Tidewater Bride Book Review

Book Description

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in the Virginia colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family’s shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors.

Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife, daughter of the Powhatan chief.

Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they’ve been missing in life has been right in front of them all along?

My Thoughts

Alas, my time with this exquisite book is at an end, and I am bereft.

(Ok, that’s probably the extent of my ability to write anything even remotely matching the tone and language of this marvelous novel.)

I barely know where to begin, so can I just start with how perfectly named these characters are?! No boring Janes or Marthas or any of the other mundane names that were so common during this time period. No, we had a resilient heroine named Selah (gorgeous choice) and her hero, Xander (loved this since my husband shares the same name).

Now for the story itself… I was brand new to this time period and the earliest days of James Towne from a fictional perspective. The language was much different from our own, and I confess that some of the older spellings and usages were much more beautifully written and spoken compared to their modernized versions.

The story woven through this time period was second to none as well. Men outnumbered women by far, and women were brought to the New World from England regularly to be wives to the tobacco farmers. Xander was one such tobacco farmer and owned the largest property in all of Virginia. He was regularly goaded to choose a tobacco bride for himself, but he had his sights set on someone far different. Selah’s hesitancy to consider Xander as her beau was warranted since her dowry includes another 100 acres of land that borders Xander’s own. Her desire was to marry for love alone, and not just any man would be able to stake their claim to her confident and devoted nature. And in true, Laura Frantz fashion, the delicate romance that blossomed between these two was so beautifully written. By the time these two finally acknowledge their feelings for one another, I was near to bursting from the anticipation. Don’t even get me started on the scene with the shell beads, their meaning, and how they were shared between Selah and Xander…some of the most exquisitely tender writing I’ve ever read.

Laura Frantz’s attention to detail in each of her novels is testament to all the research that she pours into them. Not only did she research the history of John Wolfe and Pocahontas (which the novel is loosely based upon), but also the surroundings, daily tasks, sicknesses, and difficult life of this early Virginia settlement. I always believe that she outdoes herself with every new novel because I cannot imagine how she’ll ever top them. Tidewater Bride is not only worthy of a place on the keeper shelf, but one to be shared and recommended to all who love historical fiction.

5 Stars

Jewelry Inspired by this Book

Definitely on its way! I have no less than a dozen bookmarks and highlights in my copy of Tidewater as sources of inspiration, and it will take some time to get new supplies ordered and designs made. I have a feeling that the wait will be well worth it! I will update this post and share to Facebook, Instagram and my email list the moment those designs are ready.

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*Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy for review. All thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links, and I may be compensated upon your purchase of any products through those links.