"A Master Artist of Words"

Stuart Aysgarth has assumed the new title of Viscount Mount Villiars along with several other titles, many properties and more money than he can count. The only problem is his uncle claimed the inheritance before Stuart could arrive back home from Russia. He ransacked the properties and has tied up all the money in the courts. Now Stuart is trying to unravel it all so that he can take care of his seventy- seven servants as well as pay all of his debts. What Stuart is really steamed about is his uncle purloining a small statue that he was extremely fond of as well as a pair of his mother's favorite earrings. These are a couple of irreplaceable things and he wants them returned.

Emma Hotchkiss lives in the small village next to the new Viscount's estate. She barely makes ends meet and lives a hand to mouth existence since the death of her husband. She has counted on her baby ram to sire some future lambs for her survival. When Stuart's huge coach and eight come racing up the road and kill her lamb, she insists on recompense. She is offered ten pounds that she promptly refuses. She figures her ram is worth at least fifty pounds. She writes letters to the new viscount but to no avail. She comes up with an elaborate scheme to get her money.

Emma had lived in London for several years working some scams with her husband and others. When one of the scams went bad and several of her cohorts were shot, she and her husband retired to the country to live a better life. Stuart is a canny fellow and catches Emma as she tries to collect the fifty pounds. He is very attracted to the cute little woman who has used various Mother Goose names to collect what is owed her. He forces her to help him against his uncle promising her jail time if she refuses. He also gets two minutes from her before she realizes what is happening.

UNTIE MY HEART is 369 pages of wonderful reading. Whenever I pick up a book by Judith Ivory, I know that I am in for a rare treat and this book is no exception. Her characters never do the expected thing -- they are always a little off center, quirky and absolutely marvelous. Ms Ivory's writing is lyrical, her pacing perfect, and if I could think of more superlatives to say about UNTIE MY HEART, I would certainly do so. She is a master artist who paints lovely visual pictures with words. One of my favorite scenes in UNTIE MY HEART is when Stuart comes into the bank with his chinchilla-lined coat swirling around him as Emma looks at him in awe at his magnificence. Or when he jumps over the fence as Emma is enthralled by his elegance. I also love the fact that he has a slight speech impediment that makes him more special. He is an unconventional hero and Emma is a feisty and unusual heroine, perfect for each other despite their class difference.

This is a book not to be missed and I always wait in high anticipation for Judith Ivory's next offerings. Can we clone this wonderful author so we can read more of her excellent books?

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted December 11, 2002

Summary

Stuart Aysgarth, dark, exotic, rich, and powerful has just arrived from Russia after a twelve year absence from England. He returns to much turmoil over the title itself--his uncle has convinced others that Stuart, the son and heir, doesn't exist. But nothing proves so challenging as the turmoil resulting from his run-in with a local sheep farmer, Emma Hotchkiss, who will have fairness from him, even if she has to steal it.