Rebellious
Heart
By
Jody Hedlund
Susanna
Smith is different than most young ladies of her class – a bit stubborn,
desperate to better her mind through learning, and not at all concerned with
finding a husband. Her sister is the
fair-haired beauty after all, so Susanna really can’t see any suitors clamoring
for her affections. Plus, her mother is
determined that she will marry someone of equal or better class. Benjamin Ross is determined to break into a higher
class and society. The son of a
shoemaker and farmer, Benjamin tried to better himself by going to college and
becoming a lawyer. But even that doesn’t make him fit for Susanna’s
society. Ben and Susanna soon find
themselves working for a common cause – to help a runaway indentured servant girl
escape her cruel master and the bounty hunter who pursues her. Can Ben and Susanna save the girl’s
life? And can their growing affections
be realized, though Susanna’s mother ardently opposes the match?
This
pre-Revolutionary war story well describes the lives of American colonists
under British rule. The beginnings of
the struggle against “taxation without representation,” are the backdrop for
Ben and Susanna’s mission for good. I
like how the author portrays Susanna’s struggle to know whether she should
honor the King of England, or do what is right.
She is constantly trying to decide if righteousness is following the
law, or protecting the innocent. The
storyline moves along pretty well and there are many moments of suspense. My only disappointment was the romance side
of the story. I felt like Ben and
Susanna were WAY to back on forth on whether they loved each other or not. I’m not an author, but I secretly longed for
them to be head over heels in love, and trying to keep it concealed from
Susanna’s mom (though in the utmost propriety).
Overall I give this story an A – good, clean, historical fiction.
I
received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for
my honest review.
