A Father, A Son, An Unexpected Romance

Stone's Heart by Darby Karchut

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Horses and cowboys. Children and humor. A love that changes everything. Give me a novel with all of these subjects and I will read for hours, which is what I did. Yes, thanks to Award-Winning Author Darby Karchut’s latest novel, STONE’S HEART, I lost myself in a gentle story that brought laughter to my heart, tears to my eyes, and characters that I’ll remember for a long time.

Linney Van Horn, a teacher hoping for a new beginning, moves from to the East Coast to the small town of Venture, Colorado. I loved Linney from the beginning. Why? Instead of selling her horse, Prince, and leaving him back home, she takes him with her and in her new town rents a small cottage with a corral. She is determined to put the past behind her, and I admired her spunk in making the best of her situation.

Stone Wheeler and his seven-year-old son, Beau, rent the cottage next door. Stone, the local farrier, has a couple horses of his own. He also is a country boy and a John Denver fan, which added him to my best guy list. With characters like these two, I knew the story would be exciting. And it was.

Linney and Stone both have experienced sadness in their lives recently, and neither of them is interested in a serious relationship, or so they think. However, Linney falls in love with Beau, who is all boy, a sweet reminder of the innocence of children, and my favorite character of all.

In STONE’S HEART, Ms. Karchut has written a story of family, friends, and seeking God’s guidance to make the right choices. Whether she’s dealing with Guardian Angels or Celtic mythology, as in some of her other novels, or contemporary romance as in this latest book, what I enjoy most is her emphasis on family, especially the father and son relationship. STONE’S HEART is no exception. What Beau and Stone share is touching and beautiful. Every child should be so fortunate to have a father like Stone.

The author also shows her love and knowledge of horses, along with proof that she’s as talented writing a contemporary story as she is writing about warriors and unusual creatures.

I recommend STONE’S HEART for everyone that loves a good story about family, disappointments, children, and even a scary scene or two that makes the reader chew on her fingernails, waiting to see the outcome. Yeah, pretty tense.

Another great novel from Darby Karchut. What will she come up with next?

The author provided me with a copy of the novel for my honest review.





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