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Courting Morrow Little
Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors. Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her. Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love?
This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop readers as it takes them from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness to the west in search of true love.
This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop readers as it takes them from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness to the west in search of true love.
362 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
529 people are currently reading
6297 people want to read
About the author
Laura Frantz
21 books2,765 followersLaura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net.
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October 15, 2015
*Slightly spoilerish!*
Before I begin, let me just say that: I did like this book. I really did. But I feel a bit of a rant coming on because I had a few issues with it, and I don't want people to think I didn't like the book because I did. My expectations for Courting Morrow Little were really high. Maybe too high. I've heard this book praised to the skies many times, and most of my friends who read this LOOOOVEEEE it. I love the feeling of LOOOOVIIINNGGGG a book, and I was disappointed when I put this one down that I didn't feel quite like that. While I greatly enjoyed it for the most part and was really interested in the story, it didn't grab me the way a really good book usually grabs me. It didn't grab me the way The Colonel's Lady, the other book I have read by Laura Frantz, had grabbed me. So, I felt a little bummed, because it is no fun not liking a book as much as your friends did, when you were sure you'd really love it too. Adjectives like "awesome" and "amazing" still come to mind when I think about Courting Morrow Little, but they are more in terms of quality than enjoyment.
There is no doubt that this novel is incredibly well-written, and the amount of intense research is evident. The way Frantz molded her characters was brilliant, and her beautiful descriptions of scenery and life on the frontier flowed magnificently throughout. In terms of quality, this novel gets all due credit!
The setting :
It all takes place in the woods. In the wild, untamed and savage land of Kentucke in the late 1700's. Morrow and her father live along the Red River, outside the Fort, and are surrounded by the wondrous beauties of nature.
"Her eyes fastened on the surrounding woods, lush and green, and the rutted ribbon of road that divided dense thickets of oak and elm and maple. A hot wind skimmed over them, spreading the heady scent of honeysuckle."
Descriptions like that made me want to go read in the middle of a dense forest where I could smell the honeysuckle for myself. I just love the way Frantz describes scenery. It sounds like a fairy tale.
"Sunlight and water spilled off ledges smothered with ferns and meadow rue, drenching the river bottom in a rainbow of warm greens and golds."
Beautiful!
After a two-year stay in Philadelphia with her aunt, Morrow is headed home to her father, where she is torn between her love for the place and her fear of Indians. When she was only five years old, Indians had massacred their home and killed her mother and baby sister. Her older brother, Jess, had also disappeared that day. Since then, Morrow has always feared meeting with Indians.
Another important aspect of the setting is the house in which Morrow and her father live. Half of the he two-story building still bears the trace, after all these years, of the wreckage caused by the Indians.
"All was chaos within, just as the Shawnee had left it. The spinning wheel where Ma had slumped sat untouched, the wool she'd been working mere spiderwebbing."
But why?! Why would you purposely keep such a proof and reminder that your family had been brutally murdered?? Even if they did not use that side of the cabin, the knowledge that it remained in a constant state of disorder and chaos was enough to give anyone some serious goosebumps. I don't think I will ever understand why they didn't choose to clean it up.
The heroine :
Morrow Mary Little. As a five year old, in the brief lines of the prologue, she appeared to be a very care-free, giggling and cute sort of girl. I really liked her and was disappointed in the turn her character took. At eighteen when she comes back home, Morrow is deadly afraid of her shadow, and considerably weighed down by the grudge she still bears to the Indian population in general. I can understand that she wanted to come home to her father after two years, but what I simply fail to grasp is why she appears so ungrateful of her past life there, when she could leave her bedroom without any problems and make the stairs creak all she wanted without fearing that a Shawnee was about to scalp her. Why does she think of her Philadelphia life as such an unpleasant experience? There she worked as a seamstress with her aunt and had a way easier life than on the Red River. But anyways, here is Morrow, eighteen years old, and considerably sought after by settlement men. She is totally oblivious to her beauty, and attributes the men's interest in her as a result of "her fine Philadelphia manners" and "fragile, porcelain-like appearance".
"...she sat down at the table as gracefully as she'd seen the ladies do in Philadelphia, spreading her skirts over her slippers and tucking in a tendril of hair that had come free of her chignon."
I will be honest, I found it hard to like Morrow in the first half of the book. Her anxiety and fear were understandable, but they felt overdone. She was literally scared of everything. Even more so when she learned that her father was still receiving, from time to time, the Shawnee chief and his son they had sheltered years ago. Not only is it dangerous to interact with the Indians when one is supposed to be against them in the ongoing war, but to Morrow it is doubly dangerous because of her personal fears.
Her character does grow, thankfully, and she is a much stronger, much worthier woman by the end. Her patience, devotion and faith in the latter half of the story were quite remarkable. She went from fearing footsteps on her front porch to delivering a baby in an Indian camp. From hating the very word "Indian" to loving and marrying a half-blood. I think that is pretty amazing.
The hero :
Ah! *dreamy sigh* Red Shirt. He was so wonderful! I was head over heels in love with him. First of all, he's jaw-dropping gorgeous.
"She darted a quick glance at him, taking in all the little heart-stopping details that made him so handsome. (...) He had a presence, just as Pa had once said."
"She watched as Red Shirt shed his shirt without a hint of reserve, and caught Pa's eyes on her. Shamed, she looked into the fire, colour creeping into her face."
Red Shirt knows that Morrow is afraid of him, and he really did his best not to frighten her. His slow, gentle and patient treatment of her ended up melting her reserve and fear away. He would watch, observe, and approach her when he judged it best.
"There was something remarkable about him - an aura of barely restrained strength, like a panther about to pounce."
His self-control was truly remarkable, in many areas. He never used force with Morrow, never took advantage of her, never went against her wishes. Tenderly and carefully, he was able to make Morrow learn to trust, even love him. It was wonderful.
But then, just as Morrow's character is really improving, his own began to downgrade!! Because the story is all told through Morrow's perspective, we come to know and love Red Shirt only through her eyes (even though we recognize his potential earlier than her). His past, his actions, his decisions, everything is based on how much Morrow knows about him and how much he chooses to tell her. There are no scenes where the reader follows Red Shirt, and only him, through his various adventures, and nothing is told from his point of view. Hence, when he kills a man and comes back with the scalp, we have no clear idea why he did it, where and when. It's all left a little blurry, and all we and Morrow need to know is that he has come to peace with himself and God since then, and is a changed man. Morrow and him don't even talk it over properly. The issue is too briefly glanced upon. And I had many problems with that, mainly because he and his party came back with the scalp. The still bloody scalp. How DISTURBING is that!! Had I been Morrow, I would have demanded some sort of explanation, forgiveness from God or not.
And because we are never given any insight into Red Shirt's thoughts and feelings directly through his point of view, his action seems to be extremely out of character. He's been restrained, kind and gentle to Morrow all this time, yet he goes and brutally kills that man? I'm surprised that Morrow didn't revert to her old scared-to-death-of-Indians-self after that!
The romance :
The romantic aspect of Courting Morrow Little is really beautiful. How Morrow was able to forgive Red Shirt enough to give him her heart, and how he was so patient and loving with her -- it was very moving. The "courting" of Morrow was very poignant and it was one of the best love stories I had ever read.
"She was on dangerous ground, all her feelings tied in knots, her genteel ways fraying like silk thread. She felt the pressure of his other hand warm about her waist...his breath on her cheek...his fingers cradling her chin and drawing her in."
Just wow. And also, passages like this:
" 'For a long time, I put down my feelings for you...but I can't do so any longer,' he said. He drew her nearer, touching her with his eyes and his hands in a wordless sort of lovemaking that took her breath away."
I tell you, they were taking my breath away!
We got this wonderful idea that they were soulmates, the most united of lovers and that their love could conquer all. Together they are as one, stronger, better, powerful.
"There were no barriers between them now, just this exquisite confession of feelings, heart to heart and soul to soul."
Once again, whoa. I am blown away by the beauty of Frantz' writing, and the dreamy feelings it conveys.
Unfortunately, in the second half of the book, I began fearing dreadfully for Morrow's future and what kind of life she will have to live with Red Shirt. She may not want to be treated like expensive china teacups, but she certainly isn't used to a life always on the go like Red Shirt is used to living. He pushed Morrow to the ends of her limits by making her travel with him on a long journey, and only realized his mistake when she passed out and nearly died, and he had to bring her to the nearest fort, Fort Loramie.
Or didn't he learn his mistake? Because after that, he keeps getting these urges to just leave and lets Morrow stay behind without any kind of explanations. We know he is used to obeying himself only, and living alone and leaving when he pleases, but man, now that you have a wife, you need to c-o-m-m-u-n-i-c-a-t-e your intentions to her. One thing that was lacking in this novel were conversations, especially between the H/h. Don't be afraid to talk, for Heaven's sake! Morrow and Red Shirt barely spoke more than two words to each other at a time.
And then, one of the parts that made me grit my teeth the most. When Morrow learns the whole truth about the murder of her family. Does she and Red Shirt talk it over, maybe have a bit of an argument over it, and need time to fully process the new state of things? No. Again, the issue is only slightly touched upon, and it really bothered me, because it was such.a.big.deal!! And what does Red Shirt do? He leaves, shortly after. And why? Because he feels called to do it. Just that "I need to go, Bye." What?!? No!! Where is the gentle, patient and loving Red Shirt of the beginning, who would never have willingly caused Morrow more anxiety???
