Ellie Ballantyne, youngest child of Silas and Eden, has left finishing school. But back at her family home in Pittsburgh, Ellie finds that her parents are away on a long trip and her siblings don't seem to want her to stay. When she opens a day school for young ladies, she begins tutoring the incorrigible daughter of the enemy Turlock clan. The Turlocks are slaveholders and whiskey magnates, envious of the powerful Ballantynes and suspicious of their abolitionist leanings. As Ellie becomes increasingly tangled with the Turlocks, she finds herself falling in love with an impossible future--and Jack Turlock, a young man striving to free himself from his family's violent legacy. How can she betray her family and side with the enemy? And will Jack ever allow her into his world?
Masterful storyteller Laura Frantz continues to unfold the stirring saga of the Ballantyne family in this majestic tale of love, loyalty, and the makings of a legacy. With rich descriptions of the people who settled and civilized a wild landscape, Frantz weaves a tapestry of characters and places that stick with the reader long after they turn the last page.
My Thoughts
I always seem to forget just how amazing Laura Frantz's writing is until I pick up one of her books. This one was no different and I was swept away from beginning to end!
I loved both Ellie and Jack's characters. Ellie was sweet and a little naïve but she didn't hesitate to jump in and do whatever needed doing. It was cool to watch Jack's character grow from the typical reckless and brash Turlock to a responsible man not afraid to stand up for what was right.
Chloe was such a fun girl and her scheming to get Jack and Ellie together was rather amusing. I loved how much she matured under Ellie's tutelage.
It was also great to see how Silas and Eden's relationship had weathered the years and Ellie's siblings were an interesting group.
This book made me laugh and cry and I loved every minute! I cannot wait to read book three now!
Meet the AuthorAward-winning author Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Her family resides in Kentucky and Virginia.
Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net
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