The Seamstress of Acadie in Clearly Christian Readathon

Oct 23, 2023 Heather Wood rated it it was amazing

Riveting, tender, heartrending.

Laura Frantz never goes wrong with the romantic tension that's more lovely than lusty. She ought to teach a MasterClass on how to do it. I knew very little about the history of Novia Scotia before but I'm learning that every corner you look at in history, you find injustice and hardship and good people suffering because of the selfishness of the powers that be. In the Seamstress of Acadie, you can't help but ask with Sylvie, where is God in this? What was he doing ...more

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Jan 03, 2024 Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) rated it it was amazing

4.75 stars!

First, I did not know anything about the Acadian people before this book, so it was fascinating to learn about them. I really enjoyed this story. The author just writes so beautifully, and the story really comes to life through her words. I loved Sylvie's character; she is so strong and brave. She endures so much but just keeps on going. She is kind to the children she is around and helps take care of them. She also is a great seamstress. I also loved William's character, he is so kin ...more

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Nov 22, 2023 Jeanette Durkin rated it it was amazing

Wow! Rarely does a book touch my heart as much as this one did. The writing is extraordinary. The setting is picturesque. Acadia comes to life with vivid imagery.

The characters are beyond words. Sylvie is someone I'd like to emulate! She's humble, strong, hardworking, determined, compassionate, and more! Will is complex. He grows so much during the book. I love Bleu! He's a protector. He always shows up just when he's needed. All of the characters tugged on my heart.

This story can be hard to re ...more

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Jun 20, 2025 Anna |This Curly Girl Reads| rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-in-2025, spring-stories

This story gripped me from the first chapter ❤️ I knew a bit about the Acadian’s horrific story from reading Janette and Davis Bunn’s series (also good!), but the story was no less heart rending.

What I enjoyed: I loved the setting, the characters (the good ones at least!), and the hope filled moments. I somehow missed that this took place in Virginia! It’s my home state, so that was fun 🥰 Acadia was also a lovely place! Sylvia, Will, Bleu, and the children were all fantastic characters. I really ...more

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Dec 30, 2023 Amanda (The Little Book Spot) rated it it was amazing

The year is 1754 and the once peaceful shores of neutral, French Canadian Acadie are no more as tensions and rumors of war fly between the French and British. Seamstress Sylvie Galant should be thinking of Noël and the usual preparations for the holiday but talk of war, spies, and William Blackburn— famed and notorious British Army ranger, whose escapades Sylvie’s brothers speak grimly of— are all weighing heavy on their close knit family.

As chance would have it, Sylvie has a brief encounter wi The year is 1754 and the once peaceful shores of neutral, French Canadian Acadie are no more as tensions and rumors of war fly between the French and British. Seamstress Sylvie Galant should be thinking of Noël and the usual preparations for the holiday but talk of war, spies, and William Blackburn— famed and notorious British Army ranger, whose escapades Sylvie’s brothers speak grimly of— are all weighing heavy on their close knit family.

As chance would have it, Sylvie has a brief encounter with William Blackburn, who, unbelievably, tries to warn Sylvie of a soon and imminent invasion on Acadie. However, no one can save them from what happens next. All of Acadie is forcibly removed from their beloved land and homes onto ships where thousands die of disease, storms on the sea, or lack of proper nutrition. The Galant family is separated and Sylvie must now face a new land—Virginia, all alone and destitute.

Trying to find work and her bearings in a strange place, Sylvie is shocked when she once again runs into Blackburn. Why and how can they be meeting again? As Sylvie struggles with her new identity in Virginia, can she put away the bitterness and raw grief that ensnare her to work with Blackburn, who consequently, shares a part of her broken past? Can they sort out the broken pieces together and make a new life?

This book reminded me why my first love has always been historical fiction. I learned so much from this book about the sad history and fate of Acadie and its people, displaced in places like Virginia and Louisiana— places so vastly different than their own land.

This story is vivid in imagery and full of emotion, it is a difficult tale in many aspects but so full of courage and perseverance that the story shifts naturally from despair to hope and ultimately, new beginnings.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @laurafrantzauthor for giving me an advanced readers copy of the story. This book releases on January 9, 2024.

Content: war, death, kidnapping. Nothing very descriptive in my opinion. No language, closed door.
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Nov 24, 2023 Mandy rated it it was amazing

Laura Frantz weaves a beautiful story intertwining characters with heartbreak and redemption. We follow Sylvie and her family, living their simple lives on the Acadian shores caught in the middle of the battle on which flag will fly. They hear echo’s of what may come, but never did they consider separation and relocation to be a part of their future. We follow Sylvie not only on her journey to relocation but on her journey of healing from the burden of loss. We see the strength she finds within ...more

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Apr 09, 2024 Candice Jensen rated it really liked it

My historical fiction loving heart needed this read! Laura Frantz has such an elegant writing style it makes me get lost in the story. The rich history warmed my Canadian heart ❤️🇨🇦 You journey with Sylvie as she comes to peace with heartache and new beginnings. There were parts of the story that were hard to read because of so much loss 💔 but there was still so much hope. I loved how elements of Psalm 23 were weaved throughout Sylvie’s journey. It was truly inspiring to read how Sylvie was “lea ...more

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Dec 19, 2023 Karla Cook rated it it was amazing

The Seamstress of Acadie is a fascinating look at the story of the French Acadians who were exiled from Canada in the mid-1700s. I had heard that’s where the Louisiana “Cajuns” originated from all those generations ago, but I didn’t know much about it. I loved learning more about that piece of history (although this novel ended up in Virginia rather than Louisiana).

Author Laura Frantz makes the colonial period come alive with relatable characters and many details I hadn’t considered before. It’s ...more

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Jan 27, 2024 Kimberly Keagan rated it really liked it

As always, Laura Frantz creates a story written with rich historical detail. There's a lot to unpack, and just when you think life will get better for these characters, something devastating happens (multiple times)...so have the Kleenex handy. ...more

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