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Tales of London #2
Catherine's Heart
Book 2 of Tales of London. Eighteen-year-old Catherine Rayborn is thrilled with her first taste of independence when she begins Girton College in Cambridge in 1880. Amid all the excitement, however, comes the painful realization of the vast difference between true love and shallow infatuation. Lawana Blackwell skillfully endears a cast of loveable characters to readers in a story that will linger long after the last page is turned.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
59 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Lawana Blackwell
25 books389 followersLawana Blackwell is a full-time writer with 10 published novels, including the bestselling Gresham Chronicles series. She and her husband have three grown sons and live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 17, 2024
This was a wonderful book. The book starts as Catherine - the heroine - enters Girton, one of Cambridge University's women's colleges. It follows Catherine through Girton, as she suffers heartbreak and betrayal, becomes more insightful about herself and matures, and finds a lasting love. Ms. Blackwell is such a good writer. Her writing is character-driven, and has great depth and emotion. Plus, while this is Catherine's book, it is also a real ensemble piece. Ms. Blackwell brings back all the main characters from the first book of this trilogy, The Maiden of Mayfair. They are all relatives of Catherine's, and are an integral part of this book. And we get to see how their lives have progressed since book 1. The author slowly and skillfully develops the story, so all the changes in the heroine are totally believable. I didn't want the book to end.
In my review of The Maiden of Mayfair I said that what marred an otherwise excellent book for me was that I found it much too preachy. There was no such problem with Catherine's Heart. The book is an inspirational, so it's clear that the characters' religious faith is their central guiding principle. But there's no sermonizing or scripture quotations or other preachiness that tends to turn me off. Here, the religious elements were handled with subtlety and grace, so I could definitely see this book succeeding with a wider secular readership. And I highly recommend this wonderful book.
I had to order the third book in this trilogy Leading Lady from a library in another part of the state, so I'll have to wait at least another week before it arrives. I really can't wait, although I'll be sad when the trilogy ends.
In my review of The Maiden of Mayfair I said that what marred an otherwise excellent book for me was that I found it much too preachy. There was no such problem with Catherine's Heart. The book is an inspirational, so it's clear that the characters' religious faith is their central guiding principle. But there's no sermonizing or scripture quotations or other preachiness that tends to turn me off. Here, the religious elements were handled with subtlety and grace, so I could definitely see this book succeeding with a wider secular readership. And I highly recommend this wonderful book.
I had to order the third book in this trilogy Leading Lady from a library in another part of the state, so I'll have to wait at least another week before it arrives. I really can't wait, although I'll be sad when the trilogy ends.
December 27, 2021
This went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars for me, but not due to a flaw in the book itself. As I have come to expect from Lawana Blackwell, this book is written very well and reading it feels restful and gentle. The characters are varied and excellent. We follow characters from the first book and get lots of new ones. The period detail is also very good, especially the trips back and forth to Bombay through the Suez Canal. The end of the book was excellent, especially the details about Hugh’s school.
So what’s the problem? I confessed to friend Lisa that Catherine is just too boy crazy when she’s at Girton College, Cambridge. She is in her late teens/early twenties, so I can relate from that period of my life. But I wanted WAY more detail about Girton and Cambridge and was disappointed when Catherine proved to be a halfhearted scholar. I honestly think I was expecting her to be a Dorothy Sayers: brilliant, feisty, trailblazing, discontent, hungry to learn. Catherine is not really any of those things. She is kind, naive, trusting, smart, and reasonably bookish. Much more like me than I am like Dorothy Sayers. But I want to read about a Dorothy Sayers type more than a Catherine type at Oxford or Cambridge when women were just getting a toehold into those academic male strongholds. I wish Lawana Blackwell had also written a novel about Peggy Somerset. There’s another story worth telling.
That being said, Catherine matures through the book in a believable and mildly interesting way. I enjoyed the first third and last third more than the middle third, but would certainly re-read this in the future when I crave just such a gentle read as this is.
