Tidewater Bride: Review and Giveaway

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in the Virginia colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family's shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors.

Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife, daughter of the Powhatan chief.

​Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they've been missing in life has been right in front of them all along?

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Colonial James Towne Brought to Life

Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz is her earliest Colonial America period book to date. Set in James Towne, circa 1634, the author’s in-depth research renders a fascinating tale. I was carried away to a time long-ago and almost forgotten.

I’ve read a number of both fiction and non-fiction historical accounts of the life of Pocahontas. The tribute paid to both the Powhatan princess and her husband, John Rolfe, touched me deeply by the honest and brave depiction of the harsher truths of colonial life. This alone makes Tidewater Bride a must-read for lovers of historical fiction.

The author delivers more than history. Frantz is a master word-smith and storyteller. One thing I enjoyed immensely was the balanced touch of her pen to the language of the early 17th century. The characters’ thoughts and speech are seasoned perfectly with old English words, making Selah and Xander authentic without becoming difficult or pretentious.

Tidewater Bride is an engaging historical romance with multi-faceted characters and a high-stakes plot. Every word was a delight!