Book Review: The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LAURA FRANTZ -- I was born and raised in Kentucky and my love of history goes deep - way back to the 18th-century when my family first came into the Bluegrass State. It will always be home to me, even though I now live with my husband, Randy, and my sons, Wyatt and Paul, in the misty woods of northwest Washington. I go back as often as I can to visit family and all the old haunts that I love.

I grew up playing on the original site of Fort Boonesborough and swimming in the Kentucky River and climbing the Pinnacle near Berea and watching the great outdoor dramas of the early settlers. Often my cousins and brother and I would play in my Granny's attic and dress up in the pioneer costumes she made us and pretend to be Daniel Boone, Rebecca, Jemima, or the Shawnee.

As I grew up I began to write stories and they were always historical, filled with the lore I had heard or read about. It's no accident that my first book (which is actually my fifth book - the others were practice!) is about those first Kentucky pioneers.

I feel blessed beyond measure to write books. My prayer is that you are doubly blessed reading them.

Note: Laura Frantz credits her 100-year-old grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in 1792 and settled in Madison County where her family still resides. Frantz is a former schoolteacher and social worker who currently lives in the misty woods of Washington state with her husband and two sons, whom she homeschools.

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE FRONTIERSMAN'S DAUGHTER
by Laura Frantz
Published by Baker/Revell Publishing

Lovely but tough as nails, Lael Click is the daughter of a celebrated frontiersman. Haunted by her father's former captivity with the Shawnee Indians, as well as the secret sins of her family's past, Lael comes of age in the fragile Kentucky settlement her father founded.

Though she faces the loss of a childhood love, a dangerous family feud, and the affection of a Shawnee warrior, Lael draws strength from the rugged land she calls home, and from Ma Horn, a distant relative who shows her the healing ways of herbs and roots found in the hills.

But the arrival of an outlander doctor threatens her view of the world, God, and herself--and the power of grace and redemption. This epic novel gives readers a glimpse into the simple yet daring lives of the pioneers who first crossed the Appalachians, all through the courageous eyes of a determined young woman.

Laura Frantz's debut novel offers a feast for readers of historical fiction and romance lovers alike.

MY REVIEW

Many of my readers know I have a definite love and passion for the Colonial era of the United States. My first 3 books were set in that time period, amidst the birth of a new nation and the strength of the colonists who made that nation a reality.

Laura Frantz captures the essence of that period with painstaking accuracy. The characters are well developed and believable, each with a rather distinct voice. A treasure trove of historical tidbits and details are interwoven in a way that doesn't take the reader out of the story, but in fact plunges you deeper into the world of the characters.

But what I loved the most was the fact that this author didn't shy away from the harsh realities of living on the frontier. She didn't dwell on the horrific aspects either, but showcased them in a way that painted a clear picture of the struggle, yet left you filling in the blanks for the rest.

This is not a cookie-cutter portrayal of the colonial frontier. Men and women alike will find themselves immersed in this story in different ways, but both can find enjoyment.

Kudos to Laura Frantz on her debut novel! Quite a success!

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Frontiersman's Daughter, go HERE

Buy Your Copy of The Frontiersman's Daughter today!

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