Review: A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan
About The Book:
It is 1878 and the Caldwells and Wainwrights have been feuding for decades. Still, Sarah Caldwell has misgivings when her father pressures her into distracting a ranch hand while he and her brothers rob the Wainwright place. When it becomes clear that hand is actually Cord Wainwright, Sarah realizes she needs to lay low. But Cord spots her in town and, with the sheriff away, makes a citizen's arrest, dragging her off to the Wainwright ranch until the sheriff's return. As the feud boils over, Cord and Sarah make a most inconvenient discovery--they are falling in love. Can they betray their families for love? Or will their families betray them? Against the beautiful and wild backdrop of the Rocky Mountains comes this sweeping saga of romance, betrayal, and forgiveness from beloved author Kathleen Morgan.
My Thoughts:
Reading the back of this book I was excited. The plot sounded so good. But reading it... I just wasn't feeling it. The beginning was good, starting out with some action, kept you interested, until you reached just shy of halfway.
The characters just didn't click. Sarah and Cord never seemed to really start to like each other. They went from anger and fighting to him proposing. Then there was no growth. Sarah and Cord never fully talked things out. They didn't seem to change much in their beliefs and opinions. If it hadn't been for Cords brother there never would have been talk of God, which made the whole concept of them believing in God seem thrown in, like an after thought.
By the end of the story I still felt confused over so many issues. I didn't fully understand how the feud started, what happened to Cord in his life while he was away, there was still so many unfinished pieces to the story. He never really decided to forgive the Caldwells and move on.
I did enjoy the last scene, it was sweet, but again, nothing was really there. I felt a lot of the conversations they had they were running around in circles, or what they were saying just didn't make sense.
I'm sure there are others out there who would enjoy this story, it just didn't work for me.
Side Note: I did love Nick, Cord's brother. His outlook on life and his little bits of advise were wonderful!
My Favorite Quote From This Book:
"...Our life's true work was to keep to the way of Jesus Christ - the way of love. That we must strive to advance in that journey each and every day, and persevere until the end. That's what I endeavored - and still endeavor - to do. To take each day as a gift from God, as an opportunity to grow in love and service to others. Just one day at a time and no more.
"Forgiveness isn't so much about Pa as it is about you, Cord. It's not about feelings but about freedom. It's not about changing the other person - we might not ever succeed in doing that - but in letting go . . . and trusting God will somehow make it all right."