Monday, April 10, 2023

Review & Giveaway - - My Heart Will Find You

My Heart Will Find You: A Novel
by Jude Deveraux
Publisher: MIRA
Release Date: April 11, 2023
Reviewed by PJ
 


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.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm one of those people who sobbed at the end of Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor but not for the reason you might think. I loved the book but was desperately unhappy with that ending. So why was I eager to read the author's newest time-travel romance? Because I had faith that she wouldn't let me down twice. I am happy to say she did not. My tears at the end of this book were definitely of the happy reader variety. Did I have to suspend disbelief to accept what happened? We're talking about traveling through time here. Of course, I did. But did I care? Nope, not in the least.

It felt weird and, I'll be honest, a little triggering to read the first couple chapters of this book. It's set in the beginning stages of the pandemic when the world was shutting down and fear was setting in. Once I got beyond those first chapters though the focus shifted to Etta's time in Henry's home in present day and frontier life in the 1870's. I quickly became immersed in the characters' stories and while I didn't forget about the pandemic, it moved to the background and wasn't a key factor in my thoughts anymore.

Deveraux really brought these characters to life and made me care about them. Along with the well-developed characters (both primary and secondary), she also provided a stunningly realistic picture of 1870's Kansas. I could visualize the surroundings and events of that time as clearly as a movie across my mind. I was with Etta every step of the way and, boy howdy, did I fall hard for Max. So many layers this man has. 

I was fascinated by the dreaming "time slips" used to transport Etta between time periods and the small changes each time that led Etta and Henry (and me) to wonder if they were really dreams or actual time travel. It was such a clever method to use. Each time Etta awoke, I prayed even harder for Max to be real and for a solution to let them be together for a lifetime. It didn't even matter to me in which time period they lived. 

Etta and Max, a rich cast of secondary characters, in both time periods, and more than a few twists kept me glued to the pages and wondering how it would all play out. Even in the final chapter I still didn't know! This was the Jude Deveraux writing I fell in love with many years ago along with an ending I could happily wrap my heart around even if I had to suspend disbelief to do so. Again, not a problem. 

Do you enjoy time-travel romance? Do you have any favorites?

Have you read Jude Deveraux?

Do unknown people or periods of time ever weave their way into your dreams?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, April 12 will receive a hardback copy of My Heart Will Find You

*U.S. only
*Must be 18



 



22 comments:

  1. I usually do not read TT or fantasy but this one grabbed my interest. I think I may have read one or two of Deveraux's. I have read 2 of LL Miller's TT and enjoyed them. And I rarely dream . TY for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have read her but it's been a while. The same for time travel but I've always enjoyed the ones I've read. Dreams are so darn hard to pin down and remember lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It had been a while for me too, catslady but this book was calling my name. :)

      Delete
  3. Time travel romance is captivating and I enjoy reading these memorable novels. I do have many favorites. Susanna Kearsley books are wonderful. Many dreams have individuals from another era and I am intrigued with this taking place.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I fell in love with Knight In Shining Armour. I had not been a fan of romance books for very long at the time I read it. And I sure did not think much of the premise of traveling back in time. That book took me by surprise. That book made me a believer in wonderfulness. I wanted these two people to have a wonderful life together. I wanted to find that man and return to his life with him. Many of Ms Deveraux's older books are on my keeper shelves right now.
    Unfortunately, I seldom dream. Because of my history, I went years without dreaming. Now I dream every now and then....and last night I dreamt about Victor Mature....either I am really nuts or I had watched the film The Robe. I'll let you decide.
    Thanks for this wonderful review. I know how talented this author is and this book sounds like a read I will treasure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I fell in love with A Knight in Shining Armor too, Annette. I just wanted a different ending. ;-)

      Delete
  5. I enjoy time travel books since they take me to another time and place which gives me great enjoyment. They are unforgettable and emotional. Jude Deveraux books are so well written. I have read many time travel books. A Rip Through Time, Time and Again by Jack Finney and Behind Yesterday. Dreaming each night of relatives who are gone and missed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have been anxiously awaiting this book! I love Ms Deveraux's books and I do love a good time travel. Thanks for the chance to win this one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I sobbed at the end of Knight. Literally sobbed. That book stayed w/ me for weeks, nay, months. I've reread it several times, thinking maybe it would be okay but I still just couldn't get over it. I'm looking forward to reading this one, and I may even go back and reread Knight once more time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love time travel romance and have read all I can get. One of my favorites is Christmas Moon by Elizabeth Lane. I have read Jude Deveraux and have several on my TBR shelf (Mountain), one of which is A Knight In Shining Armour. I started it once, but had to stop and never got back to it. I guess something warned me it would be a tear jerker.
    I have always had an active dream life. They cover the spectrum from past time periods to current times, sometimes with a paranormal story line to them. Many I remember and some have actually repeated or continued. I have been known to continue the stories in my mind when awake.

    Thank you for the review and recommendation. I will take the nudge to find Knight In Shining Armor and finally read it, hankie in hand.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have read her books and I do enjoy time-travel books.

    denise

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so happy to hear that you loved the new book, PJ. I've read several of Jude Deveraux's books though it's been a few years. I remember loving them all, but oddly, I don't vividly remember the ending of A Knight in Shining Armor. I'll have to check my log and see if I actually read that one. But I'm a complete push-over when it comes to time travel and dual time-strand books--so much so that I just went and bought the Christmas Moon that Patricia B. recommended. And I second the plugs for Jack Finney's Time and Again. I recently reread Anya Seton's Green Darkness and was happy to find that I still enjoyed it (even though the contemporary sections had me inhaling far too much second-hand fictional cigarette smoke!).

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have not read a lot of time-travel romance, but it sounds so fun! Thanks for the rec!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jude Deveraux is a long-time favorite author. I have re-read A Knight in Shining Armor a number of times after it was first published. I cry at the end every time! When time travel novels were at their heyday, I read Green Darkness by Anya Seton and, of course, Diana Gabaldon's early Outlander books. I think Bertrice Small had one or two as well. Looking forward to this book!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I must be one of the few who hasn’t read The Knight In Shining Armor.
    I’ve enjoyed several of Janet Chapman’s time travel books with Scotsman from the 13 th century time traveling to Maine.
    Linda Lael Miller traveled to the Wild West and Nora Roberts to the future. The movie Somewhere In Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reece.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I forgot to add I have read several of Ms Devereaux’s books. I have not had any dreams about time travel. I always have felt an affinity to Robyn Hood and Maid Marion and castle life.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's been ages since I've read any of her books. I do enjoy time travel but honestly cannot think of titles of favorites. I will be reading the other comments to get their recs! As far as dreams go, I do have some bizarre ones with random people showing up but no regular 'guest stars'.

    ReplyDelete
  17. A Knight and Shining Armor is by far a favorite 💞I’ve read every one of Jude’s books, and some more than once💞They are the only books I keep🤗💞everyone of them I hold close to my heart💞💞

    ReplyDelete