Defiant Heart (Westward Hearts)

By Tracey Bateman

In Book One of the Westward Hearts series, orphans Fannie Caldwell and her two young siblings have spent the last three years as indentured servants under a cruel master. Desperately wanting a better life for her brother and sister, Fannie devises a plan to secretly join a wagon train heading west. Her plan immediately runs into trouble when the handsome yet bullheaded wagon master Blake Tanner refuses to allow an unmarried woman on the train. But Fannie's determined—she'll escape and go west with or without help.

As life on the trail tests everyone's endurance and faith, Fannie soon realizes the perils of being a single woman on the frontier. Witnessing Fannie fending off one scare after another, Blake slowly recognizes how much he cares for this alluring young woman. Will Blake sacrifice his own dreams and guide Fannie to safety? Or will Fannie's stubborn independence keep her from finding true love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 13, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061743542

Tracey Bateman

Tracey Bateman is the award-winning author of many books, including Kansas Home.

Reviews for Defiant Heart (Westward Hearts)

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It’s been a hard life for Fannie and her siblings, being indentured servants to a hard-hearted man who won’t let them go. But Fannie is determined free herself and her siblings from bondage. Her chance comes in the form a westward bound wagon train. Though much of this story is typical – brave, young woman meets handsome but stubborn man, outcome: romance – it is still an enjoyable and exciting story. Not all that happens is pleasant, and not all is easily predictable. A variety of well-developed characters in interesting situations makes it a good beginning to a promising series.

[fairydragonstar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The message of this book is one that touches the heart