To Capture Her Heart

The Southold Chronicles #2

by Rebecca DeMarino

It is 1653 and Heather Flower, a princess of the Montauk tribe, is enjoying her wedding feast when her groom is killed and she is kidnapped by a rival tribe and held for ransom. Though her ransom is paid by an Englishman, she is nonetheless left to die in a Connecticut forest--until she finds herself rescued by handsome Dutch Lieutenant Dirk Van Buren. Torn between her affection for Dirk and her long friendship with family friend Benjamin Horton, Heather Flower must make a difficult choice--stay true to her friend or follow her heart.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical, Fiction, Historical Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

When Rebecca DeMarino traveled to Horton Point, Long Island, with her mother, Helen Jean Horton Worley, in 1999, Passions collided: her love of faith, family, travel, history, and writing. Rebecca's series, THE SOUTHOLD CHRONICLES, is historical romance based on Mary and Barnabas Horton, her ninth great-grandparents and set in 1600’s Southold, Long Island, Rebecca is the author of A PLACE IN HIS HEART, TO CAPTURE HER HEART, and TO FOLLOW HER HEART, published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and when not writing, she enjoys family and genealogy, travel, reading, long walks, baking and gardening.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1653, Heather Flower, a Montauk princess, is celebrating her wedding when her groom is killed and she is taken captive. Though the English pay her ransom, a handsome Dutchman, Dirk Van Buren is the one who ultimately rescues her. Still grieving, Heather Flower goes to stay with her aunt near the English settlement of Southold where her longtime friend, Benjamin Horton, lives with his parents and siblings. Both of the young men are determined to win Heather Flower's heart, but which will she choose?

I like history. This one is very well done historically. The author has obviously researched the time period and the Indians. I also like to be given a little credit as a reader. I'm an intelligent person, and while I know that the average adult book is written on probably a 7th or 8th grade reading level, I have never felt like the author was talking down to the reader. I felt that way in this book. I'm not saying that the story wasn't good - it was, but I'm saying that I felt that I was being "talked down to" as a reader. I felt like the author was purposely trying to insult her reader's intelligence. That said, let me go on with what I enjoyed about the book.

I enjoyed getting to see Benjamin grown up. In the first book, he was a child. In this one, he's a young man. I also enjoyed getting to see the Horton family growing and Mary and Barnabas adjusting to the changes of their growing family. I also enjoyed the history. There is so much I didn't know about America's early history that I found rather fascinating.

The love triangle was obvious and felt, too me at least, that it was just there. I knew early on who Heather Flower would choose. I felt that aside from Benjamin and his family, that the characters weren't developed as well as they could have been.

I will say that the excerpt for the third book has me wanting to read it.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, early American history

Rating - 3 stars

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2 1/2 stars) This is a difficult review for me to write because I wanted to love this book! The cover and summary had my expectations very high. I love books that include Native Americans, some of their history, and clean romance. In some ways this book met those expectations, but in others it fell short. Let me begin with the positives.

There was a good bit of history that was unknown to me that I did learn about in this novel. I didn't know much about the relationship between the Dutch and the English in early American history, and this story did offer that. I also liked that the love story was not completely predictable. There was a little bit of a twist at the end and I wasn't completely sure what would happen.

In the story's defense, it may have been helpful for me to read the first book in the series. I believe this novel was meant to be stand alone, but there were SO many characters in this story. Maybe if I had some background I could've kept up with all of them. But I kind of got lost in the references to so many people coming in and out of the storyline that I was often distracted.

Another issue I had with the story is that, for me, it lacked the romantic tension that I was expecting. The romantic aspect of the story was often in the background, while the everyday going about life for the characters was the focal point. One character basically proclaimed his love for the heroine after meeting her in the first few pages of the book. No angst. I was pretty detached from the love story that was supposed to be happening.

As a reviewer I feel obligated to give an honest review. While DeMarino did offer some history and some very clean, short, romantic moments, this story just fell flat for me. I was expecting an epic love triangle, and it seemed to me like at least half of the story was about the lives of other characters in the novel. It was a big disconnect. That's not to say that some of you might like this style and story.

*I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review**

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

~My Review~

When I first saw the cover of this book I was amazed and I wanted to read the story right away. The book cover looks so amazing. Also after reading the book,”Courting Morrow Little” I’m always willing to read books that are similar.

