Review: Interesting setting, poor characterization
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 09 13, 2013
Divided Hearts is a Regency era romance set in the newly formed United States on the eve of what we know as the War of 1812, or America's second war for independence.  Props to the author for that, but that's where the praise ends.The female protagonist, Lady Judith Hallowell travels to America to visit her father.  There she meets Nathaniel Bellingham, a friend of her fathers and the grandson of a family friend.  The story follows her introduction to America where she develops new perspectives on personal freedom which contrasts to the constraints she feels as a society dame in London.  In a very superficial way the author also touches on the role of women and even more superficially on the issue of slavery in the new country.My problem with this novel is that I got whiplash from Judith's frequent back and forth rejection followed by heart-felt pining for Nathaniel.  She likes him, she hates him, he's a foppish dandy, then he's a dashing horse breeder, then she loves him, but is he a hero or traitor?  Frankly her vacillating emotions made me weary.  When this soapy tome finally drew to a close in the most trite, unimaginative way possible, I closed it and vowed to be much more selective in my choices of Regency romances.