Friday, September 7, 2012

Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz

LOVE'S RECKONING BY LAURA FRANTZ


On a bitter December day in 1785, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of master blacksmith Liege Lee in York, Pennsylvania. Just months from becoming a master blacksmith himself, Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship and move west. But Liege soon discovers that Silas is a prodigious worker and craftsman and endeavors to keep him in York. Silas becomes interested in both of Liege's daughters, the gentle and faith-filled Eden and the clever and high-spirited Elspeth. When he chooses one, will the other's jealousy destroy their love?

In this sweeping family saga set in western Pennsylvania, one man's choices in love and work, in friends and enemies, set the stage for generations to come. Love's Reckoning is the first entry in The Ballantyne Legacy, a rich, multi-layered historical quartet from talented writer Laura Frantz, beginning in the late 1700s and following the Ballantyne family through the end of the Civil War.

This next book is by an author I have followed since her first book, The Frontiersman's Daughter. Laura Frantz knows how to write a good book and I have loved all her stories. Love's Reckoning is the first book in the Ballantyne Legacy and I am anxiously awaiting the next one. Let me tell you my thoughts on this one first though:)

One of my favorite things with Laura's books is the ability to go back in time to a different period and see how things were. Reading one of her books is like going on a journey or taking a trip. This one was no different. I also love her Scots who are bigger than life. Silas is the apprentice who is given an ultimatum, marry one of my daughter's, or leave. I had never heard about the tradition of an apprentice marrying into the family to keep the trade alive. He has slowly fallen in love with one of them through a lot of scripture. If you haven't read this, you won't understand what I mean but I don't want to give anything away.

There is a lot of secrecy and mystery in this book along with some good romance. There is one part I didn't care for but I know things like this happen. This part is about two-thirds of the way through and at that point, the story-line took a turn for the worse. Not for me, but for Silas and Eden. It was a little odd going 6 years into the future but didn't take away from the book.

My only gripe, I wish the book hadn't ended where it did. I would have liked to have some of the book with them married but I am hoping the second book delves into that a little bit more. My last thought, I LOVED it! Another excellent read from Laura Frantz. Keep them coming:)

Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
According to FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All thoughts are 100% mine.

1 comment:

Laura Frantz said...

Charity, I'm so glad you sent me the link to your very thoughtful, wonderfully done review. It's really an honor to have you read my stories and take time to post like you've done here. I couldn't do it without you!

I must say, I just kept on writing after I typed THE END. I wanted to have several chapters of them happily married and making a home at New Hope. So I did! I wish that could have gone to print for you, too. But hopefully you'll enjoy book 2 as it fills in some of those gaps for Eden and Silas. If I didn't have a word cap from my publisher, I think I'd turn out 1000 page clunkers:)

Thanks so much for your time and care with my books. You're a gem!

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