The beginning of the book had a very intriguing first chapter. That’s something I always look for in any book that I read.

It was very enjoyable to read about the different customs with the Indian tribe that Heather Flower,the heroine,was from.

For some reason I really couldn’t connect with the hero in this novel. I also felt that some of the situations in this novel was a bit repetitive and as far as characters goes I couldn’t really enjoy them because they felt one-dimensional. I think that the novel and the characters needed more life. Period. I also had a problem figuring out if this was a romance or just a historical fiction read because I really wanted to feel and see more of the romance between the two characters.

Overall, this was a pretty alright read but I just expected more to this novel. Not only do I want to be amazed by the book cover but I expect the novel and the whole cast of characters to be spectacular as well. (3 stars)

*I received this book through Netgalley by Revell. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

[Shannah Mauney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit, I'm a little disappointed at this book. While it was well written and historically interesting, it didn't grab my attention the way the first book, A Place in His Heart, did. Overall, though, this was a very enjoyable story and I look forward to reading more by this author. Read my full review: http://faithlovebooks.blogspot.com/20...

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read so many books by so many different authors each year, that I sometimes forget whose books I've read and didn't enjoy. Last year I read the first book in The Southold Chronicles series, and unfortunately, it was a story that didn't connect with me. To Capture Her Heart promised to be an an interesting tale of the earliest years of settlers and natives in what would become the United States.

I'm happy to say, as a historical novel, To Capture Her Heart is better than the first novel, but sadly the romantic aspect falls completely flat. The love triangle in romance works for me, but only if the hero that the protagonist eventually chooses isn't the one we know nothing about, who rarely meets with the heroine. I felt as if we are presented with Heather Flower/Ben/Dirk story in such a way that we are meant to connect with one of the men and root for him and like him for 90% of the story, but then suddenly, in the last few pages, the other swoops in and the story takes a completely different turn. It was SO frustrating!

If you like historical fiction, this is an interesting book. I love that it's set in the 1600s, not a period that you see in Christian fiction. It was pretty fascinating to travel back in time to New Amsterdam. That said, I'll probably not opt to read the next book in the series, because the romance is bland. I can honestly say if Ms. DeMarino wrote strictly historical fiction without the romance, I'd be a player!

*I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

[Tima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heather Flower is an Indian princess. When she's captured by another tribe of Indians, her father sends a Dutch man named Dirk to rescue her. She watched her husband be murdered and can't go back home, so she goes to visit her aunt until her heart can heal. A long time friend Ben is there to help her feel welcome in his community again. Heather and Ben must heal their broken hearts and decide if they have room to let another person in again. The story also catches the reader up on the happenings of the small community that was introduced in book one.

This is a book that is rich in details and has a large cast of characters. It is a historical family saga that spans quite a bit of time. The book picks up approximately 12 years after book one ends and tries to catch the reader up on everything that has happened since. I was immediately bogged down in the details. The romance was weak and didn't grab me. There were so many characters that I had a hard time remembering who was who, despite the fact that I'd read the 1st book. I wasn't convinced of the great love between the two characters and couldn't really get a feel for their personalities. This book will appeal to someone who enjoys this type of thing, but I couldn't get into it.

I received this book free of charge from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Capture Her Heart is the second installment of the Southold Chronicles. I loved the characters in this book, as well as, the history. And I enjoyed catching up with the characters from book one of the series, A Place in His Heart. I think it's great how the author uses her own ancestors as inspiration for her novels.
I cannot wait to read book 3 of the series when it releases in 2016.
Great historical!
Five stars

[Abby Breuklander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to figure out God's will for our lives can be difficult, especially when we feel pulled in so many different directions. Thankfully we can come to Him with all of our fears, concerns, and questions, He's got us exactly where He wants us and will see us through anything that comes our way.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In To Capture Her Heart, Rebecca DeMarino weaves a family history seamlessly with colonial times to create a beautiful tapestry of a novel that held me riveted from the first pages through the sigh-worthy ending.

