Selah Hopewell is no ordinary young woman. Fiercely independent, she refuses to be just another tobacco bride, holding out for a love that seeks her heart and not just her land. Though a successful planter, Xander Renick stands caught between two worlds—that of the colonists and that of the Powhatan nation. When betrayal threatens the carefully balanced peace, will Xander and Selah be lost in the winds of war, or will they find a way home to each other?

In Tidewater Bride, Frantz once again proves herself to be a master of the historical novel as she seamlessly stitches together period detail with a story that catches your heart and holds it fast until the last page is turned.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set in James Towne, Virginia Colony in 1634, widowed Alexander "Zander" Renick is a tobacco plantation owner who uses indentured servants to run his plantation. His neighbor, Ustis Hopewell, runs the merchant store with the help of his daughter, Selah Hopewell. James Towne has had good times and bad with the neighboring Indians. Zander spent many years with the nearby Indians and is trying to keep peace between the two groups while running his plantation and looking for a new wife.

Filled with a host of engaging and some not so engaging characters, each of them felt true to the time period. Frantz' historical research was obvious throughout the novel and she brought early James Towne to life. She depicted every day life during that time period with all its highs and lows beautifully. I especially enjoyed the addition of the children and the dogs that played such an important role in the growing relationship between Zander and Selah. And, as always, Frantz enriches her novel with great spiritual content.

Another excellent historical novel from Laura Frantz.

Really good book if not predicatable and likeable characters, i hope there is a follow up which i will read

Laura Franz always researches her books meticulously, and this one in no exception. This story of Selah and Xander is filled with details of 17th century colonial life in Virginia. Her notes at the end explaining the connections of Pocahontas and James Rolfe were so helpful and added to the enjoyment of the story.
She captures the setting wonderfully and paints a picture of how hard life was then. She also enlightens us as to how resilient the Pilgrims had to be to survive many hardships. I loved the emphasis on faith and how it was necessary to survive the trials and how the repeated use of scripture was used to uphold them.
I really liked learning about JamesTown, tobacco, indentures, slavery. settlers, Indians(naturals) and the hardships.
And there was an obvious villain to hate all along. So near the end the drama intensifies as right prevails.
This is an absorbing read. I recommend it highly.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Laura Frantz has done it again. Although technically classified as a writer of Christian fiction, her faith-based references are light-handed and, in my opinion, she’s mainly a fantastic historical fiction novelist. Her thorough research and obvious love for colonial/frontier-era Americana is clear in her books, and ‘Tidewater Bride’ is no exception.

Selah Hopewell is the daughter of a merchant in James Towne, Virginia, during the time tobacco brides were arranged to arrive from England to help populate the colonies. Selah, unmarried herself, is put in charge of helping these young women navigate courtship and marriage to prospective husbands in the town and surrounding plantations.

Enter Alexander (Xander) Renick, a widower and landowner with a plantation bordering the property outside town owned by the Hopewell family. Although long-time friends, Xander and Selah have a friendship made uneasy by their mutual love and affection for his Powhatan wife, Mattachanna, and misunderstandings between them about her life and death. Xander also has a young son, Oceanus, recently returned to Virginia after a few years spent in Scotland.

In addition to the burgeoning romance between Selah and Xander, ‘Tidewater Bride’ also tells the story of the tobacco brides, the delicate relationship between the colonists and the Powhatan in Virginia at that time, plantation life, and the differing attitudes regarding the beginnings of the slave trade. Despite personal tragedies, conflict within Xander’s household and the machinations of the slimy James Towne physic, there’s a lovely ending for Xander and Selah.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Historical fiction with “bride” in the title can only mean a historical fiction romance, yes? That’s what I assumed and I can’t say I was wrong! This novel takes readers back into the 17th century Virginia with tobacco brides and tension between the colonists and the native tribes.

Quite often when I read a book, I check to see how many pages there are. This gives me a rough idea of how long it might take to read the book. While I’m trying to learn to speed read, I don’t want to miss anything important. I find myself slowing down to my usual speed of reading.

This well developed story in Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz has several key characters and many supporting. The setting feels colonial with dirt roads, horses and stables, beautiful views and seemingly primitive in today’s standards. The men did much laboring as well as the voice of their family. The women seemed to be the gardeners, seamstresses, cooks, and herbalists. Each family tended to have nurses, servants, and tutors for the children.

In the era of this book, the African slave trade had already begun, but there were those who refused to use slaves. This story seems to come at a good time when there’s been civil unrest due to racism. yet the story shows that, believe it or not, not every family was a slave owner and not every family who did have slaves, treated them horrifically.

Anywho, I really enjoyed the main character, Selah. She seems like a mature, thoughtful, and empathetic young lady. She’s aware of when to speak and when to wait, what might be needed and where to find it. Selah seems to have her hand in everything from gardening to bookkeeping, cooking to milking. She’s a real saint! It’s made me wonder if I could have done all that she does!

I also love her betrothed, Xander. He’s already a man of great standing in the community, he’s handsome, and he’s very focused on his tobacco growing. Xander has indentured servants, no slaves. He’s very hands-on with the tobacco growing and willing to treat everyone as equals. He’s a strong character in this novel because of his relationship with the Natives and how he’s fair to everyone, even his arch enemies.

