Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz

Laura Frantz is probably my favourite author in the genre. I've loved her work since page 1 and once again she has delivered masterful story filled with romance and loss against the backdrop of the Virginia Colony.

I'm always amazed at the ability of Frantz to craft her world and Tidewater Bride  is no exception. Frantz skill at painting a picture with her words is impeccable and it's easy to let yourself get lost in the heat of summer within the colony. I love how Frantz takes the time to highlight the little things. Frantz paints pictures with every paragraph and is easily one of the most immersive writers I've encountered these last few years.

The story itself centered on Selah and Xander giving the plot much to chew on. I enjoyed Selah as a protagonist, her matters of the heart and interactions were relatable and believable (who doesn't like a good romance these days). That said, Watseka stole the book for me. What a sweet character.

While Frantz doesn't get as dark as other books I've read this year she also doesn't shy away from serious topics. Over the course of the novel Frantz touches upon topics such as kidnapping, rape, arson, and slavery. With so much packed into it's pages I wasn't exactly surprised the ending felt very quick, almost to the point of rushed, and yet, I believe, readers will still appreciated the ability of Frantz to weave her loose ends to completion.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

 I received a copy of this book as part of the #revellreadsbooktour in exchange for my honest opinion. 

A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason

 

While this was not the easiest read I've shared with Mason, the amount of research, heart, and honesty make A Haven for Her Heart the most impactful and memorable.

Inspired by the story of a survivor of Ontario's former pregnancy laws and the Mercer Reformatory, Mason brings readers Olivia Rosetti, a young woman trying to find her way after being incarcerated, forced to give up her child, and the loss of those she loved due to becoming pregnant while unmarried in 1939 Canada.

Olivia is such an honest protagonist, Mason gives space for the character to fell her losses and her trauma in a way that felt true to what she had gone through. I know some who have unfortunately also been unable to raise their children in light of a broken system that still exists and Mason's capturing of Olivia's pain, grief, and helplessness is so present I would hesitate to recommend this book to some lest it bring back those feelings, much like Olivia faced with Abigail and Mrs. Linder. 

On the other side, I was thrilled Mason wasn't content with a story of pain but gave Olivia a balance of qualities that endear her to readers as she seeks healing. Her passion and heart may have cemented her as one of my favourite characters of the year (yes, I know it's ridiculously early for such a statement but we'll see come December).

The plot itself around Olivia's story is one that drew me in instantly. Honestly, though Mason is conscientious with her words, this is still easily the darkest novel in her writings to date but only due to her honesty to the material and the horrors women suffered in the real Mercer Reformatory not that long ago.  Living in Ontario and recognizing all the landmarks Olivia travelled, recognizing that Olivia's details actually happened to survivors within a generation instantly made the plot hit harder. It's Mason skill with giving her characters like Olivia, Ruth, and Darius flaws and heart, faith and pain that makes the story so engaging. Mason takes her research and breathes life, emotion, and relatability into it through the characters that build her story. Honestly, I know when Mason puts something out I'm going to get sucked into her characters but perhaps because of Mason's ability to delve into deeper topics the characters of A Haven for Her Heart feels like her strongest offering yet.

While not a light read, A Haven for Her Heart is definitely a worthwhile one.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green

 

Even though Things We Didn't Say may be Green's debut novel, she writes with the skill of a season veteran. I honestly didn't know what to expect coming into this novel, a debut story conveyed through fictional letters, notes, and general correspondence. After a few late nights, I can definitely say that Green is an author I'll be watching for in the future.

First, I loved the style of storytelling Green chose to use. Readers start the book off knowing our main character Jo has been accused of treason before plunging back into a timeline of written correspondence that chronical her journey to those accusations.  I was a little concerned for chapter 1 but won over by chapter 3. The letter format really added to the atmosphere of the story, it doesn't read like just another WWII story, the characters feel so much more personal and real with the appearance of reading their letters and watching the story unfold without the aid of an omniscient narrator.

This storytelling style also gave so much more connection with the main character Jo. Jo is such a fun character, she's whip smart and ambitious with a heart that tries it's best while lacking social niceties. In most setting that type of character can feel rough around the edges, just because that's often how that personality comes across. Giving Jo access to her written words, her rough drafts, and the protection of a typewriter allowed Green to highlight Jo as she envisioned while still highlighting all of her best bits that are often overlooked with those characters.

The style also allowed for some greatly realistic musing and moral questions. One of my biggest frustrations with Christian fiction is the obligatory moral sermon that many books seem to plop down somewhere due to genre constraints. Letters seem to allow for more musings and natural conversations about deeper things (or that could be my letters I'm a notorious rabbit trailer). The deeper questions between Jo and Peter and Jo and Pastor Sorenson felt so natural and true to character especially amid the backdrop of what was happening in their lives.

Green picked some interesting areas to highlight in her story. While I was familiar with the internment camps in North America after Pearl Harbour, I was not familiar with the fact that P.O.W camps existed in the midwest. Green's ability to take these events, research the history, and create characters who explore humanity completely won me over.

Honestly, if you are a fan of WWII novels but want a fresh approach to the genre I would highly recommend giving Things We Didn't Say a chance.

4.5 stars out of 5.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."