In Silence Cries the Heart
This is a dual-timeline novel that tells a passionate love story. In 17th-century Scotland, a cattle thief does not normally get the chance to fall in love with the daughter of the laird, but that is what happens between Mary McElroy and Donal Donn. Their instant passion is undeniable after a chance meeting in the forest. Their desire to be together conflicts with the plans of Mary’s father to strengthen his position by placing her in a political marriage. The most likely candidate is a hateful man who will do anything to destroy Donal and take Mary for himself. In 2018, Caitlyn is on a trip to Scotland when she comes across a love story from the past in an unusual way.
I adored the story of Mary and Donal. The writing is so powerful and poetic, and the dialect of the time fits the story perfectly. The verses that Donal pens for Mary while they are apart are beautiful. This love story grabbed me and kept me mesmerized until the end. Mary’s situation demonstrates the lack of choices for women at that time. I feel that the dual timeline, however, is not needed. The whole 2018 storyline is unnecessary and not fully developed, and Caitlyn’s character is not fleshed out. The story of Mary and Donal stands on its own, and the attempt to switch between the two timelines is jarring. It appears Caitlyn’s function was to bring a bit of magical realism to the story, but that could have been done without her. Nevertheless, I still highly recommend this captivating love story.
