THE ROSE AND THE THISTLE BY LAURA FRANTZ//BOOK REVIEW

By: Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell Publishing

Release Date: January 1, 2023

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance

Pages: 416 pages

Where You Can Buy It: Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Christian Book, Lifeway, and everywhere else books are sold!

Add On: Goodreads

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems–a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies–and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.

Book Review

The Rose and the Thistle is a whimsical novel that will sweep you to the mid-1700s right in the middle of the Jacobite uprising. Laura Frantz hooks you from the first page and leaves you wanting more once the story concludes. The Rose and the Thistle will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Without a shadow of a doubt, every time I read a Laura Frantz novel, I fly through the last 100 pages like my life depends on it. The tensions are always so high and this book was no different. You would like after reading Mrs. Frantz’s books for 7 years, I would know how her novels would end, but I get so consumed with the story that I cannot help but worry that maybe this will be the book that does not end with a HEA.

Laura Frantz is one of my favorite authors for a number of reasons. One of them are her characters. Blythe was like every other heroine. She has her own unique personality yet she has that Frantz heroine undertone. Blythe is strong in a very feminine way. She is independent but is not stupidly stubborn. She cares for those around her. She loved with all her heart. She is loyal. She relies on the Lord for everything. She is what biblical feminity looks like. I loved getting to know Blythe and her academic ways. Her interactions with Orin made my heart so happy. Her witty comments to Everard made me smile. Her insecurity made her more real and personable. She was an English rose.

Everard, Blythe’s counterpart, was also like every other hero in Mrs. Frantz’s novels, but his own person. He was dashing, handsome, protective, caring, and quiet. His heart is way too big for his chest. His love and care for his brothers, especially Orin warmed by heart. The way he protected Blythe made my heart pound. He was gentle but was not afraid to fight for his loved ones. His faith made his character even better. He was willing to risk his own life to save his wife from his royal pain in the butt, King George. I do not know if I can put into words just how amazing Everard was. You just need to read this book yourself to understand.

Another reason why Laura Frantz is one of my favorite authors is that her writing is lyrically whimsical. You can tell throughout the story that she has spent hours upon hours studying what she is writing about. I feel like I am right there with the characters through thick and thin. She is not afraid to show the reality of living in the 1700s, while also not going into too many gruesome details to make the story unpleasant or like a history textbook. Her writing is just so beautiful.

I also love how Mrs. Frantz is not afraid to add faith content to her novels. God is not just in the background for the characters to rely on in their troubles, but He is woven throughout the entire book. He is the main character along with Blythe and Everard. The faith content is what makes these books come more alive. It is not overly preachy, but it is not watered down either. It is just pleasantly there.

Overall, if you have not read this book, PLEASE do!! It is so good and definitely one of my top reads this year. It is just so beautiful!! If you have never read a Laura Frantz book, then you are severely missing out! I cannot recommend her books enough!!

*FTC: I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts were my own. I was not required to write a positive review.*

About the Author

Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner 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.

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. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.

According to Publishers Weekly, “Frantz has done her historical homework.” With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.

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