Christian Fiction Bloggers discussion

❀Abbi and Caitlyn❀ Follow the Heart by Kaye Dacus

This is my first book by this author, but I am really enjoying it!

I love Kate and Christopher! They remind me so much of me and my brother! I can't say that I admire Kate's choice to turn herself into Katharine the flirt, but I understand why she did it. I can't begin to fathom how much pressure she is under. I love how down to earth she really is and that she lets Andrew see who she really is! I especially loved it when she grabbed the shovel and dug up the shrub! :)

I really don't like Edith very much at all. But I really like Florie, it is so fun how she keeps asking Christopher how far everything is from Philadelphia!

It was great when Kate stood up to Edith about her mother's jewelry!

I love that Kate and Nora are becoming friends!

I could totally relate to Kate not knowing what she should call Lord Thynne, I know that the same thing would happen to me if I was suddenly thrown into the world of British aristocracy.

Sorry it took me so long to get on here! I was sick Friday and busy Sat and today!

I have read all of this author's nine other books and though I'm not sure this is my fav of hers I too am really enjoying it!

I'm loving them too! I think Christopher is my favorite of the characters. Yeah I wasn't a fan of "Katherine" either but I agree that I can see why she did it. I found Christopher'e reaction to it kinda amusing. I love that too and that scene with the shovel was great!

Yeah I'm not a fan of Edith either but Florie is great!

That was great! And I'm glad she was able to get some fabric patterns that were a little more her.

I love that too! Nora is a great character.

Haha yeah I would be so confused and probably make every mistake in the book!

I have to say that I really like the plot of this book! It's really cool how it's not just one of their stories but both. And I love how it's different then the normal people-falling-for-a-person-of-a-lower-status-and-having-to-deal-with-the-family's-anger stories with the fact that they are needing to marry well so they can provide for their family. I'm really curious to see how it all works out!

I loved the scene when Florie gets Christopher and Nora to dance together!

It would be hard to be Nora or Andrew with their position of being higher than the servants but lower than the family and trying to figure out your place. I would hate that.

I really like how their Uncle treats them like the family they are rather than how most people of that time often treated their "poor relations".

No problem! :) Sorry you were sick :(

Completely agree! I love the plot too. Usually these types of stories don't really interest me, but this one did from the time I first read the description! I know, I can't wait to see how it all comes together! :)

Oh my goodness! I loved that scene! One of my absolute favorites so far!

Yeah that would be so hard to not know where you really fit.

I love that! I was a little worried before we met him that he might treat them that way. I was so glad to discover he isn't like that!

I kinda can't help being concerned for Nora, because even though she tries not to show it, she is worried about where she will go when Florie goes to school. Really curious to see what happens with that!

It was great when Christopher told Florie he was disappointed with her for being disresptful of the time Nora takes to teach her. I loved how he got her to promise to show up early for her lessons.

Christopher's idea about connecting onto the train line was brilliant! I liked that Andrew encouraged him to tell his Uncle and that Christpher did tell his Uncle, even though he was nervous about it.

I loved what Christopher said to Kate about her gown at the ball, it was so sweet when she said she was the most modestly dressed woman there and he said that none of them were his sister. I love how he watches out for her! :)

I agree!

Yeah that was really neat!

It was a brilliant idea! And loved the things you said as well as the fact that his Uncle put him in charge of seeing if it could be done.

I loved that too! I think it's so cute how even though he's younger he's still crazy protective of Kate!

Dorcas is a great character as well though I feel bad for her having to live in Edith's shadow. I wish she would stand up to her more but at the same time I can totally relate to why she won't and I'd probably do the same!

I loved the fact that Lord Thynne's cotton plantation wasn't worked by slaves but rather by Englander's who need jobs.

I loved the part where Andrew put the flower in Kate's hair! And I was so glad when she went back to get it and then pressed it in her book!

Yeah I like her too! She's a bit more quiet and reserved but that is a nice balance to Edith and Florie who both have strong personalities.

I love that too! I shared Kate's anxiousness for a minute there, before he said who the workers were.

Oh yes! I loved that too! So sweet :)

It was neat to find out that Nora's brother made what was, in my opinion a very smart decision to sell supplies to the miners rather than mining himself.

I thought it was interesting (Though it did annoy me a little!) that the only dress of Kate's that the cousins approved of was the pink one from New Year's! The one Christopher was hoping she hadn't brought!

Really wondering how things between Kate, Edith and Lord Thynne are going to work out.

It was pretty cool to learn a bit of Kate's maid Athena's back story. Even though I know it was common in that time, it still made me sad that her parents and siblings all work in different places and hardly ever see each other.

I love that Kate is getting a chance to share her knowledge of flowers and plants with Florie and Nora.

That was interesting and smart!

I'm curious too though I'm pretty sure Kate will choose Andrew so my curiosity lies more with what will happen with Edith and Lord Thynne.

It was cool and sad. I love how Kate acts toward Athena and I especially loved when Edith was mean to Athena how Kate resolved to apologize later.

That is cool.

I thought it was so cute how Andrew couldn't bring himself to tear up the plant that Kate had replanted!

