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Sequestered Hearts
Lesbian romance. A popular artist suddenly goes into seclusion; a reluctant reporter wants to know why; and a heart locked away yearns to be set free.
Sometimes the greatest test of love is the willingness to take a chance when there are no guarantees.
At the peak of her career, painter Cori Saxton's life changes irrevocably. With her future suddenly uncertain, she seeks refuge at her country home in Upstate New York where she successfully manages to shut out most of the world—until journalist Bennett McClain is assigned to get the story. Soon Cori has to remind herself that the charming reporter is simply there to do a job, even though something about the woman makes her want to reveal all her carefully guarded secrets. When Bennett accepted the assignment, she didn't expect to find Cori so attractive, on so many levels. Cori's intensity and energy are more appealing than down-to-earth Bennett cares to admit. But when Bennett discovers the truth behind Cori's seclusion, she is torn between a desire to soothe away Cori's pain and the instinct to flee that is born of her own painful past.
Sometimes the greatest test of love is the willingness to take a chance when there are no guarantees.
At the peak of her career, painter Cori Saxton's life changes irrevocably. With her future suddenly uncertain, she seeks refuge at her country home in Upstate New York where she successfully manages to shut out most of the world—until journalist Bennett McClain is assigned to get the story. Soon Cori has to remind herself that the charming reporter is simply there to do a job, even though something about the woman makes her want to reveal all her carefully guarded secrets. When Bennett accepted the assignment, she didn't expect to find Cori so attractive, on so many levels. Cori's intensity and energy are more appealing than down-to-earth Bennett cares to admit. But when Bennett discovers the truth behind Cori's seclusion, she is torn between a desire to soothe away Cori's pain and the instinct to flee that is born of her own painful past.
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
6 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Erin Dutton
18 books115 followersBorn and raised in Upstate New York, Erin Dutton moved to Nashville, Tennessee several years ago. No longer a Yankee, and yet not a true Southerner, she remains somewhere between the two, and is happy to claim both places as home. Her days are spent earning a living, while her nights and weekends are divided between several of her favorite things: writing, reading, golf, and her friends. Erin is the author of ten romance novels and the recipient of the 2011 Alice B. Medal for body of work.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 19, 2025
Just an OK read
June 16, 2013
Cori Saxton is a society-girl-turned-successful-painter who receives a devastating medical diagnosis. Bennett "Ben" McClain is the writer sent to find out why Cori hasn't been seen at society events lately. The romance that ensues between the two women is stunted by the author's poor use of her points of view, voice, plot motivators, dialogue, and description.
I struggled from the beginning of this book, but stuck with it to the lackluster ending. The initial character descriptions leave too much to the reader. The author seems to want to paint a picture, but never really gives enough detail. I could never get a grasp on Cori. Was she feminine, masculine, neither? Why was she wearing a "tuxedo-cut suit" instead of a tuxedo? Why was Bennett, "Ben", described as feminine when this flies in the face of the genre's conventions? Ms. Dutton uses these confusing descriptions many times, which leaves the reader wondering if she is sitting on the fence for a reason. Does she not understand her characters? Is she trying to please all readers, all the time, and failing us all?
The most difficult aspects of this novel were Dutton's changing points-of-view. I found myself having to constantly backtrack to see which character the reader was supposed to be following. By not strongly defining the characters at the beginning of the book, Dutton's POV switches were tough to follow. As a reader, I want to move smoothly through the story, not have to pause and go back.
The trite dialogue between the characters, hackneyed plot devices, and poor character development left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm not sure if this was solely the author's fault, or if the publisher just didn't have someone read the manuscript. Honestly, I don't know if this book could have been saved. The author didn't seem to have a strong understanding of her voice, her characters, or the plot line. She gave up at the end, reverting to sappy, unrealistic dialogue that didn't do justice to the characters (poorly-defined as they were). My advice to her would be to create a stronger foundation to her story; to really build the characters and plot, instead of allowing them to be so flat. Student writers would do well to learn that from this piece.
I struggled from the beginning of this book, but stuck with it to the lackluster ending. The initial character descriptions leave too much to the reader. The author seems to want to paint a picture, but never really gives enough detail. I could never get a grasp on Cori. Was she feminine, masculine, neither? Why was she wearing a "tuxedo-cut suit" instead of a tuxedo? Why was Bennett, "Ben", described as feminine when this flies in the face of the genre's conventions? Ms. Dutton uses these confusing descriptions many times, which leaves the reader wondering if she is sitting on the fence for a reason. Does she not understand her characters? Is she trying to please all readers, all the time, and failing us all?