So what’s the problem? I confessed to friend Lisa that Catherine is just too boy crazy when she’s at Girton College, Cambridge. She is in her late teens/early twenties, so I can relate from that period of my life. But I wanted WAY more detail about Girton and Cambridge and was disappointed when Catherine proved to be a halfhearted scholar. I honestly think I was expecting her to be a Dorothy Sayers: brilliant, feisty, trailblazing, discontent, hungry to learn. Catherine is not really any of those things. She is kind, naive, trusting, smart, and reasonably bookish. Much more like me than I am like Dorothy Sayers. But I want to read about a Dorothy Sayers type more than a Catherine type at Oxford or Cambridge when women were just getting a toehold into those academic male strongholds. I wish Lawana Blackwell had also written a novel about Peggy Somerset. There’s another story worth telling.
That being said, Catherine matures through the book in a believable and mildly interesting way. I enjoyed the first third and last third more than the middle third, but would certainly re-read this in the future when I crave just such a gentle read as this is.
May 23, 2011
If you've ever suffered a bad heartbreak or overlooked someone's faults because you really "loved" them, you will find a kindred spirit in this story.
On page 338, Uncle Daniel was trying to counsel Catherine as to what was the best way to get over heartache--get busy helping others, don't try to fill the "hole" with something or someone else, and mending the hollow space by becoming a complete person. He said that really developing a relationship with God helped him find out about himself and it took away some of the ache. He said that she needed to make God part of her "daily walk". When she asked what he meant, he replied, "The key for me was thanksgiving...When I began thanking God for every good thing that happened, I began to fee an incredible closeness over time--a friendship, if you will--that extended into all areas of my life." She wondered if it made the emptiness go away, and he said, "...God gave me an assurance, a feeling deep down that one day things would be better."
I take comfort in these words shared. Too often we are bogged down by the negative events in our lives and how unhappy we are with "our lot", that we forget to see the good things that we are blessed with each and every day. I too forget to recognize all of these; however, I do know that everything is a blessing from my Heavenly Father who loves me, and that nothing is by chance or luck.
On page 338, Uncle Daniel was trying to counsel Catherine as to what was the best way to get over heartache--get busy helping others, don't try to fill the "hole" with something or someone else, and mending the hollow space by becoming a complete person. He said that really developing a relationship with God helped him find out about himself and it took away some of the ache. He said that she needed to make God part of her "daily walk". When she asked what he meant, he replied, "The key for me was thanksgiving...When I began thanking God for every good thing that happened, I began to fee an incredible closeness over time--a friendship, if you will--that extended into all areas of my life." She wondered if it made the emptiness go away, and he said, "...God gave me an assurance, a feeling deep down that one day things would be better."
I take comfort in these words shared. Too often we are bogged down by the negative events in our lives and how unhappy we are with "our lot", that we forget to see the good things that we are blessed with each and every day. I too forget to recognize all of these; however, I do know that everything is a blessing from my Heavenly Father who loves me, and that nothing is by chance or luck.
October 11, 2010
Not one of Blackwell's better books. Mostly I just wanted to slap Catherine. I would have liked a lot less Lord Holt/Catherine and a lot more Hugh/Catherine.
August 26, 2025
When I chose this book for my book review, my teacher scanned through the synopsis of this book, looked at me with a somewhat mischievous smile and said, "Ooh, this gotta be you in college." When I finished reading the book, all I can say is I would hate myself so bad if I did.
Catherine's heart is a romance fiction about a young woman named Catherine, who is coddled by her family her whole life, who will start to independently navigate through college life. Romance? She has no experience of it at all, and that will be the greatest challenge she will encounter as a freshman.
To summarize my experience in reading this book, it took me quite a while to finish it than how I usually finish a book. I can say it's because I didn't quite like the writing style of the author, it was too descriptive for my own liking. Another factor is that there were too many characters, there's atleast two new characters being introduced in every chapter. Last factor is that I was mostly confused throughout my whole read because in every POV change, there's no specification of whose POV it is, making me depend on context clues to know which character's POV it is.
Overall, I liked the plot, though I hated how naive Catherine was. The writing style is understandable but not of my liking.
Catherine's heart is a romance fiction about a young woman named Catherine, who is coddled by her family her whole life, who will start to independently navigate through college life. Romance? She has no experience of it at all, and that will be the greatest challenge she will encounter as a freshman.
