The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: January 3, 2023
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Co
Length: (416) pages
Format: Hardcover, Trade paperback & eBook 
Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

Synopsis

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 companion 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.  

My Thoughts

Lady Blythe Hedley's father, the Duke of Northumbria, is a staunch Jacobite. When a mob comes calling, Lady Blythe and her companion Elodie Bell, flee her father's estate to Berwickshire and the protection of her godfather, the Earl of Wedderburn. On her arrival at Wedderburn Castle, Blythe finds the household mourning the recent passing of the tenth Earl of Wedderburn. The new Earl, Everard Hume, is surprised and dismayed to be saddled with a Catholic heiress, but allows her to stay, secretly housed in the tower of the castle.

Everard Hume is a veteran of the War of the Spanish Succession and was knighted by Queen Anne for his military service. He hopes this will be enough to keep him out of the brewing conflict between the soldiers of George I and the supporters of the exiled James Edward Stuart. He wants nothing more than to tend to his estates and keep his family safe, but when Lady Blythe lands on his doorstep he sees trouble ahead should her whereabouts be discovered.

Lady Blythe is an unusual heiress, well-educated and preferring her books to securing a husband. Her self-perception is influenced by her dead mother's notoriety and so she believes marriage is not for her. Life at Wedderburn Castle is unusual, but she embraces the differences. The heavy Scottish brogue and sayings confound her initially and are a source of amusement throughout the novel as she tries to make sense of what is said to her. Eventually, some of the Scottish words slip into her vocabulary. Pepys, Blythe's pet bird, also provides some amusement, whistling treasonous tunes until his cage is covered. Everard's care of his eight year old brother, Orin, provides some poignant moments and reveals more of his nature to Blythe, who also has a soft spot for Orin.

This is the first novel I've read by Laura Frantz. I liked how the romance between Blythe and Everard developed slowly and was very believable in the context of the historical setting. Not only were Blythe and Everard endearing, but many of the other characters were as well. I look forward to reading more from Laura Frantz.

Exclusive Interview With Author Laura Frantz

https://austenprose.com/2022/12/07/an-exclusive-interview-with-laura-frantz-author-of-the-rose-and-the-thistle/

Where to Purchase

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

Meet the Author

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. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. When not at home in Kentucky, she and her husband live in Washington State.

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