Morrow is a woman who needs to be reassured. A lot. Red Shirt knows this, and should have done better. I marveled anew at Morrow's new-found strength and faith, because despite all she underwent in that latter half of the story, (where, let me tell you, the excitement picks up and doesn't drop until the very last sentence. I am still a little something out of breath!) she faced everything with a brave face. :)
To conclude, I will simply say that, although it didn't *quite* meet my, admittedly, too high expectations, Courting Morrow Little is an excellent novel, very rich in nuances, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to all my fellow historical romance lovers. I seem to be one of the few who didn't quite love every single thing about it, so I feel sure that many of you would really enjoy this book. Thank you to all who recommended it to me, I really liked it, and it will always have a lovely place on my shelf beside The Colonel's Lady.
Buddy read with Tweety (sorry I was very slow!).
Before I begin, let me just say that: I did like this book. I really did. But I feel a bit of a rant coming on because I had a few issues with it, and I don't want people to think I didn't like the book because I did. My expectations for Courting Morrow Little were really high. Maybe too high. I've heard this book praised to the skies many times, and most of my friends who read this LOOOOVEEEE it. I love the feeling of LOOOOVIIINNGGGG a book, and I was disappointed when I put this one down that I didn't feel quite like that. While I greatly enjoyed it for the most part and was really interested in the story, it didn't grab me the way a really good book usually grabs me. It didn't grab me the way The Colonel's Lady, the other book I have read by Laura Frantz, had grabbed me. So, I felt a little bummed, because it is no fun not liking a book as much as your friends did, when you were sure you'd really love it too. Adjectives like "awesome" and "amazing" still come to mind when I think about Courting Morrow Little, but they are more in terms of quality than enjoyment.
There is no doubt that this novel is incredibly well-written, and the amount of intense research is evident. The way Frantz molded her characters was brilliant, and her beautiful descriptions of scenery and life on the frontier flowed magnificently throughout. In terms of quality, this novel gets all due credit!
The setting :
It all takes place in the woods. In the wild, untamed and savage land of Kentucke in the late 1700's. Morrow and her father live along the Red River, outside the Fort, and are surrounded by the wondrous beauties of nature.
"Her eyes fastened on the surrounding woods, lush and green, and the rutted ribbon of road that divided dense thickets of oak and elm and maple. A hot wind skimmed over them, spreading the heady scent of honeysuckle."
Descriptions like that made me want to go read in the middle of a dense forest where I could smell the honeysuckle for myself. I just love the way Frantz describes scenery. It sounds like a fairy tale.
"Sunlight and water spilled off ledges smothered with ferns and meadow rue, drenching the river bottom in a rainbow of warm greens and golds."
Beautiful!
After a two-year stay in Philadelphia with her aunt, Morrow is headed home to her father, where she is torn between her love for the place and her fear of Indians. When she was only five years old, Indians had massacred their home and killed her mother and baby sister. Her older brother, Jess, had also disappeared that day. Since then, Morrow has always feared meeting with Indians.
Another important aspect of the setting is the house in which Morrow and her father live. Half of the he two-story building still bears the trace, after all these years, of the wreckage caused by the Indians.
"All was chaos within, just as the Shawnee had left it. The spinning wheel where Ma had slumped sat untouched, the wool she'd been working mere spiderwebbing."
But why?! Why would you purposely keep such a proof and reminder that your family had been brutally murdered?? Even if they did not use that side of the cabin, the knowledge that it remained in a constant state of disorder and chaos was enough to give anyone some serious goosebumps. I don't think I will ever understand why they didn't choose to clean it up.
The heroine :
Morrow Mary Little. As a five year old, in the brief lines of the prologue, she appeared to be a very care-free, giggling and cute sort of girl. I really liked her and was disappointed in the turn her character took. At eighteen when she comes back home, Morrow is deadly afraid of her shadow, and considerably weighed down by the grudge she still bears to the Indian population in general. I can understand that she wanted to come home to her father after two years, but what I simply fail to grasp is why she appears so ungrateful of her past life there, when she could leave her bedroom without any problems and make the stairs creak all she wanted without fearing that a Shawnee was about to scalp her. Why does she think of her Philadelphia life as such an unpleasant experience? There she worked as a seamstress with her aunt and had a way easier life than on the Red River. But anyways, here is Morrow, eighteen years old, and considerably sought after by settlement men. She is totally oblivious to her beauty, and attributes the men's interest in her as a result of "her fine Philadelphia manners" and "fragile, porcelain-like appearance".
"...she sat down at the table as gracefully as she'd seen the ladies do in Philadelphia, spreading her skirts over her slippers and tucking in a tendril of hair that had come free of her chignon."
I will be honest, I found it hard to like Morrow in the first half of the book. Her anxiety and fear were understandable, but they felt overdone. She was literally scared of everything. Even more so when she learned that her father was still receiving, from time to time, the Shawnee chief and his son they had sheltered years ago. Not only is it dangerous to interact with the Indians when one is supposed to be against them in the ongoing war, but to Morrow it is doubly dangerous because of her personal fears.
Her character does grow, thankfully, and she is a much stronger, much worthier woman by the end. Her patience, devotion and faith in the latter half of the story were quite remarkable. She went from fearing footsteps on her front porch to delivering a baby in an Indian camp. From hating the very word "Indian" to loving and marrying a half-blood. I think that is pretty amazing.
The hero :
Ah! *dreamy sigh* Red Shirt. He was so wonderful! I was head over heels in love with him. First of all, he's jaw-dropping gorgeous.
"She darted a quick glance at him, taking in all the little heart-stopping details that made him so handsome. (...) He had a presence, just as Pa had once said."
"She watched as Red Shirt shed his shirt without a hint of reserve, and caught Pa's eyes on her. Shamed, she looked into the fire, colour creeping into her face."
Red Shirt knows that Morrow is afraid of him, and he really did his best not to frighten her. His slow, gentle and patient treatment of her ended up melting her reserve and fear away. He would watch, observe, and approach her when he judged it best.
"There was something remarkable about him - an aura of barely restrained strength, like a panther about to pounce."
His self-control was truly remarkable, in many areas. He never used force with Morrow, never took advantage of her, never went against her wishes. Tenderly and carefully, he was able to make Morrow learn to trust, even love him. It was wonderful.
But then, just as Morrow's character is really improving, his own began to downgrade!! Because the story is all told through Morrow's perspective, we come to know and love Red Shirt only through her eyes (even though we recognize his potential earlier than her). His past, his actions, his decisions, everything is based on how much Morrow knows about him and how much he chooses to tell her. There are no scenes where the reader follows Red Shirt, and only him, through his various adventures, and nothing is told from his point of view. Hence, when he kills a man and comes back with the scalp, we have no clear idea why he did it, where and when. It's all left a little blurry, and all we and Morrow need to know is that he has come to peace with himself and God since then, and is a changed man. Morrow and him don't even talk it over properly. The issue is too briefly glanced upon. And I had many problems with that, mainly because he and his party came back with the scalp. The still bloody scalp. How DISTURBING is that!! Had I been Morrow, I would have demanded some sort of explanation, forgiveness from God or not.
And because we are never given any insight into Red Shirt's thoughts and feelings directly through his point of view, his action seems to be extremely out of character. He's been restrained, kind and gentle to Morrow all this time, yet he goes and brutally kills that man? I'm surprised that Morrow didn't revert to her old scared-to-death-of-Indians-self after that!
The romance :
The romantic aspect of Courting Morrow Little is really beautiful. How Morrow was able to forgive Red Shirt enough to give him her heart, and how he was so patient and loving with her -- it was very moving. The "courting" of Morrow was very poignant and it was one of the best love stories I had ever read.
"She was on dangerous ground, all her feelings tied in knots, her genteel ways fraying like silk thread. She felt the pressure of his other hand warm about her waist...his breath on her cheek...his fingers cradling her chin and drawing her in."
Just wow. And also, passages like this:
" 'For a long time, I put down my feelings for you...but I can't do so any longer,' he said. He drew her nearer, touching her with his eyes and his hands in a wordless sort of lovemaking that took her breath away."
I tell you, they were taking my breath away!
We got this wonderful idea that they were soulmates, the most united of lovers and that their love could conquer all. Together they are as one, stronger, better, powerful.
"There were no barriers between them now, just this exquisite confession of feelings, heart to heart and soul to soul."
Once again, whoa. I am blown away by the beauty of Frantz' writing, and the dreamy feelings it conveys.
Unfortunately, in the second half of the book, I began fearing dreadfully for Morrow's future and what kind of life she will have to live with Red Shirt. She may not want to be treated like expensive china teacups, but she certainly isn't used to a life always on the go like Red Shirt is used to living. He pushed Morrow to the ends of her limits by making her travel with him on a long journey, and only realized his mistake when she passed out and nearly died, and he had to bring her to the nearest fort, Fort Loramie.
Or didn't he learn his mistake? Because after that, he keeps getting these urges to just leave and lets Morrow stay behind without any kind of explanations. We know he is used to obeying himself only, and living alone and leaving when he pleases, but man, now that you have a wife, you need to c-o-m-m-u-n-i-c-a-t-e your intentions to her. One thing that was lacking in this novel were conversations, especially between the H/h. Don't be afraid to talk, for Heaven's sake! Morrow and Red Shirt barely spoke more than two words to each other at a time.
And then, one of the parts that made me grit my teeth the most. When Morrow learns the whole truth about the murder of her family. Does she and Red Shirt talk it over, maybe have a bit of an argument over it, and need time to fully process the new state of things? No. Again, the issue is only slightly touched upon, and it really bothered me, because it was such.a.big.deal!! And what does Red Shirt do? He leaves, shortly after. And why? Because he feels called to do it. Just that "I need to go, Bye." What?!? No!! Where is the gentle, patient and loving Red Shirt of the beginning, who would never have willingly caused Morrow more anxiety???
Morrow is a woman who needs to be reassured. A lot. Red Shirt knows this, and should have done better. I marveled anew at Morrow's new-found strength and faith, because despite all she underwent in that latter half of the story, (where, let me tell you, the excitement picks up and doesn't drop until the very last sentence. I am still a little something out of breath!) she faced everything with a brave face. :)
To conclude, I will simply say that, although it didn't *quite* meet my, admittedly, too high expectations, Courting Morrow Little is an excellent novel, very rich in nuances, that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to all my fellow historical romance lovers. I seem to be one of the few who didn't quite love every single thing about it, so I feel sure that many of you would really enjoy this book. Thank you to all who recommended it to me, I really liked it, and it will always have a lovely place on my shelf beside The Colonel's Lady.
Buddy read with Tweety (sorry I was very slow!).
October 15, 2021
It's a testament to how much I loved this book that immediately after I finished reading it, I re-read it again. I just can't. I'm kind of a mess right now. I'll write a review when I can stop gushing over it.
Update 9/03/16
I'm still honestly gushing. I mean I loved everything, and I mean everything (well almost everything) about the book. For one, the pacing of the novel was pretty good, although it started out a bit slow in the beginning, but once Morrow began developing feelings for Red Shirt, the pacing picked up.
When I think about it, this novel doesn't really have a lot of action or excitement, but what really made it great was the character development. Morrow Little is the main protagonist of this novel and quite honestly I didn't like her at first. Why? Because I felt she cried a bit too much. I mean honestly, the tears came at every small thing. But like I said, character development was a big thing, and while Morrow didn't turn into a kick-butt heroine, she went through some pretty tough things with grace and courage. Even if she did cry afterwards. *eye roll* But I'm just partly kidding about that because while the crying got on my nerves sometimes, I discovered that crying was her coping mechanism, and you know what, that's ok. People deal with things in different ways, and crying was how she dealt with things. And I loved that she didn't feel sorry for herself. She'd cry, but she always did what she had to do and I really admired that. I also really admired the fact that she wasn't perfect. And the romance. Like seriously.
Writing this review makes me wanna go back and read it, but I've got to control myself. I have too many other books on my tbr pile to get to. But this is definitely a keeper. Sweet and poignant, Courting Morrow Little is not a book to be missed.
Update 9/03/16
I'm still honestly gushing. I mean I loved everything, and I mean everything (well almost everything) about the book. For one, the pacing of the novel was pretty good, although it started out a bit slow in the beginning, but once Morrow began developing feelings for Red Shirt, the pacing picked up.
When I think about it, this novel doesn't really have a lot of action or excitement, but what really made it great was the character development. Morrow Little is the main protagonist of this novel and quite honestly I didn't like her at first. Why? Because I felt she cried a bit too much. I mean honestly, the tears came at every small thing. But like I said, character development was a big thing, and while Morrow didn't turn into a kick-butt heroine, she went through some pretty tough things with grace and courage. Even if she did cry afterwards. *eye roll* But I'm just partly kidding about that because while the crying got on my nerves sometimes, I discovered that crying was her coping mechanism, and you know what, that's ok. People deal with things in different ways, and crying was how she dealt with things. And I loved that she didn't feel sorry for herself. She'd cry, but she always did what she had to do and I really admired that. I also really admired the fact that she wasn't perfect. And the romance. Like seriously.
Writing this review makes me wanna go back and read it, but I've got to control myself. I have too many other books on my tbr pile to get to. But this is definitely a keeper. Sweet and poignant, Courting Morrow Little is not a book to be missed.
September 12, 2021
WOW. This was so heart-wrenchingly good. This was my first Laura Frantz novel and it was worth every minute of reading. I was completely enthralled with this sweet and heartfelt story. I may be a little bias because I love the time period this takes place. It was, at times, a slower pace than I typically prefer to read; slow yet steady in its unraveling but so worth it. Despite being a self-proclaimed impatient reader, I was captivated the whole time. I so appreciated the way Laura Frantz wove scripture and the characters individual relationship with the Lord into the story. She inserted lots of nuggets of wisdom and Biblical truths. This was a beautiful read. I was sad when it was over!
July 27, 2011
This is one of those stories that stays with you for a long time after you finish the last page! Extremely well-researched, with exquisite descriptions and eloquent words, Ms. Frantz surrounds the reader in the adventurous, romantic and dangerous world of colonial Kentucky. Her characters are real and likeable and don't get me started on her hero, Red Shirt, a half-breed with the heart of a lion and the tenderness of a true romantic. If you want to take a journey to another time and another world that will enthrall you, touch you, and make you swoon, then this is the book for you.
February 1, 2016
I've been wanting to read this book for quite some time and finally checked it out at the church library. I proceeded to enjoy every moment and recommend it to another church member at random two weeks later! Morrow is an unusual and winning heroine, and I loved her unconventional frontier romance. I really need to read more of Frantz, especially now that I own two of her other books!
May 25, 2020
Wow! I have had this book on my shelf for so long and I am so glad that I finally read it. Courting Morrow Little was simply a beautiful story, filled with difficult things, at times. Morrow grew so much from the start of the novel. The romance between the main characters was so wonderful! I loved this story and it is now one of my favorite Laura Frantz books, along with The Mistress of Tall Acre and An Uncommon Woman.
January 14, 2023
Title: Courting Morrow Little
Author: Laura Frantz
Genre: historical adventure/romance
Era: late 1700s
Setting: Kentucke (Kentucky) frontier, United States
Publisher: Revell
Source: from library
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors.
Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her.
Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love?
This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop readers as it takes them from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness to the west in search of true love.
It's been over a month since I read this novel, but I'm going to try to do it justice. It was really a great book ... but there were some things I thought dragged, and I read it in less than two days, so that's saying something. Also, a lot of the situations seemed unrealistic to me. There didn't really seem to be a plot, either, in my opinion.
Plot {2/5}:
It was okay. I liked it overall, but, as I said before, it went on and on and on. I will say that the title makes no sense. No one ever courted Morrow Little! Not really. And certainly not for much of the book, if you can count it as courting. The book was more like the life of Morrow Little after she returned from the East to the Kentucky wilderness and I also found a lot of things to be unrealistic or inconsistent (more on that in the character section).
Anyway, it just seemed to go on forever and not be focused on any single theme (except Morrow's life, I suppose).
It was a good plot, though. :P
Characters {3/5}:
I liked Red Shirt all right. But … he didn't put Morrow first. I know, the concerns of a nation are probably more important than the concerns of one woman … but … but … eesh. He just seemed inconsistent. If I were Morrow, I would never trust him. He isn't necessarily going to be there for her, plainly.
I didn't mind Morrow. She was weepy and weak, yes, but I wouldn't have minded that ... if she had been consistent in it. For instance, I found Morrow to be whiny at times ... and then suddenly she was ! What the what?! And I didn't see her grow as a character between her sobbing days and her adventurous days! But maybe I missed it. Like I said, I read it fast.
I can't think of other people now as I only took notes on Morrow and Red Shirt and it's been a while.
However, I will bring up names … because 'Morrow'? Is that really historically inaccurate? And if Morrow has an unusual (but not impossible) name for her era, why was it never brought up? I'm confused. Red Shirt was also confusing to me. You'd think he'd have a name from his tribe, but it was never brought up.
Setting {5/5}:
Laura Frantz is amazing about researching her novels and building a great setting. I've only read The Mistress of Tall Acre, but … wow. She's always so strong in this area!
The description was also good. She really portrayed the Red River (and every place we went) in a way that made me want to go there.
Writing {5/5}:
I literally can't remember how she did in this area, and I forgot to take notes about it! So I'm giving it 5/5 stars because apparently there was nothing that bugged me enough to make a note about it.
Content:
This is not necessarily 100% accurate as it's been a while, but I'll do my best.
No cussing/crude language. Some violence and mentions of violence (massacres, wars, etc.) Mostly mentions of violence, if I remember correctly. Never anything disturbing.
Overall {3.5/5}:
Although I wouldn't recommend this to a first-time Frantz fan (I've read better by her), it was a great story and if you like Frantz's novels (which I do), you should definitely read it!
~Kellyn Roth
Author: Laura Frantz
Genre: historical adventure/romance
Era: late 1700s
Setting: Kentucke (Kentucky) frontier, United States
Publisher: Revell
Source: from library
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors.
Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her.
Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love?
This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop readers as it takes them from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness to the west in search of true love.
It's been over a month since I read this novel, but I'm going to try to do it justice. It was really a great book ... but there were some things I thought dragged, and I read it in less than two days, so that's saying something. Also, a lot of the situations seemed unrealistic to me. There didn't really seem to be a plot, either, in my opinion.
