Customer Reviews

The Desires of Her Heart (Texas: Star of Destiny, Book 1)

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Dorritt Mott is a young woman who knows her mind. She values her independence and has no desire to marry. Dorritt is a sensible, practical woman who doesn't go in for the romantically exaggerated conversations of all the trappings of polite aristocratic Louisiana society. The plans of her step-father, Mr. Kilbride, run counter to her values and the plans she wants for herself. With the Panic of 1819 in the country's background and her step-father's own financial position threatened as well, the family heads west to Texas to join Stephen F. Austin's settlement. Secretly, Dorritt and her maid Reva hope that Texas will bring them freedom and men of honor. The journey brings her face to face with Quinn, a half-breed scout, a man whose integrity and honor inspires Dorritt. As they travel westward, the dangers mount. If the perils of terrain and climate were not enough to threaten their success, the historical background of the 1821 Mexican revolution in Spain is moving forward to the Texas Revolution of 1836. Whatever security Dorritt has before the journey is now overturned. She faces never-before encountered challenges. Racial prejudice and attitudes limiting women threaten both Reva and Dorritt. Can the two of them maintain their faith? Amidst all the difficult cirmcumstances they face, can they find the desires of their heart?

In THE DESIRES OF HER HEART, the first of the Texas Star of Destiny series, Lyn Cote sets her characters in a period of American history which has an uncanny relevance to today's issues in terms of the challenges faced by individuals even though the exact circumstances are different. Unsure of her own economic welfare and often unable to change the direction of her step-father's ways, Dorritt focuses on the things she can change and maintains her faith in God. Dorritt has steadfastness and compassion for others despite the troubled times surrounding her. Quinn has a mysterious appealing side that attracts her. He listens to her and values her. But can he have enough faith in himself and in God to reach for his deepest desire?

THE DESIRES OF HER HEART sets the historical stage for the series. Lyn Cote details the complexity of different policies on slavery in Louisiana and Texas as well as the difficult alliances between Spain, Mexico, and the anglo-americans. She details both the possibilities of freedom and the racial and gender prejudices that influence human relationships. The story is fast-paced and full of action. In the first part of the romance, Quinn might seem less developed and yet, the focus on Dorritt feels appropriate as it marks her as different than many of the other characters who rely mostly on others to define their self-worth. As the narrative progresses, the focus switches to Quinn with several moving twists that define his character.

The beauty of THE DESIRES OF HER HEART comes from the manner in which Lyn Cote brings faith to this inspirational romance. First, the heroine Dorritt is a brave character with a sense of herself. Even though her family situation is not all hunky-dory and she often finds herself surrounded by some rather unsavory characters, she has a strength from within. She is a woman who reads, is comfortable in the quiet of aloneness, relying on her faith rather than the latest fashion. Lyn Cote presents an image of faith that is prayerful rather than preachy. Dorritt's prayers are quiet and persona, showing her close relationship with God. Even when she talks to Quinn about her faith, her words are born from within and one senses a deep sharing between them rather than the kind of somewhat forced conversion often seen in inspirational romance. As a Christian woman, Dorritt is a refreshing character. She has a lot of spunk and isn't just wishy-washy nice or clothed in an unrealistic sense of perfection. She calls things like she sees them and yet she is full of compassion too --- and she is able to revise her opinion when more information becomes available. Lyn Cote doesn't gloss over the difficulties of family relationships. Lyn Cote's use of natural imagery, like the egret, reinforces the prayerful inspirational element of this romance. Instead of preaching down to readers, Lyn Cote inspires the imagination with images to see and meditate on the presence of God. Throughout the romance Dorritt listens to God, to herself and to others. For its prayerful tone, Lyn Cote's romance THE DESIRES OF HER HEART is likely to appeal to a wider segment of the inspirational romance circle than the traditional target audience.

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

The book was really enjoyed because of the historical fiction and the western romance and how the people overcame obstacles that seem to always arise and the love that blossoms out of the turmoils.

In 1821 twenty-five years old spinster Dorritt Mott fears her stepfather Mr. Kilbride is up to his usual no good, but this time her clenched gut expects the worst. She proves right when she learns he gambled away her family's Belle Vista Plantation that he has lived off of while she ran it. Knowing he must flee from New Orleans, he informs his extended family they will leave for the Texas Territory where they can claim land and start over. Dorritt would like to go her own way, but knows her pampered mom and her spoiled sister Jewell whose fiancé dumped her need her.

Dorritt knows Mr. Kilbride is an amoral moron who will vanish at the first inkling of trouble; from what she knows of the trek from Louisiana to Texas it is very dangerous. She prefers to depend on wagon train half-breed scout Quinn and God than Kilbride. However, as her attraction for the half Cherokee grows, she learns once again a man cannot be trusted as he has business yes with Kilbride.

The opening Texas Star of Destiny tale is an interesting "Era of Good Feelings" Americana romance. Although Mr. Kilbride, his wife and Jewell are too stereotyped, Dorritt and Quinn are fully developed intriguing lead characters. Fans will relish this fine tale of a feisty female defying the expected role of a Louisiana aristocrat in life and in love.

Harriet Klausner

For the most part this was a good story. It kept my interest more than lost it. But there were some things that made it a bit challenging. Like sometimes the sentence structure didn't make sense. Also, the characters would say things and do things that didn't fit the era they were in. That kind of stuff tends to bug me. Like use of expressions that didn't exist in speech in that time period.

There is also the issue of characterization, and some of the people were pure evil. Usually even the bad guys have vulnerable spots and I didn't see that with two of the characters who always gave Dorritt a hard time. I did admire Dorritt but I question whether or not she would have been allowed to act the way she did toward the slaves without negative consequences. It made her heroic but lost some believability at the same time given how harshly her stepfather treated their slaves.

But on the plus side the romance was pretty intense at times. The author knows how to write a yummy kiss and leads up to it very well. But toward the very end there was another issue that is hard to share without giving away any key plot points, but it did seem a bit unresolved. Several people were in perilous situations that went unresolved, so you don't know what happened to them. Did the guy die? Did the other guy ever get out of jail? Stuff like that.

Overall I enjoyed this story more than not. Though I did mention more downsides, I have to say that this author does know how to write a good romance, which is why I finished the book. Maybe she should just stay away from historical romances and stick to contemporaries.