For the most part, this story is a romantic triangle set in the earliest days of European colonization. Heather Flower finds herself caught between two men, a childhood friend and the man who rescues her from an enemy tribe. I felt as if I was there, experiencing the same emotions and confusion that Heather Flower did as she tried to decide the course her life would take. Unlike many other romantic triangles I have read, there did not seem to be one clear-cut frontrunner for most of the novel—I was kept in suspense literally until the closing pages. And it was hard for me to even decide who I preferred; both potential heroes were good men who wanted what was best for the woman they loved.

The historic detail demonstrated the pull and tug between cultures in Heather Flower’s life, which I found very interesting. I would have perhaps expected the white characters’ families to be the reluctant ones about intermarrying, but instead we got the native perspective on that. The fear of a people being lost to history was contrasted with the desires of the heart, and it was both poignant and powerful as she faced the conflict between duty and love.

Another unexpected bit of history was the persecution people faced because of their religious convictions, this after coming to the New World. I never considered that those who came for freedom would have struggled with it here as well, but the prevailing mentality seemed to be that of keeping the groups and beliefs separate. Rather than living in the same towns, perhaps influencing current residents to worship or believe a different way, those who thought differently were excluded, having to find and settle their own land and form their own communities. These details were related through thoughts and dialogue with other characters, and it helped me to see through the eyes of the people living during that time rather than feeling as if I was reading a history text. Instead, I was an observer of a rich environment given depth and flesh by the amazing details contained in the writing.

I really enjoyed the spiritual component as well. Heather Flower struggled to trust God with her future, feeling Him untrustworthy because of her husband’s death on their wedding day. Given my own native heritage, I found the tension between the Great Spirit and God to be fascinating and loved how the novel addressed this topic throughout, culminating with a beautiful scene of redemption and understanding towards the end of the novel.

But perhaps my favorite part of the novel is where love, strength, and sacrifice all came together in the mind of one of the main characters. There was a lot of truth and beauty in the passage where this occurs and it served to highlight one of the major themes running through the novel. Again, however, it was so intertwined in the text that it occurred naturally; it wasn’t until the novel was complete that I realized it had been there from the beginning.

I would highly recommend this novel to both romance readers and those interested in history, especially early colonial America. I don’t think the reader has to necessarily be a fan of both because there is so much here that will appeal across genres. Because historical romance is my favorite, however, this novel was perfect for me and proved to be an outstanding story with excellent writing. It will be hard to wait for the third installment, coming in 2016.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Claudia {SparrowHawk} · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am, in all truth, torn with To Capture Her Heart. I really wanted to like this book as I found the synopsis to be intriguing, and the setting to be one I almost always enjoy (Early Colonial Times). However, I just was not able to connect with the plot or the characters in this book.

To put it plainly, this book was simply not for me, and I would strongly suggest that you read a couple of reviews before you decide to read this book or not.

Seldom, do I ever not finish reading a book in its entirety, but as hard as I tried, I simply was not able to finish reading To Capture Her Heart. My problems with this book started really early in the narrative for the following reasons:

1. The main characters fall victim to insta-love.
2. There is a weak and tedious love triangle to be have
3. The dialogue between this trio was hallow and unaffecting

Even more, the writing style is jarring and awkward, and when combined with an overabundance of historical facts and verbiage that doesn’t seem to settle in ease and fluidity, I found myself feeling utterly vexed to say the least.

The deeper problem with To Capture Her Heart however, was with the endless cast of characters ― which I found extremely difficult to keep track of. To be frank, this is where the story crumbled in my hands, and where most of my efforts in reading this book was placed. I tried, oh how I tried to piece everything together, but there were just so many pieces to weave and track down; it was draining.

To be fair, I did not read book one A Place in His Heart, and perhaps therein lies the problem. Even so, with the glaring issues at hand ― the lack of enjoyment, the way in which the story jumps from plot point to plot point, the abrupt transitions, the excessive historical facts, the loads of characters and relationships floating around ― I was forced to put the book down.

That said, there is certainly an audience out there for this book, I am sure of it. I just I could not bring myself to finish this book.


NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing Company for the purpose of this review, it was not required of me to give a positive review, but to solely express my honest thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.

