Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz ~ review

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800720415

This title is also available as an e-book.


Publication Date: September 1, 2012 | Series: The Ballantyne Legacy (Book 1)

On a bitter December day in 1785, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of master blacksmith Liege Lee in York, Pennsylvania. Just months from becoming a master blacksmith himself, Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship and move west. But Liege soon discovers that Silas is a prodigious worker and craftsman and endeavors to keep him in Lancaster. Silas becomes interested in both of Liege's daughters, the gentle and faith-filled Eden and the clever and high-spirited Elspeth. When he chooses one, will the other's jealousy destroy their love? 
In this sweeping family saga set in western Pennsylvania, one man's choices in love and work, in friends and enemies, set the stage for generations to come. "Love's Reckoning" is the first entry in The Ballantyne Legacy, a rich, multi-layered historical quartet from talented writer Laura Frantz, beginning in the late 1700s and following the Ballantyne family through the end of the Civil War.

My take on this book:

If I were to try and describe "Love's Reckoning" in one word I think that word would be gripping! It was a book that pulled me in and kept me emotionally involved until the final page. 

This book opens in December 1784. Liege Lee is a master blacksmith who is waiting for his latest apprentice Silas Ballantyne to arrive. He has two daughters Eden and Elspeth, who are as different as night and day, and the plan is for that once Silas arrives he is to follow tradition and marry one of the master blacksmith's daughters. Thing is one sister is pregnant, so the plan is if Silas arrives before the baby is born he is to marry that sister, otherwise he will marry the other. Will Silas marry either sister, or does he have other plans? 

The characters and time period really made this story a winner for me. The characters were so richly developed, one sister was so easy to like, while the other was so easy to dislike, and while I really wanted the good sister to win out, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she did. I thought the author did a great job bringing the time period to live, with fantastic descriptions, I felt like I was pulled right back in time. My only complaint about this story is that I have to wait for the next book in the series! If your a fan of historical fiction filled with rich details, romance,as well as a family drama, saga then your certainly going to want to read this one!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.