To summarize my experience in reading this book, it took me quite a while to finish it than how I usually finish a book. I can say it's because I didn't quite like the writing style of the author, it was too descriptive for my own liking. Another factor is that there were too many characters, there's atleast two new characters being introduced in every chapter. Last factor is that I was mostly confused throughout my whole read because in every POV change, there's no specification of whose POV it is, making me depend on context clues to know which character's POV it is.
Overall, I liked the plot, though I hated how naive Catherine was. The writing style is understandable but not of my liking.
March 3, 2023
This book was a light read, but with surprisingly dynamic character development. I really appreciated the way that the author both wrote a love story of female friendship, family, and romantic love.
My only big gripe is that the two female characters (Peggy and Milly) are so prevalent and so developed through the story and then at the end there are so many questions as to what happens to them… and we are left completely without knowing. No epilogue or anything. The next book in the series doesn’t even have them as characters, and instead focuses on two minor children from this book that are now grown up.
To me, it felt like a real shame to develop such interesting characters alongside Catherine and then sort of treat their futures as so unimportant.
My only big gripe is that the two female characters (Peggy and Milly) are so prevalent and so developed through the story and then at the end there are so many questions as to what happens to them… and we are left completely without knowing. No epilogue or anything. The next book in the series doesn’t even have them as characters, and instead focuses on two minor children from this book that are now grown up.
To me, it felt like a real shame to develop such interesting characters alongside Catherine and then sort of treat their futures as so unimportant.
May 31, 2022
I love the gentle pulse of Lawana Blackwell’s writing, and although I got a bit impatient with Catherine’s shallowness at times, this book was a lovely way to spend my free time. In fact, my frustrations with Catherine’s character just shows how REAL her plight seemed to me! Glad to see the maturity she gained through her losses and loneliness. I loved Daniel from the first book in this series, so it was neat to see his counsel and example so (literally) crucial in this story. I would say more, but I’m eager to begin book three!
October 8, 2024
Such mixed emotions. It seemed the first 1/2 was so overdone...I was impatient to move on. But then I have to say Catherine's conversations with her Uncle absolutely grabbed my heart. I have saved some passages for my own benefit. Then with all the early learning Catherine went thru...so little was shared about her positive and exciting future. Maybe a continuing story???
September 6, 2019
Great story!
I enjoyed "The Maiden of Mayfair" & was happy to read the 2nd book of the series. The author draws the reader in to the story easily & with delightful characters. A story of families & dynamics, forgiveness & so much more!
I enjoyed "The Maiden of Mayfair" & was happy to read the 2nd book of the series. The author draws the reader in to the story easily & with delightful characters. A story of families & dynamics, forgiveness & so much more!
December 30, 2020
A good book though a bit slow for a 414 page book it dragged the plot line on and on and on it really could have been 100 pages less and still had the same plot line. Otherwise the plot itself wasn't bad a sheltered young women coming of age and entering society without the protection of her family has to figure out for herself the difference between love, lust, friendship, and being used.
June 21, 2025
Very good story
Seemed to start out kinda slow, but in the end all the parts were necessary to put together a moving and meaningful story. There were a lot of good lessons to be learned from the experiences of the characters.
Seemed to start out kinda slow, but in the end all the parts were necessary to put together a moving and meaningful story. There were a lot of good lessons to be learned from the experiences of the characters.
May 9, 2017
Another sweet story of love, family, friendship and forgiveness.
July 1, 2017
Another delightful story.
April 14, 2018
Just very satisfying. Much better than I expected. This set of books can be read in any order, I think, as they don't really depend on the previous characters.
January 31, 2019
Wonderful characters and plot. This book has some AMAZING lessons in romance and choosing a spouse. Really, really great and one of my favorites in this genre.
March 28, 2020
Another winner
It was. Slow start for me, but it soon picked up and I could hardly put this delightful book down.
It was. Slow start for me, but it soon picked up and I could hardly put this delightful book down.
September 26, 2021
Not the best of her work. A few editing issues that distracted me. The resolution was nice but very quick and after the long-suffering first part, would have been nice to spend more time on it.
