Today I want to celebrate one of my favorite authors!
There’s a special reason why I want to celebrate her this month more than usual.
What is that reason, you may ask?
Well…
I get to spend a WEEKEND with her in her Kentucky cabin talking about life, writing, and Jesus!!!
What???!!!!!
Yes, I do!
And since I’m reading her newest novel, The Lacemaker, and have been an AVID fan of hers for a long time, I’m delighted to share with YOU a few of her books!
I read my first book of hers in 2010 – The Frontiersman’s Daughter. Woohoo! Can I just say…WATERFALLS!
Which followed very quickly with her book, Courting Morrow Little (which is still my favorite – though I think the Lacemaker might give it a run for first place) . RED SHIRT!
The Colonel’s Lady held me spellbound. Oh my, the Colonel!!
Then there was her beautiful Ballantyne Legacy series. SILAS!!!
Sorry, I’m enthralled by well-done heroes.
The Mistress of Tall Acre came next followed by A Moonbow Night (CAVES)
All of her books hold a lyrical quality, as she not only uses words to communicate a story but create a world in which the reader is not only drawn into the Colonial era and landscape, but also experiences the emotions of her characters. The pages are thick with descriptions and historical depth. Her characters breathe.
And those amazing qualities are NOTHING compared to the actual author!
A southern Appalachian lady, her accent soothes the listener like being called to sit near a fire and hear her spin a yarn. Her heart for the Lord shines in her ready smile and gentle words. She encourages, creates, and inspires.
Now, I DO believe I’ve given enough hints for you to know the author I’m raving about!!
The amazing Laura Frantz!
Oh yes, indeedie!!!
I cannot wait to spend some time by her fire in her cabin listening to her calming accent, because…well, I’m a southern Appalachian writer/dreamer too.
In celebration of my wonderful excursion, I’m giving away a paper copy of Laura’s book, Courting Morrow Little.
Leave a comment with your answer to the following question to have your name put in the drawing.
Have you read any of Laura’s books?
If not, which one would you like to read?
If so, do you have a favorite?
You can find out more about Laura and her incredible books on her website. You can find my reviews of Laura’s books HERE.
Laura also has a few of her books on SALE right now too!
I haven’t read any of Laura’s books but I do have The Lacemaker waiting for me in my bookshelf. I’ve been trying to get my library to buy A Moonbow Night.
So appreciate your heart for my books and your library! Heartfelt thanks for both!
Yes I have read some of her books and no I don’t have a favorite I have enjoyed each and every one.
Love your gracious spirit! I don’t have a fave either – kinda like a mom with book babies:)
Oh my word!! You lucky thing! I am Laura’s biggest fan! I own all her books. The Colonel’s Lady has been my favorite for years but A Moonbow Night is a mighty close second. And Silas! I want to meet her so much! You must share everything!
Love & hugs, dear Susan. You are the reading heart I write for!
I won a copy of The Colonel’s Lady years ago but never read it. I would like to read The Lacemaker as the cover is one I truly love. Yep. I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. 🙂
Hi Anne, So appreciate the cover kudos:) Even better, it’s an actual 18th-century gown in a museum collection!
Oh, that is cool about the dress! I really do need to read TCL since my TBR for reviewing has dwindled quite a bit.
Oh, Anne, You are cheating yourself letting The Colonel’s Lady get dusty. I love all of Laura’s stories, but TCL is very special. You must let us know what you think once you finish. I predict ~ thou shalt be hooked. 🙂
Pepper, I am jealous of your weekend! I love Laura’s books and own them all. But I have to say I am in total agreement with you, Courting Morrow Little is my fave with The Lacemaker a close second! Hope you two lovely ladies have a wonderful weekend!
Dear Haley, LOVE meeting you via Pepper! I can’t thank you enough for taking time for my books and having a heart for Morrow. I miss her wild world:) And thanks, too, for your heart for TL.
Goodness, all those books have such beautiful covers! I haven’t read any Laura Frantz, but she’s been on my radar of late after hearing so many good things about The Lacemaker. I would probably begin reading Frantz with The Mistress of Tall Acre, because I love a good marriage of convenience tale and with a book summary that opens like this:
A marriage of convenience.
