Review of A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz

 

About the Book ~

A Virginia chocolatier and a privateering sea captain collide once more after a failed love affair a decade before. Will a war and a cache of regrets keep them apart? Or will a new shared vision reunite them?

It is 1755, and the threat of war with France looms over colonial York, Virginia. Chocolatier Esmée Shaw is fighting her own battle of the heart. Having reached her twenty-eighth birthday, she is reconciled to life alone after a decade-old failed love affair from which she's never quite recovered. But she longs to find something worthwhile to do with her life.

Captain Henri Lennox has returned to port after a lengthy absence, intent on completing the lighthouse in the dangerous Chesapeake Bay, a dream he once shared with Esmée. But when the colonial government asks him to lead a secret naval expedition against the French, his future is plunged into uncertainty.

Will a war and a cache of regrets keep them apart, or can their shared vision and dedication to the colonial cause heal the wounds of the past? Bestselling and award-winning author Laura Frantz whisks you away to a time fraught with peril--on the sea and in the heart--in this redemptive, romantic story.

For more information about Laura Frantz and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz is a lovely voyage through the Tidewater of colonial Virginia! 

The vivacious setting of A Heart Adrift was truly a star in and of itself in this historical tale! From the immersive descriptions to charming locations such as a chocolate shop, a lighthouse, and even the deck of a mighty sea vessel, the beauty and vividness of the era shines. However, the pacing moved a little slower. While Esmee and Henri didn't end up being soulmate characters for my bookish heart, I loved how the author crafted Esmee's character, specifically that she didn't conform to gender norms and restrictions of the time. 

Esmee and Henri's long and tumultuous relationship certainly faced some ups and down before they were both ready for marriage. Ultimately, they needed to put each other first before they were able to embark on matrimony. Additionally, their respective relationships with God as well as those around them were put to the test as they and their immediate community navigated various trials. It's an apt portrayal of the painful struggle and the misguided reasonings used to make sense of God and the world when your reality has shattered around you, but one that encourages readers to draw closer to God.

Three Stars ~ A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz is a lovely and romantic voyage through history! A Heart Adrift is a standalone, but the author has other books in her backlist for readers to enjoy.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz

About the Book ~ 

They're both too busy for love . . . but love is not too busy for them.

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in 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.

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?

For more information about Laura Frantz and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~ 

Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz has the makings of a fairytale classic!

I'm one of those people who reads the author's note at the end of the book before I start reading the story. Because of that, I went into Tidewater Bride knowing how much Pocahontas and John Rolfe inspired this tale. The author's phenomenal talent at immersing the reader into the era is uncanny! From speech to dress to description, every detail surrounding this fictional James Towne scream authenticity. The romance between Selah and Xander proved to be exceptionally compelling because it was seeped with historical details. In fact, I prefer this happy ending to the one in the history books AND the Disney version I grew up with -- and I usually prefer Disney's take on a story!

Though framed in the trials and hardships of the era, I found Tidewater Bride to be a beacon of God's unchanging truths that are so desperately needed in today's world! Watching Selah and Xander navigate the unfortunate reality that evil lurks in any corner was agonizing; however, watching God bring those things to light was glorious! Selah and Xander's story proudly trumpets that God is in control, and the Gospel is for all.

Four Stars ~ Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz will charm readers with its whimsical reimagining of history! Tidewater Bride is a standalone, but the author has other titles in her backlist for readers to enjoy!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of 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 just the keeper of his bees - and the woman who could provide an elixir too 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. Can they make a new beginning in this New World? Or will their hopes be dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony?

Laura Frantz's prose sparkles with authenticity as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in colonial America.

For more information about Laura Frantz and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Ready for a romantic tale that will whisk you away to foreign lands and times gone by?

Well, Laura Frantz has done it again with A Bound Heart! It is absolutely enchanting!

The vivid detail - one of the author's greatest strengths! - will engulf you the second you crack the spine. You will feel the spray of the ocean. You will smell the herbs of the stillroom. You will feel the heat of the Virginia sun. The attention to even the smallest details combined with the rich history of each setting will leave you breathless!

Magnus and Lark's story is told in three distinct parts, and a minor subplot with a secondary character served to provide even more rich history for the era. The author makes your heart ache for Magnus and Lark, for their unrequited love to finally bloom despite all the horrors and obstacles in their way. While the last third of the book made me shake my fist at the sky, I suspect that was the author's plan all along because I was desperate for these beautiful souls to find their way back to each other!

The author didn't ignore the painful realities and injustices of the world at that time. Instead, Magnus and Lark did their best to live their lives according to God's loving justice despite all the evil around them. When it would have seemed like providence for them to take the safe path, they chose to go where they were truly needed. Magnus and Lark may not have changed The World, but they changed their everyday worlds by choosing to walk in God's love, a truth that will resonate and challenge the heart.

Four Stars ~ A Bound Heart is a romantic tale that will sweep readers into it's poetic tide! A Bound Heart is a standalone, but fan's of Laura Frantz's previous novels, like The Lacemaker, will be captured by this latest treasure!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Review of 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?

For more information about Laura Frantz and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

This was my first novel by Laura Frantz...

Please, don't aim for the face. ;-)

If I've shocked you, then you will at least be pleased to know that I found The Lacemaker to be thoroughly enchanting!

Set at the start of the American Revolutionary War, this story was filled with all kinds of historical details that would make you honestly believe that it was penned by someone who had lived through this tumultuous period if it wasn't for the copyright date. For me, The Lacemaker was the kind of story that started slowly, but built and built, until I realized that I was very much enamored with it. <3

Noble is, because he's very much REAL, honorable, brave, and worthy of a hearty swoon! He represents so many brave men who fought for their home and family. And Lady Elisabeth/Liberty proved to be made of sturdy stuff ( <--- understatement of the year)! Laura Frantz did a wonderful job describing the plight of a young woman from a notoriously British family trying to survive on American soil. The transformation of these beloved - anwylyd - characters blesses the heart in only the dearest of ways. <3

Four Stars ~ The Lacemaker proved to be a beautiful, delightful surprise! The Lacemaker is a standalone novel, but one you wish would go on and on. Lovely! You can be sure that I will be reading more stories by Laura Frantz. <3

I received a copy of The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.