Starting off a reading year with a Frantz novel is one that is going to be wonderful.

With her characteristic ability to bring the past to life with a beauty that can't be missed "Tidewater Bride" took a story that has been told many times in many ways and gave new light to it.

This novel that is based off of a many times told and long wondered about myth is lightly resembling the tale of Pocahontas yet completely new in the way Frantz told the story of Sarah Hopewell and Xander Renick.

The plot twists were done in such a way that "Tidewater Bride" becomes a special historical fiction that will pull you in without warning and leave you wanting more!

18 due to content.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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This novel, set in colonial Virginia, was definitely a page turner that held my interest. Selah and Xander were appealing characters, and the background of colonial life and relations with the Powatan tribe felt authentic. Although the reasons presented for their initial distrust of each other felt a bit muddled at times, it was reasonably resolved fairly early in the story, and from them on the tale flowed quite smoothly. I’d be happy to read more of Ms. Frantz’s work.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )

1634 Virginia is a dangerous place, but the colonists in James Towne are determined to make a life in the New World. Selah Hopewell and her family work as merchants, providing goods for those in and around the town. Though she is well past the marrying age, she has preferred to help her father, rather than take a husband. Alexander Renick is a widow who has strong ties to the nearby Powhatan people, his late wife being a Powhatan princess. He is also the wealthiest tobacco baron in the colony and quite married to his work. As Selah and Xander, separately and together, deal with the treachery of both man and nature, they begin to feel a pull toward each other.

There are some books that are billed as romance and that's clearly all the story is meant to be about. And then there are some books that are billed as romance, but have so much more depth to the story than just how the two main characters end up together. I much prefer the latter, and fortunately, this is just that type of story. Yes, the romance is there, and it's sweet and innocent, just how I like it. But it's not the main focus of the book, and even the main climax of the book doesn't revolve around it. There's so much more going on--the tenuous peace between the colonists and the Powhatans, the duplicity of some of the less-than-moral colonists, and the turmoil that both Selah's and Xander's families are in at different times during the story. And during all of that, a blooming relationship.

The other side to this, though, is that I'm not sure there was a very solid, clear main plot throughout the book. Even now that I've finished the story, the only real main thread I can identify is the question of what, if anything, is the shady Helion Laurent up to? It's not that the story is lacking in conflict--far from it. But no main conflict rises to the surface until at least halfway through the story (unless I just missed it). This doesn't mean the story was bad by any means, but it does lend to the narrative feeling a bit slow for a while, I think. Fortunately, the characters and the different things that are going on are interesting enough that "slow" never became "plodding" or "boring." I really appreciated the way that Selah recognized her shortcomings, not because someone pointed them out to her, but because a timely Bible verse shed light on her inner being, and she repented of those things, providing inspirational character growth.

This was a departure from me, a time and location in history I've not read much about, and the description of life in the early Virginia colony was fascinating. In the author's note, Frantz admitted to a few things she bent timelines on, but I'm definitely ignorant enough that I would never have known the difference. I looked up a few words that I wasn't certain I was understanding from context, but for the most part, the story was easy to read and really took me back in time. I recommend this book for all fans of Christian historical fiction, whether or not you would specifically seek out the addition of romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for providing me a copy of this book to review. ( )

This story was so beautiful! Selah was such a strong character and she loved her family a great deal. So many things came into her path that would have collapsed most people but she clung to God and pushed forward for the sake of her family and those in the community that needed her. This story was not devoid of tragedy. I loved that Frantz did not make life as a Christian seem trite and saccharine.

I loved the historical aspect of the story with the true depiction of the horrible tragedy that was slavery of that time. I love that it showed both sides of that coin with those who were cruel and those who were moral and upstanding in their treatment of people of other races. The main male character, Xander, and his family refused to have slaves. They had indentured servants who were paid and treated well as employees of his farm. Not all farmers in the area felt this way.

The connection between Xander and the Natives of the Powhatan tribe was quite honorable. Xander sought to keep peace and an open relationship with them because of his wife, even after her death. I would love to read more about this tribe in history.

This was a story filled with Christian charity and redemption. I saw God’s hand throughout the story as He protected and restored the characters in this story. Of course not all wanted to know Him but those who did were strengthened through the hardships and trials of the story.

I received this book as part of the book tour team. I signed up and requested this book of my own accord and received a free copy to read and review as part of the team. ( )

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tidewater Bride is an intriguing look at early colonial life in Virginia. Everything is a study in contrasts: Old World vs. New World, Naturals vs. colonists, slavery vs. indenture. The vocabulary was my largest stumbling block in this book as I had to look up what different articles of clothing were as I had either never heard of them or did not know the difference between various items.

Full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-laura-frantz-tidewater-bride/ ( )