Long and Short Reviews

In The Shadow of My Heart by Victoria Pitts-Caine
The Wild Rose Press, American Rose
Historical
Short Story, Sweet
Review by Snapdragon

Katie and Charlie are star-crossed lovers in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee in the Civil-War era. Their fathers are bitter enemies but the two teenagers fall in love before Charlie leaves to join the militia after the battle of Shiloh. Charlie begs Katie to wait for him but he never returns.

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Physical descriptions almost create a scenic vision for us, in Victoria Pitts-Caine's "In the Shadow of My Heart." With the Great Smoky Mountains as backdrop, the aura is a touching romance, from the very start. Daringly written in a frank first person, we are immediately involved in and intrigued by the challenges facing "the Romeo and Juliet of the Tennessee Hills." Katie and Charlie seem to have more than their share going against their relationship. And, we must trust that each is, in their own way, the person they believe one another to be.

Heavily dramatic lines are probably not inappropriate for the times, but occasional heavy word choice here seems inconsistent at times ands strikes a bit of an offbeat note. "I dared not look into his eyes, hence mine would have overflowed..." and yet, these lines also charm, and enhance Katie's often sad reflections.

Ms. Pitts-Caine is an evocative writer, and readers will discover a deep empathy for our heroine.