The most difficult aspects of this novel were Dutton's changing points-of-view. I found myself having to constantly backtrack to see which character the reader was supposed to be following. By not strongly defining the characters at the beginning of the book, Dutton's POV switches were tough to follow. As a reader, I want to move smoothly through the story, not have to pause and go back.
The trite dialogue between the characters, hackneyed plot devices, and poor character development left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm not sure if this was solely the author's fault, or if the publisher just didn't have someone read the manuscript. Honestly, I don't know if this book could have been saved. The author didn't seem to have a strong understanding of her voice, her characters, or the plot line. She gave up at the end, reverting to sappy, unrealistic dialogue that didn't do justice to the characters (poorly-defined as they were). My advice to her would be to create a stronger foundation to her story; to really build the characters and plot, instead of allowing them to be so flat. Student writers would do well to learn that from this piece.
July 28, 2019
3.5 star rating
This is a nice story, pretty predictable but a nice story all the same.
This is a nice story, pretty predictable but a nice story all the same.
April 29, 2021
Cori Saxton's is from a wealthy and privileged family. Her paintings are also considered genius in the art world. But she is secluding herself in her upstate NY property. Her manager arranges an interview with an up and coming art magazine to generate buzz for a future showing. Bennet McClain accepts the assignment and spends time with Cori trying to understand her and her art. The story becomes even bigger when Cori reveals a recent medical diagnosis. They meet again in NYC where followup interviews are agreed to which allows Ben to follow Cori for a week in the life type story. This time they can't deny their attraction. The romance was just okay to me but I really liked Cori. Story was written in 2007 so one of Dutton's earlier works.
January 29, 2021
Disability in fiction is such a difficult theme to pull off. It's good there are more awareness and more and more books with disabled characters.
It's hard to pull it off though. I do test those stories with the Fries Test.
'Are there more than one disable of character? Do they talk together about something other than their disability ? ... Nope.
There are two but one is dead so no change discussing anything.
Are they miraculously healed by magic, fiction twist or death at the end ? No. Thankfully.
So its kind of half ok here.
The rest is the usual ED stuff with insta lust/soul mate recognition that is half annoying/ half sweet.
It's hard to pull it off though. I do test those stories with the Fries Test.
'Are there more than one disable of character? Do they talk together about something other than their disability ? ... Nope.
There are two but one is dead so no change discussing anything.
Are they miraculously healed by magic, fiction twist or death at the end ? No. Thankfully.
So its kind of half ok here.
The rest is the usual ED stuff with insta lust/soul mate recognition that is half annoying/ half sweet.
December 9, 2020
Candy. Pure literary candy.
September 10, 2016
I know I rated another book of hers 5 stars, but I rated it thus because it was a fluffy, light-hearted story that was quick to get through and left me feeling good after.
This story, Sequestered Hearts, offered a little more complexity. While I wouldn't say this story will win a prize any time soon, it played with some interesting plot structure, and I really liked the two characters after the somewhat awkward beginning. That beginning, as rocky as it seemed, endeared the book to me even more later on. I liked it a lot. The only thing I did not like was the title, which makes no sense to the story. I would have expected a more obvious art pun or something.
Either way, enjoyable story if you're looking for something fluffy that still has that high-stakes sense to it.
This story, Sequestered Hearts, offered a little more complexity. While I wouldn't say this story will win a prize any time soon, it played with some interesting plot structure, and I really liked the two characters after the somewhat awkward beginning. That beginning, as rocky as it seemed, endeared the book to me even more later on. I liked it a lot. The only thing I did not like was the title, which makes no sense to the story. I would have expected a more obvious art pun or something.
Either way, enjoyable story if you're looking for something fluffy that still has that high-stakes sense to it.
January 22, 2015
A bit too light on plot for my liking. I much preferred Point of Ignition and Fully Involved which were more complex and perhaps more gritty.
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October 5, 2022Its total trash in the best possible way. Badly written but completely addictive.
October 1, 2014
the stand off of both Ted and Cori was funny.
thanks you for a wonderful book.
thanks you for a wonderful book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews