Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz

About the Book
Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in the Virginia colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family's shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors.
Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife, daughter of the Powhatan chief.
Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they've been missing in life has been right in front of them all along?
Bestselling and award-winning author Laura Frantz takes you to the salty shores of seventeenth-century Virginia in this exploration of pride, honor, and the restorative power of true love.

My Thoughts

Fiction that takes place in the colonies prior to the Revolutionary war isn’t always my thing but Laura Frantz writes this time period so well that I can’t help checking out each new release.

Honestly I liked the fact that this book was lacking a lot of the typical frontier disasters one normally finds rampant in this time period, no disease outbreaks (this was especially nice to find absent considering the current state of the world), no constant attacks from the natives, and they weren’t struggling to make do. Instead James Towne was a thriving area and I enjoyed the look at how life was then. I always appreciate how much research Frantz does to create a richly historically accurate background for her characters!

The characters themselves were great too, I admired both Xander and Selah’s strong work ethic and the care they had for others. Their romance was definitely a slow burning one but I actually didn’t mind and it fit their situation well. And it wasn’t so slow that you couldn’t see the obvious connection growing. The secondary characters enhanced the story and were all well written.

This was another expertly delivered novel from Frantz and I know fans of her work will love this one as well!

Meet the Author

Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of eleven novels, including An Uncommon Woman, The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel's Lady, The Lacemaker, and A Bound Heart. She is a proud mom to an American soldier and a career firefighter. When not at home in Kentucky, she and her husband live in Washington State. Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz

About the Book
Unflinching and plainspoken, Tessa Swan is not your typical 18th-century woman. Born and bred on the western Virginia frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with.
Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is not your typical 18th-century man. Raised by Lenape Indians, he returns a hero from the French and Indian War to the fort that bears his name, bringing with him Tessa's long-lost friend, Keturah, a redeemed Indian captive like himself.
Determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander, Clay remains aloof whenever he encounters the lovely Tessa. But when she is taken captive by the tribe Clay left, his hand--and heart--are forced, leading to one very private and one very public reckoning.
Intense, evocative, and laced with intricate historical details that bring the past to life, An Uncommon Woman will transport you to the picturesque and dangerous western Virginia mountains of 1770.

My Thoughts
One of the things Laura Frantz is best known for is her vivid descriptions of the early American frontier. She writes in such a way that you are transported back in time and feel like you are really there. Such was the case in this book, and though it unfortunately bogged me down a little in the first half, I still recognized the beauty of the writing and appreciated it. I was definitely more sucked into the second half but the book as a whole was still a wonderful read! And I definitely enjoyed all of the mentions of places close to where I live!
I loved Clay and Tessa’s characters and I really loved them together! Their interactions were such fun and I loved their little banter! Selfishly I wanted more of them together in scenes and getting to see more of the sparks fly but what we got was still enough to wholly enchant me! The rest of the characters, namely Tessa’s family, were great too and I definitely wouldn’t mind getting more of their stories in the future (hint hint)!
All in all another great book from a masterful storyteller that I’m sure all fans of her books and/or frontier romances will enjoy!

Meet the Author
Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel's Lady, The Lacemaker, and A Bound Heart. Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz

About the Book
Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he is hoping will provide a tincture that might help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Yet even when all hope seems dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony, it may be that in this New World the two of them could make a new beginning--together.
Laura Frantz's prose sparkles with authenticity and deep feeling as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in Colonial America.

My Thoughts
I've discovered that you can’t read a Laura Frantz book fast. Her writing is so beautiful and rich that it makes you slow down and savor each artistically crafted sentence.
This book, like the others before it, was amazing. The story takes place in multiple locations and the author brought each one to life in vivid detail, transporting you to another time.
I absolutely loved both Lark and Magnus. Neither of them had had an easy life, facing many losses, and being the victims of circumstances beyond their control, but their attitudes through it all were inspiring. They never let their circumstances dictate their attitudes, instead they trusted God and His plans for them, their faith never wavering.
The story took place over a long span of time but it never dragged, the pacing was expertly handled and I was swept along with the characters.
I loved how the romance was subtly woven in, starting as a childhood friendship that remained strong throughout the years. Even when Magnus married they remained friends, only after his wife died did their friendship blossom into something more.
I feel like this review in no ways does justice to the beauty of this novel and I highly recommend you read it!

Meet the Author
Christy Award-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. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.
According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.
Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books by Authors I Love That I Still Need to Read

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

The list of books I need to read is endless so I kept this list to ones that I actually own by authors I really really love. Can't believe I still haven't read these! Hopefully soon!

#1. The Colonel's Lady & The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz

#2. A Most Inconvenient Marriage & For the Record by Regina Jennings

#3. Life After by Katie Ganshert

#4. The Sweethaven Series by Courtney Walsh

#5. With Every Breath & Until the Dawn by Elizabeth Camden

#6. The Illusionist's Apprentice & The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

#7. The Wedding Shop & The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

#8. A Beauty So Rare & A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

#9. The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett

#10. Love Finds You in Annapolis Maryland by Roseanna M. White

Top Ten (New) Heroes to Love

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I wanted to feature some swoon-worthy heroes for the V-day freebie but there are just too many that I love! So I narrowed it down to heroes from books that I've read in the last year(ish) and limited myself to one per author. So without further ado, here are some heroes that had me melting more than a little bit!

#1. Lawry Hampton from The Bound Heart by Dawn Crandall

#2. Trent Hawthorne from An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter

#3. Peter Holstein from A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

#4. Ryan Brooks from Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh

#5. Wyatt Paxton from The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin

#6. Seb Pierce from One Enchanted Noel by Melissa Tagg

#7. Wes Harrison from Just the Way You Are by Pepper Basham

#8. Chase Griffin from His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman

#9. Noble Rynallt from The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

#10. Parker Mitchell from Still Life by Dani Pettrey

So if you've read these books do you agree with me? Who are some heroes you've been loving lately?

Top Ten Books That Have Been on My TBR the Longest

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

#1. The Colonel's Lady and The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz
I've read every other one of Laura's books but I just haven't managed to get to these two.

#2. The Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen
This is the only one of this author's early books I haven't read (though I've missed her last several releases too).

#3. Proof by Jordyn Redwood
This book has been on my radar since it's release and I was lucky enough to win a copy but it has sat unread on my shelf for too long.

#4. A Twist of Faith by Pepper Basham
I've had this one on kindle for forever and I also recently purchased the paperback. This will be the year I finally read it!

#5. A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings
I love Regina's books but when I didn't get this one for review it slipped through the cracks. I eventually got it as a birthday gift but I still haven't read it.

#6. The Secert Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Kate Rorick & Bernie Su
Loved this YouTube mini-series and was so excited to get the book but life and other books have kept me from it.

#7. Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay
I loved this author's debut but yet I haven't read anymore of her books.

#8. Fair Play by Deeanne Gist
Love this author and the first book of fair books was fun but sadly I still need to read this one.

#9. Stuck Together by Mary Connealy
I'm a little ashamed I still have not read this one. I read all her other books and even the others in this series but it took me a little while to get my hands on this one and I just keep forgetting I haven't read it.

#10. A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander

Loved book one in this Belmont series and yet book two (and now three) still have not been read.

The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

About the Book
It is the eve of a new age of freedom in the colonies.
But can a proper English lady dare hope for her own independence?
Lady Elisabeth "Liberty" Lawson has nearly everything a lady of her position could want. Daughter of the British lieutenant governor of the Virginia Colony and a darling of fine society in a rugged land, she is anticipating an advantageous marriage. That her betrothed is a rake and love is lacking is of little consequence--or so she tells herself.

Though her own life seems in order, colonial Williamsburg is a powder keg on the verge of exploding, and her fiancé's cousin Noble Rynallt carries the flame of revolution in his heart. Those with connections to the British nobility are suspected as spies, and Liberty soon finds herself left with a terrible choice. Will she stay true to her English roots? Or side with Noble and the radical revolutionaries?