She is in love with someone else.
He has no wish to love again.
What could possibly go wrong?
Oh, yes, please! 🙂
Dear Michelle – Your kind mention of that 4 line blurb makes me smile and want to do another one for the next book, a Scottish story:) I always wonder if anyone pays attention to that sort of thing so you’re proof readers do! Thanks for being here and being a blessing!
These four lines are EVERYTHING! They not only give us a preview of the book but a glimpse of you and the twinkle in your eye. Haven’t read anything by you yet but I’m headed off to rectify that right this minute.
Dear Michelle, Love your mention of those 4 lines about Mistress:) Makes me glad I wrote them and hope to do that again for the next novel. You’re confirmation that readers pay attention to those things:) Thank you for being here – love your enthusiastic spirit!
Whoops – WordPress is hiding comments from me and then doubling them lol! Double the love, I guess 🙂
Courting Morrow Little is my FAVORITE romance novel of all time! The passion and tenderness between Morrow and Red Shirt….Lawdy mercy! 😉 One of my favorite scenes is the dove calling scene in the woods. **Sigh*** Love it!
Dear Crystal, LOVE your heart for Morrow and her wild world! I remember writing that dove scene so vividly. I was actually staying in a B&B in KY and the doves were cooing in the rafters. Haunting yet sweet, like the story:) Thank you for being here – your comments are like dessert!
I read Love’s Reckoning about 3 years ago and recently discovered I can listen to the whole series on Hoopla Digital! So, I’m re-reading/listening to Love’s Reckoning now, in anticipation of listening to the remaining two. I particularly love that it’s set in York, which is about a half-hour south of me and moves to Pittsburgh, where I was born and raised. I read The Lacemaker in a day while I was sick a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it! I don’t know why I haven’t read more of Laura’s books yet!
Carolyn, Fun to learn of your rich PA roots! My college best friend lives in Pittsburgh. I loved visiting PA when researching those Ballantynes:) Such beautiful country – and history! I’m just becoming an audio fan and Lacemaker just released on audio so I’m one happy author! Thanks so much for being here. Pleasure to meet you through Pepper, one of my favorite authors and friends.
Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to read any of Laura’s books. However, if given the chance, I’d love to read them ALL. All the reviews and information I have read about her books leads me to the fact that she is an amazing author and one that I’d dearly love to be able to explore through her books.
By the way, I’m a mountain person myself having just moved this last year to my dream location – the Ozark Mountains. Love the view from her cabin! I know that your time there has to be tranquil and then fun because of being there with your dear friend. Hope you enjoy and treasure your time there.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of ” Courting Morrow Little” which would be a big start in helping me fulfill my wish to read her books.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Dear Kay, Delighted by your heart to read my books. I do hope you find them satisfying – I often say they’re a rocky road to reach the end but I always promise you a HEA (happily ever after)!
Kay, aren’t the mountains amazing? There’s something about them that calls to a deep place in the heart…a settling feeling, an awe and shift of perspective (or that’s how they make me feel) 🙂
Me too, Pepper. Lived some years near The Blue Ridge. I remember waking up one morning shortly after moving to the Midwest ~ a deep ache met me and stayed at the realization I could not oopen the windows and breathe in mountain air or see those magical ridges go on and on.
I’ve only read A Moonbow Night and The Lacemaker, and I loved them both for different reasons! A Moonbow Night talks about the early years of Kentucky. I have ancestors who migrated to Kentucky pretty early on, so the history in the story is so fascinating to me! As for The Lacemaker, I’m in love with Noble! He really lives up to his name! He’s so steadfast, honorable, and romantic. *Swoon!
Dear Karen, Love your heart for Moonbow, your own rich KY roots, and also Noble! He was such a pleasure to create and I confess to being a bit smitten myself. He thanks you, too:)
I CANNOT WAIT to get to meet him. I feel a contender for Red Shirt coming on 😉
While I have The Lacemaker, I have not started it yet, but I look forward to reading it. I have not read any others written by Laura Franz, but I intend to do so.
