I thoroughly enjoyed delving yet again  into the colonial frontier world that Laura Frantz masterfully paints in her books. I loved watching the romance develop and especially the side story with the Lenape captive come home. However, I was disappointed by the ending romance/marriage. It felt forced and disingenuous. However, I did enjoy my time reading!

An Uncommon Woman was a lovely read. Frantz's stories are on my must-read list, as I always tend to enjoy her historicals...and this was no different.

I found the characters to be authentic. I liked how Tessa was "uncommon" and the way she and Clay connected to each other was nice.

The story had quite a few moments of danger and I didn't know how things would end up. I have to say, the ending was good and I really enjoyed the read. I am looking forward to Frantz's next release!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

An Uncommon Woman is a historical fiction novel by author Laura Frantz.

I was drawn to the book by its cover. From the first chapter all the way to the satisfying ending I was enticed, silencing my family so I could savor the novel. I hated having to recharge my reader because I wanted to keep reading.

Tessa is an uncommon woman who misses her friend Keturah, who was taken from the settlement. I would say this book is a page-turner. It was interesting to learn about Moravian’s and the Lenape people.

I would recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction set in the 18th-century.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Another beautifully told tale by Laura Frantz!  Her research is impressive; this one is delving deep into Aboriginal/White skin feuds and white-skinned captivity in the 1800s.  The punishing lives that these Frontier men and women dealt with is so hard to fathom, but Frantz makes it come alive in rich detail.  The novel has romance, tragic death and loss, and adventure.  The theme of deep, enduring friendship is apparent in the relationship between Keturah and Tessa, both in this reader's understanding being "uncommon women."  "No matter where life took the two of them, the bond between them would be unbroken."  I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who enjoys American historical fiction.  My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for furnishing me with an ARC for this my honest review.

Another beautifully written historical by this author. She just has a way with words, almost lyrical. Getting a glimpse into life during that time is a joy when it’s researched and written so well. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All views stated here are my own.

An Uncommon Woman by Author Laura Frantz is a Christian historical novel.  I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover and was eager to read the story.  It did not disappoint as I read and found multi-layers to this pre-Revolutionary War tale.

This is the story of Tess Swan, strong, courageous, and loving.  She is tired of the trials and heartache that come with the frontier and is ready to leave it.  It is also the story of Clay Tygart, loyal, strong, and knows the Indian ways.  Sparks slowly start to fly between these two.

The author has a lovely style of writing.  Her book is researched well, and the story is well planned.  There are some twists and turns that kept me on my toes.  For me it was a bit slow at the beginning and a bit rushed at the end.  That is just my opinion.  I still enjoyed it very much.  I learned a lot from this novel about day to day life in the late 1700s.

The characters, main and secondary, were well defined and easy to imagine.  With the lovely descriptions, the scenery came to life on the pages.  At times I felt like I was beside Tess watching over my shoulder for Indians.

This incredible book will draw in any historical fiction lover.  I highly recommend it.  It gets a 4 out of 5 star rating from me.  A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest words.

Another great historical fiction that is sure to delight.  I cant wait to read another book by this author.

Laura Frantz, manages to keep you swooning throughout her historical romance. With action filled western scenes that keep your pulse high rocket I rate this a 5 star!

An Uncommon Woman
by Laura Frantz


Revell

Revell
 Christian 
Pub Date 07 Jan 2020 


I am reviewing a copy of An Uncommon Woman through Revell and Netgalley:





Tessa Swan is far from your typical eighteenth century.  She is unflinching and plain spoken.  She was born and bred on the western Virginia frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with. 




Clay Tygart is not your typical eighteenth century man who is quiet and courageous.  He was raised by Lenape Indians and he returns a hero from the French and Indian War to the fort that has his name, bringing with him Tessa's long-lost friend, Keturah, who disappeared from the settlement years earlier.



 Clay remains aloof when he encounters the lovely Tessa.   He is determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander.  After Circumstances force Clay's hand and heart the stage is set for one very private and one very public reckoning.




This book is an intense, and evocative journey to the 18th century, filled with intricate details that bring the past to life, and will transport you to the Picturesque,  and dangerous western Virginia mountains of 1770.



