I’m one step closer to having caught up on all of Roseanna M. White’s backlist! A Heart’s Revolution is a new edition of one of her first published books, Love Finds You in Annapolis. I’ve had this one on my TBR since long before Roseanna got the rights back to the book and republished it under her own imprint, so I’m happy I’ve finally gotten around to reading it!
In 1783 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton. Never did Lark think she’d want to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she’s loved all her life. But when he betrays her, she flees Williamsburg for Annapolis, taking refuge in the nation’s temporary capital. There Lark throws herself into a new circle of friends who force her to examine all she believes. Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his betrothed. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he realizes that in this new nation he has come to call his own, duty is no longer enough. He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater—before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold. Previously published as Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland
I sympathized with Lark from the start, even seeing part of my younger self in her. And boy, did I despise Emerson! I was completely disgusted with him and his apathetic, unfeeling actions right alongside with Lark, and I truly didn’t know if he could redeem himself in my eyes. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted him to be the hero of the story or I wanted Lark to fall in love with someone else. But being the fantastic writer she is, Roseanna managed to bring Emerson’s arc to a truly satisfying conclusion. He grew dramatically and had to examine everything about himself, even as Lark had to do the same. I loved seeing these characters, especially Lark, discover who they truly are, what they truly want in life, and what they believe in. I appreciated the fact that Lark had to come to terms with her own failings in her relationship with Emerson–no story or relationship is ever one sided and Roseanna illustrated this wonderfully. I also liked the fact that this is an unconventional love story that actually feels very plausible and appropriate for the era.
As always, I loved Roseanna’s secondary characters as much as her main ones–Wiley, Sena, Mr. Randel, Alice, Mrs. Green, Kate, Edwinn… But especially Edwinn! He was such a jewel of a man and I fell in love with him right away. And having him in this book brought about my favorite aspects of this story–the hard look at what liberty meant back then and what it means now, at the goodness and nobility of our forefathers who founded this country and their shortcomings, and what it means to stand for what is right even when it’s not easy or popular. Being in Annapolis with the Randel and Calvert families changes everything about how Lark views the world, and like her, I was forced to stop and contemplate some things myself, which is always a mark of great story and storyteller for me!
While this book isn’t nearly as climactic as Roseanna’s other books–I would say it is very much character driven rather than plot driven–it was a great read that I highly recommend! 5/5 Stars!
