Heart on the Line (Ladies of Harper’s Station #2)

by Karen Witemeyer (Goodreads Author)

Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can't let the villain she believes responsible for her father's death release his wrath in Harper's Station, the town that has sheltered her and blessed her with the dearest friends she's ever known.

Amos Bledsoe prefers bicycles to horses and private conversations over the telegraph wire to social gatherings with young ladies who see him as nothing more than an oddity. His telegraph companion, the mysterious Miss G, listens eagerly to his ramblings every night and delights him with tales all her own. For months, their friendship--dare he believe, courtship?--has fed his hope that he has finally found the woman God intended for him. Yet when he takes the next step to meet her in person, he discovers her life is in peril, and Amos must decide if he can shed the cocoon of his quiet nature to become the hero Grace requires.

My Review: 5/10

I found this to be a fairy enjoyable, light read, which was appreciated to break up some of the heavier stuff I was reading.

I liked that Amos' character was the not the typical hero in build or demeanor, that he was insecure about it and that Grace acknowledged these things and wasn't instantly set on him (though it did happen pretty quickly). Their method of communicating was unique and very sweet.

I liked Helen's side story and thought her match was fitting. However, I didn't find the insta-love/protection/physicality etc at all believable for a woman of her background.

The lower rating has more to do with the suspension of belief I had to employ to be able to get into the story.

*SPOILERS*

For me, it was simple. Grace had two options. Take the books directly to Whitmore or go into hiding. I didn't really understand why she seemed to choose the latter option, since she would never be safe until the target (documents) was removed from her back. Who wants to live like that? But she fled, ending up in a females colony.

The story picks up with her a few months later where she has done absolutely nothing to hide her identity: she has altered her appearance in no way, has not changed her name or even her occupation. She made it incredibly easy to trace her. But if that weren't enough, she left her location with a friend before she left, giving explicit instructions to give up her whereabouts if anyone was threatened. What?! Your last remaining family member was gunned down in cold blood. You don't give anyone else information that would PUT them in danger. And why would you need to? It's not like you'll be keeping penpals while on the run. The whole premise made no sense to me.

Then she starts a friendship/romance with a man she's never seen over the telegram wire. Wreckless. Dangerous.

Then when the Pinkerton agent shows up in town, everyone accepts him and walks on eggshells around him. Amos' arrival was suspicious and required lockup until his story and intent could be verified and voted on. Dunbar shows up the next day or so and the reaction is completely different. Despite the fact that he could be a crooked agent. What? Lock him up until you can verify his identity AND intent, just like Amos! After a day or two, they could have definitely found cause for suspicion to keep him locked up. And Grace could have fled again. But then I guess we wouldn't have a story.

And why didn't Helen question Lee as soon as he was lucid? Full name (nicknames from friends don't count)? Occupation? Who sent you? Who shot you? We have a murderer on his way to town, stop flirting and get answers!

For me, the tenor of the story that should have been present under the circumstances (deep loss and grief, fear, and danger) did not fit at all with the casual, lighthearted actions (cycling lessons, strolling about town with a beau, etc).