Let me start my review of Heart on the Line by pointing out the verse that appears before the prologue.
The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
That verse very well encapsulates the novel’s wonderful message. Once again, Karen Witemeyer has proved why she’s one of my favorite authors.
First, she packs an emotional punch just from the prologue. Grace Mallory’s father is shown as selfless and loving, just what a father should be. His sacrifice was so poignant, I couldn’t help but immediately form a connection with. And then in the first chapter, we get a glimpse at our hero who just so happens to also be selfless and loving. But his introduction hit me for a different reason.
Amos Bledsoe isn’t your typical Western hero with swagger and a gun belt. He’s a bit gawky, somewhat nerdy, and doesn’t have the broad shoulders that most romantic heroes flaunt. And I think that’s why I loved him so much. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t a weak hero by any means. But his strength is on the inside, and we see that early on. Despite how women tend to treat him, he’s respectful, kind, and chivalrous. And we see his inner strength on display in his interaction with his sister and his descriptions of his mother.
But perhaps what warmed my heart the most is Grace’s acceptance when she realizes Amos doesn’t fit the image she’d created of her anonymous colleague. She appreciates him for exactly what he is. I think her awareness of her own personal misgivings makes her more sympathetic to him. She focuses on what she knows of him from their communication over the telegraph: he is warm, funny, and loves his family. More importantly, Amos proves to be a God-fearing man, and that in itself is a very attractive characteristic.
And then there’s the antagonist. I’ll be careful describing him because I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but he is exactly what you would expect of a Western hero: tall, broad, strong, and extremely handsome. But his presence shows that looks can be deceiving.
Last, but not least by any means, there’s Helen’s arc. And oh my goodness, what an arc! She has to learn not to judge by outward appearances, but in a slightly different way: not judging someone based on their gender. Most of the time when novels address this, the hero learns not to assume a woman is weak or incapable of intelligent thought. But now we see the importance of not assuming all men are scoundrels. I think this message is very timely considering how men have been portrayed in the media lately. And the test to her aversion of men is so powerful, it made me think of all the times God pushed me out of my comfort zone to help me grow and learn.
Final Thoughts
Heart on the Line has a wonderful message, a nice bit of action, some suspense, a hint of danger, and a sweet romance that doesn’t make you want to gag. Definitely one of Witemeyer’s best. To purchase your own copy, click on the link to order it from Christianbook.com.
Heart on the Line is the second book of the Ladies of Harper’s Station series.
If you love historical fiction, check out my review of another Karen Witemeyer novel, More than Meets the Eye, here.
