When you receive a letter, how can you be sure who sent it? Of course it may be signed, but what if you are unfamiliar with the handwriting of your beloved? Here Is My Heart revolves around these uncertainties, and letters plays a great role, not only for our heroes, but also in the mystery they must solve.

When her sister, Helene, breaks up with her suitor, Julien Delaroche, Josephine Lalique continues the correspondence in Helene’s name. What Josephine does not know is that it is not Julien who writes the love letters, but her childhood friend, Matthieu Bouchet. Neither Josephine nor Matthieu are aware of the double-deception they are playing out. When the truth is discovered, Julien finds he has the perfect tool for his long-nurtured vendetta against Matthieu. Josephine is slowly realizing how shallow her attraction to Julien was, and the man she really loves is the man who penned her those hot words. But the secrets of the past will not stay hidden, and Josephine discovers the letters Matthieu’s mother has saved. Armed with the letters, she sets out to reach her love in the battle-lines in time to prevent disaster.

Josephine is very young, easily moved by words of passion, and quick to take action, however ill-advised. The first paragraph of Here Is My Heart describes her perfectly:

One letter. That was all it had taken for Josephine Lalique to fall in love with the Chevalier Delaroche. So she had come to the decision to ignore the unfortunate fact that the letter, as all the others to follow, was addressed not to her, but to her sister, Helene.

Matthieu is a dreamer and a talented artist. What he is not, is a soldier – in spite of having joined the army. He has loved Josephine for years, but never suspected the carnal passions just waiting for an outlet.

On the first page the reader is informed of the time and place: Paris, in 1640. Beyond that, there is very little that points to a certain time. Julien and Matthieu spend time at various fronts, there are descriptions of panniered gowns, and some glimpses of the debauched goings-on at Court, but this could point to much of the period between 1640 and 1788. For readers who prefer their historical settings as “diet” as possible, this will not pose a problem. Personally, I prefer a little more meat to allow me to feel I am in a certain period along with the hero and heroine, not watching a costume drama on TV.

Since the setting does not attract much notice, the cast of supporting characters stands out more. The antics of Josephine’s father were amusing, as were the appetites and outlook of her sister Helene. Beyond these two, I felt the rest fell neatly in their predestined roles. There was the saintly mother, the supporting older woman – and what romance novel would be complete without a rascally villain, who may or may not have a good reason for his actions?

Try Here Is My Heart if you want a sweeter historical uncluttered by period trivia. But when all is said and done, I found Here is My Heart a very mediocre read. What I liked, I liked little, and the things I disliked never graduated to being disgusting. The basic idea of letter writing was interesting and the letters were daring, but the words never caught fire in my mind.