A friend of mine recommended this one, the author being a friend of hers, as she knew how much I love historical novels. And let me tell you - this sweet romance delivered!!
For those of you that don't know me well, my favorite historical romance author is Diana Gabaldon for her incredible ability to transport you in near literal terms; through sights, sounds, smells in such vivid, lush description that you mourn returning to reality when you put down her books. And her characters...oh, lordy! I still swear sometimes that I've actually met these people. Because of her books, I nearly packed all of my belongings and moved to Scotland - not just to seek the descendants of the heart-melting main character Jamie - but to research all of the incredible places Ms. Gabaldon describes throughout the story!! I went into a physical depression at the end of her first book which actually led to a strange aversion to starting the second for fear of what would happen when I finished THAT one!
And so, when I discovered the main male character in Ms. Frantz's novel was another strong, good looking Scotsman, well....! There was, admittedly, a mixture of curiosity and denial. NO ONE could live up to my Jamie.
I was wrong.
While "Love's Reckoning" is not nearly as detailed or involved as my beloved "Outlander" books - I found the characters to be just as human, just as loveable, just as real. It's setting in Pennsylvania in the 1700's was incredibly authentic.
And I can prove it.
As I told several people, three quarters of the way through the book, I had to put "Love's Reckoning" down. I was so irritated, so frustrated, so incredulous at the author's gall at putting the main character, Eden, through so much!! A girl simply seeking the love of the Lord, to help orphans, to be loved by a (Scottish!!) man despite the cruelty it exposed her to by her own father and sister....and to have all the upheaval in this poor girl's life get worse and worse!! She was so good, so deserving, so pure...
I found myself literally yelling at her when she made naive decisions that I knew would end up badly.
Soon I began venting my frustration on Silas, the Scot (!!). Why didn't he do more for her, to protect her, to keep her from making those silly, naive choices?!
Why...was he so human?
That's it. Right there.
Ms. Frantz has written an incredible story of two very human people who fall in love while discovering the meaning and the consequences of life, in the words of the Bible, and in the situations we all find ourselves in that often lead us down the wrong path...but never without the promise of redemption.
I am thrilled to have found a Christian Historical Romance novelist of this caliber (she has other books with other historical settings and other wonderful characters)...and as this book is titled as part of the "Ballantyne Legacy" - I cannot wait to read what Ms. Frantz has in store for my new friends next!
Book #24 : I've been feeling the "itch" for a good Historical tome lately. With Lincoln coming out in theaters at the end of this week, I am diving into Ms. Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "Team of Rivals" that the movie was based on.
Onward and Forward!!
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