Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz
In Jamestown, Virginia, in 1634, Selah Hopewell is considered a spinster, but she doesn’t mind. She enjoys her work helping in her father’s store in the growing colony. She’s also responsible for settling a shipload of “tobacco brides,” young ladies sent from England to find husbands among the many bachelors.
The most eligible bachelor, Alexander Renick, is not easily caught. Still mourning the loss of his Powhatan wife and busy running Virginia’s best tobacco plantation and mediating between the Powhatan and the colonists, Alexander has no time for courting.
As tensions rise in the colony, long-time friends Selah and Alexander are drawn together in their quest to prevent disaster. But can they overcome their stubborn ways and old hurts to find the love that’s evaded them?
Laura Frantz‘s novels are always a treat, and Tidewater Bride is no exception. The lush writing, well-researched history, and characters with depth always draw me in. I loved this journey to colonial Jamestown, insight into life in that era, the respectful portrayal of Native Americans, and the sobering look at the shift from the use of indentured servants to the use of slaves. And the romance! Sigh. Selah and Alexander’s slow-growing, slow-burning romance will leave you sighing. Don’t miss this book!