Full review @ My Soul Called Life | Sparrow's Reading Corner

[Shantelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

To Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino tells the story of a young Native American widow named Heather Flowers. There’s also bits about a Dutch lieutenant, Dirk Van Buren; and another young man named Benjamin Horton. Plus, we look at life in the Connecticut wilderness through the eyes of Ben’s stepmother, Mary, and a passel of other people, it seems. There’s losses to get through, tensions to deal with, babies to be born, and true loves to find.

I didn’t hate this book—and it wasn’t horrible. But there was something or another about it that just prevented it from drawing me in. (I afraid to say that I did some skimming, eek!) Perhaps it’s because there are so many characters (and quite a few main ones as well), and I haven’t read the first book in the series. Or the way it felt like some things were sort of skipped over, because so much time passed between some chapters or something. Either way, this book just felt “okay” and not much beyond that for me.

But I did notice some glowing reviews, so don’t totally push it off! My taste may be wildly different than yours, and maybe you’ll love To Capture Her Heart! There’s things to like about it, such as the rich historical-ness and some profound faith scenes or sweet romance moments.

Speaking of the romance, there’s a love triangle, just to warn you! And I was slightly shocked out how long it took to resolve!! :O I couldn’t really connect with Heather Flowers and discern what she felt. Do you love the Dutch guy, or your dear friend?? It was just kind of shallow feeling at times. “Love at first sight”. Not real emotionally connecting. OH. And I did not like all the kissing with the guy who didn't marry her in the end!!!

The overall pace of the book was very slow. It was pretty much day-to-day life, with some slightly exciting things happening briefly now and then. (Which I can appreciate that to a certain extent . . .) But then the end, wow! I actually enjoyed the end for the most part, because the pace picked up. But I was just kind of shocked how it all came about. Hmm.

Anyway, again, I didn’t hate the book. I’m sorry if my review makes it seem that way. Once I started skimming, I didn’t mind coming back to To Capture Her Heart. Like I said, it had some richness. But overall, I was expecting a deep and emotional romance, some Native American history and intrigue, danger, forbidden love, and excitement . . . and it just didn’t really play out that way at all. This book has its potential, but just wasn’t for me.

I received a copy of To Capture Her Heart from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

[Nicki Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

_______________________________________________

*My Thoughts*


I first decided I need to read this book when I read the male protagonist's last name. Kind of a strange reason huh? Read on and I'll explain.

Dirk Van Buren. My mom's maiden name was Christina Van Der Groef. The connection, is that I am about 50% dutch, 25% Norweigian, and 25% German. I was so excited! Never before had I read a book on a Dutchman, particularly a Lieutenant. Add in a Native American princess and you're about as diverse as they come! That's the aspect of this book that I really liked. I've never read a diverse story with so much information in it without it feeling like a History channel 2 hour special. The cover is just the beginning of the beauty within.

I was completely inspired by the faith shown in this book. I was in awe of the trust Heather showed throughout the story.It really got me thinking about my own relationship and I think that is what embodies a good inspirational novel! Not fake in the least, just a naturally flowing faith that I believe has to stem from Rebecca's own relationship.

That being said, some may not like the fiction aspect of it although I loved it. There is not as much depth with the characters as I normally would like but with this, it works. And reading others' reviews when they read both book one and two, I have no doubt that she'll get to that depth! I loved Heather's interactions with both the men in her life-although the love at first sight opinion of Dirk's seemed a little far-fetched.

While this is the second book in the series, I did not read book one and was not lost at all. I cannot wait for the third installment!
____________________________________________________

*My overall thoughts*

To Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino is historical fiction at it's finest!! Diverse cultures and a captivating story line makes for a perfect porch swing read...which is just what I did!
__________________________________________

*My Rating*

I give To Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino...








4 1/2 stars!!

*I received this book from the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given. All thoughts were my own and I was not compensated in any other way.


http://bookreviewsforchristians.blogs...

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Capture Her Heart is the sequel to A Place In His Heart. Did I like it more than A Place In His Heart? Yes, mostly. If you remember, I had some big issues with the first book.

To Capture Her Heart is set on Long Island in the early 1650s. (1653 and 1654 to be precise). There are two or three main stories within the book.

