Friday, January 18, 2013

Mystery of the Heart by Jillian Kent...and a Giveaway!



by Susanne Dietze

Mystery of the Heart by Jillian KentI love a good Regency-set romance, and Jillian Kent has delivered lots of heart, spunk, and intrigue in her first two books in the Ravensmoore Chronicles.

This last book, however, may be my favorite.
 
From the start, Mystery of the Heart is packed with action. Kent weaves together plot threads I never would have imagined in a Regency-set story, including African voudon tribes, Bedlam, a club of Legend Seekers, and the “Spear of Destiny,” the fabled spear that lanced the side of Christ while he hung on the Cross--which is rumored to possess mystical powers.

The characters are not that typical, either. Lady Mercy Grayson is a most shocking Regency miss: to answer God’s call, she’s been disguising herself as a man so she can study medicine in Edinburgh. But then she’s discovered, and while trying to flee her pursuer, she ends up with a terrible choice. She can compromise her reputation and pass herself as a man for a while longer, pretending to be the valet of English adventurer, Lord Eden (and sharing his room), aboard a ship full of frightening practitioners of voodoo. Or she can die at the hands of a mysterious band of men, then and there.

While the book contains elements that may make some readers of Christian fiction uncomfortable (mention of voodoo or relics, perhaps) it is made crystal clear by the author multiple times that Christ alone has the power to heal and save. Some readers may also wish to know that Lord Eden is in a state of undress while Lady Mercy tends to his wounds, but there is nothing salacious in the scene. Er, make that scenes. He needs a bit of help, you understand.

I enjoyed the fresh plot twists, Kent’s extensive knowledge of Regency London, and the sparkling romance between Lady Mercy and the agnostic Lord Eden. They are quick-witted, interesting characters who must re-examine their beliefs when they face the dangers of villains who’d do anything to possess the Holy Lance…and keep Lady Mercy as a prize, as well.

It is not necessary to have read the previous books in the Ravensmoore Chronicles, although fans of those books will delight at seeing the characters appear here.

Author Jillian Kent!

If this book sounds like your cup of tea, head over to my personal blog, Tea and a Good Book, where Jillian is graciously giving away a copy of Mystery of the Heart!

I received a galley copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of review. A positive review was neither promised nor expected.

 ***


Susanne Dietze has written love stories since she was in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she writes in the hope that her historical romances will encourage and entertain others to the glory of God. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne loves fancy-schmancy tea parties, travel, and spending time with family and friends. She won first place in the Historical category of the 2011-2012 Phoenix Rattler, and her work has finaled in the Genesis, Gotcha!, and Touched By Love Contests. Susanne is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. You can visit her on her website, www.susannedietze.com.

15 comments:

  1. Ah, yes! I've enjoyed all three and I think this is my favorite. Thanks, Susie!

    Jillian, if you stop in, I'm hoping you can sit and enjoy a cup of tea and a scone with us over here as well!

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  2. Oh, that does sound really good. I think I'll pop over and enter that drawing. Go Jill!

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  3. Deb, I think book 3 is my favorite, too! But they're all rich and fun in different ways.

    I could sooo use a scone and some tea. With lots of cream. One of my bookshelves collapsed last night (very loud crash, broken glass from a candle, big mess). Since we're dealing with water damage, my whole house is a mess. A blankie and scone wouldn't hurt me at all.

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  4. Dina, I'm glad you popped over and entered the drawing. I think you'd truly enjoy Jillian's book. It's a compelling story.

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  5. Hi Gang!
    So glad to be hanging out with you today. I have my cup of tea, a cinnamon scone, and a new story brewing in my head. :) You know I love all my books, but I really thought readers would like 2 better than 3. So without giving anything away is there a specific "something" that holds your attention? Or just story? :)

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  6. Hi Jillian! So glad you could come by!

    As to why it might be my favorite, hmm...I love the family dynamic between the siblings and it's nice to see everyone together, past their HEAs...? I don't know! All 3 books are delightful, with your voice, but they're unique.

    I wish you could tell us a bit about the next book you're working on!

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  7. Oh, man, this sounds great! And, of course, I'll have to start at the beginning of the series.

    I have more books to be read than I will ever get to in my life. Sigh.

    I hope there are libraries in heaven. :D

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  8. I can't say what it is. Maybe because I just finished it? They were all certainly wonderful and clearly similar but different. I think it was the difference in the three "villain" plots.

    Susie, sorry about your bookshelf. I wish we could all sit and enjoy a chat over tea. I'm having some Earl Grey right now, but as it's about 15 degrees out and windy, I don't think you'd want to come to my house!

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  9. LOL, DeaAnna. I know what you mean about having more books to read that you can possibly get to. And then there are the books I want to re-read...

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  10. Deb, good point about just having finished the book. It's fresh in our minds!

    Thanks for your tea and sympathy. It's in the 30s here, so come on over for a cup of chamomile!

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  11. Oh, Susie, did the bookshelf collapse because of the other damage? Or after you added another book?

    I am right there with you, having gone through renovations due to water damage 2 years ago, except ours was caused by a couple years of leaking pipes which enabled moldy insulation and moldy dry wall, etc and not a critter in the attic.

    Still, I like my new bathroom so much better, and having the crew add one red-papered wall to the living room is the best decorating decision we ever made.

    On the yuck side is the carpet colour. It's a neutral beige called river rock which we thought would work well with our wood furniture and red wall. It looks good, but is horrid at showing off any bit of lint, etc. Doesn't hide a thing over 1/32 of an inch.

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  12. I think book three has the loveliest cover! Not that the others weren't pretty, too, but this one is my favorite. :-) And, this sonds so intriguing. I can't wait to read it. Great review, Susie. Hi, Jilly!

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  13. Jilly said above, "So without giving anything away is there a specific "something" that holds your attention? Or just story? :)"

    The story. This sounds like a juxtaposition, but I'm going to say I believe anything is possible, and yet the story has to be believable. By that I mean as long as the author lays the foundation, I'll believe anything.

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  14. Anita, I had to renovate a bathroom once and I LOVED it. New pipes, modern tile...ah, there's nothing like a new bathroom.

    The first thing we wondered when we heard the bookshelf crash was, oh no! More water damage! But no, it was just that the bookshelves aren't quite long enough. They are built into the room (by the builder, not us) and I simply have too many books for the pseudo-fragility of the shelves. One shelf crashed, causing another shelf to crash, breaking a candle...big mess. But it could have been worse. The computer is right next to these shelves! Oh, you know the book shelf in the photo of me right here? That's the second shelf that crashed.

    You're so sweet for asking.

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  15. Suzie, I think you'll really enjoy Jillian's book! The cover is pretty, isn't it? And the tone of it goes with the title--there's some mystery to it.

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We, the ladies of Inkwell Inspirations, would love to give free stuff to everybody. Since we can't, we will often have a giveaway in conjunction with a specific post. Unless otherwise stated, one winner will be drawn from comments left on that post between the date it was published and the end of the giveaway as determined in the post. Entries must be accompanied by a valid email address. This address is used only to contact the commenter in the event that he/she is the winner, and will not be sold, distributed, or used in any other fashion. The odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. NO PURCHASE, PLEDGE, OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

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