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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
This book had it all - breathless romance (seriously, I sometimes held my breath along with Roxie lol), puzzling mystery (The ending took me completely by surprise), heartwarming friendships, and threads of God's redemption and grace woven throughout. This was my first read by Laura Frantz - it won't be my last!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
The Colonel’s Lady takes the very civilized Roxanna Rowan deep into the frontier of Kentucke Territory in 1779. Planning to surprise her father and travel back to Virginia with him, she’s met instead by grief, danger, and a very complicated fort commander. As Roxie works with Colonel Cassius McLinn she begins to see beyond his imposing stature, but there are more secrets and complications that stand between them.
Full of frontier fort drama, Revolutionary War intrigue, faith tested and renewed, and a slow burning, passionate romance, Laura Frantz’s third published book is an enjoyably complicated read. And when I say it is (evil twin level) complicated, it is sometimes rather a lot, but balanced with sweetness and descriptions that had me highlighting sections and happy to be exploring the earlier works of a favorite author of Historical Fiction.
This review refers to a purchased paperback copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
It's 1779 and Roxanne's mother has died so she sets her sights to Kentucky where her father works at a military fort. Once arriving, she finds that her father has been killed during duty and that Colonel McLinn had promised her father he would take care of her.
Roxie has come to terms that she will remain a spinster (because she's at the ripe age of 28); yet a budding love forms between her and the colonel.
Unfortunately, the colonel has a grave secret that could dash to pieces the future they could have together.
This book was a great historical fiction. Not that I'm a history buff, but it seemed like this story could have legitimately taken place. It was also squeaky clean; yet this didn't diminish the romantic tale at all. I also loved how much faith Roxie has -- it really increased my faith as well. In the acknowledgments, the author gives thanks to God for giving her the gift of storytelling.
Roxie has come to terms that she will remain a spinster (because she's at the ripe age of 28); yet a budding love forms between her and the colonel.
Unfortunately, the colonel has a grave secret that could dash to pieces the future they could have together.
This book was a great historical fiction. Not that I'm a history buff, but it seemed like this story could have legitimately taken place. It was also squeaky clean; yet this didn't diminish the romantic tale at all. I also loved how much faith Roxie has -- it really increased my faith as well. In the acknowledgments, the author gives thanks to God for giving her the gift of storytelling.
Absolutely loved. Great story with a great group of characters. I never wanted to put the book down.
First I would like to praise Laura for choosing to write about colonial America. I find that time period fascinating.
This book really brought to life the harsh realities of the time period. The fight for freedom and peace was intense. Life in a military outpost located in the untamed frontier, though surrounded be wild beauty, was fraught with dangers.
Roxanna is a woman of quiet strength and dignity. After arriving at the fort, Roxanna learns that her father is on a campaign and isn't expected back for several more weeks. When the troops arrive for Christmas, Roxanna learns that her father has been killed. With travel dangerous and very little money to her name, Roxanna is forced to stay at the fort for the winter. During this time she is employed as scriviner for Colonel McLinn. While going through her father's journal, Roxanna discovers that her father suspected a British spy was living with them in the fort.
As Roxanna spends time with Colonel McLinn, she discovers their mutual attraction for each other. But Colonel McLinn has a secret. During the campaign it was he who accidentially shot Roxanna's father. When he shares this with Roxanna, she is devestated.
Colonel McLinn has a twin brother--and evil twin brother. Brother McLinn is working for the British and is bent on destroying his brother. In the end, brother's face each other in battle. And without spoiling the end, the author chose less logical but beautiful ending--Read to find out!
On the lighter side, the child Abigail added lightness to the story. As she opens up, the readers find themselves hoping for a wonderful future for Abby.
This story wasn't fast moving, but filled with a vivid and poetic vision of America 1779.
This book really brought to life the harsh realities of the time period. The fight for freedom and peace was intense. Life in a military outpost located in the untamed frontier, though surrounded be wild beauty, was fraught with dangers.
Roxanna is a woman of quiet strength and dignity. After arriving at the fort, Roxanna learns that her father is on a campaign and isn't expected back for several more weeks. When the troops arrive for Christmas, Roxanna learns that her father has been killed. With travel dangerous and very little money to her name, Roxanna is forced to stay at the fort for the winter. During this time she is employed as scriviner for Colonel McLinn. While going through her father's journal, Roxanna discovers that her father suspected a British spy was living with them in the fort.
As Roxanna spends time with Colonel McLinn, she discovers their mutual attraction for each other. But Colonel McLinn has a secret. During the campaign it was he who accidentially shot Roxanna's father. When he shares this with Roxanna, she is devestated.
Colonel McLinn has a twin brother--and evil twin brother. Brother McLinn is working for the British and is bent on destroying his brother. In the end, brother's face each other in battle. And without spoiling the end, the author chose less logical but beautiful ending--Read to find out!
On the lighter side, the child Abigail added lightness to the story. As she opens up, the readers find themselves hoping for a wonderful future for Abby.
This story wasn't fast moving, but filled with a vivid and poetic vision of America 1779.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Read my full review here. I started off really liking this book. The imagery was great, the characters vivid...but it was so slow. And on top of that, Roxanne started off smart, but gradually she became dumber. She kept contradicting herself, as well, and was kind of hypocritical. Although admitting she loves him despite whatever wrongs he may or may not have committed, she just refuses to believe that Cass loves her, although I’m not sure why. She comes up with reasons why he would do things for her when it’s so glaringly obvious that he loves her. It’s not until she realizes that she could actually lose him that she has her aha moment, which was honestly too late for me. The battle at the end, along with the “big reveals” seemed way too easy for me with a lot of deus ex machina at play. Things just fell into place way too easily. Despite all that, this is a good book. I don’t want my distaste for Roxanna’s character or the way things were tidied up at the end to discolor my overall opinion of the book. There was one scene in particular when Cass thought Roxie might die that I had to reread about three times because it was so sweet. Honestly, most of the times people were upset with Cass, I totally agreed with him. He was definitely the best, most fully formed character in this novel.
I keep going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars for this one. The writing is really good - it pulls you in from the very beginning, and the characters were engaging and multi-dimensional.
That being said... I guess I had two major issues with this story.
That being said... I guess I had two major issues with this story.
Spoiler
The first was Roxanna's childishness in the second half of the book - I get that she was angry at Cass for a multitude of reasons, and deservedly so. But she seemed to turn everything around on him - he didn't stare at her devotedly all day? He must never have been in love with her in the first place. He didn't ask her to dance, thus denying her the pleasure of turning him down? She gets pouty. It felt to me like they were in the middle of this life or death situation, and she didn't even realize it because the world was too busy revolving around her. The Roxanna I admired from the first half of the book, who bravely lead a group of prostitutes through the wilderness, was suddenly replaced with this paler, wishy-washy, vindictive version of her. The second issue was Roxanna's fixation on the stone house. It almost seemed like she wanted the house and all it symbolized as much as she wanted Cass.
I have several free books on my Kindle by Laura Frantz, but this is the first one I've read. Historical Christian fiction, set in colonial America. Pretty much a love story, but I was ok with reading that around Valentines Day! I very much enjoyed it and will definitely read more from this author soon, so glad to have more free from her ;)