Whenever I read two books by an author and both read very differently, I take notice, especially when both books keep my interest. Such is the case with Elizabeth Graham; I reviewed her My Darling Kate last year. In Hayley’s Heart, also set in this underutilized setting (Colonial United States), author Graham creates a completely different set of lead characters than those at war in her earlier book. And while not without flaws, her newer book is equally enjoyable.

When Hayley’s Heart opens, Hayley and her older sister Darryl have been sold as bond servants by the unscrupulous captain who stole their passage money from England after their parents died on the sea journey. Always close, the two are separated, and when Hayley escapes her harsh master, Darryl must submit to her own master’s rape to protect Hayley. During this unfortunate incident, Darryl strikes her master and leaves him for dead, and the two sisters go into hiding.

Injured, frightened, and alone in the wilderness, they are saved by Conn Merritt, who takes them in as servants on his own estate (he is a fairly well-to-do planter), thinking they are two free servants for hire named Jane and Anna. His widowed sister Lavena is suspicious of these two lovely young women. She becomes extremely perturbed by the feelings she knows Conn has for Jane and for those her grown son has for Anna. And when Conn invites the wealthy, elderly family friend “Aunt” Agnes to live with them, Lavena grows even more suspicious of Jane’s motives – Aunt Agnes and Lavena have never gotten along, and her pretense at senility fools never fools Jane, to whom she grows close.

One of the nicest aspects to Hayley’s Heart is also a major flaw – its setting. It’s so refreshing to read a colonial romance rather than an English one with all the class layers and societal trappings. Unfortunately, author Graham doesn’t provide enough historical detail to fully engage the reader, and for this reviewer who generally prefers only “historical wallpaper,” that’s saying something. And, speaking of historical accuracy, the names “Darryl” and “Hayley” don’t exactly trip off the 18th century tongue, do they? (Reviews and Historical Cheat Sheet Editor Ellen Micheletti informs me that while Hayley was a feminine name in that period, Darryl – of Norman origins – was not.)

The Big Secret that forms the basis for conflict in this story is fairly effective. Jane must hide the truth about she and Anna from Conn and his family so that her sister won’t be hanged for murder. And yet, how can she and Conn ever find happiness with such a secret between them? Conn is a decent man, a kind man, but he was betrayed by his dead wife, and should he discover Jane’s been lying to him, how could he forgive her?

Strangely, I knew the characters of Jane and Anna rang true when I found myself frustrated with Anna (aka Darryl). When Anna discovers Jane is to marry Conn, she assumes it has nothing to do with love and everything to do with furthering their deception. As Jane (aka Hayley) has had to scheme and plot to keep she and her sister safe, I began to actively dislike Anna and to see her as an cry-baby.

Of course, with the help of Ellis, Lavena’s son and Conn’s nephew, Anna comes to realize that not all men are lustful beasts. Really and truly, Ellis and Conn are two of the nicest romance heroes and having two of them in one book was a delight. And when the Big Secret is revealed and Conn’s reaction breaks Hayley’s heart, the reader’s heart will be broken along the way. The circumstances of their reunion are quite moving.

While Hayley’s Heart is light on history detail, it does feature strongly realized lead characters who will bring a tear or two to the eye. Yes, the rape is cliched, Lavena is over the top, and Anna irritating, but Agnes, Conn, and Ellis even the score. More important is that this book features a hero and heroine who do not do battle from page one, as they did in Graham’s earlier book. Given that I enjoyed that one (and I don’t usually enjoy that type of romance), it’s impressive that she could write believable characters and stories in both instances.

So, if you are looking for a book with a different setting than most, you might want to try Hayley’s Heart. And if you can dig up a copy of My Darling Kate, read both and compare the styles of the author’s characters. The differences are strong, and an author who can do that is one to whom I doff my hat.