Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham *Review/Guest Post*

Summary:

From Genevieve Graham, author of Under the Same Sky, comes a sweeping romantic historical novel of one man’s strange gift and dangerous battles…
Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold. Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies. There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 336 pages (paperback)

Source: ARC provided by publisher

Publication Date: May 1st 2012 by Berkley Trade

A couple of months ago I was approached by the author to review her book as part of her blog tour, and of course I had to say yes because a lot of you know that this is my favourite genre. How could I refuse to read it?

I well and truly fell hard for Dougal MacDonnell, much like the same way that I fell for Diana Gabaldon's character Jamie Fraser. It was just that good of a book, it really was. I thought that Genevieve did a fantastic job of writing a book from the male point of view (for the most part) and was successful in the fact that while she created Dougal as a strong male lead he lacked much of the arrogance that is found in other books of this genre which was a great change.

What first grabbed me was the author's close attention to detail and by reading her book you can tell she chose her words carefully and laid out the plot, which in my opinion was fantastic. I love the rich landscape she presented and I particularly enjoyed the fact that it was set during the Battle of Culloden and the time after. I've always been interested in the history of Scotland and I'd love to pick Genevieve's brain about all she's learned.

The book while it's classified a a historical romance has a huge amount of adventure interwoven into it, and the adventure for me was what I loved most, that and the fact that Glenna is by no means a pushover and thank goodness she has brain and some backbone, when reading this you won't be met with the usual meek heroine which if you read the genre a lot is pretty much the norm.

Since this was my first time reading a book by the author I was was really surprised by how much I loved and enjoyed reading about Dougal and Glenna and I think that the fact that Genevieve took the time to ensure that the characters actually talked as they would have in the time period was fantastic. I've read several historical romances that have been set during the same time but the writers had the characters talking as though they were living in modern times which takes away from the book in my opinion.

I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to review Sound of the Heart for Genevieve because she's an excellent story teller. I really hope that she keeps writing because I can't get enough of her writing. There's just something magical about the way she writes that I love and to top it all off she's really nice!

I would have absolutely no problem recommending this book to anyone. Whether you're new to the genre or one that you've been reading for awhile this is a gem that really can't be missed. My only regret is that the author has a previously published book that I haven't read yet (but have it on hold at the library). I have a feeling that I'm going to speed write through that one as well. So basically if you're looking for a great read give this one a try. It's a great book to cuddle up with and read in your favourite spot. Hopefully it will enthrall you like it did me, so what are you waiting for? GO BUY IT!!

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*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A Must Read!

Author Guest Post:

Genevieve Graham

graduated from the University of Toronto in 1986 with a Bachelor of Music in Performance (playing the oboe). While on a ski vacation in Alberta, she met her future husband in a chairlift lineup and subsequently moved to Calgary to be with him. They have recently settled in a small, peaceful town in Nova Scotia with their two beautiful daughters. Writing became an essential part of Genevieve’s life a few years ago, when she began to write Her debut novel, Under the Same Sky. The companion novel, Sound of the Heart, will be in stores May 1, 2012.

Where does Historical Fiction come from?

Whether you are reading or writing, the world of books is filled with genres from which you can choose: childrens books, nonfiction, murder, suspense, romance, chicklit, and on and on. Yet when I sat down to tap away at my first book, I chose Historical Fiction. Why? I had never been a historian. In fact, I hadn’t ever been interested in history. But the books I’d been reading swept me up in adventures I needed to have, and I’d settle for nothing less.

It all began when my mother handed me a copy of “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon. The genius of Gabaldon is that she can incorporate her incredible knowledge of the past, her gift of research, her creative instincts, and work it all into the most human characters I’ve ever read. Jamie and Claire—as well as anyone they meet—are real. Any one of Gabaldon’s millions of fans will agree with that. Yes, they are fictional. And yet they are as real in my mind as many of my flesh and blood friends.

Is that strange? Maybe. Don’t get me wrong. I’m well aware I can’t call them up and meet for a coffee. But they really do feel as if they existed at one time.

When I write, I have often said I am just the typist, the medium between the story and the keyboard. I feel the story rather than plan it. To me, quite honestly, the inspiration comes from somewhere else.

But … from where? Okay. Here’s the thing. My stories are set in the mid-18th century, so no one alive today was alive then. (I’m not talking about reincarnation or anything like that.) But people did (obviously) live back then. And they died. Those who believe we can communicate with spirits know it’s entirely possible to channel messages from beyond. Well, what I’m saying is that if I’m hearing these stories, channeling or whatever, couldn’t they be coming from someone who has passed? How do I know someone isn’t actually telling me their story?

That’s the magic for me when it comes to good historical fiction. When it’s written well, it’s so believable it feels like it actually happened. And though I know what I write is fiction, well, in truth … who’s to say it didn’t really happen?