There are books that describe places and then there are books that TAKE you to places.

About the Book

Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he is hoping will provide a tincture that might help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Yet even when all hope seems dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony, it may be that in this New World the two of them could make a new beginning–together.

Laura Frantz’s prose sparkles with authenticity and deep feeling as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in Colonial America. (From the author website)

My Review

In Laura Frantz’s newest novel, A Bound Heart, the reader is drawn into the world of Kerrara by the exquisite detail and descriptive beauty of Laura’s prose. As usual, reading a Laura Frantz book promises beautiful writing, and her newest offering to the historical fiction world (with romance) fulfills that promise. And as much as I usually fawn over Laura’s heroes in her books, the real star of this book is the heroine, Lark. Her story – the aches, uncertainties, compassion, and kindness – takes center stage, even as the dashing and honorable, Magnus MacLeish, plays a large role. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a formidable character – strong, thoughtful, kind…and intense. A true Scottish Laird. It was such fun to see his lighter side at times and any time he and Lark shared the page??!!…those were my favorites! (But I’m also a diehard romantic 😉

Now, this book was kind of like brownies cooking in the oven. It took a while to benefit from the full effects of the work. The start moved a little slowly, but there was a lovely aroma of both conflict and the romance to come, so that when they both came to fruition, the reader is left savoring both the sweetness and richness of the flavor. The friendship between Magnus and Lark was sweet, and Lark’s relationship with her granny and Larkin add so much to the story! I’m a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, and we are certainly rewarded with the tender romance by the end.

If you were a fan of Laura’s book, The Lacemaker, then you’ll enjoy her newest release. There are many similarities in the flow of this story and the careful unfolding of both romance and historical detail. 

My Rating: I would rate this beautiful story a 4.5 out of 5.  

It was a pleasure to read this story as my first of 2019.

Thank you to Netgalley for making it available. I was not required to write a review. These opinions expressed are my own.

Get your copy here

About the Author

Laura Frantz is a Christy Award finalist and the ECPA bestselling author of several books, including The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, The Mistress of Tall Acre, A Moonbow Night, and The Ballantyne Legacy series. She lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.

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