The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What period of history would you like to learn more about?  I love all periods of history.

The Seamstress of Acadie is set during a fascinating part of history, during the French and Indian War in Nova Scotia in the 1750’s.  Sylvie is a happy young woman that loves her family.  They are French speaking Acadians and have a large farm, while Sylvie is a seamstress.  As she starts to be courted by an older local doctor, she starts to evaluate what she wants from life and love.  She realizes he does not inspire love in her like she wants a spouse to do.  When she meets the handsome William Blackburn, she feels a passion she has not felt before.  She mistakenly thinks he is a Frenchman in search of her brother, Bleu, but later discovers he is a British Army Ranger.  The British have brought war to Novia Scotia and decide that all Acadians must leave no matter if they fought them or not.  Sylvie and her family, find their farm and all of their belongings confiscated by the British and they are forced onto boats that carry them to the American colonies.  Blackburn resigns from the British military in protest over the forced expulsion of the Acadians.  In Virginia, Sylvie once again meets William Blackburn.  Will Sylvie be able to put her life back together, face prejudice, and will she find love?

I had never heard of the forced expulsion of the Acadians, and I was both fascinated and devastated by this story.  Frantz has a great author’s note at the end of the novel where she describes her research and her real-life inspirations.  For example, William Blackburn is based on the real-life Major Robert Rogers, the founder of Roger’s Rangers which eventually became the US Army Rangers of today. Like the author, I somehow missed the epic poem, Evangeline:  A Tale of Acadie by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, but I will definitely be looking this poem up. 

Frantz beautifully crafted this story.  Once I started reading it, I felt immersed in Sylvie’s plight and had a hard time putting the book down. This is one of those books I was reading too late into the night.  I enjoyed all the characters, but especially Sylvie, William, and Bleu.  William at times seemed like Hawkeye from Last of the Mohicans.  I also loved at the beginning the details of Sylvie’s sewing and beautiful dresses.

I also loved the question in the novel, where is God in such horrifying situations?

I loved this quote that was used in this novel:

“The mind grows narrow in proportion as the soul grows corrupt.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Overall, The Seamstress of Acadie is an engaging, beautifully written novel full of romance and adventure that is a must read for historical fiction fans.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: The Seamstress of Acadie

·       Author: Laura Frantz

·       Genre: Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: Revell (January 9, 2024)

·       Length: (416) pages

·       Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-0800740689‎

·       Book Tour Dates: January 8 – 22, 2024

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America's borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

 

PRAISE FOR THE SEAMSTRESS OF ACADIE

• “Frantz’s atmospheric writing is easy to sink into, from the grimness of the disease-riddled voyage to the ethereal Acadian landscape. While William and Sylvie’s romance is a slow burn, there’s a rewarding payoff to this tale of second chances born from tragedy. Frantz’s fans won’t be disappointed.”— Publisher’s Weekly
• “This book is undoubtably one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the faith thread, I loved the light in the darkness theme, I loved the characters, I loved the hope brimming from almost every page. I loved the growth (through every struggle and triumph), and I loved the history embedded into each detail.”— Tasha, The Clean Read Book Club
• “Fantastic story! The beautiful writing engages the reader from the beginning... Laura Frantz's books are exceptional because they evoke an abundance of emotions beyond the typical novel. I highly recommend this book to all historical fiction readers.”— Milena Bookish, Goodreads

 

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB |    GOODREADS

AUTHOR BIO

Bestselling, award-winning author, Laura Frantz, has been writing stories since age seven. She is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century and her novels 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. Though she will always consider Kentucky home, she and her husband live in Washington State.

According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Foreign language editions include French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovakian, German & Polish.

 

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