This historical fiction reminds me of how life may have been 400 years ago with the colony still young and how illness spread back then. With little knowledge of medicine compared to now, they seemed to do well with herbs they grew in their gardens. It seems we are trying to get back to something like that with our research on what’s healthy and how herbs and spices are used for ailments. It seems a lost art of herbalists that need to be rekindled.

A digital ARC of Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz was provided by Revell via NetGalley. While writing a review is not required, I love sharing my thoughts in hopes it helps other readers as elk as the author and publisher. I give this book 4 out of 5 tiaras because it holds such fantastic detail that I felt like I was there in Virginia with these characters. But, I feel like there was a lot going on that it kept me from really getting into the story.

Laura Frantz's "Tidewater Bride" is the newest release for this Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of eleven historical novels. Frantz has been writing since she was seven years old and never had a desire to be published, yet here we are. I am thankful that the Lord saw fit to change her plans so that readers could have access to books written from this interesting author.

Tidewater Bride is set in James Towne, Virginia Colony, during the spring of 1634. This is a time of unrest between the colonists and the Powhatan nation, an era when Tobacco was a huge commodity. A time when marriage was more about a business arrangement than about love.

Selah Hopewell is not one of the Tobacco brides, but she is put in charge of them when they come to James Towne. Selah has a hard time understanding the concept of women coming to her town looking for a marriage. Her thoughts are scandalous for the time period as she states, "I would rather marry for love than the price of tobacco." To which her father replies, "Love hardly fills the larder. Marriage is first and foremost a business matter. Affection may come in time, but 'tis clearly secondary to prudence." However, someone catches her eye and changes things for her.

Xander is a tobacco lord, married to his job. His character is surprising as we continue to learn new information about him as the story unfolds. He has had no desire to remarry since his late wife passed. However, as time passes, he warms to the idea of a new bride, the choice is, which one?

This story has many layers. Every time you think you have a grasp on the story, a new detail emerges. At first I was not sure where the story was going, or if I was going to even like it. However, there are many twists and turns in this book. New characters are constantly emerging, changing the dynamics and the drama. There is also an incredible mystery that kept me hanging on the edge of my seat, and made the book impossible to put down.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, clean romance stories, and stories shrouded in mystery. With engaging characters, with minds of their own, this book is a good read. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but it will not be my last.

Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review, but was happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Laura Frantz’s latest, A Tidewater Bride, is a surefire way to be swept into another time and place. Filled with vivid descriptions, period worthy prose, and memorable characters, this novel is a delight to the imagination.

Featuring Jamestown in the early years of its settlement, Frantz leads her readers into the tension filled turmoil be-tween the Powhatan Indians and the settlers. As disease, racial injustice, and life’s hardships wreak the characters, Frantz builds a plot that is heavy with emotion, offering insight into an era often glossed over in history books. I greatly appreciated her honesty and ability to weave such an insightful and entertaining tale.

Frantz is an author not to be missed if you are a fan of historical fiction, particularly Colonial America. I highly recommend her writing!

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I visited Jamestown many years ago. I loved the history and the beautiful scenery. I would love to go back and visit once again. I had a mini vacation there without leaving the comfort of my home. Ms. Frantz wrote this wonderful book based in the 1600s.

I loved the main characters. Selah was beautiful inside and out. She had a strength that was much needed to survive during this time. Xander. What a strong name for a man who is also warm and tender when he needs to be. They may be a match but first they must survive through the circumstances before them.

I enjoyed reading about the other family members as well as Selah and Xander. I liked Xander's Aunt and the ways she loved Xander like no one else could.

Great story. Five stars.

Maybe I'll get to Virginia this year!!!!!

Laura Frantz is one of my favorite authors of historical romance. Her writing never fails to awe me with its lyrical tone and vivid descriptions. I so appreciated the depth of these characters and the slow-burn romance, and there was just enough action to keep the plot moving while giving the characters time to breathe. A perfect Saturday read, both captivating and compelling!

I have been a fan of Laura Frantz's work since reading her first novel The Frontiersman's Daughter when it was first released. For many years, Courting Morrow Little has been my favorite of her novels, but I believe Tidewater Bride has replaced that beloved book as my favorite.

In Tidewater Bride, Frantz transports her readers back to the world of early Colonial Jamestown in 1634. This Jamestown is more settled than the earliest Jamestown that we often read of in the history books. Those who have read Deanne Gist's first novel, A Bride Most Begruding, or have watched the British TV show Jamestown should be familiar with the concept of the tobacco brides. Tidewater Bride opens with the arrival of a ship of tobacco brides. The novel opens with the arrival of a bride ship, this novel is about so much more than just the tobacco brides. It is a deep novel which encompasses the political and diplomatic situation of Jamestown Colony in the 17th century, especially regarding the relations between the colony and the Powhatan Confederacy, it is during the early years of the slave trade, and it stands out that our hero Xander Renick refuses to enslave Africans, and relies on indentured servants for his land. Some readers may quickly realize the story of Xander and his first wife, a Powhatan woman named Mattachanna mirrors the story of John Rolfe and Pocahontas.

