INSPIRATIONAL
ROMANCE
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HISTORICAL
INSPIRATIONAL
ROMANCE |
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Snowy Egret
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Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas."
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Acta de la Independencia
del Imperio Mexicano
Mexican War of Independence (1810 - 1821):
armed conflict between the people of Mexico
(led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians)
and Spanish colonial authorities.
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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Desires of Her Heart
by Lyn Cote
Freedom and honor: Seeing with the
eyes of God
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.
Publisher: Avon Inspire (Feb.
2009)
Series: Texas Star of Destiny
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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