading the blurb about the plot and seeing the beautiful cover art, I couldn't resist picking this one up. Unfortunately I did not enjoy reading it.

I had difficulty reading this book at times because the point of view shifted between the two major characters, and sometimes it was hard to notice it had happened. I had to go back and reread paragraphs each time that happened. That aside, my problem with the story was that I thought it was going to be a light romance and Christian fiction. Instead it was more historical fiction, which normally I do enjoy. I didn't find myself liking this story though, mostly because it was so depressing! I don't want to give away what happens, but there seemed to be very little joy in this story.

I wanted to like this one, but I was sadly disappointed. Those looking for a light romance or Christian fiction should skip this one (I don't even remember Christianity at all in this book).

Since age five,Marget was been trained for twelve years for one thing -to be an asset to her husband in nobility. Marriages were arranged, a thing expected, understood. She gave herself to a man who clearly was appalled by her- because she had been trained to do so. I find Ms Mitchell historical books FASCINATING!!
I have read enough books in my life that I am really not looking for yet another good read, but once in a while a new author catches your eye and you are richly rewarded.
For the reader who wants only fantasy, all things smooth sailing, no ripples in the pond keep moving on you won't like this one. It is entirely believable!
A young girl trained to please, to be an asset coming into a marriage, in all her innocence. She doesn't know of her husband's devastation by his first wife, she doesn't know the many costs and debaucheries of court life and she doesn't know someone she trusts has her own agenda.
I loved learning about the Court, the Queen and the customs.
And what I especially liked was the fact that Lytham gave his life to pursuing a dream of being a Courtier in the Queen's favor, Marget came along side of him to aid him in this-- what they found was that "it was a cistern, a broken cistern that could not hold water"(Jeremiah 2:13) no matter how much they pored in!!!!
I heartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants a rich, staisfying read!

This really was an incredible book but I do agree with a previous reviewer who gave it a mixed review. The historical aspect was absolutely fascinating. I learned so much about the Elizabethan time period. For that, I would give it a 10, if possible.

I too was confused by the double first person. It was hard to keep up with, at times. The storyline was very well done and very interesting but for some reason, seemed to lack depth.

All this said, I would definitly reccommend this to a friend!

I was looking for a good historical romance novel... unfortunately, I was sucked in by the beautiful cover and reviews from other readers that, for some reason I don't understand, enjoyed this book. First I was thrown off by the odd writing style...It took me off guard until I realized the point of view jumps back and forth between the two main characters. (Would it not have been easier to just write in third person? I'm not sure if this how the author always writes.) At about half way through the book I didn't care what happened to Lytham or Marget. They hate each other, then profess their love for each other out of nowhere-- which completely threw me off! When did this happen... while eating a salad?? I agree that descriptions of the dress and life of a courtier are rich, but that didn't make up for lack of a storyline.

I am a lvoer of the historical pieces, especially this time frame. I thought this novel gave the reader an opportunity to see what life at court was really like and how dangerous it could be. The characters seek to find love in an unlikely location, thier own marriage. This plays out with the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth's court with all its intrigue and dangers. The author does a great job of drawing the reader into this world.
The issue of false beauty was masterfully woven throughout the storyline. The main character finds herself becoming more beautiful in the eyes of those around her as she conforms to the pressures of court life and the false flattery of a greedy queen.
I thought the relationship between Marget and Lytham was compelling. The author does not give them easy fixes. Intermingled with their passion is the reality that they are in a difficult place with few options.
A book worth your time! A great read!