A Bound Heart

Author: Laura Frantz
Genre: Historical Romance

Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is just the keeper of his bees--and the woman who could provide an elixir to help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Can they make a new beginning in this New World? Or will their hopes be dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony?

Laura Frantz's prose sparkles with authenticity as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in colonial America.

---

Reviewer: Nora St. Laurent

The beginning pages had a list of Scotts Glossary words which had me a little overwhelmed. I wasn’t sure what to expect. The book starts out in 1752, Isle of Kerrera, Scotland. Readers are introduced to Lark who helps her grandmother heal people with their herbs, she’s a beekeeper amongst other jobs.  Later readers meet Magnus a childhood friend of Lark – She had hoped their relationship could have been more. Now she creates herbal drinks to improve Magnus’s wife health. She has had a few miscarriages, depressed, on top of not being fond of Kerrera Scotland.

I struggled reading this book because of the dialect, flipping back and forth to the Scotts glossary because I kept referring to it as the author used unfamiliar words which made for slow reading. I also struggled with the relationship with Lark, Magnus and his wife. Add into the mix me being dyslexic it made for a hard reading experience. I don’t blame the author, I just had a hard time connecting with the main characters, this time period and deciphering where the author was taking readers.  I’ve read a few of this authors book and Loved them. This one not so much.
 
This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.

---

---

Reviewer: Mindy Houng

An incredible epic tale from a master storyteller!

I have heard of Laura Frantz's gift as a historical romance author but this is my first book by the celebrated and beloved author. She has certainly found herself another avid fan. I know whose backlist of titles I'll be reading through in 2019. If you love well-written historical romance full of adventure and heart-gripping characters, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Magnus, our Scottish laird, and Lark, the stillroom (kind of like apothecary and herb garden combined) mistress and beekeeper, take the reader back to 1752 Scotland in the midst of ongoing struggle and turmoil between England and Scotland. Magnus is a steadfast, kind, generous and proud leader of the MacLeish, whose loyalty lies wholly with God, his country, and his people. Though admired by his colleagues and people, personal tragedy follows Magnus. Lark whose name means "open hearted, brimming with life and spirit" is true to her namesake and is beloved by all. Due to tragic circumstances upon tragic circumstances, Magnus and Lark find themselves as indentured servants bound for the new colonies - Magnus to Jamaica and Lark to Virginia. Through all the heartbreaks and heartaches, their faithfulness to their Lord and Savior and to each other endures. Even in the midst of unjust justice system and cruelty of slavery, Magnus and Lark find ways to show God's goodness to those they encounter; their desire and action to see God glorified are admirable and completely applicable to all of us today.

My heart is full and completely satisfied after reading this book. I can't wait to delve into Laura Frantz's other books as I impatiently wait for her next novel.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.

---

---

Reviewer: Olivia R.

This book presented to me exactly why I was drawn to this author for the first time a couple years ago. Her beautiful way with words and descriptions once more brought me to care deeply for the characters and look forward to how their life worked out.

I adored the romance, I adored the spiritual content, and adored the characters. It was very realistic. Lark admired by more than one fellow, her emotions for her true love, and the indentured years of waiting and sorrow. I was sad that a couple of key characters toward the beginning dropped off until they basically were barely mentioned toward the end. But yet, isn't that like people who come and go in our life? They seem a key part of our lives and then circumstances take them away.

I was really pulled into the beginning story that was set in Scotland. Some surprising events and happenings that truly made the rest of the story hold my interest. 

The Scottish accents and lifestyle was beautiful and realistic and I loved seeing how the Scots reacted to America. There is so much I could say about this book, but I will leave you with the encouragement to read it yourself. It is captivating and worth every moment spent reading it.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.

---

---

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Whenever I see a book with Laura Frantz's name on it, I know it will be good. A Bound Heart did not disappoint me.

I will admit the author had me wondering who the love interest for Lark MacDougall was in this book. But only for a few chapters and I loved how she kept me guessing! In the end though, it is clear, that Lark and Magnus are meant to be together, but their riveting story is fraught with heartache and when it is finally over, you feel bereft that the characters are gone.

The author's vivid descriptions of scenery, combined with her well developed characters, made this story one I was unable to put down. I highly recommend it!

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.

---