Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he is hoping will provide a tincture that might help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, … accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Yet even when all hope seems dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony, it may be that in this New World the two of them could make a new beginning–together.
Laura Frantz’s prose sparkles with authenticity and deep feeling as she digs into her own family history to share this breathless tale of love, exile, and courage in Colonial America.
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In the 1750s, a lass and a laird are ripped from the Scottish isle and friendship of their youth and sent to the West Indies and Virginia Colony as indentured servants. Will they ever find one another again? An epic journey of faith and love wrought through hardship. Laura Frantz is a gifted writer.
Make a spot on your keeper shelf, because this is one story you’ll want to reread! From the Scottish Highlands to colonial America, A Bound Heart keeps you riveted until you’ve turned the last page. You won’t want to leave Lark and Magnus behind. Classic Laura Frantz stellar writing, weaving in history and a solid biblical message. Highly recommended!
Frantz’s always exquisite storytelling graces this literary journey with intimate, gentle pacing, vivid settings, and genuine characters.
Lark’s life, faith, fears, and loves leaped from the page. Her innocence and compassion are the characteristics which I found most endearing yet Lark’s growing strength and courage sustain her through the darkest valleys.
Magnus is a true hero… honest, humble, hard-working, and sacrificial. His dedication to duty, friends, and family is evidenced by the loyalty shown to him in return. He is fiercely protective, intelligent, and charming!
The sights and sounds of Scotland are authenticly depicted as A Bound Heart evokes an entire spectrum of emotion. I highly recommend this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Equally suspenseful and heart-wrenching, Laura Frantz’s A Bound Heart takes readers on a journey that begins in the misty isles of Scotland and crosses oceans to the sun-drenched plantations of the New World, with finely drawn characters who rose from the pages to quickly capture my sympathies. From start to finish, A Bound Heart is an absorbing, tenderhearted story about the grace of second chances.
This was my first time reading works by author Laura Frantz and A Bound Heart held me captive from the first page! Frantz is a master at blending impeccable history and dialect with beautiful, fluid writing, and I was immediately transported back into 18th century Scotland, the Highlands, with their mysterious lore, glorious snow-tipped crags, and stormy seas. I was also drawn into the lives of her characters—the troubled laird, Magnus MacLeish, a rebel for the old ways who struggles to appease his sickly, contentious bride; and his childhood friend, the beautiful Lark MacDougall, a bee-keeper and herbalist whose attempts to heal cost her dearly. As the two are finally cast out to sail across an ocean and become separated once they reach the New World, I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering if these star-crossed lovers would ever reunite with each another.
A compelling tale, A Bound Heart is a triumph of love and loss and knowing that “hope never disappoints” (Rom 5:5) when faith can overcome the most difficult trials. This novel by author Laura Frantz is sure to be another favorite of her readers and all who love Christian historical romance!
In my opinion, Laura Frantz is simply one of the best authors in the CBA and I never miss one of her books.
I love listening to audio books while I’m working in my kitchen or driving. The last few days I’ve been Listening to A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz, narrated by Aimee Lilly. What a wonderful story! I’ve loved all of Laura’s books, but this one is definitely my favorites. Aimee is a very talented narrator who had a challenging task with all these various accents and characters, but she did an excellent job! I highly recommend the audio version to all who enjoy listening to historical novels.
A soaring tale. With her trademark attention to detail and lush imagery, Laura Frantz takes readers on an unforgettable journey certain to stir the soul. Magnus and Lark captured my heart, and their courageous story stole my sleep until I reached the last page. Sweeping readers from Scotland to Virginia to Jamaica, A Bound Heart dazzles with authenticity. A triumph.
Every Laura Frantz novel transports readers to a place long since past, a journey Frantz always skillfully, seamlessly facilitates. A Bound Heart thrums with the pulse of both historic Scotland and colonial America, but at its center is a relatable heroine of modern sensibilities, as lovely and unusual asher name. With unbound hair and bound heart, Lark is a woman of contradictions.She has one foot in the old world and one in the new, certain of her principles and gifts but uncertain where, and perhaps with whom, she belongs. As she skillfully prepares tonics to bring comfort to others and tends to herconstants — her bees, her faith — readers long for Lark’s hero to be found constant too, and deliver the happiness she so richly deserves. Extraordinary storytelling in every way — a feast for historical romance lovers.
A Bound Heart (2019) by Laura Frantz is one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read! This novel will be available in all forms including eBook on January 1, 2019 (tomorrow!), and is 400 pages in length. With a full-time job and a precocious six-year old at home, this book took me one glorious week to read. I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from Revell via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this book 10 STARS. A Bound Heart is a Christian Historical Romance.
DISCLAIMER: I do not have adequate words to describe just how AMAZING A Bound Heart truly is. This review will be insufficient and for that I am sorry. Suffice to say, A Bound Heart is Laura Frantz’s best book yet — an experience not to be missed!
I have to begin by saying that Lark and Magnus truly stole my heart from page 1. They are FANTASTIC characters. Lark is one of the most relatable female characters I’ve ever read, and Magnus is so spiritually strong that his sure faith endeared him to me almost instantly.
