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Book Review of The Rose and the Thistle

The Rose and the Thistle
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 596 more book reviews


From the first sight of this stunning cover, I knew this novel would provide a unique reading experience - and Laura Frantz did not disappoint. The Rose and The Thistle is a well crafted, thoroughly researched novel set in 1715, primarily in Scotland, during the Jacobite Rebellion. The story was inspired by the author's ancestors, and I admire her ability to weave complex church politics into an engaging plot.

When her father is declared an enemy of the British crown, an English heiress must go into exile to protect her life. Long-dormant and strained relationships renewed in desperation find this Roman Catholic Lady secretly sheltering in the most unlikely of places - the castle of a Scottish Protestant Lord. Long-held animosity between the families spark tensions in their initial contacts, but as they become acquainted, the sparks of conflict slowly burn into flames of attraction for the Lord and Lady despite their religious differences.

I enjoyed this novel for its strong sense of place, the interesting cast of secondary characters, and its slow-burn romance with a swoon-worthy hero. Christian fiction seldom addresses denominational differences in religion, and that added to the richness of this story. I read this while accompanying a family member through a long hospitalization and appreciated the moments this plot transported me to Edinburgh and the Scottish countryside

Thank you to the author and Revell for providing complimentary copies of the print and ebook. My opinions about this lovely book are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.