Heather Flower, one of the main characters, is rescued by Dirk Van Buren. A rival native tribe kidnaps Heather Flower--on her wedding day--along with a dozen other young women from her tribe. She is ransomed or rescued, the other young women--not being Indian princesses perhaps--may not be as fortunate. Dirk Van Buren is "her hero" the one who brings her back to her family. He makes an impression, for sure, but not as he hoped perhaps. For he falls madly in love with her at first sight. And the last thing on her mind is love and romance.

He's not the only man in love with Heather Flower. (Of course, he isn't.) Benjamin Horton is also in love with her. (But is he really?) She is on very friendly terms with the whole Horton family. Her aunt was one of Mary Horton's first friends in the new country. She is staying with her aunt for personal reasons. (Her aunt is grieving the loss of her husband. And she is grieving the loss of her groom.) Benjamin wants to be the one. But does she want to move on and find love again?

Is To Capture Her Heart a romance novel? Yes and no. It is more than that certainly. The book also focuses on the friendships of the women characters: Mary, Lizzie, Patience, Winnie, Abigail, etc. And the threat of war between the English settlers and the Dutch settlers. (Not to mention the "threat" of Quakers in the community.) Will the settlement go to war against the Dutch settlement on the island? Will Joseph and Benjamin be caught up in a war? Will this potential war keep Dirk from courting Heather Flower?

I would still recommend this one for those that enjoy historical fiction more than historical romance. But this one does have more romance than the first book.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beautiful young princess of the Montaukett tribe has been kidnapped, traumatized, and left for dead by rival tribe warriors before being wondrously rescued by a handsome Dutch lieutenant; Dirk Van Buren. It's June 1653 in what will become Long Island, New York and English and Dutch settlers are vying for property rights on opposite ends of the island. Apparently, two young men from each faction are actively competing over something quite different than political or religious preferences; both aspire to capture the heart of the grief-stricken Heather Flower.

Benjamin Horton has known and admired the young Indian woman for years, now he is convinced that he loves her. Having witnessed the brutal murder of her beloved fiance has left Heather Flower emotionally battered and bruised, so she decides to remain near the Southold settlement with her aunt Winnie, hoping that her painful memories of home will eventually subside. Dirk and Benjamin both spend limited amounts of time with Heather Flower until Dirk's attentions come to a halt, leaving Heather Flower sadly conflicted; will she accept Ben's attention and substitute friendship for love? Or will the God of her newly found faith prove Himself faithful to the very end?

The rich history and historic glimpses into the simple, hard-working lifestyle of English settlers in this time period is fascinating and builds a strong foundation under a much simpler story line, involving many family members and acquaintances, whose back stories are woven into dialogue and descriptions. "To Capture Her Heart" is a lovely addition to Rebecca DeMarino's series and happily leaves plenty of room for the Horton family saga to continue.

[Savanna Kaiser · Rating 2 out of 5]

This kind of setting always grabs my attention. For one, I haven’t read a lot of historicals set in this era, so that’s refreshing. I appreciate learning details from different time periods and watching the different cultures influence and impact each other. To Capture Her Heart really goes to show that history can come alive through fiction. Readers can time-travel with authentic, well-researched writing like this.

I had not read the first in this series, though, and I felt a bit lost throughout the book. There were a LOT of characters and it was hard keeping them all straight. I had expected the story to focus around Heather Flower, but much of the book also focused on previous characters and family members. I would not say this is a stand-alone. I’d recommend reading the first in the series before picking up this one.

Some things happened so fast I couldn’t keep up. The two men she’s torn between, for instance, fall in love with her from the very start. It wasn’t quite believable to me. Plus, I wasn’t always sure where her emotions and feelings were at. Some scenes didn’t feel pivotal to the overall plot and had me skimming over the small parts. And I don’t like to skim. :(

But I will say this… love triangles intrigue me and this one definitely kept me guessing. I had no clue how it was going to end. The historical details laid a strong foundation for the story and I felt the author did a good job of writing the readers into that world.

Thank you to Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like its preceding novel, A Place in His Heart, To Capture Her Heart conveys a strong sense of the period in early America as English settlers, with Native Americans and the Dutch nearby, are looking to carve out a new life of religious freedom. Most interesting to me is a question that arises concerning tolerance, whether settlers who fled religious persecution in England are becoming persecutors themselves in their treatment of the Quakers.

