In Heart of a Warrior, we meet Christina and Towan who came from different worlds at a time when the two worlds wanted nothing to do with the other. Angela K. Crouch pens a masterful tale of what happens when the two worlds collide.
My Review of Heart of a Warrior
When Christina set out for Oregon with her husband Anthony, she knew the journey would be challenging and she’d be on an adventure. She did not expect to be widowed and left to fend for herself in the wild, especially not while pregnant. But the only person who seems willing to help is the native Indian who is not what he seems.
There is a lot of emotion and drama in this book. When Towan decides to help Christina he does so knowing he would have to overcome her prejudices first. What he didn’t expect was that his own prejudices would come to light.
The Characters in Heart of a Warrior
Angela K. Couch does a good job of portraying a man caught between two worlds and the woman who has to wrestle with her prejudices to see beyond a person’s skin tone and heritage.
I felt for Towan, I really did. I empathized with the pain he felt as he was ridiculed by his father’s people while not fully fitting in with his mother’s people. His angst only intensified as his desire for Christina increased: loving her meant one of them had to choose to live in a world they didn’t belong.
Christina was an interesting character. In some ways, she seemed selfish because she didn’t truly understand the sacrifices Towan made for her but a lot of what comes across as selfishness could simply have been her ignorance. She had no idea how to survive outside of her sheltered world and no idea what to do in the world where Towan lived.
But throughout the book, there was growth in both of these characters. Being together taught them about the world the other occupied and how to survive in it.
The Themes in Heart of a Warrior
One of the major themes in this book was finding a place to Belong. Both Towan and Christina experienced the sense of not fitting in. They eventually had to learn that home is where the heart is.
Another theme I noticed was the importance of forging a relationship with God. As a Shoshone, Towan seemed like the last person who would believe in God. Yet he was able to acknowledge that there was one God and to find comfort and solace in his relationship with God.
There was also a slight theme of forgiveness running through Heart of a Warrior. Towan had to forgive his father and his father’s people in order to grasp a chance to spend life with Christina and Will. When Towan finally learned this lesson the shackles around his heart fell away and he was able to seek to pursue life with the woman he loved.
The final theme I want to mention is the importance of not judging people by their appearances. Both Towan and Christina did this. They looked at the other person and ascribed a number of attributes to them because of how they looked. They each had to realize that character and not how a person looks is what will ultimately drive their behavior.
The Heart of a Warrior was an emotional read. I was invested in the characters and couldn’t wait to get to the end of the story (even as I didn’t want it to end).
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publishers through Just Read Tours; a positive review was not required. Get your copy of Heart of a Warrior.
About Heart of a Warrior
Book: Heart of a Warrior
Publisher: Prism Lux
Publication Date: August 13, 2020
Print Length: 282 pages
All Christina Astle wants is to reach Oregon before her baby is born, but the wagon train is attacked, and her husband killed, stranding her in a mountain labyrinth. Raised in the East, within civilization’s embrace, survival is not a skill she’s learned. Neither is evading the lone warrior dogging her trail.
Disgusted by the greed and cruelty of men like his white father, Towan has turned to the simpler existence of his mother’s tribal people. He is not prepared for the fiery woman who threatens to upturn his entire life … and his heart.
About Angela K. Couch
To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up.
As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after four munchkins.