Review of Rose's Pledge by Sally Laity and Dianna Crawford

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Our Rating: 4 Stars

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Synopsis from cbd.com: To save their father from debtor's prison, three gently bred daughters sell themselves into servitude in America. Rose Harwood, auctioned off to the highest bidder in Virginia, is now the bondswoman of a grubby trader. Will she survive the trek deep into Indian Territory? Footloose frontiersman Nate Kinyon is eager to possess this rather thorny Rose. But is he willing to sacrifice his wealth and freedom to win her heart? When Rose's situation goes from bad to worse, she wonders if God has forsaken her after all. Is the disarming but godless Nate her only hope?

Review:  Rose's Pledge is the first novel in the Harwood House series, a promising collaboration between Sally Laity and Dianna Crawford.  After reading Dianna Cawford's other novels several years ago, I was excited to discover Rose's Pledge. Set in the untamed wilderness of 1700s America, the novel is filled with rugged peril, sacrifice, joy, and love.  The plot begins in the Harwood House in fashionable Bath, England, where the authors paint the backstory for the Harwood sisters' journey to America.  As Rose, Mariah, and Lily travel across the Atlantic and face their futures as indentured servants, Laity and Crawford create distinct circumstances and personalities for each.  The beginning of Rose's Pledge is a strong foundation for the Rose's story and those of her sisters.

From the beginning, Rose is established as a courageous  and loving young woman who will go to great lengths to protect her family.  These traits, combined with her faith, make Rose a strong and likable heroine.  She faces numerous challenges throughout her journey to an untamed and dangerous land.  Her indentured life is filled with underlying dangers, which left me in suspense and moved the plot steadily along.  Unexpected moments of joy lighten even the most difficult circumstances. 

Nate Kinyon is, in many ways, the opposite of Rose.  He is rugged, unrefined, and lacking in faith.  Laity and Crawford employ backwoods dialect to lend authenticity to Nate's character.  At times I found his written accent a bit distracting and felt that his character was not developed as deeply as Rose's.  Nate possesses a goodness that shines through his rough exterior, and his devotion to Rose's protection is endearing.  

Rose's Pledge can be read as a satisfying stand-alone novel, but there are more stories to be told.  I look forward to the future focus on Mariah and Lily.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley, courtesy of Barbour Publishing.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review of The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

Rating: 5 Stars

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Synopsis from Revell: 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.

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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?

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

Review: Autumn has chased away the lingering summer and cloaked my area in an early chill. It has been the ideal weather for nestling in a cocoon of blankets and immersing oneself in the pages of an engaging novel.  I have been anticipating my opportunity to read Laura Frantz's latest release, The Colonel's Lady, and I savored the beautiful novel from the cover to the very last word.

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. The design of The Colonel's Lady is elegant and intriguing, capturing the essence of the book to perfection.  It is the plot that truly shines, however.  I enjoyed the danger of the new frontier and witnessing the experiences of life in a remote fort. The untamed lifestyles and ruggedness that defined America's wilderness provide an exciting setting, conducive to unexpected twists and turns.  The pace of the novel is steady throughout, but gains even more momentum towards the end.

Of course, I adore a novel with a timeless love story to balance the action.  The romantic tension between Roxanna and Cass is evident throughout the plot.  In many ways Cass reminded me of Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre.  Roxanna was a bit spunkier and outspoken than Jane; but I saw similarities in the growth of their relationships. The addition of sweet little Abby added some lightness to the thread of danger woven in the plot. With her quiet presence, she provided a common ground between Roxanna and Cass when their relationship was on delicate ground.  Frantz's blend of characters is seamless with the right proportions of love and conflict.  The Colonel's Lady is the type of novel that you close with a contented sigh.

Laura Frantz has become synonymous with fluid descriptions and dialogue, compelling plots and characters, and interesting historical detail.  The Colonel's Lady is no exception to the high standard set by The Frontiersman's Daughter and Courting Morrow Little.  Each of these novels can be relished again and again.

The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Here is the summary provided by www.cbd.com:

In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher--whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family.
Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child--and man--she's come to love.

My Review:

Based on its cover, my first thought was that The Preacher's Bride was yet another Amish fiction novel, but I was wrong.  Instead of the often formulaic stories that are set in Ohio and Pennsylvania, The Preacher's Bride takes place in England and provides a fresh perspective of the religious persecution that the Puritans faced, and it tells the story of Elizabeth Whitbread and John Costin who face the challenge of loving and understanding one another during a tumultuous time in which members of society are at odds because of religious and political convictions. 

Ultimately, this novel takes its readers on Elizabeth's journey as she makes the decision to serve a young family and grows to love her new husband.  As Elizabeth protects and nurtures her new family, I found that I was riveted to the pages at times, especially during more suspenseful moments of the book.  Jody Hedlund skillfully presents Elizabeth as a young woman who possesses doubts and uncertainties, but who perseveres through trials with her own deeply held convictions.  I find myself drawing similarities between Elizabeth and Jane Eyre, but I am also strongly influenced by the fact that I watched Jane Eyre shortly after reading this book.

After finishing this novel, I read the "Author's Note" at the end, which provides the historical background from which Jody Hedlund created this compelling story.  The end of  The Preacher's Bride is even more compelling when I consider the real-life marriage after which her characters are based.  I am eagerly awaiting Jody Hedlund's next novel because she won my loyal readership with this promising debut!