Virginia Colony's most eligible woman is busy matchmaking for a ship of brides, though she has no interest in finding her own mate. Will she reconsider when new revelations about the colony's most eligible landowner come to light?
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?
MY REVIEW: Author Laura Frantz is a superb storyteller, blending historical fact and real lives with her inspired wordsmithery, compelling characters, and involving story lines--all of which are shaped by her great love of subject. Throughout all of her stories, there is the resonance of abiding faith. With "Tidewater Bride", readers are transported back to the earliest days of America, to the Virginia Colony of the near mid-17th century--turbulent times, yet faith, courage, and the spirit of adventure prevailed. Selah Hopewell is the daughter of the cape merchant--the head merchant-of James Towne. Unmarried at the age of twenty-six, she busied herself with assisting her father in the store, and now she had the added responsibility of overseeing the care and situating of a highly-anticipated shipload of English "tobacco brides". Virginia's prized tobacco crop became a currency all its own, and indeed, it enabled marriageable women sent by the Virginia Company to be matched with prospective husbands who could afford the bride price. Xander Renick, the most prosperous and progressive planter in the area, was himself a widower and father of a young son. Xander's home could surely use a woman's presence--his heart could love once more. However, it was not the possibility of a tobacco bride which held his interest, it was the woman in charge of those brides who had caught his eye. Selah was well aware of Xander--how could she not be? Tall and handsome, bold, but fair in his dealings, Xander was an imposing figure. His late wife had been a Powhatan princess, daughter of a chieftain, and Xander's connection to her people had made him a natural mediator between them and the colony of James Towne. As settlers moved ever further in their homesteading, so did the struggle for power and dominance expand in the colonial territories. Who to trust, and who to fear? Selah and Xander are both independent, but once united, two hearts together are a mighty bond. Where there is love, there is hope. Where there is faith, there is courage. As the friendship becomes care, and care deepens to love, will Selah and Xander find a bright and joyful future with one another? As a native Virginian, I am very proud of my beautiful home state. I remain fascinated by our complex and diverse history. Laura Frantz is unmatched in her eye for historical detail and her adeptness at immersing herself and her readers in the lives of those that came before us. Highly recommended for lovers of beautifully-written inspirational historical romance.
Book Copy Gratis Revell Books
Reviews
"With a gift for vivid prose, Frantz illuminates the organized chaos of a colonial settlement in a poignant story of regret and reconciliation." --BOOKLIST
LAURA FRANTZ
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