Plot {2/5}:
It was okay. I liked it overall, but, as I said before, it went on and on and on. I will say that the title makes no sense. No one ever courted Morrow Little! Not really. And certainly not for much of the book, if you can count it as courting. The book was more like the life of Morrow Little after she returned from the East to the Kentucky wilderness and I also found a lot of things to be unrealistic or inconsistent (more on that in the character section).
Anyway, it just seemed to go on forever and not be focused on any single theme (except Morrow's life, I suppose).
It was a good plot, though. :P
Characters {3/5}:
I liked Red Shirt all right. But … he didn't put Morrow first. I know, the concerns of a nation are probably more important than the concerns of one woman … but … but … eesh. He just seemed inconsistent. If I were Morrow, I would never trust him. He isn't necessarily going to be there for her, plainly.
I didn't mind Morrow. She was weepy and weak, yes, but I wouldn't have minded that ... if she had been consistent in it. For instance, I found Morrow to be whiny at times ... and then suddenly she was ! What the what?! And I didn't see her grow as a character between her sobbing days and her adventurous days! But maybe I missed it. Like I said, I read it fast.
I can't think of other people now as I only took notes on Morrow and Red Shirt and it's been a while.
However, I will bring up names … because 'Morrow'? Is that really historically inaccurate? And if Morrow has an unusual (but not impossible) name for her era, why was it never brought up? I'm confused. Red Shirt was also confusing to me. You'd think he'd have a name from his tribe, but it was never brought up.
Setting {5/5}:
Laura Frantz is amazing about researching her novels and building a great setting. I've only read The Mistress of Tall Acre, but … wow. She's always so strong in this area!
The description was also good. She really portrayed the Red River (and every place we went) in a way that made me want to go there.
Writing {5/5}:
I literally can't remember how she did in this area, and I forgot to take notes about it! So I'm giving it 5/5 stars because apparently there was nothing that bugged me enough to make a note about it.
Content:
This is not necessarily 100% accurate as it's been a while, but I'll do my best.
No cussing/crude language. Some violence and mentions of violence (massacres, wars, etc.) Mostly mentions of violence, if I remember correctly. Never anything disturbing.
Overall {3.5/5}:
Although I wouldn't recommend this to a first-time Frantz fan (I've read better by her), it was a great story and if you like Frantz's novels (which I do), you should definitely read it!
~Kellyn Roth
July 20, 2010
Wow! If there was ever a perfect historical romance category in a contest I'd nominate Courting Morrow Little, hands down. Not only was the cover gorgeous, but the story itself was so beautifully plotted, and the characters so well-crafted, that I was in awe of the story as I read it.
I really enjoyed The Frontiersman's Daughter and this story is even more romantic than the first book. In fact, it's one of most intense love stories that I've ever read in historical fiction. And it was all so believable! If I could give this book ten stars I would, and it's definitely going to be at the top of my best fiction for 2010 list. Why? Because it left me breathless. Any novel that can do that is worthy of a special place on my forever shelf.
I read a lot...around a hundred books a year. This one tops my list. I can't believe the intense emotions I felt whenever Morrow was with the man she loved. And the anxiety I felt when I thought she'd get stuck with a sick-o for a husband almost had me chewing my nails. I didn't want to go to work or do anything because I just wanted to finish this story. It's long, but worthy of every page.
The redemptive theme and the forgiveness in this novel is so natural and so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. There was nothing forced or artificial about the characters' spiritual walks. These people seemed real to me like I knew them personally. The fact that I was sad to have the story end, yet was happy with the outcome says a lot, too.
I especially loved the blossoming love of the heroine and the hero. He was the hottest, most romantic hero of all time, bar none. Every time he whispered Morrow's name, I about melted on the spot. The way their relationship started--with fear--made sense, and over time, because of the hero's patience and love, those initial reactions no longer made sense. Instead of fear, an intense longing and a desire to be with the other person was so strong that I, as a reader, felt it, too. That's great writing. Plus, Ms. Frantz just had a way with words. She ties words together in such a way that you can see the vivid imagery she created, and the poetic beauty of her phrases were awe-inspiring. I don't recall reading a single cliche.
Everything about this book was fresh and solidly grounded in historical times. It's obvious the author has done her research, which I really appreciated. I never once felt pulled into the 21st century like I have experienced at times while reading other historical novels. Bottom line...I can't say enough good things about this book. If you read nothing else this year, read this one.
A copy of Courting Morrow Little was provided Revell for me to review.
October 19, 2015
When she was a child Morrow Little lost her mother, sister and brother after an Indian raid. She never forgot that dreadful event and could not forgive the people who did such a terrible act so, when she finds out that her father maintains a good relationship with two Indian people, she is scared and angry, but this is not her only problem. There is an impending war between Indians and Americans which menaces to destroy anything and, because of her father’s illness, the only hope for Morrow is marriage. Lots of men are fascinated by her but she cannot and does not want to marry without love, and the only man she is drawn to is the same she fears.
To say that I loved this book is not enough. It is one of those stories that people engrave in their heart indefinitely. Laura Frantz perfectly knows how to enchant her readers. We are given the possibility to follow the life of a woman who learns to love despite the pain in her heart, and we have the chance to see how true the sentence “Love bears all things” is. These words are often repeated by both the main characters to give each other strength and hope, and in my opinion, it is the message of the whole story. The love they feel for each other develops from the fear and the charm of the unknown, and as much as they try to deny it, there is no way to escape the reality. You cannot fight your feelings, you cannot run away from love. Even if that means going against your people.
Morrow and Red Shirt are undoubtedly soul mates. They complement one another thanks to their different personalities and cultures. Morrow learns to forgive and to love thanks to him, and Red Shirt, on the other hand, learns what to belong to someone means. They are so different from each other and yet so similar. Both of them are in search of something, and they can succeed only if they are together. Morrow understands that and overturns her life to follow her heart leaving everything behind.
I thoroughly enjoyed these two characters and what they experienced. Red Shirt is an extraordinary man. He has two worlds living inside him and he manages to make them cooperate with easiness and patience. He knows anything, he has an explanation for everything, and Morrow knows she will always be safe with him, no matter all the troubles and their past.
I liked to get a glimpse of the Indian culture and the time period when frontiersmen and Indian people fought for their rights and for a better future. I had not read anything like that before and I am eager to read more about these passionate though fearsome ages of history.
A fascinating tale of forgiveness, love and hope I heartily recommend!
To say that I loved this book is not enough. It is one of those stories that people engrave in their heart indefinitely. Laura Frantz perfectly knows how to enchant her readers. We are given the possibility to follow the life of a woman who learns to love despite the pain in her heart, and we have the chance to see how true the sentence “Love bears all things” is. These words are often repeated by both the main characters to give each other strength and hope, and in my opinion, it is the message of the whole story. The love they feel for each other develops from the fear and the charm of the unknown, and as much as they try to deny it, there is no way to escape the reality. You cannot fight your feelings, you cannot run away from love. Even if that means going against your people.
Morrow and Red Shirt are undoubtedly soul mates. They complement one another thanks to their different personalities and cultures. Morrow learns to forgive and to love thanks to him, and Red Shirt, on the other hand, learns what to belong to someone means. They are so different from each other and yet so similar. Both of them are in search of something, and they can succeed only if they are together. Morrow understands that and overturns her life to follow her heart leaving everything behind.
I thoroughly enjoyed these two characters and what they experienced. Red Shirt is an extraordinary man. He has two worlds living inside him and he manages to make them cooperate with easiness and patience. He knows anything, he has an explanation for everything, and Morrow knows she will always be safe with him, no matter all the troubles and their past.
I liked to get a glimpse of the Indian culture and the time period when frontiersmen and Indian people fought for their rights and for a better future. I had not read anything like that before and I am eager to read more about these passionate though fearsome ages of history.
A fascinating tale of forgiveness, love and hope I heartily recommend!
May 16, 2025
Five stars Alll the way.
This is my second time reading it, and I return bearing a higher rating than before.
I don’t know how I had the audacity to give it anything lower.
The story takes place on the Kentucky Frontier, and just like Laura Frantz never fails to do, I was immediately swept away into the 18th-century wilderness. Pure spectacular-ness.
Ok, where to begin?
Morrow.
I adored her. She was such a beautiful heroine, her struggle with fear was so poignant and tangible. It’s such a real battle that is SO hard to portray in fiction without sounding childish and annoying.
Believe you me I have had my share of those. They ain’t pretty.
Yet Frantz accomplished it masterfully, giving us a full-rounded character. Morrow felt like a woman of the era. Perfectly in sync with the setting. That is a rare thing to behold.
Now, moving on to my favorite detail of the story.
*Drum roll please*
Red Shirt. No, not a red shirt, but RED SHIRT. Oh my stars this man. I just can’t. He is without a doubt my top book boyfriend EVER. He sweeps you off your feet and makes you swoon like a dummy. I would travel back to the revolution just to meet this magnificent creature.
Unfortunately, such things are not possible. Yet.
Nonetheless, I must come to the defense of this man. I noticed some readers were skeptical of his “change of character” 3/4 in, when he makes decisions that seem out of character.
I completely understand what they are getting at, in fact, that was one of the reasons I rated this book lower the first time. But as I read it this time, I realized that Red Shirt now had the added weight of a wife and children to look after.