March 6, 2017
Enjoyed it! Lessons to be learned!
This book was harder for me & I realized that was because it hit 'home' in my heart, because the unattractive personality weaknesses were so close to my own. However, all's well by the end of the Lord's chastisement & grace here as in my own life. Good stuff, as ever, from L.Blackwell
This book was harder for me & I realized that was because it hit 'home' in my heart, because the unattractive personality weaknesses were so close to my own. However, all's well by the end of the Lord's chastisement & grace here as in my own life. Good stuff, as ever, from L.Blackwell
August 1, 2021
Enjoyed meeting everyone from book 1!
It was quite interesting learning the struggles women had during those early years. However they still found education, friendship and love!
It was quite interesting learning the struggles women had during those early years. However they still found education, friendship and love!
March 15, 2013
“Catherine’s Heart” is #2 in the Tales of London series. I enjoyed #1, “The Maiden of Mayfair”, but this one was a disappointment for me. Frankly, it was tedious reading. The story jumps around quite a bit, and often I found myself puzzled and stopping to recall just whom are we talking about all of a sudden, what connection a person had to the rest of the characters, or what the point was of a particular episode. By halfway into the book I wished I had taken time to write down the characters and some little notes to make them clear so the story had fluidity in my mind. Having to do all that is a chore and does not make an enjoyable read.
Another complaint was the ending. Yeah, I get the forgiveness part for some of the main characters, that’s all well and good, but that seemed more important than telling what happens to Catherine and her (assumed?) beloved. He seemed like a great guy, but was just left in the crowd at the end. Couldn’t there have been one more chapter to bring that important story to a close? Disappointing. I like stories that end with me smiling – or at least content. This did neither.
I have book #3, but I really don’t care to read any more of the story so I’m not going to bother.
Another complaint was the ending. Yeah, I get the forgiveness part for some of the main characters, that’s all well and good, but that seemed more important than telling what happens to Catherine and her (assumed?) beloved. He seemed like a great guy, but was just left in the crowd at the end. Couldn’t there have been one more chapter to bring that important story to a close? Disappointing. I like stories that end with me smiling – or at least content. This did neither.
I have book #3, but I really don’t care to read any more of the story so I’m not going to bother.
August 31, 2016
Another great novel! It was lovely getting Catherine's story ... and thought-provoking! Catherine's Heart was filled with lessons, love, family, and faith! It was enjoyable, along with its sober note. I do so appreciate the deep theme of faith I've found so far in Lawana Blackwell's books; they teach about cultivating a close relationship with God, getting back up again after mistakes and sin, and healing and being made whole by finding the love of the Creator!
At the end of this book ... Catherine and her man ... *happy sigh* So sweet. This was definitely a wonderful tale about deception, forgiveness, healing, and opening up one's heart again.
I'm excited to read the last book in this series, TALES OF LONDON!
At the end of this book ... Catherine and her man ... *happy sigh* So sweet. This was definitely a wonderful tale about deception, forgiveness, healing, and opening up one's heart again.
I'm excited to read the last book in this series, TALES OF LONDON!
November 2, 2008
This is the second in a series of three books set in 19th Century England. In this book the main character, Catherine, is a college student. The book takes us through all four years and is about her relationships with her friends, men, her family and God. I usually like Blackwell's books, and this one wasn't bad, it just wasn't all that good. Basically it was predicatable and very much gave the message that stepping outside the boundries of society was not a good thing. The religious aspects were a little on the preachy side, but mostly the book taught by example--those who sinned were hurt by it, and saw the hurt their sin caused others.
September 19, 2012
This story shows how even a well-bred lady, from a Godly home, can be so easily swayed in her youth. In this period of history, as others, discussions in homes between parents and children can be very empty, instead of being full of teaching and God's word; a young person can go off into the world alone to college, not being prepared to stand up against the devil's deceptions.
Without giving too much away from the story, I would say that this is a good and thoughtful story, and will make you want to keep reading to find out what happens. Included in the story is a chance to learn forgiveness and extend grace. Again, if you like English story books, you will like this one, I bet!
