I really enjoyed this book. I have a lot of interest in Scottish history because of William Wallace and Rob Roy so any chance I get to read a book with Scottish characters and set in Scotland is wonderful. Set in 18th century Scotland, with settings in England and the American colonies as well, Sound of the Heart is an exciting historical tale with two extraordinary characters, Dougal and Glenna. I'm not usually big on romance in novels, but the relationship between the two main characters is so sweet and genuine, I couldn't help but enjoy reading about their times together. Graham has taken one of the difficult periods in Scottish history, the time of the Jacobite rebellion, and turned it into a story of personal triumph and love. She has written the dialogue in Scottish brogue, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I likened myself to a Scottish lassie as I experienced the Scottish intonations in my head.

I highly recommend Sound of the Heart to anyone who enjoys Scottish history with a bit of romance added to the mix. Now I must check out Graham's first novel, Under the Same Sky. She is a talent I will not soon forget. ( )

Sound of the Heart further deepens my slow journey into this genre, and I have to say that I am so glad that Genevieve Graham offered me the opportunity for a review! This was a book that I truly enjoyed. From the sweeping highlands of Scotland, to the dark and dank streets of London, Graham is an expert at explaining the setting just right. I was transported each place that I followed Dougal and settled right in to read his story. Descriptive writing abounds in this story.

If that isn't enough for you, I have to say that Dougal now reigns as one of my all time favorite male characters. It isn't just his sexy Scottish accent (although that is definitely a plus), but his whole entire person. Dougal is sweet, caring, fiery, and tough as nails when he needs to be. Throughout the story I saw multiple times where he had the option to sit at the sidelines or intervene during a problem. This is a character who always chose to be the hero. That makes him a hero in my heart.

However it isn't just Dougal who steals the show in Graham's book. Sound of the Heart has an amazing cast of characters, and each time a new one comes into play they fit seamlessly into the overall story. There isn't too much I can say here without giving a very important portion of the story away, but I can talk about Glenna. She is a spitfire! I love a female character who can hold her own, and Glenna definitely fits that bill. The chemistry between her and Dougal is, well, steamy. Let's just say that if you love some romance in your books, you're definitely going to get it here.

This story is the whole package. From the beginning I was immersed in Dougal's struggle to keep the part of him that was being torn away. I loved the descriptive scenes. I fell under the spell of his heart of gold demeanor. Then by the time I reached the end I felt like it had come much too soon. I haven't had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series, but I can say that I am going to pick up Under the Same Sky as soon as I can. If you haven't either, but have this book in your TBR, don't fret. It reads amazingly as a standalone.

Final verdict? If you love historical fiction and historical romance, pick up a copy of Sound of the Heart and prepare to be swept off your feet. ( )

When I started reading Sound of the Heart I was instantly hooked. You as the reader are thrown straight into the story. I love when a book kick starts right away grasping my attention from page one. Also Genevieve Graham is an amazing writer, with the added ability to capture reader’s attention with the art of storytelling. Graham's writing is beautiful, and she uses imagery flawlessly, putting you right into the story with the characters.

Sound of the Heart is unlike any romance I have ever read before. This book contains aspects that I think can appeal to both male readers and female readers. While a love story is going on you also have war, imprisonment, poverty, and a clever twist. This book reminded me a little of Braveheart; or maybe I just kept picturing Dougal the main man as a young Mel Gibson.

I enjoyed both main characters a ton. Dougal is a big strong highlander, and he takes on a nurturing roll with his enormous heart of gold. Glenna has a past that has led her to a life of secrecy that is only broken once she meets Dougal. Glenna is the kind of Heroine you can be proud of; she is tough and smart and refuses to be taken care of. Glenna is always ready to put up a fight, and I love that about her.

The struggles and losses these two characters have to deal with is a recipe for an amazing read. I definitely recommend this novel to adult readers, I will be snag ( )

I was pretty blown away by Graham’s first book, Under the Same Sky, when I read it last month so when Genevieve Graham asked if I would like a copy of Sound of the Heart I jumped on it. It’s always a worry reading a “sophomore” book from an author as I wonder if the second book can live up to the first one. I am glad to say Graham definitely did not suffer from a sophomore slump and I enjoyed this one almost as much as her first book...

See my full review at Debbie's World of Books. ( )

I loved Genevieve's first novel Under the Same Sky so I was thrilled to read her second - Sound of the Heart. It did not disappoint. Genevieve writes beautiful love stories - lots of great characters and beautiful stories. She doesn't rely on sex to sell the story. I love that!

So, Sound of the Heart. It is a companion to Under the Same Sky but stands alone without any difficulty. While Under the Same Sky tells Andrew's story, Sound of the Heart tells the story of Andrew's brother, Dougal. Dougal is captured after the fight at Culloden and that's where his adventure, and this book, begin. Along the way we meet kindred spirits, strong women and stronger men. We travel England, Ireland, Scotland and the USA. We enjoy amazing highs and terrible lows. There is no emotional stone left unturned as the reader moves from page 1 to page 310. I can't wait for Genevieve Graham's next offering. ( )