Decisions he makes will be vastly different now that he has to take them into account.
This story spans quite some time, so naturally, the characters are going to evolve based on the changes they confront.
Red Shirt and Morrow were stunning together, their story was so uniquely woven by prior events that thwarted their love. I love how forgiveness and the surrender of grudges are so prevalent in their story. Those two truly stole my breath.
Frantz, you have my eternal loyalty. Please keep writing. The world needs more of this heavenly goodness.
Last and certainly least… My one, lonesome, solitary, isolated complaint: The title. It isn’t that important to me, but it might be to some. This story is much deeper and broader than simply ‘Courting Morrow Little’ I think it was ill-placed and entirely inadequate. So, forgive my nitpicking, pick up this worthy story, and fall in love.
*content*
For those of you that care:
Fade-to-black between a married couple. Light kissing. Kidnapping.
This is my second time reading it, and I return bearing a higher rating than before.
I don’t know how I had the audacity to give it anything lower.
The story takes place on the Kentucky Frontier, and just like Laura Frantz never fails to do, I was immediately swept away into the 18th-century wilderness. Pure spectacular-ness.
Ok, where to begin?
Morrow.
I adored her. She was such a beautiful heroine, her struggle with fear was so poignant and tangible. It’s such a real battle that is SO hard to portray in fiction without sounding childish and annoying.
Believe you me I have had my share of those. They ain’t pretty.
Yet Frantz accomplished it masterfully, giving us a full-rounded character. Morrow felt like a woman of the era. Perfectly in sync with the setting. That is a rare thing to behold.
Now, moving on to my favorite detail of the story.
*Drum roll please*
Red Shirt. No, not a red shirt, but RED SHIRT. Oh my stars this man. I just can’t. He is without a doubt my top book boyfriend EVER. He sweeps you off your feet and makes you swoon like a dummy. I would travel back to the revolution just to meet this magnificent creature.
Unfortunately, such things are not possible. Yet.
Nonetheless, I must come to the defense of this man. I noticed some readers were skeptical of his “change of character” 3/4 in, when he makes decisions that seem out of character.
I completely understand what they are getting at, in fact, that was one of the reasons I rated this book lower the first time. But as I read it this time, I realized that Red Shirt now had the added weight of a wife and children to look after.
Decisions he makes will be vastly different now that he has to take them into account.
This story spans quite some time, so naturally, the characters are going to evolve based on the changes they confront.
Red Shirt and Morrow were stunning together, their story was so uniquely woven by prior events that thwarted their love. I love how forgiveness and the surrender of grudges are so prevalent in their story. Those two truly stole my breath.
Frantz, you have my eternal loyalty. Please keep writing. The world needs more of this heavenly goodness.
Last and certainly least… My one, lonesome, solitary, isolated complaint: The title. It isn’t that important to me, but it might be to some. This story is much deeper and broader than simply ‘Courting Morrow Little’ I think it was ill-placed and entirely inadequate. So, forgive my nitpicking, pick up this worthy story, and fall in love.
*content*
For those of you that care:
Fade-to-black between a married couple. Light kissing. Kidnapping.
June 9, 2020
My first experience with this book was listening to the audiobook version. I loved the story so much that I had to switch over to ebook towards the end of the story to truly soak it in (visual is my default). Courting Morrow Little is an exceptional story and narrator Laura Jennings delivers an excellent performance. In the interest of avoiding even the slightest spoiler, I won’t comment on the deliciously complex plot.
Morrow Little is an exquisite and unforgettable character. Her life journey follows a path of physical and spiritual heartbreak, healing, tragedy, and triumph. The lessons Morrow learns about forgiveness and faith along the way profoundly touched my heart and I feel a deep kinship to her story as many of my ancestors lived in the same vicinity during this time period.
Truly worthy of five-stars, this is a story I would happily listen to again, despite my general audiobook aversion! A few months after my first experience with the story, I found myself thinking of the characters and indulged in a reread for the pure pleasure of reliving the story. I do not doubt that Courting Morrow Little will be a story I’m drawn to time and again. I highly recommend this author’s masterful storytelling.
I purchased this ebook, borrowed the audiobook through an Audible Escape free trial, and received a print copy from the author. I was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Morrow Little is an exquisite and unforgettable character. Her life journey follows a path of physical and spiritual heartbreak, healing, tragedy, and triumph. The lessons Morrow learns about forgiveness and faith along the way profoundly touched my heart and I feel a deep kinship to her story as many of my ancestors lived in the same vicinity during this time period.
Truly worthy of five-stars, this is a story I would happily listen to again, despite my general audiobook aversion! A few months after my first experience with the story, I found myself thinking of the characters and indulged in a reread for the pure pleasure of reliving the story. I do not doubt that Courting Morrow Little will be a story I’m drawn to time and again. I highly recommend this author’s masterful storytelling.
I purchased this ebook, borrowed the audiobook through an Audible Escape free trial, and received a print copy from the author. I was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 9, 2024
Absolutely LOVED this! 😍
I’m feeling a bit lost for words over this gripping tale of fear, faith, and forgiveness. Despite only being my second Laura Frantz book, it’s already staking claim as my favourite! (And I am more than a little devastated it’s out of print! 😭)
Morrow, while young, a bit weepy, and a little naïve, is a soft, feminine woman of gentle strength against the harsh frontier life. Her journey of forgiveness & overcoming her paralyzing fears was simply beautiful.
Red Shirt… ahh, what a man! 🥰 His reserve, tender care, and the way he helped Morrow trust was just lovely. And I really wish we’d gotten his perspective on a few things, but that’s just ‘cause I didn’t want the story to end. 🤭
Their romance is very sweet, but not without its hurdles. Plus I love that not only do we see them falling in love, but we also witness their marriage with all the revelations & hardships that arise.
It’s been a while since a book took me on such a rollercoaster ride. By the last page, I’d felt just about every emotion possible and finished misty-eyed. I almost started this before bed but decided to wait. Good thing too or else there was no way I’d have slept!
Something I’m really loving about Frantz’s style is the way she brings history to life. This story was real. It made me feel like I was really there, seeing and experiencing it all.
All the stars for this gem!!!
I’m feeling a bit lost for words over this gripping tale of fear, faith, and forgiveness. Despite only being my second Laura Frantz book, it’s already staking claim as my favourite! (And I am more than a little devastated it’s out of print! 😭)
Morrow, while young, a bit weepy, and a little naïve, is a soft, feminine woman of gentle strength against the harsh frontier life. Her journey of forgiveness & overcoming her paralyzing fears was simply beautiful.
Red Shirt… ahh, what a man! 🥰 His reserve, tender care, and the way he helped Morrow trust was just lovely. And I really wish we’d gotten his perspective on a few things, but that’s just ‘cause I didn’t want the story to end. 🤭
Their romance is very sweet, but not without its hurdles. Plus I love that not only do we see them falling in love, but we also witness their marriage with all the revelations & hardships that arise.
It’s been a while since a book took me on such a rollercoaster ride. By the last page, I’d felt just about every emotion possible and finished misty-eyed. I almost started this before bed but decided to wait. Good thing too or else there was no way I’d have slept!
Something I’m really loving about Frantz’s style is the way she brings history to life. This story was real. It made me feel like I was really there, seeing and experiencing it all.
All the stars for this gem!!!
September 6, 2020
Get ready to neglect everything when you open this romantic, action-packed tale from Laura Frantz! With wonderful characters and a dreamy romance, you will find yourself on the frontier with Morrow thanks to the author's rich descriptions.
My Rating:
FIVE stars!! Happily Ever After! Page-turner! Romantic! Tragic! Wonderful characters! Haunting! Tear-jerker! Action-packed! Great world building! Unpredictable! (Yes, unpredictable even after the third time reading because hey, pregnancy brain is a real thing!)
My Rating:
FIVE stars!! Happily Ever After! Page-turner! Romantic! Tragic! Wonderful characters! Haunting! Tear-jerker! Action-packed! Great world building! Unpredictable! (Yes, unpredictable even after the third time reading because hey, pregnancy brain is a real thing!)
April 12, 2014
This book has everything I want in a book! It was a totally fulfilling read. I loved Morrow. I'm so glad she followed her heart! I wish I could find more books like this.
August 9, 2021
In 2009 when I first read this book, I seldom if ever wrote reviews. But I’ve always wanted to write one for Courting Morrow Little because I remember enjoying it so much. I finally finished my second reading and can honestly say I enjoyed it just as much the second time around.
It was considerably longer than I recalled, but so full of story and history I didn’t mind it at all. In fact, when a book is great, the longer the better.
1778, Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania
Morrow Little was a beauty, but had no idea she was. However, she caught many a man's eye at the fort she lived by with her father who was the pastor for the area. Her interests didn’t lie with catching anyone's eye. Her goal was to take care of her father as he was suffering a disease from which he would not survive. After a tragedy in her youth, her father was her only surviving family member (except for an aunt hundreds of miles away). After that event, her greatest fear was the Shawnee. But two kept coming to visit, a man and his son...tall, imposing men.
This is the story of Red Shirt, his visits, and how both their lives changed... one through forgiveness and the other through new life in Christ.
Suspenseful at times, heartbreaking and heartwarming at others. I’m glad I re-read it!
