"A Bound Heart" is Sure to Warm Your Soul--"A Bound Heart" by Laura Frantz--Review

My Review:

“A Bound Heart” by Laura Frantz was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019.  Christian historical fiction that is partly set in Scotland?  Sign me up!  From the settings to the characters, I fell in love with this book!

Ms. Frantz’s descriptions of the scenery are lyrical and breathtaking (certainly doing Scotland justice).  The first part of the book that is set in Scotland reminds me of Poldark with the smuggling and the rugged coastlines.  Ms. Frantz also has an amazing grasp of the Scottish culture. 

The two main characters, Lark and Magnus, are so likable and well written.  Lark instantly became a favorite for me.  She is so sweet, innocent and Godly.  I love watching Lark’s struggle with her faith when her life is turned upside down.  She asks some frank and honest questions of God.  I especially love seeing that despite their troubles, both main characters praise God and count their blessings when going through suffering and loss.  What a wonderful encouragement and reminder to Christians! 

I loved this book and highly recommend it!  You won’t be disappointed!

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating.  Some examples of the content are: mention of brandy and smuggling; a man has a reputation for wenching; a man swears but the word isn’t actually written; a person is possibly addicted to opium and may have committed suicide; men smoke; a baby is born out of wedlock; men take women as lovers on a ship; a man attempts to rape a woman but does not get far.
 

Rating: I give this book 5 stars!

Genre: Christian fiction; Historical fiction; Romance; Scotland

I want to thank Revell and Laura Frantz for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

About the Author:

Laura Frantz is a Christy Award finalist and the ECPA bestselling author of several books, including The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, The Mistress of Tall Acre, A Moonbow Night, and The Ballantyne Legacy series. She lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.

To visit the author's website click here
To purchase the book click here

"Freedom's Price" Review by Christine Johnson--A Book Filled with Mystery and Secrets!

"Freedom's Price" by Christine Johnson surprised me--in a good way! I am unfamiliar with Ms. Johnson’s other work, but after reading “Freedom’s Price”, the third book in her “Keys of Promise” series, I now really want to go back and read the first two books! I always have lower expectations going into a book that I don't know much about, so I was very happy when I enjoyed this so much!

Even though this is the third book in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. You do meet some characters from past books, and seeing tidbits of these character's stories left me intrigued and wanting more. The history in this book is great and I loved learning about this time period in the Southern United States in 1856. I find the story regarding the wreckers and wrecking licenses fascinating. I didn't know there are such things as "wrecking licenses" and have always have seen wrecking in other books as an illegal activity. There are also a lot of nautical and boat references and I can tell the author knows her way around a ship. It is fascinating to see the differences in the customs and social statuses between the British and Americans (our heroine, Catherine, is from Britain and travels to the Southern United States) and to see slavery from Catherine's viewpoint (as slavery is already outlawed in Great Britain). I always enjoy learning about history while reading an enjoyable story!

 I also think the characters are very relatable and Catherine is a strong female protagonist. The story switches back and forth between Catherine and Tom's (our hero) points of view. When Catherine is left alone due to hard circumstances, she doesn't take the easy way out by marrying for comfort and money. Instead, she decides to join her mother's family in America (she hasn't had contact with this family for many years and doesn't even know how they will receive her). I admire how she sacrifices the small amount of money she receives from her inheritance to give to her tenants, as they will be losing their jobs and she wants to make sure they are taken care of. Catherine and Tom both have a strong faith. I love how they pray and talk about trusting in God and His plan. Tom quotes Scripture when he's in a tough situation and doesn't know what to do, asking for God's direction. There's also some great verbal sparring between Catherine and Tom that keeps me smiling!

 This story left me pleasantly surprised. I love the concept of a run-down plantation surrounded by mystery and secrets!

 Link to purchase this book: http://amzn.to/2sZFrKA

 Link to Christine Johnson's website: http://www.christineelizabethjohnson.com/

 Content and Rating: I give this story 4 out of 5 stars. It is a clean read.

 I want to thank Christine Johnson and Revell for the complimentary advanced copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.