I highly recommend Tidewater Bride to those who enjoy historical fiction.

**My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Revell for the e-copy I was given in exchange for an honest review**

A review will also be posted at Amazon upon the release of the book. Again, thank you very much for allowing me to read and review this book.

Tidewater Bride opens in the year 1634 in James Towne, Virginia Colony. Selah Hopewell is waiting for a ship coming from England with young women who will hopefully marry some of the available men. Not married herself, she lives there her parents and her brother. Her life is full and she isn't looking for a husband. Xander, a widowed prominent land owner is interested in her, but Selah has questions about his character. Over time a relationship develops and much follows.
This novel is an impressive work of historical fiction. It brings to life an important time in history. The well defined characters are believable and this well crafted novel draws readers into their lives. Through them we experience the very real daily hardships, illnesses, dangers and romance.

I found this book to be fascinating and I learned a great deal. It is well worth reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and NetGalley.

I always look forward to January because I know that Laura Frantz will be releasing a new novel. I used to wonder why some authors released multiple books a year and Laura Frantz only released one but comparing the books, the sheer amount of research that has gone into each of her books is so obvious and sets them apart from the rest! This story was set in 1634, which is a lot earlier than her other books which are usually set around the Revolutionary War. I found this book quite different than her others though I couldn't quite put my finger on exactly what was different other than the setting. I found the beginning of the story a little slow and disjointed but after that it picked up pace and became more engrossing. I loved all the characters but I especially liked Xander. He was so honourable and strong that it's no wonder all the girls were after him! I also really appreciated Selah's independence and strong mindedness. The story had the usual beautifully tender moments that Laura Frantz is so good at creating. While this wasn't my favourite book by Laura Frantz, it was still an enjoyable read. All her books range from great to amazing so they're always a win-win. Filled with a host of lovable characters, this Pocahontas-inspired tale was fascinating to read and should be added to everyone's TBR list this year!

I found Laura Frantz's latest book Tidewater Bride, to be interesting, exciting, and a wonderful love story. She writes a historical romance like none other. You can tell she puts a lot of time into the research of her subjects. Growing up in Maryland and Virginia, The Tobacco Bride, is something I have always had an interest in. The times were extremely hard during the colonial days. I can not imagine being aboard a boat for 2 or 3 months. Traveling to a new land that you know very little about. Taking a husband that you know even less about. Laura Frantz does a great job of creating characters that are likable and very believable. I found myself holding my breath throughout parts of her story. I thank Revell for allowing me, through NetGalley, to read this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

First, I love this beautiful cover. I love this early time period of history in the 1600's. The trials and different lives these people lead is fascinating to me. Her descriptions of places and events that you feel you are a part of the lives of these people. You feel their experiences. The writing was excellent and it was a well written book. The book has good Christian values. It is fascinating to hear of the settlers' struggles as they forge a life for themselves and their families.
If you enjoy historical, you will find this a very captivating book!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I love to read the author's remarks at the end of a book. After finishing this absolutely satisfying book based on the life Pocahontas, her husband John Rolfe, and the woman he married after Pocahontas died, I learned that this is one of the author's favorite books that she has written. It is a book that kept me totally on tenterhooks all the way to the end. While there was plenty of sweet, completely clean romance, I think of it more as drama and suspense. It was a story of humble people who wanted to live by faith in their daily lives, even in the midst trying circumstances.

I was blessed to receive a complimentary advance copy of this book through NetGalley, and I heartily recommend it.

#tidewaterbride #netgalley

I love Laura Frantz's books and this one did not disappoint. It had a mystery to solve and romance mixed in, it was a pure delight.

I have been a fan of Laura Frantz's since her very first book, and I have to say each book she writes feels fresh and it is always a joy to learn of a new one that will be released! I know that I will enjoy whatever she writes, and Tidewater Bride was no different. I really, really enjoyed the premise, loved the main characters, believed in the romance (which is important!) and overall spent a very happy day immersing myself into the world Ms. Franz created. This is an excellent book and comes highly recommended!

This is a great story set in James Towne, Virginia. Xander is a widowed father to a young boy Oceanus. Selah and her family live in town. There are many trials as the settlers work to live on Indian land. Unfortunately some of the settlers are unkind and cruel to the Indians and the Africans.

It is a very engaging story and gave me a picture of what it might have been like in those days.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

“Tidewater Bride” by Laura Frantz whisks the reader to a far off time when our nation was not even a glimmer in the eyes of the settlers. Based on true to life historical persons, the characters of Alexander Renick and Selah Hopewell are extremely well developed, and the reader can easily make out the colonial Virginia landscape with increasing detail through their eyes. He is a widower in a bold new world, while she is the woman for whom no man was ever quite good enough. We all learned the story of John Rolphe (the basis for Alexander Renick) and Pocahontas when we were in school, but we were never taught of his life after her passing. How sweet and refreshing it is to read about his second shot at love. The historical details the author provides will ensure that the reader, while entertained and moved, will also be better informed about the practices, lives, and struggles of 17th century settlers.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.