It was considerably longer than I recalled, but so full of story and history I didn’t mind it at all. In fact, when a book is great, the longer the better.
1778, Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania
Morrow Little was a beauty, but had no idea she was. However, she caught many a man's eye at the fort she lived by with her father who was the pastor for the area. Her interests didn’t lie with catching anyone's eye. Her goal was to take care of her father as he was suffering a disease from which he would not survive. After a tragedy in her youth, her father was her only surviving family member (except for an aunt hundreds of miles away). After that event, her greatest fear was the Shawnee. But two kept coming to visit, a man and his son...tall, imposing men.
This is the story of Red Shirt, his visits, and how both their lives changed... one through forgiveness and the other through new life in Christ.
Suspenseful at times, heartbreaking and heartwarming at others. I’m glad I re-read it!
July 3, 2022
Courting Morrow Little has been out several years now, but I didn't discover author Laura Frantz until her book A Moonbow Night came out. Loved it and have read every book of hers since and am now occasionally going back to read the books of hers that I missed when they were hot off the press. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing that and Courting Morrow Little did not disappoint.
Laura Frantz is an absolute master wordsmith and storyteller and it's always a delight to read her work. If you've not yet discovered her books and you like historical fiction, do yourself a favor and start reading her work right away :) I think I've only got two more of her backlist to catch up on, and I will make myself wait to read those. I wish there was an unending supply :) And yes, she is an automatic pre-order for me now :)
Laura Frantz is an absolute master wordsmith and storyteller and it's always a delight to read her work. If you've not yet discovered her books and you like historical fiction, do yourself a favor and start reading her work right away :) I think I've only got two more of her backlist to catch up on, and I will make myself wait to read those. I wish there was an unending supply :) And yes, she is an automatic pre-order for me now :)
September 1, 2021
Another great book by Laura Franz. Her writing style just draws me in. This book was such a pleasure to read. I was enthralled right up to the very last page.
June 24, 2010
Reminiscent of the timeless love story, Last of the Mohicans, one of the latest books to hit the Christian market will take reader’s hearts captive.
COURTING MORROW LITTLE is a captivating and enthralling love story. The lyrical prose wended its way into my heart and settled in to stay. The depth of detail and historical significance to the story put me right there in Kentucky with Morrow. The evocative emotions, heart thumping moments and a love story that stands the test of life on the frontier, will not quickly leave my heart or thoughts.
I loved the story’s unconventional construction from the normal love story and it’s beauty. Instead of ending with a wedding, it is held in the middle of the novel and the connection between the two lovers is strong and endearing. But nothing good seems to last and Morrow and her husband struggle against the angst arising between white man and Indian.
Morrow grows and expands throughout the story and she reminds me of a precious rose, blooming day by day and growing stronger, but with a still delicate beauty.
The entire story from beginning to end will draw the reader in. There is elegance to the words and grace to the characters. A novel truly worthy of five stars.
COURTING MORROW LITTLE is a captivating and enthralling love story. The lyrical prose wended its way into my heart and settled in to stay. The depth of detail and historical significance to the story put me right there in Kentucky with Morrow. The evocative emotions, heart thumping moments and a love story that stands the test of life on the frontier, will not quickly leave my heart or thoughts.
I loved the story’s unconventional construction from the normal love story and it’s beauty. Instead of ending with a wedding, it is held in the middle of the novel and the connection between the two lovers is strong and endearing. But nothing good seems to last and Morrow and her husband struggle against the angst arising between white man and Indian.
Morrow grows and expands throughout the story and she reminds me of a precious rose, blooming day by day and growing stronger, but with a still delicate beauty.
The entire story from beginning to end will draw the reader in. There is elegance to the words and grace to the characters. A novel truly worthy of five stars.
March 30, 2021
4.5 stars
All I want to say is that I love Laura Frantz books so much! Although this wasn't my favorite by her, it definitely was amazing!!! 😍💙
Besides the fact that there was an interracial couple in this book (please give me ALL the Indian man marries a white woman stories 😍!) I loved how I live right where all this was taking place historically pretty much. I live about 30-45 minutes away from Red River so reading and learning about some of Kentucky's early history was so much fun! I definitely will be rereading this one again! 😍😍
All I want to say is that I love Laura Frantz books so much! Although this wasn't my favorite by her, it definitely was amazing!!! 😍💙
Besides the fact that there was an interracial couple in this book (please give me ALL the Indian man marries a white woman stories 😍!) I loved how I live right where all this was taking place historically pretty much. I live about 30-45 minutes away from Red River so reading and learning about some of Kentucky's early history was so much fun! I definitely will be rereading this one again! 😍😍
February 11, 2013
I started a little slow on this story, not really engaging until almost 1/3 through--and then I was hooked! Oh my! I love how Laura makes us struggle with the characters we aren't supposed to like--but we do. The characters who aren't supposed to be heroic--but are. The Christian fiction that doesn't preach--but whispers to the depths of a soul.
July 28, 2018
I really enjoyed this one. Laura Frantz is a natural storyteller. I stayed up half the night reading it which is always a sign that I'm thoroughly enjoying a book. I appreciated the author's ability to make this a christian romance without becoming overly preachy. Something other author's struggle with, and I have to say absolutely annoys me. I figure preaching ought to be reserved for preachers.
The only negative comment I have, is the latter part of the story didn't hold up to the rest. Things got redundant and the surprise ending was abrupt. In fact, I kept turning pages thinking there was more to come. For this reason, I settled on four stars rather than five, but I will definitely be reading more of this author's work.
The only negative comment I have, is the latter part of the story didn't hold up to the rest. Things got redundant and the surprise ending was abrupt. In fact, I kept turning pages thinking there was more to come. For this reason, I settled on four stars rather than five, but I will definitely be reading more of this author's work.
August 9, 2021
Here I am in the minority again, giving three stars to a book that a lot of people loved. I have begun to suspect that I read Laura Frantz for the style and setting, not for the story. Courting Morrow Little was filled with breathtaking scenery, lush descriptions, and authentic-feeling details. I loved the unlikely pairing of Morrow and Red Shirt, especially with the strong contrasts between Red Shirt's reserve and Major McKie's brazenness. I also really appreciated Morrow's desire to honor her father even at the expense of her own desires.
As far as the story goes, I'm not exactly sure what the story was. Was it "courting Morrow Little"? Well, the courtship didn't go on all that long (although the intimacy certainly did—more so than I would have preferred). Was the plot outrunning Red Shirt's enemies? Finding Jess? Reaching Missouri? Any one of those might have been the main thread, but I felt that none of them had the urgency or constancy to really be the main thread. Was this character-driven instead of plot-driven? Maybe. I did like Morrow, and her growth from fear to strength and hatred to forgiveness was rewarding. I really liked Red Shirt, or at least the scenes he was in. I wanted to see more of him—he showed up only briefly in the first several chapters, we were never in his point of view, he was gone almost constantly for the last half of the book, and I'm not sure even Morrow really got to know him over the course of the story. But I still really enjoyed it whenever he came on the scene. The climax itself was pretty strong, and it was fun to see a historical figure like George Rogers Clark woven into the story (another thing I enjoy about Laura Frantz's books).
So perhaps if I were to rename this book, I would call it The Life and Times of Morrow Little. It's a meandering sort of tale, but as always, I loved the "first-hand" look at life in Kentucke frontier settlements and the nature of the settler/Shawnee struggle. (I'm assuming Morrow didn't learn to shoot because she was in Philadelphia for two years? I found it odd that her father didn't teach her, especially as his illness worsened and she might need to manage her own protection or hunting.) Seeing Red Shirt's faith was beautiful, as was Morrow's new understanding that "there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." This might not have been my favorite Laura Frantz title, but she definitely delivered all the "you are there" details I've come to expect! Some great names again, too, specifically Morrow and Jessamyn. And it was not your typical romance, so all in all it was a fairly enjoyable read.
As far as the story goes, I'm not exactly sure what the story was. Was it "courting Morrow Little"? Well, the courtship didn't go on all that long (although the intimacy certainly did—more so than I would have preferred). Was the plot outrunning Red Shirt's enemies? Finding Jess? Reaching Missouri? Any one of those might have been the main thread, but I felt that none of them had the urgency or constancy to really be the main thread. Was this character-driven instead of plot-driven? Maybe. I did like Morrow, and her growth from fear to strength and hatred to forgiveness was rewarding. I really liked Red Shirt, or at least the scenes he was in. I wanted to see more of him—he showed up only briefly in the first several chapters, we were never in his point of view, he was gone almost constantly for the last half of the book, and I'm not sure even Morrow really got to know him over the course of the story. But I still really enjoyed it whenever he came on the scene. The climax itself was pretty strong, and it was fun to see a historical figure like George Rogers Clark woven into the story (another thing I enjoy about Laura Frantz's books).
So perhaps if I were to rename this book, I would call it The Life and Times of Morrow Little. It's a meandering sort of tale, but as always, I loved the "first-hand" look at life in Kentucke frontier settlements and the nature of the settler/Shawnee struggle. (I'm assuming Morrow didn't learn to shoot because she was in Philadelphia for two years? I found it odd that her father didn't teach her, especially as his illness worsened and she might need to manage her own protection or hunting.) Seeing Red Shirt's faith was beautiful, as was Morrow's new understanding that "there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." This might not have been my favorite Laura Frantz title, but she definitely delivered all the "you are there" details I've come to expect! Some great names again, too, specifically Morrow and Jessamyn. And it was not your typical romance, so all in all it was a fairly enjoyable read.