The novel is chock-full of historical detail, particularly in the characters' day-to-day lives, which lends a lot of time for readers to "sit down" with the people from Book One of this series. However, I didn't find those parts of the story to have the most engaging sense of plot, and even though I read the first book, there wasn't much that stood out about most of the minor characters to help me keep all of them straight. Also, the dual romances weren't too convincing to me. The love triangle isn't completely predictable, which I liked, but I didn't sense much depth, tension, or passion on either side of it. (Can't fault the way the cover beautifully indicates passion and tension, though. Just look at the faces of those two!)

Overall, I think historical fiction fans who appreciate the first novel in The Southold Chronicles can enjoy the second.
__________________
Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Capture Her Heart : A Novel ( The Southold Chronicles - Book #2 )
By : Rebecca DeMarino

This is the second book in The Southold Chronicles series.
Even though I read this before book one , A Place in His Heart, I had no problem following the story or the characters. I will go back and read book one, A place in His Heart. Rebecca DeMarino has did a fantastic job of pinning ,To Capture Her Heart and I know that she had to put a lot of research into it. I really enjoyed my first book by Rebecca DeMarino and I plan to read more by this wonderful author. Heather Flower , A young Princess of the Montank tribe was captured by a rival tribe on her wedding day. Her husband was killed. Ransom was paid , but she was left to die in a forest , but along came a Dutch Lt. Dirk Van Buren and rescued her. Do you believe in love at first site? Heather Flower is torn between two men in her life that she cares for, a long time friend Ben Horton and the handsome Lt. Dirk . What will she do? Rebecca DeMarino has weaved together a very touching heartwarming love story. I love the history and the Spiritual threads that flows through out the novel. I thought I knew what the ending would be, but was not prepared for the way it turned out, Oh it was turned out really good. I can't wait to to read book one and will be waiting for book three.
I was given a copy of this book by the author and the publisher Revell for my honest review, which I have given.

[Sam B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Rebecca DeMarino and it certainly won't be my last.

For anyone who thinks this is just one more romance novel, you are wrong. This is so much more than just a love story. Of course, there is romance, but Rebecca really drags the reader back in time, when relationships between Indians, Dutch and English were hard. Throughout the book, the characters are pushed to make hard decisions that will have consequences and shape their future.

The story is really touching. I loved learning more about that period of history as I don't see a lot of books set during that time. I'd also like to mention that the ending wasn't predictable, unlike many other books I read!

I suggest that people read the books in order though. I hadn't read the first book when I read this one and although I was able to understand very well as a stand alone I believe you can get a more complete experience if you read the first one first. There are a lot of characters that were presented in the first book and I can't wait to know more about their backstory by reading the first book.

Thanks to the author for providing me a copy of the book. It did not affect my review.

UPDATE: I reread it after reading the first book in the series, and I can say I loved it even more, now been able to understand references to the first book :)

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed catching up with characters in this book, I learned to love them in the first book. I had a hard time getting into this one, but as the pace picked up, I had to find out what happens
The story takes place on Long Island, and we travel easily between the Indian and English communities. We also have the threat of the Dutch, and other Indian Tribes, particularly the Narragansett from Rhode Island. We begin the story with the rescue of Heather Flower by Dirk Van Buren, a Dutchman, and her falling in love with him. There is another love interest involved and that is Benjamin Horton, and I found myself rooting for him.
This story is set in the very beginning of our Country, and life is not easy, I marvel at all that accomplished by the people in their every day lives. We sure have become soft, and would probably starve to death.
I see there is another book in this series to come and I am looking forward to it, and I peeked at the preview and learned more about the end of this book. Come and enjoy the visit with old friends, you won’t be disappointed.
I received this book through Revell Reads, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last year I read the first book in The Southold Chronicles, A Place in His Heart and while the writing was really good - the story left me unimpressed. Overall, it was just too sad and not a great read. I was eager to give this new-to-me author a chance with her next novel, as I mentioned one of my favorite authors (Siri Mitchell) can also write a pretty devastating story. In the end, I just wasn't impressed. If this is meant to be a Christian Historical Romance, the romance is sorely lacking and just falls short of my typical expectations for such a novel. For this story it seems as if it was incredibly and thoroughly researched but then rushed to be finished without a smooth flow. The historical details do provide interest, but it's just not enough to make me enthusiastic.
This review was originally posted on www.CreativeMadnessMama.com

