One accidental kiss from Lawry Hampton. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt’s world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn’t have the time or the desire to fall for her best friend. But with Vance out of the country, and with Lawry at her side nearly every day, teaching her what the world is like through the eyes of a little orphan girl named Wynn–Meredyth can’t deny that what’s holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from her past.
Will she marry Vance once he returns from Europe? Or will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she’s convinced she deserves, and accept that God’s plan for her life includes redemption…and, quite possibly, Lawry Hampton?
A few weeks ago, I reviewed gushed about the first book in the Everstone Chronicles by
Dawn Crandall, The Hesitant Heiress. Like The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart was also originally only released as an ebook by Whitaker House Publishers. I am happy to say that, also like The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart is now available in PAPERBACK!!! (Cue the celebratory fanfare and the adorable picture of Dawn and PAPERBACKS – plus an equally adorable photobomb from her son lol!)
When I reviewed The Hesitant Heiress, I didn’t think that anyone in the series could topple Nathan as my favorite hero with his brooding gazes and dogged pursuit of his woman.
I was wrong.
Oh, don’t misunderstand. He’s still up there on the pedestal, but now he shares the title with Lawry.
Nathan Everstone & Lawry Hampton
Let’s all pause for a dreamy sigh in honor of two such swoon-worthy heroes.
*dreamy sigh*
I may need another one, but for now let’s progress with the review. (Just ignore me while I fan myself over here.)
This story, y’all. It’s such a beautiful picture of how Jesus loves us. From the way Lawry has waited with agonizing patience for Meredyth to reciprocate his feelings to his adoration of Wynn to the way he demonstrates unconditional love. Even how he punches Vance. It all points back to how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus for each one of us. I couldn’t help but play the song “How He Loves” (written by John Mark McMillan, recorded by David Crowder) through my mind several times as I read Lawry’s and Meredyth’s story. One verse in particular repeated most often:
If The Bound Heart had a theme song, “How He Loves Us” would certainly be it.
Everything I loved about The Hesitant Heiress can be equally appreciated in The Bound Heart – the captivating first person narrative, the Gilded Age setting, the stellar writing, the compelling characters, the kissing scenes. Ohhhhh the kissing scenes!! I mean… just … whew! Wow. There I go, fanning myself again!
Side note here… I think we should have a Battle of the Kissing Scenes here on ye olde blog where my fave kissing book authors duke it out for the championship title by gracing us with delicious kissing scenes for which we vote. Doesn’t that sound delightful??? Alternate sources of oxygen would be encouraged for all participants. Fans may be provided upon request. 🙂 Hey – nonexistent assistant! Get on that, please!
There’s one scene toward the end that is absolutely pull-the-rug-out-from-under-you shocking. I gasped out loud. Cannot wait to see how Dawn uses what transpired in books to come.
Bottom Line: I may have wanted to reach into the pages and shake 
some sense into Meredyth a time or ten, but oh my goodness Lawry’s heart is true enough for the both of them. A gorgeous love story that reminds us of just exactly how much unconditional affection Jesus has for us, The Bound Heart brings hope and peace to anyone clinging to their regrets or failures. Cannot recommend this entire series strongly enough!
(I won a digital copy of this book in a giveaway with no expectation of a review.)
There is still a little bit of time left to enter the giveaway for one of five PAPERBACK copies of The Bound Heart!
Head over to Dawn’s website for the Rafflecopter entry form. But hurry! Just a few hours left 🙂
About the Author:
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn’t begin writing until 2010. That is the year she shared with her husband her long-time dream of writing books. He encouraged her to quit her job and to pursue her passion to write stories. Apart from writing books, Dawn also recently became a mother—she and her husband were blessed with a baby boy in March 2014. She also serves with her husband in a premarriage mentor program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dawn is a member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.
Connect online with Dawn at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Hmm…yes, your assistant should get on that. lol But in seriousness, I don’t even think I’ve heard of this series before. Definitely something I need to check out though. However, considering how much I love best friend romances over…well, just about all other kinds, how badly do I have to read the first one first? (Yes, yes, I know I should read both of them, but if I only read one, I want it to be this one.) Would I miss much and be irretrievably confused?
No, it’s perfectly fine as a stand-alone! But you do so need to go back and read the first one at some point too!!