Saturday, August 20, 2011

Review: The Colonel's Lady

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Genre: Christian Fiction/ Historical
Pages: Paperback, 408pp
ISBN-13: 9780800733414
ISBN:
080073341X

(Received for an honest review from Revell)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Christianbook.com, IndieBound

Laura Frantz on the WEB: blog

Excerpt from
The Colonel's Lady
Book Trailer:



Synopsis:

CAN LOVE SURVIVE THE SECRETS KEPT BURIED WITHIN A TORMENTED HEART?

Roxanna Rowan may be a genteel Virginia woman, but she is determined to brave the wilds of the untamed frontier to reach a remote Kentucky fort. Eager to reunite with her father, who serves under Colonel Cassius McLinn, Roxanna is devastated to find that her father has been killed on a campaign.

Penniless and out of options, Roxanna is forced to remain at the fort. As she spends more and more time with the fiery Colonel McLinn, the fort is abuzz with intrigue and innuendo. Can Roxanna truly know who the colonel is - and what he's done?

Immerse yourself in this powerful story of love, faith, and forgiveness set in the tumultuous world of the frontier in 1779.

Thoughts:
Italic
Known in Christian fiction circles for her frontier writing, Laura Frantz once again thrills fans with her latest release,
The Colonel's Lady. Set in 1779 in the wilds of Kentucky, this novel takes on facets of several different genres. Historical romance, inspirational fiction and suspense fill the pages, as readers are transported back in time to the Colonial frontier. Frantz writes with great clarity and understanding about the hardships and heartaches of life in a western fort and the relationships that bind people together. A great inspirational read for the summer!

Roxanna Rowan is determined to reach Fort Endeavor and become reunited with her father. When she reaches her destination she is shocked to find her father dead and her future uncertain. Being a genteel lady from Virginia, Roxie is thrust into frontier life abruptly, as she realizes she is penniless and at the mercy of her father's commanding officer, Cassius McLinn. With war looming, she is forced to remain in the fort and endure the hardships of food shortages, Indian raids and a growing attraction to Cass. But can she trust him? Her father's journal alluded to a spy within the walls of the fort and Cass has a secret of his own that may threaten the fragile love growing between them.

Laura Frantz once again brings readers a novel set in Kentucky. Being from Kentucky myself I am always interested in seeing how others portray the frontier and how it was settled. Frantz has a connection to Kentucky through her own family history and it becomes evident in her writing. She treats the area and her subject matter with reverence and esteem. She doesn't shy away from the harsher side of frontier life, not does she forget about the significance of this time in history. I thought she did a remarkable job of describing the sights and sounds for the reader, but also the emotions involved in being in a fort that was literally under siege.

Frantz has a knack for creating characters that the reader will become interested in. Roxie is a woma
n of some influence in Virginia, but she is willing to give all that up to join her father on the frontier. Life is very different from what she is used to at Fort Endeavor and she is forced to re-think her prior life and what was important to her. Her is a young woman, who is considered all but a spinster, who is given another chance at finding love in the most unlikely of places. I think readers will fall in love with Roxie and find themselves rooting for her and Cass.

Cass is a man who has many facets. There's a lot to him. He is an Irishman in a foreign land, so to speak. He takes his duty seriously and he treats every life under his command with diligence and care, including Roxie. He feels responsible for situations that leave the people in the fort at the mercy of the redcoats and Indians. He takes a lot on himself and it is clear that it weighs him down to an extent. I think readers will find him gracious, accepting and yet solid. He has great character and a loving heart, but he seems to sabotage himself when it comes to love. As if he doesn't feel worthy. I liked the idea that Frantz uses to bring these characters together. I thought it was fresh and original.

The inspirational or Christian aspect of the book is well written and doesn't overpower the story. It flows into the book naturally and doesn't seem forced. The biblical references and the ideas of redemption and faith are treated with respect and come across as a part of the novel and not just inserted to make the book inspirational. It is obvious that the author has a deep faith of her own and knows how to express it and how it plays out in everyday life. I liked how Frantz weaved faith into the fabric of the novel along with history, romance, and some suspense. The overall result is Christian fiction at it's best!

Readers who love history and romance will certainly get their monies worth with this book, as well as readers who love the frontier and Western writing. Suspense fans will also get what they want as Cass and Roxie try to weed out the spy, and try to survive the every day hardships of the frontier. Whats more suspenseful than life or death on a day to day basis? I think there is something for everyone with this book and Frantz has written a well crafted inspirational novel. I recommend it to all my readers. If you haven't tried inspirational fiction, this is definitely a good place to start!

The Colonel's Lady is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





Laura Frantz credits her grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in the late eighteenth century and settled in Madison County, where her family still resides. Frantz is the author of The Frontiersman's Daughter and Courting Morrow Little and currently lives in the misty woods of Washington with her husband and two sons.


4 comments:

Laura Frantz said...

What a stunning review! I'm a bit awed by the depths you go to in sharing insights from TCL. It's obvious you really understand what I was trying to do within those pages and I'm humbled and grateful. And I'm thrilled to learn we have a Kentucky tie:) I really appreciate your taking time for my work and for handling it with such clarity and sensitivity. Revell is so fortunate to have you on the tour. I wish you His best in your reading and writing ministry!

justpeachy36 said...

Laura,

It was truly my pleasure to review your book. Sometimes I think my reviews get rather long and rambling and it's nice to hear that they are appreciated. I believe in giving books and authors the time they deserve. It's helps to promote, the book, the message and whatever God wishes to say to the reader through the words. Thank-You for your glowing endorsement! I wish you the greatest success with your book!

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

awesome review, debbie! i loved this one too!

Laura Frantz said...

My only regret is that I can't find a share button on your blog to upload this onto Facebook:) But guess what, I don't have one on my blog, either. When I try to arrange for the widget it never works! Anyway, thanks so much for everything.