My Thoughts
Yet again this author blew me away! The historical detail is seamlessly woven into every fiber of the story and transports the reader back in time. I have always been a bit enamored with the American Revolution (and one needs only to glance at my the reading and writing habits of my school days to verify that) so it’s always a treat to find beautifully crafted stories set in that era. And this book was nothing if not beautifully crafted! It’s a decently large book at about 400 pages and I finished it in a day, unable to put it down.
And now to talk about the heroine and the hero. Noble lived up to his name in every way-a true hero. The quiet way he was always there to help, seeing need and immediately doing what was necessary and often going beyond, but also knowing when to step back. I don’t think there was a thing about him that I didn’t admire! Elizabeth, or Liberty as she later chose to be called, was definitely admirable too. As the daughter of a staunch Tory father and a Patriot mother she was pulled in both directions, but as events play out she begins to see which cause is the right one. I appreciated how even though she was abandoned by friends and family alike she didn’t wallow in it. Instead she took the skills she had and found a job and even though it was hard and endless she did it without complaint.
Noble and Liberty’s relationship developed slowly but steadily, their paths continuously crossing an unlikely friendship developed into love. A timeless kind of love that just kinda took your breath with its simple beauty

Everything about this book was brilliant the writing, the characters, the romance, the historical parts, and I loved every part of it and highly recommend it to all historical lovers!

Meet the Author
Award-winning, bestselling 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. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.
According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Top Ten Authors I Discovered My First Year of Blogging

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

My first full year of blogging was 2012 and I read 232 books that year! It was a year of discovery for me. Finding new authors, figuring out exactly what kinds of books I loved, what kinds I liked, and which kinds weren't for me. These ten authors are ones that I first read that year and to this day they are still favorites of mine! I'll also show which book was my first of each author!

Dani Pettrey

Becky Wade

Katie Ganshert

Elizabeth Camden

Jen Turano

Laura Frantz

Jody Hedlund

Denise Hunter

Julie Klassen

Jocelyn Green 

A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz

About the Book
After fleeing Virginia, Temperance Tucker and her family established an inn along the Shawnee River. It's a welcome way station for settlers and frontiersmen traveling through the wild Cumberland region of Kentucke--men like Sion Morgan, a Virginia surveyor who arrives at the inn with his crew looking for an experienced guide. When his guide appears, Sion balks. He certainly didn't expect a woman. But it is not long before he must admit that Tempe's skill in the wilderness rivals his own. Still, the tenuous tie they are forming is put to the test as they encounter danger after danger and must rely on each other.

With her signature sweeping style and ability to bring the distant past to vivid life, Laura Frantz beckons readers to join her in a land of Indian ambushes, conflicting loyalties, and a tentative love that meanders like a cool mountain stream.

My Thoughts
Breathtaking. That's the best word I can use to describe this author's writing. The way she paints such a vivid pictures with her words, transports the reader to another time and place. I often felt like I was right in the middle of the wilds of undeveloped Kentucke.
Sion and Tempe were both brilliantly written with many layers that were strategically pulled back as the story unfolded. They both had difficult and complicated pasts filled with hardships and loss but they persevered through it all. Their relationship progressed in a slow and steady manner and it was beautiful to watch it all play out. They went through a lot but in the end they found the love they'd been waiting for.
Sion, Tempe, and the rest of the surveying team had a hard journey as they moved through the wild country. From Indian war parties, to perilous river crossings, to dangerous caves, to weather conditions, but through it all they pressed on. I found it interesting to get a glimpse into the lives of early surveyors an all the things they had to endure in order to map out the land we now call America.
In short this book was beautiful and I highly recommend it!

Meet the Author
Laura Frantz is a Christy Award finalist and the author of several books, including The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel's Lady, The Mistress of Tall Acre, and the Ballantyne Legacy series. She lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky. Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Top Ten Books I've Read Since June 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

In June I did a post about the best books I'd read in the first half of the year and so instead of doing this about the whole year (which is impossible FYI) I decided just to share my ten favs that I've read since my last post! (If you missed it you can find my Jan-June 2015 Top Ten List HERE)

#1. Isle of Hope by Julie Lessman

#2. Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin

#3. Can't Let You Go by Jenny B. Jones

#4. A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

#5. Chivalrous by Dina L. Sleiman

#6. Not by Sight by Kate Breslin

#7. The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

#8. The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M White

#9. In Good Company by Jen Turano

#10. Vendetta by Lisa Harris

Top Ten Author Duos I Want to Write a Series Together

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

#1. Julie Lessman, Susan May Warren, Sarah Sundin, and Ronie Kendig-So this is four authors not two but I've had this idea for a series that is about four generations of men who fight in WWI (Julie Lessman), WWII (Sarah Sundin), Vietnam War (Susan May Warren), and the War on Terror (Ronie Kendig). These are all brilliant authors and I think this would be a fabulous collaboration!

