On My Kindle - A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz

This story takes place in Scotland, Virginia, and Jamaica during pre-Revolutionary War times. The heroine, Lark, comes from a high-born Scottish line that's fallen on hard times. Our hero, Magnus MacLeish, grew up and was educated with Lark. Their friendship spanned many years, but their lives took different paths.

I'm not going to give even a little bit of a recap because I don't want to spoil this epic story of hardship, suffering, and great love. The author shared this was the story of her heart since her ancestors came from Scotland.

At first, I was put off by the long glossary of Scottish/Gaelic words, but it worked better than I could have imagined. By the end of the book, I was almost using them myself. :)

5 Stars for this bonny tale.

Writers:  Do you include words/expressions from other languages in your writing? How do you handle this so the reader isn't overwhelmed?

Readers:  How do you feel about a lot of foreign words in a story? Please share.
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ON MY KINDLE - The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

Lady Elizabeth Stirling's life seems idyllic to those on the outside, but her dictatorial father makes it miserable. With growing unrest in the colonies, their loyalty to England's king puts them in danger.

Noble Rynallt is one of the fiery Independence Men. When Elizabeth's fiancé and his cousin presses him into escorting her to a ball, he agrees. Perhaps he could glean some information about the Tories and their plans.

Neither expect their lives to take a drastic turn. When Elizabeth's father and his Tory friends flee, she finds herself alone with nowhere to turn. Her fiancé has abandoned her because her dowry was no longer available. The only one who cares what happens to her is the kindhearted Independence Man.

I've read several of Laura Frantz's books set in the early days of Kentucky and enjoyed them. The Colonial/Revolutionary War setting provided a pleasant change.

Apart from the love story, the enormity of what our forefathers endeavored with God's help came through in living color. The odds of beating the most powerful nation on earth seemed insurmountable. The author created characters and did a masterful job of inserting them into the historical events.

I'm giving this book five stars. If you love American History, you'll find this covers a much-neglected area in fiction.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher paid me for a positive review. As always, all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Writers:  Have you ever considered writing a historical novel in this time period? Please share.

Readers:  Would you like to see more Christian Fiction set during this time period? Why/why not?

Birthday Bash Bonanza

 

 Woohoo! One person will win all three of these fabulous Historical Romances. Here are the giveaway details:

1) You must be a Follower of Christian Writer/Reader Connection.

2) The giveaway is open to residents of the United States.

3) To enter, comment on this post.

4) You can get an additional entry for each of the following. (Let me know in the comments section what actions you've taken.)

     A) Post the contest details and link on your blog.

     B) Post it to your Facebook page.

     C) Post it on Twitter.

5) Contest deadline: Saturday, June 2, 2012, at midnight. The winner will be notified by email. If you do not leave me an email in the comments and do not respond to the Winner Announcement on the blog by Saturday, June 9, 2012, another winner will be selected from the entries.

Disclaimer: I have not received any payment from either the authors or the publishers for doing this giveaway. These books are from my personal collection.

On My Nightstand - Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

Morrow Mary Little's childhood is marred by the death of her mother and baby sister at the hands of the Shawnee Indians. Her brother, Jess, is kidnapped, leaving her and her father to wonder if he's dead or alive.

Much to her dismay, her preacher father befriends a Shawnee chief and his son. Every time they appear, terror fills her heart.

After spending two years with her Aunt Etta in Philadelphia, she returns to Kentucke and her father. He's anxious for her to marry and settle down due his failing health, but she avoids the eligible men. Will she meet someone, who will love her for who she is or submit to a marriage of convenience?

Wow! This story took some turns that made my head spin. I did figure out who the hero would be this time, but it took awhile.

Laura Frantz's characters are sharp and well-defined. There's no overlap. They are unique in every way. Morrow's struggle with forgiveness and fear will resonate with many readers.

For those who love bookcovers, this one is gorgeous. I prefer when real people are used for the cover rather than a drawing, which can seem cartoonish.

This book has it all: romance, danger, setting, and action. I can thank the author for one very late night because I HAD to finish the story. I think you'll find it compelling as well.