Quick Review: The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz

From the Back Cover:

Lovely but tough as nails, Lael Click is the daughter of a celebrated frontiersman. Haunted by her father's former captivity with the Shawnee Indians, as well as the secret sins of her family's past, Lael comes of age in the fragile Kentucky settlement her father founded. Though she faces the loss of a childhood love, a dangerous family feud, and the affection of a Shawnee warrior, Lael draws strength from the rugged land she calls home, and from Ma Horn, a distant relative who shows her the healing ways of herbs and roots found in the hills. But the arrival of an outlander doctor threatens her view of the world, God, and herself--and the power of grace and redemption.

This epic novel gives readers a glimpse into the simple yet daring lives of the pioneers who first crossed the Appalachians, all through the courageous eyes of a determined young woman. Laura Frantz's debut novel offers a feast for readers of historical fiction and romance lovers alike.

My Thoughts:

I love stories of frontier life. I am continually amazed at the strength of the people who carved out our nation one homestead at a time. The Frontiersman's Daughter is an exceptional tale of one young woman's struggle to discover her place and purpose on the edge of the wild Kentucky frontier. I was instantly drawn into Lael's story and I found myself smiling when she was happy and crying at her heartbreak; at times applauding her bravery and at others cursing her stupidity. This is Christian fiction, so Lael also struggles to find her faith in God in a wild and dangerous environment that God seems to have forsaken. But the themes of faith and forgiveness are subtlely woven throughout the story, seamlessly blended with the hardships and triumphs of frontier life, and coming to the forefront only at the end when Lael faces her most difficult trial of all. The Frontiersman's Daughter is a beautifully crafted epic, filled with raw emotion, the themes of faith and family and friendship, right and wrong, with a story as unpredictable as the wilderness itself - a rugged ride through an unforgettable young woman's journey to self-acceptance, spiritual enlightenment, and love. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Rating:  4.5 Stars out of 5