The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

Sophie Menzies once lived in luxury. Her father's loyalty to the British Crown and the American Revolution changed that. After her mother's death and her father's return to Britain, Sophie is left to occupy her home, Three Chimneys, while she waits for her brother's return from the war. As a social outcast and nearly destitute, Sophie finds that although the fighting is past, in many ways, the war carries on. When her neighbor, General Seamus Ogilvy, returns, Sophie's relationship with the general's daughter brings her frequently into contact with the decorated war hero. As Sophie faces the loss of her home, Seamus proposes a sensible marriage arrangement that will provide for Sophie's financial needs and his daughter's care. Sophie agrees and finds that her heart begins to long for a deeper relationship with Seamus. However, a woman from Seamus' past appears and Sophie's hope seems lost. Will this relationship survive or is Sophie's future bleak? Read more in The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz.

The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz held my attention from beginning to end. Extra twists in the plot provided suspense and depth to create more than the standard marriage-of-convenience story. The relationship between Sophie and Seamus took time to develop, creating a strong foundation for their marriage and sense of expectancy for the reader. I found myself looking forward to my daily reading time and daydreaming about how the rest of the story would go.

As always, it's easy to recommend Frantz's work. The Mistress of Tall Acre is a well-written story to entertain inspirational romance fans. I'll stash it away with Frantz's other books to be read again in the future.

Read an excerpt from The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Chivalrous by Dina L. Sleiman

Lady Gwendolyn Barnes longs to be free of society's expectations so that she can pursue training as a knight. Her father does not share her progressive attitudes towards physical activities such as horse riding, jousting, and fighting. Family tensions mount as Gwen resists her father's choice of a spouse. Complicating matters is her attraction to the newcomer, Allen of Ellsworth, a handsome and chivalrous knight. Gwen and Allen's destinies seem predetermined, backed by the weight of cultural pressure. Will Gwen spend the rest of her life in submission to a domineering man or will God's truth light her way and lead her to complete freedom?

Chivalrous by Dina L. Sleiman is the second installment it the Valiant Hearts series. I think it would work alright as a stand-alone novel, but there are definitely some characters and moments that are better if you've read Dauntless, the first novel in the series.

Like its predecessor, Chivalrous has a strong, fiery female protagonist who struggles with the discrepancy between God's standards and the humans who misinterpret them for their own purposes. For Gwen, this is due to an overbearing, narcissistic father who demands she marry a brutish man who will keep her under control. As a a substantial element in the story line, Gwen's spiritual struggle conveyed a message about the importance of making sure one's beliefs are based on God's truth as opposed to customs or another person's expectations.

Chivalrous is well-written with a solid plot and diverse characters. I can easily recommend it to fans of YA and regular fiction lovers as I'll be storing it away to reread in the future.

Read an excerpt from Chivalrous by Dina L. Sleiman on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."