Wild Heather

This first in the series by Catherine Palmer is so very good. It has intrigue, mystery, romance, and most important of all, characters who desire to please God with their every decision.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first in this series, "English Ivy", probably because I found the story more believable and compelling. However, this book is far from perfect. Much of the dialogue feels very forced, and the romance can be very rushed at times. I did enjoy it, however, and I would recommend it to anyone in need of a cute story to read on a rainy day!

Wild Heather is a novel which nicely portrays the small English town called Otley. The book is a nice small romance novel. In the novel two characters Olivia Hewes and Randolph Sherbourne are tied together by an unfortunate accident. Although their families are sworn enemies (which makes me ponder if Ms. Palmer got this idea from Romeo and Juliet) they grow closer together even though their families and their town are pulling them apart. Randolph has a seemingly `perfect' life while Olivia Hewes' life is turning upside down. Olivia's mother is ailing and her brother is mentally slow. As they draw closer together they realize that neither of their families are as "evil" as their families have taught them. While their forbidding love blooms their church is in the decision of breaking up because of a `heretic'. And when it seems that their families might accept them more obstacles come their way. Though it is a romance novel the message is a strong one.

When Randolph steps on Olivia's dress and damages it he comes face to face with his proclaimed enemy, and what a lovely face it is. When he tries to mend the breach between the families, tempers are lost and difficulties arise. As the two find themselves being drawn to one another, the whole town is being ripping apart. When the truth comes out about a murder, Olivia is afraid that Randolph and his family will seek to destroy what's left of her own.The only complaint I have with this book is at times I found it maddening the things that kept them apart, but I enjoyed this book very much. It was the first I had read of Catherine Palmer's, but it won't be the last.

The Hewes and the Sherbournes started out as best friends when the monarch rewarded their loyalties with adjacent estates near Otley, England. However, a land dispute broke out many generations after the founding and for the next century plus the two families remain feuding.In 1813 Olivia Hewes worries that her family may be in financial trouble. Her choices are to find a profit making venture or a loveless marriage to a wealthy person. She chooses the business venture feeling she can make money selling wool.With the sudden death of his father, Lord Randolph Sherbourne is now in charge of the family fortunes. He has two immediate goals. He wants to learn what really happened to his father and to settle the dispute with the Hewes. His attraction to Olivia is a good reason for the latter. She feels the same way about ending the feud and is already half in love with Randolph. However, their relationship and the tenuous peace seem impossible as facts about his sire's death implicate the Hewes.WILD HEATHER is a delightful historical romance that uses the often applied Romeo and Juliet family feud theme to cause a schism between the lead couple, but Catherine Palmer keeps it fresh with other subplots that tie back to the prime story line. The tale is filled with surprising twists that keep the reader hopping as to what will happen next. The lead couple is a fine star-crossed pair falling in love and desiring peace between their families, but the mystery of his father adds suspense and a new impetus to the quarrel. Catherine Palmer furbishes a strong historical romance that sub-genre fans will fully appreciate.Harriet Klausner