Desire of the Heart by Anne Perreault

MY REVIEW:

A well-known line from a poem of Robert Burns says “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” In Desire of the Heart more than one character finds that statement to be so true in their lives. Cady Jackson just wants the freedom of a short vacation away from her strict parents who control her life. Her cousin Ashley wants even more – to experience more of the world that has been forbidden to her. And Grant just wants to spend his days working hard enough to overcome the guilt he carries over a tragedy in his past. A trip to Yellowstone National Park brings them all together and choices they make could well change their lives forever.

The author’s vivid descriptions set the perfect backdrop for this story and made me want to pack up everything and take a trip of my own to Yellowstone. Like Cady, I’d love to use my own camera to capture the beauty of the park and its wildlife. I enjoyed Cady’s sense of humor that revealed itself often despite her very straight-laced upbringing. Her innocence, caring heart, and brave determination made her a character I would love to call my friend. It was satisfying to observe Grant’s change of heart due to Cady’s influence and his eventual return to faith. Ashley’s story was a bit disheartening but I have hope that things will take a more positive turn for her life in the next installment of this series.

Desire of the Heart was not exactly what I expected when I began reading it. Not only is it a sweet romance but it is laced with danger, humor, faith, and several surprises. I definitely plant to be on the lookout for the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: Desire of the Heart

Author: Anne Perreault

Genre: Christian Romance

Release Date: April 2020

Click here to get your copy!

It all started with a hike…

Cady Jackson’s vacation plans were simple. Go to Yellowstone National Park, enjoy the scenery, take lots of pictures. She and her cousin, Ashley, have grown up in a strict, conservative Christian family in upstate New York. Cady has never been encouraged to spread her wings. This trip is an opportunity to do so. Only, she doesn’t know how much her life is about to change when she has an unfortunate encounter in the middle of nowhere.
Why would God take a personal interest in someone like her?

Grant McClintoch generally loves his job as a ranger in the oldest national park in the country. That it includes rescuing stranded visitors to the park is unfortunate. He has been trying to rebuild his life after it had nearly been destroyed. Grant doesn’t realize that God isn’t done with him yet when he stumbles onto an injured hiker.

But can he place his past in God’s capable hands where it belongs?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Perreault was born and raised in Germany. By the time she was 14 years old, her family moved to Dubai, UAE. While living in this exotic place, she traveled extensively to various countries around the world. After graduating from an American boarding school in Austria, she attended college in England, where she met her husband. She graduated from New England College with a degree in biology, and settled down in Connecticut. Anne became a horseback riding instructor as well as a certified therapeutic riding instructor. She and a group of friends started a therapeutic riding center in Bristol, CT. During that time, Anne also received a masters degree in secondary education and began to homeschool her three children. While raising their three children, she began to write an inspirational story primarily for her daughter. Anne, her husband, and two of their grown children now reside in Southern Vermont, where they are building their home. Besides writing, Anne enjoys reading, spending time with her husband, grown children, and grand-dogger.

MORE FROM ANNE:

Desire of the Heart…

This book is so special to me. I had been pondering what to write a few years back and the thought came to me that I should base my next character on some of the adorable quirkiness of my beautiful daughter, a young woman filled with integrity and strength. Except, when you first meet her, you might think she’s too naïve or too sweet. She has a fire in her and a passion. And then I watched a TV show and one of the character’s were named Cady. I knew I had my main character. My daughter loves to travel, and a few years ago, she and her cousin traveled to Scotland together. It was kind of like fiction came to live right then and there. I had already paired Cady up with her cousin, a young woman who is the complete opposite to Cady. Of course, in real life, my daughter and her cousin are incredibly similar to each other and are both such amazing young women of God.

Her counterpart came about because I was looking for someone with strength and also with great integrity, but someone who was wounded by life. I also realized that I wanted to set the story in a national park. I’ve always enjoyed nature and wanted my main character to be working in some capacity with nature. Grant naturally became a park ranger. It fit his personality so well, I secretly rubbed my hands together in glee.

Setting the story at Yellowstone allowed me to research that beautiful part of the country. I have always been a wildlife enthusiast. My oldest son loves wolves and has studied them all his life. I wanted to include wolves in the story… enough said. I fell completely in love with the park and I will one day travel there and stand where Grant and Cady did.