Laura Frantz’s newest book, A Heart Adrift, is a sweet confection perfect for Valentine’s reading. 🙂 What’s not to love? Two wonderful main characters, rich historical detail, and chocolate! If you are looking for a romance for this weekend, I heartily recommend it.
It is 1755, and the threat of war with France looms over colonial York, Virginia. Chocolatier Esmée Shaw is fighting her own battle of the heart. Having reached her twenty-eighth birthday, she is reconciled to life alone after a decade-old failed love affair from which she’s never quite recovered. But she longs to find something worthwhile to do with her life.
Captain Henri Lennox has returned to port after a lengthy absence, intent on completing the lighthouse in the dangerous Chesapeake Bay, a dream he once shared with Esmée. But when the colonial government asks him to lead a secret naval expedition against the French, his future is plunged into uncertainty.
Will a war and a cache of regrets keep them apart, or can their shared vision and dedication to the colonial cause heal the wounds of the past? Bestselling and award-winning author Laura Frantz whisks you away to a time fraught with peril–on the sea and in the heart–in this redemptive, romantic story.
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. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. When not at home in Kentucky, she and her husband live in Washington State.Â
Readers can find Laura Frantz at http://www.laurafrantz.net
My Impressions:
Laura Frantz quickly became a must-read author of historical romance. Her blend of rich detail, real and relatable characters, and spot-on truths provides a very satisfying reading experience. A Heart Adrift met all my expectations. This novel transported me to colonial Virginia, especially York and Williamsburg. I loved how all classes of society were represented. Scenes ranged from the drawing rooms of the elite to the almshouse, giving this novel a complete perspective. The two main characters, Esme and Henri, have been parted for 10 years because of a quarrel that neither of them were prepared to back down from. Now they are given a second chance. The love they have for each other has matured, yet there is still plenty of chemistry for fans of romance. Their love story is set during the years when the British and the French and Native Americans were at war. There is the tension of war, along with the politics of the day, and the everyday life of the colony. Truly, I felt like I was walking the streets and beaches with the characters. Along with Esme and Henri, there is a cast of characters that rounded out the times. It is very evident that Frantz did her homework while researching this book. I found one theme — how we see other people — to be very relevant for a modern-day reader. Then there’s the chocolate! Oh yes, Esme has a chocolate shop. Be prepared to have a mug of cocoa or your favorite chocolate treat nearby. 😉
A perfect confection, A Heart Adrift will appeal to fans of historical romance.
Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Tags: Colonial America, historical romance fiction, Laura Frantz
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