With her signature sweeping prose, Laura Frantz delves into colonial Virginia with her latest release Tidewater Bride.
Book Blurb
Selah Hopewell, Virginia Colony’s most eligible woman, is busy matchmaking for a ship of brides, though she has no wish to wed.
Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement, but he 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?
My Thoughts
Laura Frantz has this amazing ability to create compelling characters that draw you into her stories. While some may complain the plot was slow, I enjoyed it. The focus was more on the characters, especially Selah and Xander’s growing relationship. I would categorize it as a slow-burn romance for sure.
Now, there have been some books of hers in the past that I had to take a break from right around the middle because they were so long and I felt like they dragged. Tidewater Bride, however, was not one of them. I was sucked into the story from the beginning and eager to see how events played out throughout the story.
Frantz explores a lot more than just Xander and Selah’s relationship: Indian-English relations, survival, and the politics of early James Towne. With rich description I’ve come to associate with her style, she pulls you into the period until you can almost imagine yourself strolling along the James River.
I also enjoyed the faith elements. The characters discuss matters of faith and waiting on God, and there’s a great arc about misunderstanding and judgment.
Overall, Tidewater Bride is a deftly written tale historical romance fans will love.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Further Information
You can purchase Tidewater Bride from Bookshop.org by clicking the book image. Or you can visit your favorite book retailer.
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