#2. Melissa Tagg & Jenny B. Jones-My sides would literally split from laughter! These authors are hysterical and they would probably write the funniest series ever!

#3. Karen Witemeyer & Cathy Marie Hake-Two of my favorite authors when it comes western humor!

#4. Dani Pettrey & Irene Hannon-Both of these authors write contemporary suspense and I think they'd write a pretty awesome series together.

#5. Melanie Dickerson & Dina L. Sleiman-I think these two could write a fun retelling series together!

#6. Laura Frantz & Lori Benton-These two both write amazing books that take place in the early years of our country and they'd do a pretty good job writing a series together.

#7. Kate Breslin & Tricia Goyer-I think these two could write a pretty great WWII series together!

#8. Jill Williamson & C.J. Darlington-Both of these authors have written really brilliant Christian Dystopian and it would be cool to see what they would come up with!

#9. Shelley Adina & Melody Carlson-These authors could write a fun YA series!

#10. Jocelyn Green & Rosslyn Elliot-Great Civil War authors!

The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

About the Book
The American Revolution is finally over and Sophie Menzies is starved for good news. When her closest neighbor, General Seamus Ogilvy finally comes home to Tall Acre, she hopes it is a sign of better days to come. But the general is now a widower with a small daughter in desperate need of a mother. Nearly destitute, Sophie agrees to marry Seamus and become the mistress of Tall Acre in what seems a safe and sensible arrangement. But when a woman from the general's past returns without warning, the ties that bind this fledgling family together will be strained to the point of breaking. When all is said and done, who will be the rightful mistress of Tall Acre?

My Thoughts
I tend to forget how amazing this author truly is until I pick up another one of her books and get blown away by her talent! Due to busyness I lost track of the days and suddenly realized I had a little over twenty-four hours to get this book read and reviewed! Thankfully it was so amazing that I probably would have devoured it in a similar length of time regardless of a looming deadline! The second I heard about this book I knew I would love it! After all it was written by a fabulous author, was set around one of my favorite time periods in history, and had a marriage of convenience which is a plot line that I love. Needless to say it was next to impossible that I would have anything but good things to say about this book!
I loved both Seamus and Sophie's characters! Seamus may have seemed gruff on the outside but all it took was one scene with his daughter to see that he had a kind and caring heart. Sophie was an amazing heroine, I admired her strength through all of the hardships she'd faced and how she never let her circumstances change who she was. Lily Cate was a precious child and it was so sweet to watch her blossom under Sophie's care and as she got to know her father.
I was completely engrossed in this story and there were several unexpected turns I didn't see coming. In short this book was absolutely amazing from start to finish and I highly recommend it!!

Meet the Author
Award-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. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.
According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.
Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Top Ten Books/Authors to Read if You Like...

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

If you like...The Christiansen Family Series by Susan May Warren 
You should try...Chapel Springs Series by Denise Hunter

If you like...Julie Klassen
You should try...Sarah E. Ladd & Carrie Turansky

If you like...Karen Witemeyer

You should try...Cathy Marie Hake

If you like...Laura Frantz

You should try...Lori Benton

If you like...Diary of a Teenage Girl Series by Melody Carlson

You should try...Hollywood Nobody Series by Lisa Samson

If you like...Melanie Dickerson

You should try...Dina L. Sleiman

If you like...Irene Hannon

You should try...Lisa Harris

If you like...Mary Connealy

You should try...Jen Turano

If you like...The Heart of San Francisco Series by Julie Lessman

You should try...The Golden Gate Chronicles by Karen Barnett

If you like...Lynette Eason

You should try...Patricia Bradley

Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

#1. The Best Gift of All by Julie Lessman

#2. The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren

#3. The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

#4. The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

#5. At Love's Bidding by Regina Jennings

#6.  A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

#7. Vendetta by Lisa Harris

#8. Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund

#9. The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

#10. A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky