The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite time period to read about?  I love reading about all periods of time.  I love a good World War II story, but I do love historical fiction that focuses on other periods of time.    I have always loved reading English and Scottish history and in particular about the Jacobite Rebellion.  I love Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Battle of Culloden.  The Rose and the Thistle takes place during the Jacobite Rising of 1715, which I haven’t read as much about as the events of the 1730s.

Lady Blythe Hedley is a wealthy heiress and daughter of the Duke of Northumberland.  She is an educated woman and comes from a Catholic family.  Her father supports the Stuarts cause, and the novel starts with Blythe in France with the Stuart family.  Before she returns, her father asks Lord Wedderburn to care for his daughter.  Lord Wedderburn is on his death bed but was once the godfather of Blythe when he was still Catholic.  He lives just across the border in Scotland.  He agrees.  When their priest is killed and estate is overrun, Blythe and her maid make a hurried escape north to Wedderburn Castle.  They arrive just as Lord Wedderburn has passed away and Everard Hume has become the new laird.  Will Blythe and Everard be able to navigate these dangerous time? 

The Rose and the Thistle is my favorite kind of historical fiction.  It is well researched, and it makes you feel like you are in Scotland during 1715.  The characters are interesting, and I couldn’t stop reading about them.  I loved the independent Lady Blythe and also loved Everard.  He had a sometimes crusty exterior but is a good person beneath it all. Together they had a slow burn romance that was wonderful to read.   There was plenty of excitement to wrap up this book that I don’t want spoil for others.  I do feel like I would love to continue to read about Blythe and Everard and I hope there is a second novel.   I do know that I need to read more books by Laura Frantz.

I especially loved the Author’s Note at the end.  This novel is based on the author’s ancestors, the Hume family.  She visited the castle and the area and made me realize why the descriptions were so wonderful in the novel. I thought the personal history was fascinating.

It is always amazing to me reading through history how much tension there was on whether you where Catholic or Protestant in England and Scotland for hundreds of years.   Your religion could get you killed. 

This is a clean read and Christian.  I loved it and thought it was not only a great historical fiction novel, but a great romance.

Review Copy from Revell a division of Baker Publishing   Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: The Rose and the Thistle: A Novel

·       Author: Laura Frantz

·       Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Co (January 3, 2023)

·       Length: (416) pages

·       Format: Hardcover, Trade paperback, & eBook 

·       ISBN: 978-0800742669

·       Tour Dates: January 2 – 16, 2023

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

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 mistress 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.

 
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/

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

• “A masterful achievement of historical complexity and scintillating romance sure to thrill readers with its saga of love under siege.”— Booklist, starred review
• “A deeply atmospheric story of faith, love, and sacrifice that is as captivating as it is enthralling.”— Sarah E. Ladd, bestselling author of The Cornwall Novels
• “Marked by majestic Scottish scenery and a memorable trip to Edinburg, The Rose and the Thistle is a delightful historical romance set during a tumultuous time.”— Forward Reviews

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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

 

AUTHOR BIO

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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