Trial of the Heart

by Sierra St. James (Pseudonym), Janette Rallison

It's a matter of principle, alcohol kills, carrot juice doesn't. But there's a lot of money involved, and an unexpected relationship with the late Mrs. Walden's impossibly charming grandson, Clay. Before Jamie knows it, things aren't so black and white any more. Everywhere she turns, there's a trial of her heart.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Lds, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Young Adult

185 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

See Janette Rallison

Reviews

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could be wrong, but I think this was Janette Rallison’s first published book. I’ve been trying to track down copies of all her books written under the pen-name of Sierra St. James, I have one left to go (Time Riders).

I really enjoyed Trial of the Heart. Like all her other novels, it has an original storyline, lovable characters, witty dialog and memorable moments. This book went by rather fast; I wish it could have been a hundred pages longer so we could really develop the characters and the story. Because of its length I felt like some things weren’t developed as much as they could have been. Jamie is LDS and Clay is not, this added an interesting aspect to the relationship, I was a little worried where this was going to go because I know how difficult relationships can be when partners are from different religions. One thing that was left out in all their religious talks was the morality issue. Since they were dating for so long and coming from such different backgrounds I thought that would have been a main issue facing them, as much as going to church or drinking. But, I realize that’s not really what the book was about.

I really enjoyed the story, as always it was lighthearted and fun. I love Rallison’s books, they’re always a pleasure to read and I’m always sad when they’re over.

[Betsy Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably out of print. But I am lucky enough to own two copies and both are autographed. (Ok, I may have misplaced one of them, or loaned it out). I love this book! Janette also known as Sue D. Nym, is one of my favorite LDS author. Her character's wit leaves me giggling and wondering what hilarious things they will say or do next. If you can get your hands on a copy of this book, it is well worth the read. Remember to grab a hankie for the touching ending! Loved it!

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!! AND GET THIS......MY MOM BOUGHT IT AT DESERET BOOK STORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:P

[Beth Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part of this story was Clay trying to convince people he was a member of the Mormon church. I didn't love the last third with the fight over the vineyards. That seemed pretty far-fetched, and strange to me. I could truly understand the feeling of heritage and birthright Walden's family felt towards the vineyards and didn't really understand why Jamie didn't seem to care about it.
I would have like more details in the ending also...it seemed a bit rushed to me in neatly tying everything up. However, if you enjoy clean, LDS romance novels, this is worth a read.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet book but a little dated. The writing is a bit clunkier than Ralliston’s other works it really feels like a new author’s work. The book is quite religious in scope and is probably best read by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seeing how the h is a member and much of the work focuses on her values. The ending was a bit abrupt but all in all it is a feel-good read. Contains: religious references

[Allison W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book! There was something that was missing in it for me. Awkward and cheesy at times. Wish it was longer so the characters could have gotten developed more but I still loved it and couldn't put it down!

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like it. I really did. This is author Jeannette Rallison’s work under one of her pen names. I just couldn’t get through it. I love her as an author but I didn’t love this early work of hers. It was VERY religious (LDS) and it just didn’t work for me.

[Lugene Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, romantic, feel good book.

[Dorry Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book about a cleaning girl that is left vineyards in the will of the lady she cleaned for.
All about the family trying to get them from her. I recommend it to Beth.

[Ali~may · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!
It was original, had lovable characters and had me laughing out loud at parts. Super cute, clean, and totally enjoyable. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice quick read. Sweet beauty and the beast type story.

[Aisha (seetheworldwithbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, when have i ever hated any of Janette's books? She is just too amazing 💕

[Melinda Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit, I laughed a bunch, at times it felt like it hit every Mormon joke. It is a fun quick read.

[Krystal Hon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a one-day read while sick. I enjoyed it! Yes it was cheesy and heavy on the Mormon jokes/vocabulary but it was great for a wholesome romance.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute, clean, romance!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie is putting herself through college by cleaning houses. She starts cleaning for Mrs. Walden, a grumpy rich lady who claims she can hear when Jamie doesn't get all the dust off her priceless artifacts. Jamie tries to be Christ-like but Mrs. Walden is so cantankerous. Jamie wants to quit but decides to stay after work and get to know Mrs. Walden better. They discuss religion and Jamie explains her beliefs on alcohol and how it's bad for people. She suggests that Mrs. Walden do something different with her vineyards, like plant carrots. Mrs. Walden scoffs at this. Jamie learns that Mrs. Walden passed away and she attends her funeral out of respect. Bombarded by a lawyer and Mrs. Walden's family she learns that Mrs. Walden changed her will and Jamie inherits the vineyard. Of course the family is upset because Mrs. Walden's son and grandson have been running the family vineyard business for years. They think she was senile at the end but Jamie thinks Mrs. Walden actually had a change of heart. Her grandson Clay takes it upon himself to try to sway Jamie into giving them back the vineyard and not turn it into some charity. Clay and Jamie are from two different worlds but something pulls them together. It's a great story of opposites attract. I love reading it again and again.

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Genre:LDS Fiction/romance) I found this book in the teen section at our library. I liked the story and appreciated the sense of humor that the characters had. It is about a 21 year old LDS student at Berkley named Jamie Young that starts cleaning houses to help pay for college life. Her first assignment is to clean for a grouchy rich lady that is impossible to please. Even though the lady is such a grouch, Jamie tries to get to know her and upon the lady's death, she finds herself mentioned in the will. What she inherits from the lady presents an ethical dilemma for her and the remainder of the book is about this dilemma and the problems of her relationship with the non-member grandson (Clay Bennett) of the lady. This is a cute story, and while I cringed at Jamie falling so hard for a non-member, I was very proud of her for the choices she made later on. I also loved Clay's dream and all that it symbolized. Very fun book and a quick read.

[Sariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

so i usually dont enjoy lds books.... but this one was pretty good. it held me in there enough to finish it in i think one day! but it is about an lds girl who cleans houses for a living and one of the ladies houses she cleaned was large and she was an old grump. but somehow this young adult (sorry forgot her name:)) found a way to this old ladies heart and the next day, she dies leaving all her wine vineyards to her. the old womans family is furious! and it becomes a court case. but then he happened. an insanely cute guy who happens to be the old womans grandson is becoming part of her life, and not in the way she wanted. its a thrilling modern day story that keeps you stuck until its over!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute fast read! It had some preaching parts, but it was well balanced with the plot of the story where a maid, Jamie inherits a vineyard of her rich employer. Mrs. Walden's family is very angry and surprised that a complete stranger has been given the vineyard, their livelihood. However, Jamie is torn between just giving the vineyard back to them or following what she thinks Mrs. Walden would want her to...making something good...not wine making out of what she has been given. The plot thickens when Mrs. Walden's grandson tries to make deals with Jamie and in the process a mutual relationship evolves. But then Jamie has the conflict of beliefs and goals that she must weigh against her feelings for clay.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie just received an inheritance of a wine vineyard from the late Mrs. Walden, but she does not drink wine and does not want to be responsible for any drunk drivers.
So, she is trying to turn the vineyard into something else.
Mrs. Walden's family is fighting for the vineyard.
But the unthinkable has happened...Jamie and one of Mrs. Walden's grandsons start to like each other...
This book is so much more that a sweet romance.
It looks into the idea of can you marry for just love alone or does there need to be more?
Should you marry someone with idea of being able to change them AFTER you are married?
Can you love someone for who they are even if some of the things they do are not of your same values?
A lot of laughs and plenty of tears bring this book into your heart.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my quest to read all of Janette Rallison's books, I've now ventured into her Desert Book stories under the pen name, Sierra St. James. This is my first venture into this series of books, and I'm not as keen on them as her mainstream stories. Despite the witty writing and characaters that are very appealing and interesting, this story has an ending that ends too perfectly for my taste. It gives a romantazied and unrealistic portrayal of falling in love with a non-member who miraculously becomes a believer so there can be a blissful future of being faithful together. I know of only one baptism that happened as a result of dating a member, but I know over nearly twenty couples of two different faiths who did not have this happy ending.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclosure before writing my review. I am a Mormon girl and in general should enjoy a read that discusses people from my religion. But the whole set up with her inheriting a wine company and fighting about who should own the company I didn't care for. Some parts of the book I did find amusing like the service project. But I really didn't start enjoying the story until Clay had the dream. Then I was hooked in the book. Unfortunately there was only 10 pages left in the story at that point. I also felt there needed to be an epilogue or another chapter. I didn't care for the last 2 pages. I needed more information. Like what was the boy's name?

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Janette Rallison handed me this book, quite apologetic that it was one of her early works and assured me she has gotten better. I thought that was so cute and kind of funny. She is a sweetheart.

This isn't really the most original story in the world, it's a romance. The struggling student is not looking her best and meets a beautiful, wealthy man. What a surprise that they fall in love. but I like the characters and how Clay grows. I didn't see so much growth on Jamie's part, but she does have to evaluate her priorities. It's a bit of a no-brainer where it's going, but it's a fun ride.

One day read if you want something light and sweet and fun or just love clean romance.

[Nellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

HHmmm...well I really loved this book right up until the end. It was like the publisher told St. James she had to wrap it up NOW! the story was really funny. Very cute. Characters were developed well. I just didn't like how fast the ending just threw itself together. Over all, very worth the reading time. I read it in a day. I would definitly read more from this author. Great LDS romance. Good for teen girls.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third of her books to join my shelf. Young woman works for crotchety old woman who criticizes everyone, and forms a friendship. When the old woman passes, the young woman inherits her vineyard, much to the family's horror. Very funny, I especially love the scene with the nephew attends a church service project with her and tries to pass himself off as LDS.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clay's grandmother leaves Jamie the vineyard when she passes away. Jamie's in shock because she had had such little time to befriend the old women whom everyone thought was so evil. I kept wondering when Jamie was going to stand up for her beliefs and put Clay in his place. It did have a happy ending.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my vacation/sick books from this weekend. It was written by Janette Rallison under a different name (Sierra St. James). I really enjoy Rallison's witty writing and fun romance novels. Most of the ones I've read by her have been non-LDS, so this one was a little different. The cover seemed cheesy, and the story was a little predictable, but a fun entertaining read nonetheless.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's one of my guilty pleasures. Or would embarrassing be more appropriate? I don't go for cheesy LDS novels but I read this one in high school and still love it- so I guess that says something good about it because I've tried to read other LDS romance novels I read in high school and couldn't hardly stand them- did I really enjoy that kind of stuff?! Anyway, it's a totally easy, fun read :)

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Since I've read 3 of this authors books and loved them all, I think I'll break down and read some of her young adult fiction such as "My Unfair Godmother". I've met Janette Rallison and since she's using her real name now after switching to young adult fiction I need to see if they're as good as her Sierra St. James books.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my absolute favorite books. It's not a deep read, or anything like that, but it is a Book that is funny, entertaining, realistic, and leaves you wanting more of their life. It also made me cry, it hits close to home, and I loved every chapter of it. I would recommend this book to anyone. Especially young LDS women.