By Laura Frantz

The Last of the Mohicans meets Beauty and the Beast in this Revolutionary War frontier romance.

Roxanna Rowen has left the safe predictability of her life in the colonies for the wilds of the Kentucky frontier where her father serves at Fort Endeavor. But while her journey is fraught with hardship, it is nothing compared to the chilling reality that greets her when she arrives: her father is dead, winter is coming, the Indians and British may attack at any moment. Trapped in the beleaguered fort, Roxanna takes her father’s place as Colonel McLinn’s secretary. Tormented by past sins and recurring ailments, Colonel McLinn, a former war hero, is a harsh man. But as Roxanna learns more about him, she starts to see him in a new light… and realizes someone in the fort is trying to assassinate him.

Drawn into a complicated war of emotions within while death prowls without, do Colonel McLinn and Roxanna dare surrender to love? Or will past secrets and the dangers of the frontier doom them all?

Pros: I say other Laura Frantz books are my favorites, but this one truly is. I love the romance, the intrigue, the realistic portrayal of frontier fort life, the unflinching look at the dark side of the frontier, and (like all of her books) how the author basically takes you time traveling so it’s like you’re actually there. (Oh, and did I mention the romance? Definitely in my top 10 of favorite love stories, beating out Darcy and Elizabeth BY FAR.)

Cons: There are a few moments where I close my eyes and go “you’re an idiot” to Roxy, but love does tend to make people stupid. My biggest critique (which is actually quite small because I love this book so much) is that a certain character gets off too easy in the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t spell out details, but, if you’ve read the book, let me know if you agree or if you think I’m too cold-hearted.

The Bottom Line: One of my all-time favorite books!