I was kinda annoyed with Kate when she snapped at Christopher when he came to talk to her in her room. He wasn't saying that he wasn't going to do the things asked of him he was just sharing his feelings with his big sister and asking her to understand and she about took his head off. I was very proud of him when he took the high road, didn't respond in kind and apologized!

That was really cute!

Yeah it was kind of annoying how much she overreacted. I was really proud of Christopher too! :)

I can't think of anything else to discuss about this half! :) Is there anything else you want to discuss?

Nope I'm out of stuff too! I'll try to get to the next half in the next couple days!

Just wanted to let you know I've finished the book so I'm ready to discuss when you are. No rush though!

I'm finished! :)

I think one of my favorite scenes was when Kate was in her room at Mrs Headington's and she started praying for Andrew! I loved that!!!

Okay I kinda expected Edith to do something big, but I have to admit I was a tad shocked at the cruelty of what she said after the engagement was announced, and the fact that she took perverse pleasure in saying it, practically had me yelling at her! :)

I really liked it when Lord Thynne came to 'inform' Christopher of his intention to propose to Kate, especially when Christopher thought to himself that it must be nice to not have to ask permission for anything! And I loved it when Christopher went to talk to Kate, that was so sweet! I loved how he supported her and encouraged her to forgive their father!

It was great how Athena passed that yellow dress to Nora and she made it tasteful!

It was so sweet that Andrew planted a boxwood and purple asters in the garden at Wakesdown.

Another favorite scene of mine was when Jane and Kate talked about prayer! That was awesome! :) I love it when fiction draws me closer to God, I definitely feel like this one did! :)

That was so cool!

I know! I felt the same way! I actually closed the book and started saying "no, no, no!"

I agree completely!

Yeah that was awesome. I wish I had the ability to make clothing better!

:) yeah!

That was a great scene and I agree about loving when fiction draws you closer to God!

I have to say the fact that Christopher and Nora had eloped was half a surprise and half not. At first I was thinking that's what they'd do but then when they were coming home their convo sounded like they weren't married yet so I thought they hadn't done it. So it was still a bit of a surprise when they announced it.

I was surprised Lord Thynne was still willing to marry Kate after Edith's announcement! I thought for sure he would end their engagement and then Andrew could step in but it the long run I can see how it was better this way since it gave Kate the chance to grow.

I loved how Andrew waited to tell Kate about the letter from her father till after she chose him! That scene was so good!

I was so happy at the end that their uncle still accepted Kate and even supported her decision! And how he realized he was wrong to do what he did.

You took the words right out of my mouth! :) I was thinking the same thing, it was a little aggravating to not know for sure but it was still fun!

That surprised me too! I thought for sure he would reject her! It definitely added a little excitement to the story that we didn't know where Lord Thynne had sent Kate for a little while. I found it interesting that it was Mrs Headington's place, I could totally relate to Kate, I'm not sure I would have been able to keep my mouth shut for even two minutes around Mrs Headington! :)

Oh and I definitely think that Kate is right and Mrs Headington did definitely help to turn Edith into the spoiled brat that she is!

I completely agree, that was SO good! I will admit I teared up a little when Kate read the letter from her father! I love that even we don't know for sure, it does seem pretty obvious that Andrew will get the job with the company Christopher works for, I am so thrilled that Kate and Christopher will probably be able to live near each other in Manchester!

I was happy about that too! And I loved how Kate asked to go back to Wakesdown because it was where she fell in love!

I liked that the purple dress (Which I am assuming is the one on the cover.) Is the only fancy dress that Kate took with her!

I liked the authors writing style and I think I will read more of her books at some point. Do you have a favorite book of hers and/or a recommendation for which series I should start with?

Yeah it's so cool how they'll be close!

I loved that too!

:) yeah!

The scene in the folly was so good yet heartbreaking at the same time! That they finally fully revealed their feelings for each other only to face the fact that it wouldn't work. You could really feel the emotions of that scene!

It made me so mad how Edith and her friends openly snubbed Kate and purposely didn't include her! I was quite impressed with how Kate handled it, I don't think I could have taken that without getting really mad even though I think I'd have rather stayed back too!

I couldn't believe how Oliver Carmichael acted at the dinner party! To constantly complement someone only to insult the same attribute to someone else while the other person can still hear you is appalling!

As for recommending her other books I really liked them all! I'd probably say The Ransome Trilogy was my favorite and the other two are about equal though I read them so far apart it's hard to compare!

Sorry it has taken me so long to comment, I was really busy with the Read-A-Thon this past week.

I completely agree with everything you said in the last comment! :)

Thanks for the recommendation, The Ransome Trilogy really intrigues me so I think I will read those at some point! :)

Um well, I can't really think of anything else to discuss about this one, anything else you want to discuss?

I finally got my copy of Undeniably Yours, this morning. So I am ready to start it whenever you are! :)

No worries I was busy with that too!

I can't think of anything else either!

And I'm ready to start Undeniably Yours too! Halves? It be 1-11, 12-epilogue.

Sounds great! :)