Product Description

Angelica, a rebel heiress, is trapped in New York City, now occupied by the British Army. A redcoat officer she despises wants to make her his wife-so badly that he brutally abducts her. Rescued from certain dishonor by handsome Jack Carter, a man of mystery whom she has met only once before, Angelica finds herself with no other choice than to flee with him, up the Hudson to her northern home. The Revolutionary War is in full swing in every part of the valley, and their way is full of deadly peril.

The villainous officer is in hot pursuit. Can Angelica trust her life and her honor to Jack, whom she hardly knows? Or is daring Jack Carter just another gentleman schemer with designs upon her Independent Heart?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3801462 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

great novel of the American Revolution

(Being the account of Angelica TenBroeck's flight from New York City
during
the late War of Independence, her would-be lovers, and a bluebird
quilt)

That is the description listed at the beginning of the book and it
about
covers the plot.
Angelica is a daughter of an old Dutch New York family who has fled
the
frontier where she was born and raised and is staying with an aunt in
New York
City, recently lost to the British. A British officer attempts to force her to marry him but man she's recently been introduced to at a
ball comes
to her rescue and together they set out to return her to her home.
But to get
there, they will have to brave brigands, bandits, the British, the
loyalists,
the patriots, the Indians and each other. It's quite a journey.

If you like very detailed historical novels, road romances, and war
stories
then
Independent Heart might be for you. Angelica is a woman of common
sense
and bravery who falters only rarely under immense strains and
pressures. Jack
Church is the mystery of the story and we see many sides to him and
learn
about him when and as Angelica does. Is he the civilian we first
meet? The
younger son looking for land of his own and with family ties in the
area?
The former cavalryman who is no stranger to dirty fights and killing?
Or
someone else altogether? And when Angelica finally discovers who he
really is, can she forgive enough for them to find a future? If they
even
manage
to survive the savage frontier fighting that rages all along the
Hudson
River.

Waldron has a slightly old fashioned style of writing. At times
flowery,
slightly emotional at others, down to earth and blunt when needed.
It's
also clear she's done her research which is threaded through the story
and not dumped in heaps on the reader's head.
Parts of it aren't pretty but then civil wars (and that's what the
American
Revolution was at times) never are.

Independent Heart isn't without flaws but for a different view of
that War,
I highly recommend it. FYI, the love scenes are restrained.

As wayward as it's title
It begins straightforwardly enough at an elegant ball, seeming to be just another romance novels; the beautiful and spirited heroine, the studly and devastatingly attractive yet mysterious hero and the menacing, Snidely Whiplashesque villain determined to assault the heroines' virtue. Actually they both are determined to assault Angelica TenBroeck's virtue; it's just that the hero has got a bit more couth about him... which is why he is the hero. That, and Angelica is all wobbly in the knees about Jack - er, whatever his surname and rank is, anyway. It changes several times during the course of the book, depending on whatever situation he is trying to talk his way out of.

When Jack er - Whatever rescues the fair Angelica from the vile clutches of Snid - oops, Major Armistad of His Majesty George III's army of occupation in New York, gallantly promising to return her safely to her uncle's household behind the Rebel lines in the upper Hudson River valley, the story takes a new turn. This might strike some readers as somewhat disconcerting. It's rather like biting into a cake covered with sweetened whipped cream and instead of having it turn out to be something light and crisp, discovering that there is a historical novel underneath, like a like dense and solid slice of fruitcake.

But rich historical fruitcake it is; deftly written and very well researched, if concealed under a layer of romantic frosting which might initially put off the fans of straight historical novels. Angelica and Jacks' flight from New York turns into one of those interesting, picaresue jorneys, through a part of the country today not particularly renown for being wild, wooly or otherwise lawless. That it might once have been is part of the eye-opener, as they encounter gun-powder smugglers, a band of Scotch-Irish rievers, Rebel and British soldiers, kindly Tory sypathizers, and a kidnapped minister who discovers that given sufficiant whiskey, he can indeed preach a powerful blood and thunder sermon.

The fact that there was a clash of cultures between the Dutch and the Scotch-Irish settlers, just as much as a clash of politics, adds a layer of complexity not usually found in straight romance novels. The details of 18th century living - food, cleanliness, conditions of travel on horseback and personal safety - are also addressed in more depth than usual. The device of Angelina's bluebird quilt patches, to which she continues adding at every stop, all during her adventure is a clever linking device. Even when they reach her uncle's farm, there is no safety for either one of them. There is still a war on. Jack and Angelica's participation in the messy business of divided loyalties and near-civil war is obligatory. And thereby hangs the rest of the story; somewhat less of a fluffy costume romance and more of serious historical. But not to fear - the ending is mostly happy, just as the first chapter promised.

Well written Revolutionary War fiction
As a fellow historical fiction author, I found Juliet Waldron's attention to detail and historical accuracy refreshing and entertaining. She has a unique voice that reflects well the manners and dialogue of the Revolutionary War era and uses her research subtly - not heaping it on all at once.

While this is not a straight historical fiction book, neither it is a bodice-ripping romance novel. It is a fast-paced, intelligent read that will entertain and probably educate you about life during the Revolution.

Independent Heart tells the story of Angelica, who must trust her life, and more importantly, her honor, to a mysterious stranger, Jack Carter.
Readers will be transported to a time of peril, divided loyalties and intrigue as Angelica triumphs over threats and danger.

Jessica James, author, Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia
2008 INDIE and IPPY award winner