Saturday, September 8, 2012

Blog Tour | Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz

Love's Reckoning
by Laura Frantz
The Ballantyne Legacy, Book 1
Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance
Available September 2012
Revell Books
432 pages



About the Book
On a bitter December day in 1784, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of blacksmith Liege Lee in York County, Pennsylvania. Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship quickly and move west. But because he is a fast worker and a superb craftsman, Liege endeavors to keep him in York by appealing to an old tradition: the apprentice shall marry one of his master's beautiful daughters.

Eden is as gentle and fresh as Elspeth is high-spirited and cunning. But are they truly who they appear to be? In a house laced with secrets, each sister seeks to secure her future. Which one will claim Silas's heart--and will he agree to Liege's arrangement?

In this sweeping family saga, one man's choices in love and work, in friends and enemies, set the stage for generations to come. This is the Ballantyne Legacy.

My Thoughts
After reading Courting Morrow Little, I declared myself a fan of Laura Frantz. After reading The Colonel's Lady, I knew I would read anything she wrote. Sadly, I had to wait longer than I would have liked for the release of Love's Reckoning, but it was definitely worth the wait!

When Liege Lee takes on a new apprentice, he decides he will follow the old tradition of marrying off one of his daughters to the apprentice. In his mind, this is the perfect plan. It will relieve him of the responsibility of one of his two grown daughters and assure him of long-term help in his blacksmith shop. When Silas Ballantyne arrives, though, Liege gets more than he bargained for with an apprentice who is devoted to the Lord and to seeking His plans. With two sisters as different as night and day, one tries to woo Silas with overt advances, while the other tries to stay out of the way and unwittingly develops a solid friendship with the apprentice. Silas must decide if he will continue with his plans to move west or if he will allow himself to fall in love and trust the Lord to work out the details.

Love's Reckoning is so much more than a romance novel. Instead, it is an epic drama rife with sibling rivalry, troubled family relationships, secrets, betrayal, love, and faith. Frantz's descriptive writing style drew me into the story in a way that at times made it feel more like watching a movie than reading a book. The characters, settings, and conflicts really came alive.

Silas was a magnificent character. He's tough and one hundred percent masculine, but he is also kind and gentle. I loved the way he pursued the Lord above all else without coming off as soft or weak. It was obvious that the Lord was the source of his strength. Elspeth and Eden were completely opposite and made for some interesting dynamics throughout the book. At times I was so frustrated with Elspeth's antics and Eden's submissiveness that I could hardly keep reading. But I just had to know what would happen next! There were a number of other characters that helped round out the story, providing friendships, mentors, and other deep relationships that helped me as a reader learn more about the main characters.

I wasn't ready for the book to conclude but was satisfied with how the author wrapped up many of the loose ends—tidy enough for some closure but definitely left me anxious for the next book in the series, which won't release until next September.

Love's Reckoning is in many ways different from Frantz's previous novels but still showcases her incredible talent for telling a beautiful, emotional story! Highly, highly recommend! [5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the Author
Laura Frantz is a lover of history, is the author of The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, and The Colonel's Lady, and currently lives in the misty woods of Washington with her husband and two sons.
Laura Frantz Online
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook

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