It was clear to me right away why all of my friends love Laura Frantz's books. Seriously, she has got a way with words that very few authors can replicate. It's an almost lyrical, haunting style that transported me to the back hills of Kentucky (referred to as Kentucke), and drew me into the relationships between Lael, Ma Horn, Ian, and Susanna, that it was oh-so-very-hard to turn that final page.

I couldn't help but compare The Frontiersman's Daughter to two other stories that I've watched and/or read about over and over--Christy by Catherine Marshall (book) and Dr. Quinn (tv show). Ian reminded me a great deal of the doctor (his name escapes me, but he's also from Scotland) from Christy that had to slowly gain acceptance in an area full of superstitious people, while also silently carrying a torch for Christy herself. Then, Lael reminded me a bit of Dr. Quinn because of her care and concern for the Indians. Lael didn't have as much contact with them in this book as Dr. Quinn did in the tv show, but her father did when she was a young girl, and the lessons he taught her early on about them stayed with her the rest of her life.

For those who can't get enough stories about this area and these people, and also enjoy a slow-paced story, I would suggest checking out Jan Watson (Sweetwater Run and Still House Pond are two that I've read). Personally, all these back-woods-type stories are starting to grow on me, and I know it won't be long before Courting Morrow Little makes it way into my hot little hands, quickly followed by The Colonel's Lady. :o) My rating is 4.5 Stars.

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I enjoyed this book and will definitely read more by this author, but I was a little frustrated that some of the storylines were left unexplained and some were just cut off abruptly. Would like to have seen this made into a two-parter and some of the characters better explored and their story fleshed out more. Example: what is all the back history that is referenced about her father??

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This book left me very frustrated. It was good for a first time author, but I feel like the author's editors let her down by not having her go back to the drawing board and better organize her plot. There were way too many side stories, good parts of the plot left unexplored, and a quick un-satisfying ending. I feel like the author was trying to meet a length requirement, and sacrificed what would of been a good story.

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This was my first book by Laura Frantz and it will definitely not be my last. I thought it was well written and loved the history that was thrown in about the Shawnee Indians and the settlers. I thought this book was a great quick read. Look forward to reading some more by her.

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A really moving, beautiful book about a woman's journey from the ages of 14 to 21, living on the pre-American Revolutionary War days of Kentucky.

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This is a hard one to review. It is both wonderful and exasperating all at once. The writing is lovely, the story a good one. It captured my attention immediately and kept me coming back. There were really only two flaws but they were significant enough to cause problems.

1. (May or may not be considered a flaw, depending on personal preference) The author takes an inordinate amount of time describing surroundings and writing about the daily chores of living. Life on the 18th century frontier is eloquently portrayed and very interesting - to a point. When the descriptions drag on and on and over and over, one finds them self skimming to get back to the original story. I did this a lot as the book progressed. By the second half of the book, it became frustrating. I wanted the story to continue, I KNEW about the life already!

2. The heroine drove me insane! I loved her but wanted to smack her upside the head! She NEVER says what she thinks, wants or feels!! Every single time a problem arises, rather than say anything to clarify or improve a situation, she stays silent and misjudges or waffles forever because she is uncertain. This is understandable at the beginning from the fourteen year old perspective but come on! Seven years later and she hasn't learned a single thing? If we are to sympathize there needs to be some growth!!! In this area, I found myself pulling my hair out and rushing ahead because I couldn't stand her any longer.

So why the 4 stars? Because even though it drove me crazy, I still loved the overall story and message. The Christian aspect was subtle and perfectly done, the voice of the story was charming and, even though I thought it drug on, the descriptions were incredibly enlightening. I would highly recommend the book as long as a caveat it attached.

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