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All I can say is, "WOW"... This book had everything and I mean everything that makes a book good. It has flawless character development, exquisite world building. The way Miss frantz has with words.. man.. I was rendered speechless.

So this is book one to a family saga.. In this book we meet Elspeth and Eden. Two sisters who couldn't be more different. Eden, a gentle and sweet spirited woman of faith and Elspeth, a highspirited wild child.. The one thing they do have in common... Silas Ballantyne. The handsome and ambitious young blacksmith, whom apprentices to their father. Silas could have his pick of either sister, but surrounding circumstances, family expectations and his hopes and dreams for the future make his decision more difficult than ever.

Get swept away in this whimsical telling of romance, sibling rivalry, family expectations and griping drama.

After reading this and "Courting Morrow Little" I have to say I have become a super fan of Laura Frantz. I can not wait to read the rest of this saga and see whats in store for these beloved characters.. ( )

A book from exceptional author Laura Frantz is always a very special gift to readers. Her first three books were already treasured reads, each with a permanent place on my keeper shelf. Her latest work, "Love's Reckoning", is equally treasured, and now sits proudly beside "The Frontiersman's Daughter", "Courting Morrow Little", and "The Colonel's Daughter". "Love's Reckoning" is Book One in the "Ballantyne Legacy Series", and in vividly touching detail, it tells the love story of Silas Ballantyne and Eden Lee. In the year of 1784, Silas Ballantyne has traveled far from his native Scotland, where his family was tragically lost. Seeking a new life in America, his craftsman's skill in blacksmithing earns him his keep, and he hopes to gain status as a master blacksmith. With only a short time left to complete his apprenticeship, Silas accepts a position in York County, Pennsylvania with master blacksmith Liege Lee. Unbeknownst to Silas, the Lee household is beset with lies and troubles. Prone to dark moods made worse by his drinking, Liege is a hard taskmaster both in his home and in his forge. He sees Silas not only as a boon to his business, but also as a future son-in-law for one of his two daughters. Elspeth, the oldest, is a calculating blonde beauty with a clever mind and a cold heart. Strong-willed and attention-seeking, Elspeth has borne a child out of wedlock, a secret the Lee family jealously guards. Liege and Elspeth's mother let the world believe that the baby, Jon, is their own child. Lovely and sweet, with a cascade of red-hued curls, younger daughter Eden is gentle and nurturing by nature. Bearing her father's tirades, her mother's bouts of sadness, and the cruel resentment of her own sister, what Eden desires most of all is the freedom to live her faith, to attend church, and to read the Bible. Her father was displaced from the Quaker order for his inappropriate behavior. Never a true man of faith, he no longer observes religious customs. Bravely seeking out her own new life, Eden awaits word on whether she will be accepted for employment in a Philadelphia foundling home. When Silas Ballantyne comes to work for her father, Eden's life is forever changed. His quiet strength, kindness, intelligence, and his devout faith make him unlike any other man Eden has met. Elspeth sets her cap for the handsome Scot, and Eden loses her heart to him, but Silas has no desire to marry. His one goal has always been to become a master blacksmith and head West. However, a certain tender-hearted girl with titian hair invades his thoughts, and soon his own heart longs for more than a life of ceaseless hard work. When Silas learns of Eden's thirst for The Word, he leaves her notes of Scripture, and eventually, when they are able to steal moments away in a dimly-lit stairwell, he reads the Bible to her, both in his Scots-burred English, and in his native Gaelic. These precious moments are so beautifully written that I could hear his low burred tone as he gently introduced her to the written word of the Lord, and I could feel her tremulous emotions as she thrilled to the promise the words held. Eden and Silas endure much, including a long separation, before love's reckoning has its way. Once they face each other again, much has changed. Will the pledge of enduring love given so long ago reunite two yearning hearts? Will the promise of abiding faith be fulfilled? The writing of Laura Frantz is exquisitely-detailed, beautifully-etched, and rich in history. The story lines are deeply-drawn and the characters are fully-fleshed. Perhaps the most compelling skill of this awesome author is her ability to capture and present the immediacy of her characters, allowing us to anticipate their emotions and participate in their thoughts. Highly recommended--not just for lovers of inspirational historical romance--but for anyone who seeks out extraordinary storytelling.

Review Copy Gratis Revell Books ( )

This review originally appeared on the Historical Novel Society website. Review copy received from publisher via HNS.

Eden Lee’s tyrannical father is determined that his new apprentice, Silas Ballantyne, will marry one of his daughters. The family assumes it will be bold, beautiful Elspeth, whose illegitimate child is being passed off as her mother’s son. Timid, quiet Eden deplores the deception but does not want to marry; she has other plans, and soon learns that Silas too has ambitions beyond a blacksmith’s trade.

Love’s Reckoning is the first of a series tracing the Ballantyne legacy down through several generations, and as such has quite a few storylines to set up. This is well done, with plenty of twists and threads to lead into future novels. The late 1700s Pennsylvania setting is convincingly rendered, although I personally prefer that the author not rely on “’twas,” “mayhap,” and other such ornamental flourishes to remind the reader that we are not in modern times.

Occasional writing quirks could have been picked up at the editing stage. The words “nearly” and “winced” are overused, generally in combination, and some phrases struck me as odd (“with a flurry of her hand”). There are some misplaced modifiers, and I struggled a little with the timeline, which at moments seems vaguely defined.

My biggest issue with this story, however, is that the good characters are too overwhelmingly wholesome, while the bad characters are unremittingly unpleasant. I would have liked to see more nuances, especially in the case of Elspeth, who would benefit from some vulnerability.

The Christian elements are handled with subtlety and grace, making this novel a good candidate to succeed with a secular readership. Love’s Reckoning has greater depth than a straightforward romance, and promises well for an interesting series. ( )

Silas Ballantyne needs only to complete his blacksmith apprenticeship before he can finally embark on his journey to the west. Eden Lee dreams of escaping her dysfunctional family and joining the Quaker hospital. Liege Lee, Eden's father and Silas' employer, appeals to the tradition of the apprentice marrying one of the master's daughters. Liege decides that Elspeth, Eden's sister, should wed Silas, but will Silas agree to such a plan? The developing kinship between Eden and Silas threatens to ruin Liege's plan and Silas' choice will determine the course of far more than simply his own destiny.

Love's Reckoning is the first installment of The Ballantyne Legacy Series by Laura Frantz. I did enjoy reading this book, but it isn't a piece of light fluff. There's more suspense in this historical romance than I expected. The foreshadowing at times left me with a sense of impending dread – literarily, of course. However, Frantz's writing is flawless and it was hard to put this book down at times. The characters are vibrant, yet authentic. I especially enjoyed Silas' character. He was imperfect and human.; yet, he rose above his circumstances to be the hero. I also appreciated Frantz's originality in her choices of scenes and plot development. Far to many Christian fiction novels lack that spark of originality to set them apart. If there was not a sequel on the way, I would have been disappointed by the ending. Fortunately, the next installment in the series appears to be slated for publication next year and I intend to continue reading this family saga.

I definitely recommend Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz to fans of historical romances.

Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." ( )