By Benjamin H. Liles
Lately, I feel as if I have stumbled on some truly great fictional books. From Laura Frantz's The Lacemaker to Lynn Blackburn's In Too Deep. Yet Laura Frantz's latest book A Bound Heart is simply a classic in my overall opinion. What makes the story all the more riveting is the fact she uses an ancestor of hers who did was exiled from Scotland for his part in the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion, settling in Virginia, and teaching George Washington surveying between the years 1748-1750: George Hume.
What I find impressive is Mrs. Frantz takes us on a great story of a ride showing us what it "might have been" for her sixth great grandfather, George Hume, who was a sympathetic Jacobite supporter. He was a man of some means and was able to be indentured for a time here in fledgling America to become an official surveyor at William and Mary College. I know I'm telling exact history here, but considering I never tell my readers here what the plot of the book actually is I would rather keep that trend.
I can tell you Frantz weaves one wonderful story, using even another historical figure (one of whom I descend from in my mother's family, Somhairle). So, if I had anything of truly great value to say of this book is I find it a truly magical, great piece of storytelling that takes you back to the mid-eighteenth century, rather 1752 to be exact. Another reason I love this book so much is considering the fact I love history is the way Frantz helps us imagine those times with almost pinpoint accuracy.
What I will say is even though the book is a fictional work on the Laird of Kerrera Castle and a bonny (pretty) lady named Lark MacDougall, I truly believe George hume would be proud of how Laura Frantz, one of his descendants treated him in this wonderful and delightful book. Thank you, Laura Frantz for the words you use in your natural prosaic style; you have a natural gift for storytelling and I look forward to more from you.
Laura Frantz is a Christy award-winning author having penned The Lacemaker, The Mistress of Tall Acre, and The Ballantyne Legacy novels. As with every novel she writes she pours her heart into all the historical work she does. Publishers Weekly has said themselves of her books, "Frantz has done her historical homework." Readers can find more of her work at Laura Frantz Online.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell got an honest and fair review of the book.
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