Official Review: Follow Her Heart by M. L. Taylor

[CommMayo]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Follow Her Heart" by M. L. Taylor.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Aniela and Jessie grew up worlds apart. Aniela’s life was consumed with all of the trappings of 1840s high society England: fine gowns, lavish balls, and eager suitors waiting for her eighteenth birthday. Stolen at birth, Jessie lived the life of a street urchin, hustling to stay alive while living with her prostitute mother and barbaric step-brother. Their lives tangentially intersect when best friends Lucian and Jaylon become unwitting participants in the lives of both women.

At the bequest of her father and unbeknownst to the daughter, Lucian courts Aniela and asks her to marry him. Aniela can’t get a brief encounter with Jaylon out of her head and plans a trip to Boston prior to their wedding, only to have her ship sink with her on it before leaving the harbor. Meanwhile, a gravely injured Jessie escapes her step-brother’s violent advances for a final time and gains passage on the only ship to leave the harbor that night. Assuming his fiance’s inevitable demise, an anguished Lucian commands his ship to leave port unaware of the stowaway trying to pass as a young boy.

M.L. Taylor’s Follow Her Heart is an intriguing historic romance novel that predominantly focuses on the lives of Jessie and Lucian. The story takes the reader on a journey far from the gritty beginnings of Jessie’s miserable life. There is a fun balance of the pomp of the English nobility and the lives of the working class. Taylor includes the perfect amount of mystery to keep readers turning the pages to figure out the origins of Jessie’s life in addition to following the tumultuous romance between her and Lucian.

The plot is very interesting and does not disappoint as major revelations are exposed; however, the editing of the novel seriously falls short and does not do justice to the interesting tale weaved by the author. In addition to grammar and spelling errors, there are abrupt shifts in point of view and infrequent but cringe-worthy interpretations of slave dialect. Readers of modern romance novels or the new adult genre will need to force themselves to suspend belief throughout the novel in order to immerse themselves in this romance. This book is a slightly more modern version of the Fabio-covered paperbacks found in your mother’s cart at the supermarket.

All in all, I give this intriguing romance a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. As a lover of historical romance novels by authors like Paula Quinn or Maya Banks, this novel was a little too old-school romance for me. While Follow Her Heart could use another solid round of professional editing, lovers of Regency romance and rags-to-riches stories will really enjoy this novel. There is no cliffhanger ending for Jessie and Lucian, but you will absolutely want to run out and pick up the next novel in the series as soon as you turn the last page.

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Follow Her Heart
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Like CommMayo's review? Post a comment saying so!

[kandscreeley]

Romance isn't my genre, but you've made this sound appealing. It's really too bad about the editing issues; that is so easily fixed with a good proofreader. Still, I'm glad you were able to find some enjoyment in this one.

[kdstrack]

The historical references and descriptions would be interesting. The blend of mystery and romance makes this seem like an easy weekend read. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Prisallen]

This sound like an intriguing romance novel to read. I hope the author gets a good editor to fix the errors. Thanks for a wonderful review!

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

The book sounds quite interesting. I like that the character's miserable upbringing
doesn't define their future.It is unfortunate that it isn't well edited. Great review!

[Meg98]

This sounds like an interesting and unique read.... I love a good romance novel! Such a shame about the editing; it really can detract from the reading experience, even if the errors are minor. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Great review:)

[Rachel Lea]

Books in this genre are not really my thing, as I find the same types of plots tend to be rehashed over and over again, but your review was excellently written. Thank you!

[Wilkister94]

Follow Her Heart by M. L. Taylor sounds like an intriguing romances novel to read. I like the fact that the character's miserable upbringing
doesn't define their future. Great review.

[Amy+++]

I love historical novels and romance so I am very excited about this one.

[Ibrahim Dirisu]

pretty interested in this one, love reading romance books and mostly historical blended........seems like my next book to read..thanks for recomendation

[phills]

Follow her heart
Written by M. I. Taylor
Is an story about two sisters Daniela and Jessie who grew up in different environs and the writer portrays the nature of their growing environment from slum to a better life
Lucia proposed to Jessie to marry him and Jessie decided to board across the sea shore
Before her ship sink but Jessie survived it and finally made it to the shore

The writer was very good with the romance though the editing was not complete I thing.the story is quiet intereting

[Sarah_batool]

I am not a fan of cliches and romance stories but you made it sound so much more than just a romantic story,Will definitely read it

[Renee_Prior1995]

I just read the official review for the second book which promoted me to read this one too. The series sounds awesome and I want to get copies of it soon.

[Nisha Ward]

So this is what the first one was about! I read the review for the second novel in this series and was enthralled. I think I can say the same for this one.