I give The Uncommon Woman five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Man ist schnell in der Geschichte drin. Die Handlung, das Setting und die Figuren werden auf den ersten Seiten schon gut vermittelt.
Tessa Swan lebt mit ihrer Mutter und 5 Brüdern an der Siedlerfront. Der Vater wurde schon vor Jahren von den Indianern getötet und eine Freundin entführt. Ein erneutes massives Auftreten der Indianer treibt die Siedler in die Sicherheit des neu erbauten Forts.
Clay Tygart, der Kriegsheld, befindet sich auf dem Weg in das neue nach ihm benannte Fort, um dort das Kommando zu übernehmen. Dort trifft er auf die Familie Swan... 
Auch wenn Clay nicht unbedingt ein gutaussehender Mann ist, so hat er doch einen beeindruckenden Auftritt und Tessa ist schnell von seinen feinen Qualitäten überzeugt. Er kann sich problemlos verständlich ausdrücken, bewegt sich geschickt und selbstsicher, er ist ein guter Zuhörer, freundlich und höflich. Im fällt gleich auf, dass sie im Gegensatz zu den Städterinnen eine ungewöhnliche Frau ist. Stark, von Ehre und bescheiden. Sehr gerade heraus nimmt sie kein Blatt vor den Mund und steht mutig in ihrem Leben an der gefährlichen Grenze zu den Indianern. 
Die ganze Zeit fürchtet man hintergründig, dass es zu einer Konfrontation kommen wird. Im letzten Drittel nimmt die Handlung dann Tempo und Spannung auf und findet dann ein passendes Ende voller Hoffnung. 
Neben den überzeugenden und realistischen Hauptfiguren wird die Geschichte auch von interessanten und sympathischen Nebenfiguren bevölkert. Man fühlt sich durch die Beschreibungen sehr gut in die Zeit und ihre Gefahren und Herausforderungen versetzt.

An Uncommon Woman is such a powerful story. First of all, I cannot express enough how much I love reading Frantz's books. She is able to transport me back in time, and so vividly, that I feel as if I am right there with the characters. The setting is extraordinary, and I can tell you that I already miss it!

Tessa is no regular woman, as expressed in the title. She is strong, courageous, beautiful, and such a delightful character to read. Yes, she has her moments of doubt, but don't we all? I loved the way she went about life. And Clay? Well who wouldn't want him as a hero!? He had such an interesting background, one that made his character more well-rounded in my opinion. At first I wasn't sure how Tessa and Clay were going to work out together - I guess I just couldn't picture it for some reason. And as their love story started to slowly unfold, my attitude towards them changed and I found I couldn't tear myself away.

Anytime I can escape to a world written by Frantz, you can bet I will be there! I highly recommend this historic novel by one of the best in the business. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was looking forward to reading this book for awhile. It feel a little flat for me. No don't get me wrong I did enjoy the story. The setting was well written and really pulls you into the story. The time period was highlighted well. The characters were charming and the slow burning romance. While I did enjoy the story, it dragged out a little for me at times. That could just be me. I still recommend this read to those who enjoy Frontier era romances.

Laura Frantz has my heart! And what a book this one was!
It completely caught me by surprise! Nothing better than the blurb to explain, "Tessa Swann was an uncommon woman... Clay Tygert was an uncommon man". And there's a third element but I will let you figure that out ;-)

Amidst the wild territories of Virginia, Frantz takes us to the uncommon life os settlers trying to keep themselves alive while fending their village from Indian attack. And an uncommon and courageous trait might just be what is necessary to cunningly walk amongst treacherous times when one dear to you can become an enemy.

First of all - that COVER!! I love that we get to see Tessa Swan up close and personal; I feel like that doesn't happen too often these days. She comes across as a confident and strong woman with a bit of humor in that quirk of a smile. I was immediately intrigued with her story, a frontierswoman who grew up with five brothers and longed for a bit of femininity. Her personality balanced the quiet, subtle nature of Clay Tygart, a genteel man raised by Lenape Indians who now commands a fort that bears his name.

I really enjoyed reading An Uncommon Woman and taking a step back in time to the 1770s.  The characters were raw and relatable. You can't help but root for Tessa and her dreams. The romance aspect was a bit slower than I like, but thats mostly due to my own impatience to see characters fall in love :) If you need a wonderful historical read to get lost in, this is the one to get!

I was graciously provided a free copy of this novel from Revell and NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Laura Frantz always stuns with her frontier fiction. You can feel the danger around every corner and the struggles of the settler’s day to day lives. You can also see the strength and tenacity of the remarkable people who lived on those frontiers.
	Tessa longs for a life not constantly spent looking over her shoulder. Clay is a man caught between two worlds. Their romance is a slow burn that unfolds in such a sweet and natural way you’ll be cheering on Aunt Hester matchmaking schemes.
	Laura Frantz is a master at her craft! Her research and writing as superb and I can’t recommend her enough to any fan of historical fiction. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

Laura Frantz is a master at weaving historical details among a plot that will grip you with its depth and complexity!  The scenes and their descriptions are vivid and the characters are rich and compelling.  I liked how the story had twists and unexpected turns that kept it interesting.  I love historical fiction but I must admit I haven’t read a lot of books in this time period and I was fascinated with the historical details and the research the author put into the story.  I also liked the rawness and the messiness of the plot that made the story believable and realistic.  I enjoy anything this author pens and definitely recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Happy New Year, Friends! I’m so excited for a brand new year of reading and sharing book recommendations with you. I started the year out the year reading  An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz. It was a great read that I think you’ll enjoy, too.