March 20, 2015
Oh, this was wonderful!
4 1/2
I'll just skip the synopsis, I cant do a better one then some others so I won't attempt it this time.
My Likes:
At about 2/3 into the book the excitement picks up, and doesn't drop once. I wish we could have had another fifty pages of it, not because everything wasn't wrapped up in a satisfactory way, but because it was so good. It took on a northern feel a bit like Mrs. Mike with Doctor Quinn mixed in. We had a French family which really came alive, I felt that I was in their home.
Morrow I liked from page one, until the story jumps forward in time about ten years and then I didn't like her as much, prehaps because she didn't know herself. But that quickly changed when the hero came onto the scene. He brought out the best in her, because he was so gentle and went out of his way to put her at ease.
Morrow Jumped every time she saw an Indian, which is unfortunate since the hero, Red Shirt, was Indian. She had him hiding in bushes so he wouldn't scare her half to pieces.
Oh, I nearly forgot to mention on of my favorite things about this book, it was one of the only christen fiction books I have read that bothered to marry the hero and heroine before the last page. Bravo!
One other think I really liked was that although Morrow's father is a preacher we never get preached at.
Slight Dislikes:
Morrow's father. I'm sorry but he bugged me, he nearly made her make the biggest mistake ever, and he of all people should have known how big it was.
The first half is slow with not much happening other than "Courting Morrow Little" though how anyone could do that when she didn't let them, I don't know.
PG There are several people who get scalped, not that we see it, one character has a baby out of wedlock and there is a married couple who later have a baby so we have a birth scene. However, that is glossed over (aka we don't get a bunch of details)
Note: I liked this better than The Frontiersman's Daughter because I feel the heroine picked the right man.
4 1/2
I'll just skip the synopsis, I cant do a better one then some others so I won't attempt it this time.
My Likes:
At about 2/3 into the book the excitement picks up, and doesn't drop once. I wish we could have had another fifty pages of it, not because everything wasn't wrapped up in a satisfactory way, but because it was so good. It took on a northern feel a bit like Mrs. Mike with Doctor Quinn mixed in. We had a French family which really came alive, I felt that I was in their home.
Morrow I liked from page one, until the story jumps forward in time about ten years and then I didn't like her as much, prehaps because she didn't know herself. But that quickly changed when the hero came onto the scene. He brought out the best in her, because he was so gentle and went out of his way to put her at ease.
Morrow Jumped every time she saw an Indian, which is unfortunate since the hero, Red Shirt, was Indian. She had him hiding in bushes so he wouldn't scare her half to pieces.
Oh, I nearly forgot to mention on of my favorite things about this book, it was one of the only christen fiction books I have read that bothered to marry the hero and heroine before the last page. Bravo!
One other think I really liked was that although Morrow's father is a preacher we never get preached at.
Slight Dislikes:
Morrow's father. I'm sorry but he bugged me, he nearly made her make the biggest mistake ever, and he of all people should have known how big it was.
The first half is slow with not much happening other than "Courting Morrow Little" though how anyone could do that when she didn't let them, I don't know.
PG There are several people who get scalped, not that we see it, one character has a baby out of wedlock and there is a married couple who later have a baby so we have a birth scene. However, that is glossed over (aka we don't get a bunch of details)
Note: I liked this better than The Frontiersman's Daughter because I feel the heroine picked the right man.
July 31, 2018
4.25 Stars!
I enjoyed Marrow and Red Shirt’s story. I especially enjoyed learning about the era of the red Indians.
I loved the theme of freedom and forgiveness.
If I had read this before the “Lacemaker” I probably would have enjoyed it more as I found that there were a lot of similarities in the story plot (not setting).
I found it a little slow paced at times but I loved the last 20% and shed tears at 99%.
I love Laura Frantz writing. She captivates you by painting pictures with her words in a unique graceful manner. She is quickly becoming a favourite author for me.
I also listened to the accompanied audiobook. Performed by Laura Jennings. I give 5 stars for the audiobook as it was very engaged and was excellently performed.
I will definitely be reading more by Laura Frantz in the near future.
Recommended for all Christian history fiction fans :).
I enjoyed Marrow and Red Shirt’s story. I especially enjoyed learning about the era of the red Indians.
I loved the theme of freedom and forgiveness.
If I had read this before the “Lacemaker” I probably would have enjoyed it more as I found that there were a lot of similarities in the story plot (not setting).
I found it a little slow paced at times but I loved the last 20% and shed tears at 99%.
I love Laura Frantz writing. She captivates you by painting pictures with her words in a unique graceful manner. She is quickly becoming a favourite author for me.
I also listened to the accompanied audiobook. Performed by Laura Jennings. I give 5 stars for the audiobook as it was very engaged and was excellently performed.
I will definitely be reading more by Laura Frantz in the near future.
Recommended for all Christian history fiction fans :).
May 14, 2022
Generally enjoyed this frontier historical about how a woman whose family is murdered comes to forgive and even love the perpetrators. The love story is breathtakingly sweet, and I loved the way the main characters referred to scripture in each situation.
I found Morrow to be a bit of a dichotomy and never truly connected with her. She seemed to be an introvert, hid inside herself a lot, and would feel sick at the thought of opening up to those closest to her. There was a lot of secret-keeping and not all of it did I understand the necessity of. But then she also felt lonely a lot even though she wouldn't talk to the people who loved her. And then also looked forward to moving further west alone with her husband. Perhaps without her personality and circumstances, I just can't relate to all those things within the same person, but it gave the book a disjointed feeling. Why did she have a hard time telling her husband she loved him when she did and for so long? Things like that I never really understood.
There was some tenseness with evil men capable of harming women, but thankfully the characters escaped without any assault attempts (sigh of relief).
I'm glad that my library has this on Hoopla and that I got to read it.
I found Morrow to be a bit of a dichotomy and never truly connected with her. She seemed to be an introvert, hid inside herself a lot, and would feel sick at the thought of opening up to those closest to her. There was a lot of secret-keeping and not all of it did I understand the necessity of. But then she also felt lonely a lot even though she wouldn't talk to the people who loved her. And then also looked forward to moving further west alone with her husband. Perhaps without her personality and circumstances, I just can't relate to all those things within the same person, but it gave the book a disjointed feeling. Why did she have a hard time telling her husband she loved him when she did and for so long? Things like that I never really understood.
There was some tenseness with evil men capable of harming women, but thankfully the characters escaped without any assault attempts (sigh of relief).
I'm glad that my library has this on Hoopla and that I got to read it.
March 22, 2013
Back to historical (chrischun) fiction. I jump around a lot, for variety, y'know.
This was articulated very well - the story of a young girl whose mother and sister are killed by Indians while her father is in the field and she and her brother are swimming at the river. As a result, she is terrified of Indians. But with the Redcoats and Indians fighting the bluecoats and settlers, she is surrounded by the turmoil of threats.
Her father, a minister, forgives and tries to live a life of peace on their homestead. It's not to easy for Morrow (terrible name), especially when an Indian and his sick young boy arrive in need of help. Father befriends them, and they return, time and again... Morrow hiding away when they come.
Fast forward to her young adulthood, when she returns from an extended stay with her aunt in Philedelphia. Father has consumption, and Morrow (who grated me, as she doesn't do much of anything, but is always weak or tired) wants to care for him until he passes, and doesn't wish to return to the dirty city... but she'll need someone to care for her after he dies. Enter Red Shirt, the young half-Indian boy they nursed to health... and Captain McKie, a dangerous man with too much power, and Robbie, a settlement farmer. Who will Morrow choose? You know from the start that it will be Red Shirt. But the author didn't have to kill off the other suitors to accomplish this (it's a cheater vice and poor writing to see that).
From there, the book becomes very, very long. I hate to call it tedious, but... it just drags on, from one crisis to another, to another, to another, then another, and another. You think it will never end. It's as if the author couldn't develop the love story enough to have a novel, so she took it further into their lives, and because she didn't know what to do past the love story, she just kept making stuff up, until it got long enough.
The problem with this is that the relationship between Morrow and Red Shirt is stilted by his stand-offishness and the lack of dialogue between them. In fact, there's not enough dialogue between anyone in this book. It's a fine line - getting a nice mix of dialogue/character development, and getting historical and descriptive passages... this author did magnificent in the latter, but needs to focus on the former.
This was articulated very well - the story of a young girl whose mother and sister are killed by Indians while her father is in the field and she and her brother are swimming at the river. As a result, she is terrified of Indians. But with the Redcoats and Indians fighting the bluecoats and settlers, she is surrounded by the turmoil of threats.
Her father, a minister, forgives and tries to live a life of peace on their homestead. It's not to easy for Morrow (terrible name), especially when an Indian and his sick young boy arrive in need of help. Father befriends them, and they return, time and again... Morrow hiding away when they come.
Fast forward to her young adulthood, when she returns from an extended stay with her aunt in Philedelphia. Father has consumption, and Morrow (who grated me, as she doesn't do much of anything, but is always weak or tired) wants to care for him until he passes, and doesn't wish to return to the dirty city... but she'll need someone to care for her after he dies. Enter Red Shirt, the young half-Indian boy they nursed to health... and Captain McKie, a dangerous man with too much power, and Robbie, a settlement farmer. Who will Morrow choose? You know from the start that it will be Red Shirt. But the author didn't have to kill off the other suitors to accomplish this (it's a cheater vice and poor writing to see that).