Dear Suzanne, Heartfelt thanks for having Lacemaker in your possession! I’m one happy author:) I do hope you enjoy your stay at Ty Mawr and Colonial Williamsburg. I miss those characters as I move on to books 10 & beyond!
I have not read any of your books but I would love to read The Lacemaker.
Hi Darlene, Thanks so much for your heart to read. Love meeting you though Pepper!
I have only read the first book in the Ballantyne Legacy series. I remember thorough enjoying it, and I need to check the library for more of her books! Thanks for sharing them.
Hi Jessica, So glad you keep the libraries open and circulating! I’m a huge fan & am always thrilled when they acquire my titles. That way many more people can enjoy them. Thanks for being here:)
I have read all of her books. My all time favorite is The Lacemaker. I believe we will be discussing it in book club this summer.
Dear Martha, Oh, wish you could see me smiling at your comments. I’m touched you say The Lacemaker is your favorite. Heartfelt thanks! And it’s an honor to think of your book club reading and discussing as a possible novel. Happy reading!
Wow, what an experience you have to look forward to. Blessings on your time together. It’s always good to be able to spend time with like-minded people! I have not read any of Laura’s books. The Lacemaker and A Moonbow Night and on my TBR pile. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Anne, So happy to meet you through Pepper – she has such a gift for bringing people together. I hope she feels at home at our humble cabin! I so appreciate you wanting to read my books. Meeting new readers is truly a joy!
oh my have a fabulous weekend. no I have not read any of her books yet. I read a lot about the Lacemaker and would like to give it a try along with her other books.
quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net
Dear Lori, Heartfelt thanks for your gracious comments and wanting to read a book of mine:) I hope you enjoy every page if you do!
I have several of her books in my kindle. They are all so good!
Dear Gail, So appreciate your e-reading heart! There’s a sale on right now for several of them, thanks to my publisher, Revell. Love your gracious spirit, too. Thrilled to have you as a reading friend:)
I’ve read most of Laura’s books and they are all lovely. Courting Morrow Little is probably my favorite.
Dear Emilee, I’m so glad you find Morrow memorable and lovely (love that word)! Thank you. I do think the reader favorite is CML but The Lacemaker seems to be getting the same kind of love for which I am very thankful:)
I can’t say that I’ve had the privledge of reading one of her books, but I hope to get to read “The Lacemaker.” That cover is absolutely fabulous! How wonderful to get to spend the weekend with Laura Frantz. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Dear Perrianne, Thank you for being here – Pepper is a wonderful hostess! It’s so fun to talk books with you all. Happy reading!
Ahhhhhh! I hope you have an amazing time! Laura is so gracious when she responds to posts and comments on facebook, she makes me feel warm and cozy just reading her sweet words. I’ve read two of her Ballantyne Legacy books, Mistress of Tall Acre, A Moonbow Night, and The Lacemaker. I need to read her earlier books pronto! I think Moonbow Night is my favorite of hers, the scene in the tree stump is on my top 10 list of best kisses!!!
Dear Heidi, I’m lighting up like a Christmas tree reading your very gracious comments (even though a tree is out of season lol)! Love your heart for my books and that hollow tree stump of a kiss! You inspire me as I press on with novel eleven. Mercy, where has the time gone since 2009 and that frontier debut?! Thanks to caring reading friends and bloggers like you I get to keep my job:)
I have read all of Laura’s books except The Lacemaker and have the e-book in my TBR. I think Courting Morrow Little was my favorite but I have LOVED all of them!
Dear Joan, And i love your gracious heart & spirit! Means so much to have you as a reading friend when there are so many books vying for your time. Heartfelt thanks!
I have read several of Laura Frantz’s books, most recently The Lacemaker which I think is my favorite. 🙂
I don’t remember reading any of Laura’s books but i do remember wanting to! I have the Lacemaker . I’d better do some shuffling of my TBR PILE! Thanks for keeping her in the spotlight.
Paula, Bless you for being here and for saying what I wanted to say so beautifully. Yes, Pepper, thank you for keeping me in the spotlight! Your lovely, gracious spirit is reflected in the friends you have here. Thank you all so much for your kind comments! A joy to read on this blustery, snowflake spitting almost end to winter!
I would have to say that Moonbow Night is my favorite Laura Frantz book because it was difficult for me to follow at first because of the difference in the wording used in that period and that area. Once I learned how to google some things, I really got into the book and loved it. I can’t wait to read The Lacemaker. Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone!
Dear Debbie, So admire your persevering heart! Moonbow is without a doubt my most challenging to read. Lacemaker seems almost fluffy in comparison, more like cake than the moonbow steak:) Thank you for taking time to google words and adjust to the archaic vocabulary. That novel probably needed a glossary which this next Scottish novel will have. You are a gem of a reader. Thank you!
Laura, thanks for your kind words and good luck on your new book. Can’t wait to read it.
I have not read any of Laura’s books. It would be hard to choose a favorite since all of the books look wonderful.
Marion
Laura’s books look like my kind of books.
Marilyn
Thank you for this giveaway of Lauren’s book. They seem so interesting.
Joan
Oh boy!! NEW readers!! I can’t imagine you not enjoying any of Laura’s books – they’re so beautifully written and each holds its own bit of magic to it.
i read Love’s Reckoning a couple of years ago and fell in love with Laura’s writing!! and i recently read The Lacemaker – though i am rather ashamed to say i’ve not yet read any others of her books!!! while they are all on my TBR list, the 2nd and 3rd in the Ballantyne series would be my next picks!!!
oops! i forgot favorite – then again, i could no more pick a favorite of Laura’s stories than a favorite author…..
I’ve just recently read The Lacemaker and enjoyed it so much! I also have read The Colonel’s Lady and The Mistress of Tall Acre…with A Moonbow Night on my very long must-read list!
Enjoy your relaxing time with Laura…..though I can just see many long nights talking until dawn, lol! Thank you for the giveaway chance for Courting Morrow Little.
I can’t possibly choose a favorite because they’re all good! 🙂
I’d like to read The Frontiersman’s Daughter.
I’m SOOOO jealous! I loved meeting Laura at CFRR last summer and chatting with her. She is such a lovely, gracious woman, and her talent with words is amazing! I’m looking forward to reading The Lacemaker. It’s sitting on my Kindle taunting me, but I have some books I need to read for review first. I need to have Carrie teach me to read faster.
No favorite yet, but I now have the author firmly on my reading list.
Laura is a new author to me and I love the sound of The lacemaker. Thanks for this opportunity.
NANCY! Congratulations you are the WINNER of the giveaway! Please email me at pepperdbashamATgmailDOTcom
I loved the Ballyantyne Legacy series and A Moonbow Night! Laura’s books are swoon worthy and breath taking! 🙂 Laura is a MUST read author! 🙂
I’ve read The Colonel’s Lady, The Mistress of Tall Acre, and A Moonbow Night. I really liked them all and want to read the rest of her books. Thanks for giving away a copy of Courting Morrow Little. It would be such fun to win!
I’m excited to be introduced to Laura Frantz! I haven’t read any of her books yet but I just ordered the two books she has on special sale! I love your books (you’re one of my favorites) so I look forward to reading an author you admire. Please enter me in the giveaway contest!
Oh wow, Victoria! Thanks for the kind words! Laura’s books are BEAUTIFUL!!! I can’t imagine you not loving them!! Good luck in the drawing.
Pepper Basham is a new author to me. I like the cover and stories suggested by Laura Frantz’ book covers.
I haven’t yet read any books by Laura Frantz, but she’s on my radar. Thanks for the chance to win a book. Enjoy your visit!
So happy to see so many reading friends here! Pepper, you have A LOT of fans:) I wish I could reply to everyone. Am taking care of elderly parents who are unwell so this is very much a bright spot. Thank you all and happy reading in 2018!
Just have to chime in ~ love Laura’s stories. Have read all except The Frontiersman’s Daughter and the best answer i could give to the question of favorite would have to be one of these: “The last one.” OR “All of them.” She is a special writer and immerses the reader in the story so well, reading one is like taking a trip ` and I always enjoy the journey.
Thanks, Laura and Pepper! Prayers, Laura, as you write and tend your folks.
I was not familiar with Laura until I came across The Lacemaker. I loved that book and plan on reading more of her books in the future.