Probably I should rate this five stars, however, the pace dragged and I felt like the characters needed more sizzle between them. I enjoyed the plot but felt there should of been more activity. It many ways the story dragged. Then it picked up again. I liked the plot, I even enjoyed the characters if you take them by themselves, but if you take them on a romantic basis, I needed more connection. Now if I put those items aside, I would say the plot was quite unique in many ways! That is what kept me reading even without the sizzle, I wanted to know how it would be resolved! I enjoyed the way it was brought to a close and even the love as it came to a finale! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna

I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I usually read romance books when I'm on holiday, what I like to call "Christmas-spirit books" and "beach books".
What I liked about this book is not necessarily the plot - quite predictable - but the setting. 19th century Australia seems a good choice as background for a young lady's emancipation in owning and managing her farm but also in choosing her own life partner. There were two social classes at the time: the "exclusives" (the free settlers) and the ex-convicts. The convicts and the aborigenes are outcasts. But Sarah's mistrust and wariness against the latter category are not the result of her origin or upbringing, they are caused by previous traumas (the deaths of her father and aunt at the hands of aborigenes and convicts). She rejects (at least in thinking if not always in action), high society's norms of propriety out of practicality: it is easier to ride a horse, tend sheep, etc. in men's clothes. You cannot but admire her free spirit.
At the same, time she longs for a family of her own. In order to achieve that, she has to learn to trust again (convicts and aborigenes), to accept the idea that people can change. In the end, she is the one who changes, and when she realizes that, she can trust and love Daniel.
Other than this battle of spirits and ideologies, the book also contains a series of dramatic scenes, very well-narrated, which make it really enjoyable and worth-reading.

Whenever I read a historical novel by Jennifer Moore, I'm guaranteed to be swept away to an earlier era and the location is always unique to any other book I've read! Miss Whitaker Opens Her Heart is no exception- I was completely immersed in early 19th century Australia, and the dynamics of the community and politics there were fascinating! I loved learning details about the lives and hardships of the people who relocated there from Europe. The characters are developed so well that I felt like I knew them and was invested in their decisions and hoping for a happy ending, especially for Sarah who suffered the loss of the people in her life who loved her. The themes of overcoming prejudice, compassion, and forgiveness are strong as Daniel and Sarah are confronted with life-changing decisions. I loved their friendship and budding relationship, which developed naturally over the course of the story. Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were likable and I wanted to know what happened to them. I had no trouble getting into the book and had a hard time putting it down. It was a good story.

Slow and so imprecise story.

Almost at the halfway of the story and nothing has happened. The descriptions, which at first were interesting, have become boring and repetitive. The characters are flat and one-dimensional. They are very good people or very bad ones, there is nothing in between. The MC´s hardly have chemistry and they contradict themselves and /or change of opinion constantly.
I can see coming the heroine´s "secret" and do not think it will be realistic enough to justify her behavior. Anyway, I can´t get invested in the story so I prefer to leave it now.
I do not rate. It would not be fair.
***
Historia muy lenta y muy imprecisa.

Casi llegados al ecuador no ha pasado nada. Las descripciones, que al principio fueron interesantes, se han convertido en aburridas y repetitivas. Los personajes son planos y unidimensionales. Los hay muy buenos y muy malos, no existen las medias tintas. Los protagonistas apenas tienen química y se contradicen y/o cambian de opinión constantemente. Y el “secreto” de la protagonista se ve venir de lejos y no creo que vaya a resultar lo suficientemente realista como para justificar su comportamiento. En fin, no me está pareciendo nada atractiva así que prefiero dejarlo aquí.
No puntúo. No sería justo.