Tidewater Bride might be my favorite Laura Frantz novel to date. In a colony full of brides, Selah Hopewell gently defies all expectations. She keeps her father’s shop and enjoys a tender relationship with her parents. She has little need or intention of marrying, especially as her father’s health deteriorates. Enter the broken hero, Xander Renick, who operates a tobacco plantation without slaves. 

Such a tender, hesitant romance. Tensions simmer as Selah and Xander re-examine preconceived notions about each other. The writing is so poetic. Frantz expertly balances themes of fighting racism and bigotry with fighting for family and loved ones. What is justice and how do we pursue it as Christians? How do we love again when faced with terrible loss? I couldn’t help but cheer Renick, a man of great nobility and faith, who finds himself at odds with leadership. With Powhatan roots, Renick provides a wonderful perspective on colony politics. His arc deeply satisfies. I can’t say too much since the novel contains a marvelous twist or two. Releasing the first week of January, Tidewater Bride will likely remain a favorite read of 2021. Five stars.

Preorder here.

Christy Award-winning author, Laura Frantz, is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. When she’s not at home in Kentucky, she and her husband live in Washington State. 

According to Publishers Weekly, “Frantz has done her historical homework.” With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Foreign language editions include French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovakian, & Polish.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

Enjoy reading, friends!