The Bound Heart 

The Everstone Chronicles #2

ebook, print

by Dawn Crandall

• Print Length: 337 pages
• Publisher: Whitaker House 
• Publication Date: November 1, 2014
• ASIN: B00P2YEFSC

One accidental kiss from Lawry Hampton. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt's world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn't have the time or the desire to fall for her best friend. 

But with Vance out of the country, and with Lawry at her side nearly every day, teaching her what the world is like through the eyes of a little orphan girl named Wynn--Meredyth can't deny that what's holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from her past. 

Will she marry Vance once he returns from Europe? Or will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she's convinced she deserves, and accept that God's plan for her life includes redemption...and, quite possibly, Lawry Hampton?

My thoughts: THE BOUND HEART is book two in the Everstone Chronicles series, but it easily stands alone  Fans will want to go back and read the first book, The Hesitant Heiress, if they are interested in knowing the story behind Nathan and Amaryllis. and their romance. 

I absolutely loved the premise of THE BOUND HEART--an accidental kiss--and I wondered how a kiss could be accidental. I won't tell you the details because, of course, everyone likely loves a kiss and I adore how the sexual tension between Meredyth and Lawry came to life. Oh, and Lawry? Ahhh, definitely swoon-worthy. 

The language of THE BOUND HEART was much more relaxed than in The Hesitant Heiress, and I enjoyed it. Also the scene breaks flowed ever so much smoother. I also enjoyed that this book is also first person (I mentioned in the review for The Hesitant Heiress that I enjoy first person point of view) and it is such a nice change of pace for a historical. 

Fans of Laurie Alice Eakes' Regencies will enjoy Ms. Crandall's books. These are set in Boston. 

I did get a little confused with the identity of some of the characters with A names - in fact I went back to look to see what Lawry's sister's name was because another character with a similar name was introduced as a very good friend (when you have time to kill at the pool while watching your daughter swim you notice stuff like that) and I did get a bit frustrated with her obsession over someone when Lawry was so swoon-worthy, but all in all I enjoyed THE BOUND HEART. 4 stars.