What the Heart Knows by Kathleen Eagle features one of my least favorite themes in romance: the secret baby. Yet, it features a secondary theme that is a favorite of mine: the younger man/older woman theme. There’s a tertiary theme of reunited love now that think of it. You don’t have to worry about the secret baby theme in this book being the usual cliche stuff you see on bookshelf stores today. This author handles things just a bit differently. In fact the secret baby theme isn’t even the focus of this book. Kathleen Eagle is one of my favorite storytellers for contemporary romance. I’d say about four or five of her books sit on my keeper shelf. Here is the snynopsis for you:
Helen Ketterling thought she had left the Bad River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota behind her thirteen years ago. Once an idealistic and spirited schoolteacher, Helen was swept into the lives of the Sioux people and the arms of Reese Blue Sky. These fiery opposites attracted with such heat that their love burned brightly — if all too briefly.
Now a single parent with a son — a son Reese knows nothing about — Helen accepts an assignment that brings her back to Bad River and into the realm of the one man she cannot forget.
A family tragedy has brought Reese home to Bad River. And though it has been years since he has seen Helen, Reese immediately recalls the bittersweet memories of a time when he was very much in love. Now the passion he felt for Helen has been rekindled but he senses in her a secret that she will not — or cannot — share with him. Soon, Reese discovers that the life on the reservation he dearly cherished appears to have been threatened. In a world where tradition and ritual face off against development and greed, a proud but lonely man attempts to reconcile his past, hoping to find his place in the heart of his one true love.
The romance in here is really nice. I’ve reread this book maybe a thousand times and still enjoy it. Solid characterization, great dialogue or should I say trademark, Eagle dialogue where her sexual banter is as hot as any love scene. Reese is a lovable guy. The reason why I enjoy Eagle so much is that she writes characters who actually communicate with each other. They also act with some common sense and act responsibly. Ms. Eagle writes about or created characters that are akin to the Lakota Sioux because her husband is Lakota Sioux. She’s often taken her husband’s heritage and culture and has created stories that are memorable as well as entertaining. Anyway, this is another golden oldie that was published in 1999. The golden era of romance it seems. My grade for this wonderful novel, B+. This author has given me plenty of sleepless nights reading her stories. Check her out at the used bookstore while her books are still available.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
xina 02.21.07 at 9:30 am
This book is one of my favorites by this author Keishon. My #1 fave is Reason To Believe. I have her latest TBR, but haven’t gotten to it yet. Have you read it? I have read some nice reviews on it.
This author writes wonderful magnificent dialogue, with conversations that seem real. I think I remember this h/h doing quite a bit of flirting and it’s a joy to read. Her characters always step right off the page for me.
Avid Reader 02.21.07 at 4:55 pm
I have her latest TBR, too. We should plan to read it together sometime this month. I’m emailing you now.
xina 02.22.07 at 9:51 am
That would work for me Keishon. I just picked it up the other day and put it out in front. Between all my library books and TBR’s I’ve purchased, I’ve got to form a line…:) Too, many books, too little time! Story of my life. xina