SMALL TOWN GIRL, by Ann H. Gabhart

 Thankfully, Ann Gabhart wasn't ready to leave Rosey Corner, Kentucky, when she finished writing Angel Sister. Her latest novel, Small Town Girl, brings readers the story of Kate Merritt, the "angel sister" from the first book.
 The story opens with Kate helping her older sister dress for her wedding. One little problem--her sister is marrying the man Kate has been secretly in love with since she was fifteen. At the wedding, Kate meets the groom's best friend, a charmer named Jay Tanner. Jay notices Kate's expression when she looks at her sister's new husband and sets out to make her smile.
 Jay's charm works its way into Kate's heart, but she knows he's a rolling stone and doesn't trust him to remain in Rosey Corner. Since the novel is set in late 1941, the shadow of another world war hangs over the community, adding depth to the story.
 Whether Kate and Jay could resolve the issues that separate them kept me turning pages past my bedtime. Gabhart does a masterful job in bringing Rosey Corner and its inhabitants to life. As a small town girl, I found myself nodding in recognition at the behavior of some of her characters.
 Many of the characters from Angel Sister appear in Small Town Girl, a real bonus for readers like me who came to love the Merritt family in the first book. Small Town Girl is a delightful novel. I'm pleased to recommend it as a great summer read--or a fall or winter read, for that matter.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
 My thanks to the author and Revell for providing my review copy.

COURTING MORROW LITTLE, by Laura Frantz

Frantz has crafted another winner in Courting Morrow Little. Her first novel, The Frontiersman’s Daughter, captivated me throughout, and Courting Morrow Little did the same.

The story is set in1778 Kentucky (Kentucke, as it was spelled then). Morrow Little is a young woman with heartbreak in her past. When she returns from Philadelphia after being under her aunt's care for two years, she finds that the memory of the Shawnee raid that tore her family apart has left her fearful of shadows surrounding the cabin she shares with her ailing father.

How she learns to overcome these fears, and where forgiveness leads her, brings her to a choice that most women in her time would find unthinkable.

Frantz guides the reader through many fascinating plot twists that kept me up reading past my bedtime for several nights. The believable characters and beautifully researched background make this book a keeper on my shelf. I loved this story and recommend it highly!

I read Courting Morrow Little a few months ago, but am behind in posting reviews. Now I'm anxious to read The Colonel's Lady, her newest, which is scheduled for release on August 1 of this year.

THE FRONTIERSMAN'S DAUGHTER, by Laura Frantz

The Frontiersman’s Daughter is set in Kentucky in 1777. Drawing upon historical events, Frantz has woven a fascinating tale of Lael Click, who is the daughter of a celebrated frontiersman.

The Frontiersman’s Daughter is historical writing at its best. The details of backwoods life fill the story with authenticity. The characters are created with originality--there are no stereotypes in this book. The reader will be drawn into the daily drama of survival in a time when settlers had nothing but their own resources upon which to rely.

The story begins with Lael as a thirteen-year-old, and follows her life into young womanhood. How she triumphs over the trials of her family issues, Indian threat, and romantic entanglements forms the basis of the story, yet it’s so much more. I'm avoiding saying much about plot specifics because I don't want to spoil any of the events in this engrossing novel.

I loved this book and recommend it highly. If you haven't read Laura Frantz's books yet, make it a New Year’s resolution to do so! I’ll be reviewing Courting Morrow Little, her next story about early Kentucky, soon.