Without giving too much away from the story, I would say that this is a good and thoughtful story, and will make you want to keep reading to find out what happens. Included in the story is a chance to learn forgiveness and extend grace. Again, if you like English story books, you will like this one, I bet!
May 9, 2013
3.5-4 I just can't decide.
While very interesting, it was painful to read. With about 85% of the book building up an extremely toxic relationship, I just felt too much anxiety and dread. Not enough time was devoted to the sweetness of the right relationship. I liked that we kept plugged into him from time to time, but it just wasn't enough.
And one thing just did not sit well with me: *spoiler* and that was Milly's betrayal. No explanation given. Initially I thought, this has to be a set up. But then, nope. After everything they had been through, and what Milly had JUST said about not being comfortable around him and then... that?! It seemed totally out of character.
While very interesting, it was painful to read. With about 85% of the book building up an extremely toxic relationship, I just felt too much anxiety and dread. Not enough time was devoted to the sweetness of the right relationship. I liked that we kept plugged into him from time to time, but it just wasn't enough.
And one thing just did not sit well with me: *spoiler* and that was Milly's betrayal. No explanation given. Initially I thought, this has to be a set up. But then, nope. After everything they had been through, and what Milly had JUST said about not being comfortable around him and then... that?! It seemed totally out of character.
September 25, 2011
Catherine got involved with an unsavory character and was unwilling to see his faults. It took heartbreak for her to come to her senses and see him for who he really was. It took time for the wounds to heal, but in the meantime she grew in her faith and became wiser in her dealings with men. Not unlike a lot of women today.
I enjoyed revisiting Sarah, William, Naomi and Daniel from the first book in this series. Looking forward to the next, especially to see what happens to Catherine and Hugh.
I enjoyed revisiting Sarah, William, Naomi and Daniel from the first book in this series. Looking forward to the next, especially to see what happens to Catherine and Hugh.
July 19, 2011
The characters of this book captivate me because they have a moral/religious guide in their lives, even if they are not of my faith. They're nice to be around.
I also like "Tales of London" books because they contain some good lessons. For example, "Catherine's Heart" shows examples of men who want to marry you because of superficial reasons, because they are opportunists, or simply because their intentions are honorable.
I also like "Tales of London" books because they contain some good lessons. For example, "Catherine's Heart" shows examples of men who want to marry you because of superficial reasons, because they are opportunists, or simply because their intentions are honorable.
September 3, 2012
Like the first book in Tales of London Series
“Is christian fiction, that is also coming of age story set in Victorian London . I found it to be a charming story about love and forgiveness . It get a bit preachy at times . But the writer does not over do it . This book the main chariter Catherine , has more freedom to make mistakes , then in charitors in The Maiden of Mayfair. If your looking for a sweet chick book . You may want to give this a try .
“Is christian fiction, that is also coming of age story set in Victorian London . I found it to be a charming story about love and forgiveness . It get a bit preachy at times . But the writer does not over do it . This book the main chariter Catherine , has more freedom to make mistakes , then in charitors in The Maiden of Mayfair. If your looking for a sweet chick book . You may want to give this a try .
April 26, 2014
Second in the Tales of London series this is a great read. The addition of tension in the lives of the characters at college is palpable, Once again I love the scenes written to where I feel if I went to Girton I would have no problem getting around.
Once again a great book by Lawana Blackwell. I am off to read the 3rd in the series today, "Leading Lady".
Once again a great book by Lawana Blackwell. I am off to read the 3rd in the series today, "Leading Lady".
March 18, 2016
I'm not the target audience for this. Blackwell has said that this is her personal favourite and the favourite if most of her readers. It was good, but I prefer _Maiden of Mayfair_ by far. Im not looking for love and the struggles of pretty girls who have to decide among several suitors just isn't the type of story I enjoy as much.
May 13, 2016
I enjoyed this book once I got over some typos. It was more of a page turner than the first book in the series. The lessons were good and not too preachy. My only complaint is the typos in the beginning. For instance, Mrs. Doyle was incorrectly called Mrs. Rayborn. Also Sarah was incorrectly described as Catherine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews