My Heart Will Find You by Jude Deveraux

 My Heart Will Find You

Book Summary

Their love refused to stay quiet, echoing across time…

When the world is brought to a standstill in the early days of a global pandemic, Etta Wilmont finds herself suddenly stranded in Kansas City. Desperate to secure a roof over her head, Etta crosses paths with Henry Logan, a lonely older man in need of a caretaker. His invitation for Etta to stay with him seems to be the solution to both their problems—and maybe the spontaneous adventure Etta’s life has been missing.

As Etta and Henry settle into a companionable living arrangement, Etta indulges in Henry’s library. The compelling historical accounts of life in the Midwest soon inspire vivid dreams of Kansas City in the 1870s, dreams in which she’s a mail-order bride, married to a handsome but guarded rancher named Maxwell Lawton.

Haunted by the story unfolding in her mind, Etta realizes her dreams of the past and the familiar faces featured within are starting to have an impact on the present, altering her current reality. Perhaps these dreams are Etta’s chance to finally claim something for herself after so much time spent caring for others. More than anything, Etta wonders if the captivating man she’s falling for while she sleeps might be real, might be out there—true love waiting to be found and which would change both their lives forever.

My Thoughts

My Heart Will Find You by Jude Deveraux is a fun time-travel romance.  Etta Wilmott is traveling to visit her sister.  She is in a layover in Kansas City when travel is halted at the beginning of the pandemic.  Etta is looking for a place to stay when she encounters Henry Logan.  Henry welcomes Etta into his home.  Henry is elderly and can use a companion.  Etta needs a place to stay, and she is an excellent cook.  The two get along famously.  Etta soon finds herself having vivid dreams of being a mail order bride for rancher Maxwell Lawton in Garrett, Kansas in the 1870s.  Those she meets in the present day, Etta encounters in the past.  Henry is a writer who weaves Etta’s dreams into his latest tale.  I loved the characters Jude Deveraux created for this story.  I enjoyed getting to know Etta and Henry.  The characters are developed.  It is a little challenging in the beginning to keep them all straight.  It did not take long to get them sorted out.    I can tell the author did her research for her story.  She captured the Old West (even the smell).  I enjoyed both storylines and I like how the present day and the past tied together.  I do feel that the story needed an epilogue because the ending felt incomplete.  I enjoyed the story, but I did not feel it was on par with my favorite time travel book by this author (A Knight in Shining Armor).  My Heart Will Find You is an entertaining time travel tale with a stranded traveler, a wily writer, vivid dreams, a bruised body, a rich rancher, enthusiastic matchmaking, and a lost love.

My Heart Will Find You is available from Amazon* along with other major retailers.  You can find A Knight in Shining Armor here.  You can find Jude Deveraux's other novels here.  I especially enjoy her Montgomery/Taggert series.  Thank you for joining me today.  I have been busy dismantling my Easter display (it was big) and putting the inflatables away until next year.  I am putting up my Cinco De Mayo display.  I have searched for Mother's Day inflatables, and I have not been able to find any.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman which will be out on Tuesday, April 18.  It is the third An Amish Bookstore Novel.   I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston

Happy Sunday!  Paula Brackston lives in a wild, mountainous area of Wales.  She has a MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and she is a visiting lecturer for the University of Wales, Newport.  Before becoming a writer, Paula tried several positions that included travel agent, secretary, English teacher, groom on a racing yard and a goat herd (poor goats).  When not writing at her desk under the stairs, Paula plays Swedish tennis with her children as well as gets walked by her dog (I have a dog like that) or hacks at the weeds in her vegetable patch.  She likes to relax with a glass of wine by the pond.  You can find a list of Paula Brackston's novels here on Amazon.

The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston has readers traveling across the pond to Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.  Xanthe Westlake and her mother, Flora have purchased a small antiques shop so that can have a new start away from London.  Since Xanthe was a small child she has been able to read certain antiques (psychometry).  The objects that call to her, Xanthe gets memories from them.  Xanthe attends an estate sale where a silver chatelaine calls to her intently.  She feels a connection to this piece, so she sets out to find more about the chatelaine.  One day Xanthe is in the garden and the chatelaine reacts to a small building.  When Xanthe steps through the doorway, she ends up in another era.  An injustice in the past needs to righted, and Xanthe is the only person who can fix it. 

The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston has an intriguing premise.  Xanthe Westlake can get memories from antique items that call to her.  She always gets a feeling when near a special object.  After finding a silver chatelaine at an estate sale, Xanthe finds herself in the past to correct an injustice.  I liked the idea of a woman with psychometry ability delving into the past.  Unfortunately, I had a difficult time wading through The Little Shop of Found Things.  I struggled to get through the story.  I kept hoping it was just a slow starter and that I would soon be completely engrossed.  That did not happen.  The pacing is sluggish and certain details are repeated often.  The author has an old fashioned writing style and there are overly detailed descriptions.  I was astonished that Xanthe would travel back wearing Doc Martens and no one notices the odd shoes (really).  I could not connect with Xanthe and I did try.  It took me several attempts, but I did finish the story.  I was just not the right audience for The Little Shop of Found Things.  I wanted to like this book because it is the type of story that appeals to me.  I failed to find the magic in The Little Shop of Found Things.

 

The Little Shop of Found Things* (Amazon UK) is the first book in the Found Things series.  Secrets of the Chocolate House is the second book.  While The Little Shop of Found Things was not right for me, it did appeal to many readers.  To see if it is your type of story, please read a sample and judge for yourself.  Thank you for joining me today.  I am featuring Fading into the Night by Vannetta Chapman tomorrow.  I hope that you have a relaxing day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.