Review: “A Moonbow Night” by Laura Frantz ~ Revell Reads Blog Tour

Author Laura Frantz returns to her Kentucky roots with her new novel A Moonbow Night. Laura Frantz is on my #mustread author list because her stories always paint epic pictures of individuals in American history in a prose-like, lyrical, immersive style.
If I may apply the topographical wording of “north northwest” to the genre, this novel is “historical historical romance”, with slightly more emphasis on the drama and history, though the romance that unfolds slowly is heartfelt and central to the story.

After fleeing Virginia, Temperance Tucker and her family established an inn along the Shawnee River. It’s a welcome way station for settlers and frontiersmen traveling through the wild Cumberland region of Kentucke–men like Sion Morgan, a Virginia surveyor who arrives at the inn with his crew looking for an experienced guide. When his guide appears, Sion balks. He certainly didn’t expect a woman. But it is not long before he must admit that Tempe’s skill in the wilderness rivals his own. Still, the tenuous tie they are forming is put to the test as they encounter danger after danger and must rely on each other.
With her signature sweeping style and ability to bring the distant past to vivid life, Laura Frantz beckons readers to join her in a land of Indian ambushes, conflicting loyalties, and a tentative love that meanders like a cool mountain stream.

A Moonbow Night is as prolific and flowing as expected, with a new level of grittiness exploring the raw reality of frontier life, conditions, and conflict. Instead of typical plot and story, Moonbow offers what feels like an inside look at true frontier living. The monotony, the labor, the wild beauty, the challenge. The toughness of character required. The trust in the Almighty and fellow man. And, the sweetness of love and family which surpasses all eras.

Sion is a hero of few words and many actions. His steadfast presence is an anchor to the story, dependable for Tempe whose life seems ever-changing. Tempe, a strong character herself, is good at the heart and willing to do anything necessary for the people she cares for, whether it be family or a rough group of surveyors with a formidable 🙂 leader.

This story delves deep into the heart, revealing slowly an intricate picture influenced by grief and love. While the reader doesn’t know the backstory of Sion or Tempe for a little while, one can still sense the pain in each character’s voice and wonder at what happened. Patience is rewarded as Frantz reveals the acts behind each character’s carried heartache and brings to light surprising secrets connecting this ragtag group of characters in unexpected ways.

While they traverse many trials and crazy-dangerous situations in the wilds of “Kentucke”, some making me anxious and wondering how any good could come from the current predicament, the magnetic draw between Tempe and Sion was unmistakable. This is, perhaps, my favorite part of this story: the bittersweet romance between them. Slow to manifest itself, I was constantly rooting for them to see beyond their own pain and realize the blessing and life found in each other. Their eventual path to this realization surprised me in several ways, but it offered a thread of hope, of purpose, tying the story together and pointing to God’s ultimate plan and provision.

Thank you to Revell Publishers for the complimentary review copy of this novel. This review reflects my honest opinion.

You can visit my previous reviews here:

The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

Love’s Awakening by Laura Frantz

Love’s Fortune by Laura Frantz