Even though "Heart on the Line" could be a stand alone book, it should be called Book #2 in the "A Ladies of Harper's Station Novel" series because there are numerous references to "No Other Will Do". (another book by Karen Witemeyer) I was glad to have read that one first. I think I would have felt slightly out of the loop without that background information.
But don't let that deter you. "Heart on the Line" was a charming tale of a telegraph operator who is facing grave danger at the same time as finding love. And while the plot was, shall we say, predictable, the writing was smooth and enjoyable. Plus the plot kept moving forward.
One thing I loved about this book were the characters. The bad guy was so bad and the good guys so good. The supporting characters were the perfect blend of quirkiness and depth. I am always a tad hesitant to support books that cast men in a bad light and on the surface it might seem like "Ladies of Harper's Station" novels might do that. A whole town where men are not allowed? (Can you imagine the uproar if women weren't allowed in an all male town!) But I appreciate that the author did show the heroic men in a good light. Yes, many women have been tragically harmed by men, but that doesn't mean we should teach our daughters to despise them. Quite the opposite! God made us to live together with them.
And while I know it's a run-of-the-mill staple among romance novels, it did irk me ever so slightly that the author felt it necessary to state repeatedly how beautiful the heroine was. The way it's written makes it sound like her beauty was why the hero was willing to risk all to save her. Would she not be worth saving if she was plain or overweight? I know this is a reflection of our societal values but it's within our ability to fight against it. Even if the heroine's waist wasn't tiny, she would still be worth the effort and worth loving.
Over all I enjoyed this book. It was a fun fluffy read - perfect for an afternoon lying in the hammock on a breezy summer day.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."
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