Today’s book review features
The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz.
About the Book
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.
From Goodreads
Author Information
Discover more about Laura Frantz at: laurafrantz.net.
Danielle’s Review
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell.
I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz is a Scottish romance set in 1715, during the Stuart Rebellion.
This was an exceptional book. The characters, the danger, the setting … it all drew me in so that I hated to put the story down. Blythe is a spirted English lass who must flee her home because her father is involved with the rebellion. The fact she is the goddaughter of Everard’s father is the perfect connection. I enjoyed watching Blythe and Everard’s relationship morph the longer she stayed at his family’s castle.
Yes, castle. This is the land of lairds and ladies and sweeping landscapes. The description of both the setting and the weather bring a reader into the story. Having seen other European castles, particularly one in Switzerland where we went inside, I could easily picture the Hume family home. It was cool to learn that the author is a descendent of the real life Hume family who lived at Wedderburn Castle.
The history was fascinating, too. I don’t know much about English/Scottish history, especially in the early 1700s, but I was struck by how uncertain life was back then. Life and death, war and loss, all seemed constant companions. Not to mention one’s loyalties, and the strength or weakness of them, could not only cost one his or her life, but that of his or her family, their lands, finances, and legacy. All of that makes for this story unputdownable.
If you’re looking for a historical romance that will transport you to the Scottish countryside in 1715, then definitely grab a copy of The Rose and the Thistle. It was an excellent read.
Don’t miss The Rose and the Thistle First Line Friday post!
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