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved, loved it. As Rebecca Demarino keeps writing these books they just keep getting better and better. I'm so looking forward to the third installment.
I also think that it's wonderful that this story goes back to her ninth great-grandparents Mary and Barnabas Horton.
I would love to do that.
I really admired Heather Flower's strength in this story.
I rejoiced with her as she discovers the love our Lord Jesus Christ has for her. I cried as she lost her first true love and it took time for her to heal. with friends and family she was able to do this. There is a favorite bible verse of mine and it goes like this for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to die that whoever believes in him has eternal life. John 3:16.
I believe this was the message that Rebecca Demarino has in mind for us as we read her stories! As this book was drawing to a close I felt sad because it was like saying goodbye to a best friend.
y'all just have to read these books. They're definitely a five star books!!!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay first off I need to say that I did not read the first book in the series. I didn't know that there even was one before I asked to review To Capture Her Heart. That being said I think my enjoyment of this book was effected slightly because of that. To Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino was a book that I think I would have liked a lot more if I had read the first book in the series. There were so many characters to get to know and I felt a little lost. The story itself was pretty good. I loved the historical aspect of this story and I learned quite a bit. I just wish I would have paid ore attention and known that this was the second book, then I could have read book one (which sounds amazing by the way!). So I think that if you read book one then To Capture Her Heart will be an amazing read for you. As for me I now need to go find book one so that I can be more prepared when book three comes out!

4 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that would be an appetizing second.


I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

[Katrina Epperson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I opened the book and was immediately swept back to the colonial days. The author weaves beautiful images into the story that make the reader feel a part of the story. The characters, strong and well developed, give you a glimpse of the trials and harsh realities they faced. The middle of the story did drag a bit for me, but after a few chapters it did pick back up. I do feel this is a well written story that shows a lot of research went into getting the details historically correct. This is the first book I have read from this series and with that being said I do feel this is a stand alone story as it was easy to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a lot of history woven into a story.

I received this book from the publisher to give a honest opinion without bias or outside influence and I thank them.

[Janka H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love in the time of Wild West - between a Dutch soldier and a Native princess.

I love all things Native Americans, so I was ready to love this book.
But it was not according to my reading taste - and I know that this is a very personal point of view, so read this review with a grain of salt.
While I appreciate the equal approach to Native Indians in the novel (they are friends to white settlers), I am not sure that it was always that friendly, historically speaking.
I find the book being a bit too cozy for my Wild West tastes - I like my Native heroes and settlers fighting the rugged nature and/or savages, and I am missing this element here, instead there is a lot of female communication and friendship.
And unfortunately I do not care for the romance - too much space is dedicated to the sidekick Benjamin and I got confused to who is going to get the girl.

Having said all that - there is certain warmness and approachability in this book, which can make this novel a compelling read for another reader with different reading mindset.

[B.J. Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to quickly point out that I have never read the first novel in the series, but as far as I can tell To Capture Her Heart is a standalone tale. I read the back in 2016, but I don't recall much about the plot, which is the reason why I wanted to reread it before I finally posted my review for it. Plus, I wanted to reread the book before I reread the third novel, To Follow Her Heart.

Anyway, To Capture Her Heart is a well-written historical drama with wonderful descriptions, interesting characters, and lively dialogue. Some historical romances can a bit boring in spots, but I was never bored with this book. Actually, I just flew right the pages.

Overall, To Capture Her Heart is an excellent read. Sure, it's not exactly perfect, but I enjoyed reading it. Well, rereading it.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love story and history

What a treat to read the story of Heather Flower and those she loved! Fascinating details about life in 1600s Long Island. English, Dutch and native tribes. Extensive research was done to so clearly paint these communities.

[Sandra Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story, set in 1653, captivated me from the beginning. I fell in love with the characters. I love books where I learn some history as a natural part of reading the story. I enjoyed this book, a page-turner for me, and recommend it for historical romance readers.

[Joanna Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book the most out of the trilogy. Fascinating look at life between the 3 worlds.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish this one. Was not holding my attention at all. Next.

[Mouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, l was bored. It was just okay, some cute moments.