From there, the book becomes very, very long. I hate to call it tedious, but... it just drags on, from one crisis to another, to another, to another, then another, and another. You think it will never end. It's as if the author couldn't develop the love story enough to have a novel, so she took it further into their lives, and because she didn't know what to do past the love story, she just kept making stuff up, until it got long enough.
The problem with this is that the relationship between Morrow and Red Shirt is stilted by his stand-offishness and the lack of dialogue between them. In fact, there's not enough dialogue between anyone in this book. It's a fine line - getting a nice mix of dialogue/character development, and getting historical and descriptive passages... this author did magnificent in the latter, but needs to focus on the former.
August 29, 2013
I liked the first half of this book, it had some problems, but I liked it anyway. Yes, there were some historical inaccuracies that crept in here and there. Yes, the heroine was a little weepy and...shallow. Yes, the hero was a little to perfect, always showing up at exactly the right time. And yes, there was some overly flowery language, i.e. the hero can't just reach for something, he has to reach for something with his strong, manly hands and the heroine can't just push hair out of her face, she had to push long, silky locks away from her beautiful, heart-shaped face. (Ok, I exaggerate, but not by much.)
However, none of these are really deal breakers for me, flowery language is the worst, because it might make me chuckle during a very serious scene. All in all, the first half was quite good. I was interested in the heroine and enjoying a nice, calm, normal-feeling plot. It might have dragged a little, but I liked feeling like I knew Morrow Little and being a part of her life. The writing was good, enough detail, but not too much and the characterization was good, you got to know the characters without knowing every little thing about them. But then...something happened.
At some point in the story, the title of the book was no longer relevant to the story. The heroine made a big decision and no one was "Courting Morrow Little" anymore. At this point, the book seemed to digress into something completely different. Entire characters disappeared. Timelines blurred, two babies born at the same time would be implied to be different ages (one a toddler and one a babe in arms). The language became repetitive, a lot of the same descriptors and terms. The previously flowery language started to border on absurdity, for example, a group of men described a baby as "petite". Months would pass or was it just days, I was never sure. And then at the end, it just sort of ended...everything was just resolved, done, the end.
I was really enjoying the beginning of the book, maybe not 5 star entertainment, but a good solid read and then, I don't know what happened. But something happened and suddenly the book just wasn't what it had been. I read and enjoyed about the first half of the book, but maybe you'll like the whole thing.
However, none of these are really deal breakers for me, flowery language is the worst, because it might make me chuckle during a very serious scene. All in all, the first half was quite good. I was interested in the heroine and enjoying a nice, calm, normal-feeling plot. It might have dragged a little, but I liked feeling like I knew Morrow Little and being a part of her life. The writing was good, enough detail, but not too much and the characterization was good, you got to know the characters without knowing every little thing about them. But then...something happened.
At some point in the story, the title of the book was no longer relevant to the story. The heroine made a big decision and no one was "Courting Morrow Little" anymore. At this point, the book seemed to digress into something completely different. Entire characters disappeared. Timelines blurred, two babies born at the same time would be implied to be different ages (one a toddler and one a babe in arms). The language became repetitive, a lot of the same descriptors and terms. The previously flowery language started to border on absurdity, for example, a group of men described a baby as "petite". Months would pass or was it just days, I was never sure. And then at the end, it just sort of ended...everything was just resolved, done, the end.
I was really enjoying the beginning of the book, maybe not 5 star entertainment, but a good solid read and then, I don't know what happened. But something happened and suddenly the book just wasn't what it had been. I read and enjoyed about the first half of the book, but maybe you'll like the whole thing.
November 26, 2010
This book was just okay. I found Morrow to be a little boring. The charaters in general were good, but I like a little humor, but in this book there was none. I liked the history and some of the story, but Morrow bugged me a little. She always wanted people to think she was stronger than they thought, yet she wasn't willing to step it up and prove it. Emotionally she was strong. She wanted people to think her physically strong and capable, yet she didn't work. Here she is a fronter women and her father is sick and dying, but she still allows him to do the entire harvest and take care of the horses even in the dead of winter. She comments often how tired she is, and after what seems to be very little work.
The time it bothered me the most is when they are traveling by river in a blizard and her father is the only one paddling, yet she claims to be concerned for him because of his deep coughing. Then it goes on to say how cool she is, and when they get out of the boat at their house, her father tells her to run to the house and he will put all the horses in the barn. Without comment she goes in the warm house thinking how stiff and cold she is becoming and that it is a good think she is going in. Yet, in the sentence before it explains that her father is growing weaker and his cough never lets up, and he has lost weight. It just seems like if she has lived there most her life minus two years, she needs to learn to do a little more. Her family was killed when she was five so it was just her dad and her and she just seems too spoiled to me.
OTHER THEN THAT, it was alright.
The time it bothered me the most is when they are traveling by river in a blizard and her father is the only one paddling, yet she claims to be concerned for him because of his deep coughing. Then it goes on to say how cool she is, and when they get out of the boat at their house, her father tells her to run to the house and he will put all the horses in the barn. Without comment she goes in the warm house thinking how stiff and cold she is becoming and that it is a good think she is going in. Yet, in the sentence before it explains that her father is growing weaker and his cough never lets up, and he has lost weight. It just seems like if she has lived there most her life minus two years, she needs to learn to do a little more. Her family was killed when she was five so it was just her dad and her and she just seems too spoiled to me.
OTHER THEN THAT, it was alright.
April 4, 2013
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3JTR93E...
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/6): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Courting Morrow Little met and exceeded all of my expectations! I had heard wonderful things about the book for a while and finally took the time to read it - so glad I did! While it did take me a bit to get used to the writing style (from Morrow's perspective but not first person), it wasn't long before I was immersed in the story.
I loved the characters - especially Red Shirt. While I did guess a few things before they happened, I was surprised by a lot in Courting Morrow Little. The book definitely kept me on my toes and reading (even when I probably should have been reading a different book...).
So, like the two previous Laura Frantz books I've read, I loved Courting Morrow Little and, once I read that final page, I knew it was a favorite. Can hardly wait to read The Frontiersman's Daughter - the only book I've yet to read by this author.
I recommend Courting Morrow Little if you enjoy historical books with romance, danger, and adventure - it was a fantastic read! :)
*I did not get this book for review... I read a Kindle copy and chose to write a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/6): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Courting Morrow Little met and exceeded all of my expectations! I had heard wonderful things about the book for a while and finally took the time to read it - so glad I did! While it did take me a bit to get used to the writing style (from Morrow's perspective but not first person), it wasn't long before I was immersed in the story.
I loved the characters - especially Red Shirt. While I did guess a few things before they happened, I was surprised by a lot in Courting Morrow Little. The book definitely kept me on my toes and reading (even when I probably should have been reading a different book...).
So, like the two previous Laura Frantz books I've read, I loved Courting Morrow Little and, once I read that final page, I knew it was a favorite. Can hardly wait to read The Frontiersman's Daughter - the only book I've yet to read by this author.
I recommend Courting Morrow Little if you enjoy historical books with romance, danger, and adventure - it was a fantastic read! :)
*I did not get this book for review... I read a Kindle copy and chose to write a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
January 3, 2023
3.5 stars☆
This was a re-read, with it last being read 7 years ago. I did enjoy it this time around, just not as much as I did before and not enough to keep it as a favorite.
The descriptions and imagery that I’ve come to love in Frantz’ books is just as lovely and immersive as ever, and her ability to bring readers into the story and give them a taste of early America is one of my favorite parts of her writing. She is able to create vivid pictures of the era without sounding like a textbook which is something I love in historical fiction.
However, I failed to really connect with Morrow and found her rather unlikable for the majority of the book. Her fear of the Shawnee felt overdone and juvenile, making it rather unrealistic and it annoyed me - even though her fears were founded on valid reasons. If the book was not written in only her point of view it might have been something that I could have overlooked but seeing the story through only her eyes affected the rest of the story, and I didn’t really like her all that much. Her character development was abrupt and it seemed as though she moved from one extreme to the other with no middle passage.
Even though I am a little more critical of this book then I was the first time I read it, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it if you enjoy early American fiction.😊
This was a re-read, with it last being read 7 years ago. I did enjoy it this time around, just not as much as I did before and not enough to keep it as a favorite.
The descriptions and imagery that I’ve come to love in Frantz’ books is just as lovely and immersive as ever, and her ability to bring readers into the story and give them a taste of early America is one of my favorite parts of her writing. She is able to create vivid pictures of the era without sounding like a textbook which is something I love in historical fiction.
However, I failed to really connect with Morrow and found her rather unlikable for the majority of the book. Her fear of the Shawnee felt overdone and juvenile, making it rather unrealistic and it annoyed me - even though her fears were founded on valid reasons. If the book was not written in only her point of view it might have been something that I could have overlooked but seeing the story through only her eyes affected the rest of the story, and I didn’t really like her all that much. Her character development was abrupt and it seemed as though she moved from one extreme to the other with no middle passage.
Even though I am a little more critical of this book then I was the first time I read it, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it if you enjoy early American fiction.😊
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