I have seen Laura’s name floating around for a while now. I’ve seen rave reviews of her book The Lacemaker, but I’ve never gotten around to reading anything she’s written.

When I had an opportunity for an early copy of An Uncommon Woman I jumped at the chance.


Summary
An Uncommon Woman is the story of Tessa Swan, a woman who lives in the backwoods of western Virginia. Her family has a farm there (called a “station”) as well as a business ferrying people across the Buchannon River.

Tessa knows how to survive on the frontier. She is strong and capable. She can take care of a household, plant and harvest crops and help her brothers with the ferry. But deep inside she longs for a life away from the rugged frontier. She dreams of a life of ease in the city.

The frontier families live in constant wariness and fear of Indian attacks. When Tessa was a young girl her best friend, Keturah, was kidnapped by the Indians, and never seen again. More recently, her father was killed by a warring tribe.

When attacks happen, all the frontiersmen escape to the fort. The fort is named Fort Tygart, in honor of its new commander, Colonel Clay Tygart.

Clay was himself taken by the Indians when he was a boy. His family was murdered, and he was raised as part of a Lenape tribe. He was later returned to some Quaker kinfolk who lived in Philadelphia.

Clay is an interesting mixture of gentleman and savage, but he’s more at home in the wild than in the city. Clay has never met a woman like Tessa, and they are drawn to one another. But Clay is afraid of loving someone, so he pushes her away.

When Tessa herself is kidnapped by the Indians, Clay must do everything he can to save her. But saving Tessa will come at a cost, and it’s one neither of them wants to pay.


My opinion
I really loved reading this book for several reasons. Being from West Virginia, I always like to read stories set in that area.

I also like reading about strong women. There’s something special about a woman who breaks the mold. I love love and marriage, but I also love women who know how to make it on their own. Although things certainly get better when the right man comes along!

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I was a bit disappointed in Tessa’s behavior at the end of the book. However, the more I think about it, I realize it is in total keeping with her independent personality.

I love reading historical fiction that gives me a glimpse into a part of history I wasn’t familiar with. I didn’t realize all of the danger the settlers faced from the Indians. But I was also sad to read how terribly the Indians were treated by some white people, also.

Recommendation
An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz is a great book for lovers of historical fiction. It’s beautifully researched and written.

You’re sure to love the gruff, less-than-perfect characters. I know you’ll be drawn to Tessa’s frontier charm, and Clay’s quiet strength. You’ll love Ross and Cyrus, and probably dislike Jasper. You’ll laugh at Hester, and hope for the best for Maddie and Jude.

And when you get to the final page, you’re going to look forward to the next book in this series. (There’s an excerpt and it’s amazing!)

I will definitely be reading more from Laura Frantz in the future. If you love any of her books, drop a comment and let me know so I can add them to my list!

 

I received a galley of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my little blog!

I love reading books by this author.  Laura Frantz can make me feel as if I am actually in the locations she describes.  These characters seem real and it’s easy to get involved in following their story., especially that of Clay and Tessa.  Tessa is an outstanding character and the perfect heroine of the book.  This is a perfect blend of action and romance.  This is a realistic look at life on the frontier.

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

A book you want to take your time a savor. Such a well written story dated in 1700’s. I always enjoy the writing of this author and look forward to her next books.  

I received an advanced copy and this is my honest opinion

First sentence: Why could she not quit pondering that flounced petticoat?

Premise/plot: Every day seems to be a struggle and adventure in Laura Frantz's newest historical romance set in colonial (Western) Virginia between the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. The heroine, Tessa, has already lost her father--will a brother be next in the strife and conflict between settlers and natives?! The book opens with some tension--and closes with tension. There are dangers for living on the frontier at the very edges of (colonial) civilization.

Clay Tygart, the hero, has experienced much in his years--including witnessing the murder of his family and being taken captive--for years. Still, he's a man with a strong sense of duty and conviction. He's there to keep settlers safe--or safer. He's not there to fall in love...

My thoughts: I love, love, love Laura Frantz. I find her books compelling and well written. An Uncommon Woman is no exception. This one is told in alternating view points. Readers get to spend equal amounts of time with Clay and Tessa. It would not have been easy--could not have been easy to make a home on the frontier and to face these dangers and risks every single day. Life as a woman in the eighteenth century would not have been easy either--even in a "civilized" town with luxuries. But it required gumption--spirit--and some hope and optimism to be happy on the frontier...

I would definitely recommend this one!