I believe that God made women natural worriers. Christian society tells us that to worry means we don’t trust God, but I don’t think that is necessarily true. I think that fretting is a signal to us ladies to go to God. Let’s be honest. Most women don’t need anyone. Women are capable, strong, dependable, and hard working. We carry the world on our shoulders. We take what God gave us and we make lemonade. But we do tend to get stuck on islands of our own making seemingly isolated and paralyzed at times. It can be hard for us to go to others, including God, for help. This is why God put a worry button inside all of us women. When it goes off, we should immediately take our fretting to Him, not hole it away to be dealt with on our own. With God, we make the perfect team and are then able to figure out how to solve our issues. Lark is a woman whose life takes a drastic turn for the worse. Jesus says in the Bible that in this life we will have trials and tribulations. Words could not be truer for poor Lark. Her worry meter goes off the charts in this story and for seriously good reason. What I love so much about Lark is that she never lets the worry paralyze her. No matter what happens in her story, no matter how much she frets, Lark isn’t stopped. She attempts to do what is right by God always. Her thoughts and actions are all based off of the question, “What would God want me to do in this situation?” Lark even acknowledges that “when she [is] the most tired, most overwhelmed by [her] work, she [frets] the most,” which is so true to most every woman I know today, but she never stops turning to God. To Lark, God is not some far-off deity, but rather He is a close and intimate Father and King. No matter how bad it gets for Lark — and, man, does it get rough — she takes everything to God. Lark is a fantastic example of a Christian woman, and her actions in this novel serve as a great reminder to me for how I need to act when worry hits me square in the chest.
Magnus is a wonderful illustration of a righteous man. He is kind, compassionate, and loyal. He is hard working, dependable, and just. It matters not a person’s station in life, if Magnus can offer help, he will. Magnus is a man who loves Jesus with his whole being, and works very hard to be Biblical in all he does. Magnus is not a prefect superman though. He does have some big fears. But, what I loved so much about Magnus’s character is that his faith is so BIG and STRONG it eclipses all of his fears. As I was reading, I was often very encouraged by his faith. He is 100% confident in God, and he never wavers in that assurance. And, his faith is so sure he is able to help Lark through her fears and help her see God’s goodness in even the darkest moments. Honestly, that is how men should be today in their faith — so sure in God that they can help confirm for others when they might be slipping a little. It is so refreshing to read about a male character so strong and sure in God.
What I love so much about A Bound Heart is how encouraging this story is. I walked away from this book lighter and more hopeful because of its beautiful message. God has put us all in exactly the place we need to be for Him. Sometimes that is a really hard fact to accept. Sometimes life seems so dark and scary it’s like God can’t possibly be there. But, A Bound Heart reinforces the fact that if God puts a person in a particular place, He will be with that person in that place no matter what. There is a moment where Lark is fretting, as she does so well, and Magnus consoles her by stating, “God has seen us here and promises to turn things in our favor no matter how dark. If He promises to bring good from all this, should we not look for the good too?” This is exactly what Lark needed to think upon. These words put her back on track, and they reminded me of Romans 8:28: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” God is not a BIG meany in the sky waiting to move things just right so we fall and are ruined. If God puts us somewhere, He means it for our good. As Magnus implies to Lark, we just need to see past the bad to find the good that God has in store for us. Especially in today’s scary, dark times, this message is a balm to my soul.
A Bound Heart is wonderful. I purposely took a whole week to slowly read this book because with a Laura Frantz novel you have to savor every beautiful word, setting, character, and plot line. I am SO sad that my time with Lark and Magnus is over. I will miss these characters very much. But I am blessed to have read this book. Filled with timely messages and excellent faith reminders, I am walking away from this story a little lighter and more hope-filled. It goes without saying, but I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this amazing, engaging, beautiful story. It is a 2019 MUST READ for sure.
From the first page introducing Lark MacDougal to the reader, the author captures her audience with the character’s giving heart. She is the stillroom mistress to the castle, dispensing medicinal mixtures and tinctures of herbs to benefit any who live within the castle walls as well as those who live and work on her island. She is also coaxed by a free trading captain to participate in the smuggle of essential goods to help the poor who live around her.
As the story unfolds the reader will experience her heartache, the injustices of the times, and the terrible consequences of standing up to the law. I couldn’t stop reading.
Beautifully captivating with a story with transported me to the shores of Scotland. A tender story of enduring love.
A fascinating journey from the Scottish Isles to the Americas.
My rating is 4.5 stars
A fascinating journey from the Scottish Isles to the Americas.
Lark and Magnus are intricate characters with the kind of faith that withstands the strongest storms. I loved how at the beginning of the story, before Magnus’ wife died, despite her petulant nature, he continued to remind himself of the Scriptural admonition “husbands, love your wives.”
Magnus, though laird of the castle, didn’t find it beneath him to help watch the sheep and he cared deeply for the people of his island. His was the kind of nobility that is truly noble, based on his deep love the of Lord and desire to obey Him.
I loved Lark’s occupation as the keeper of the stillroom and the bees! The way she was able to surround herself with plants and her knowledge of herbal remedies was fun to read about. She was truly humble and never thought more highly of herself than she should. Her thoughts were almost always of others and how she could help them. And similarly, as I am prone to do at times, despite her strong faith, she sometimes questioned God’s love and will for her life.
This is a very sweet story with some surprises along the way. Lovers of historical fiction will want to be sure to grab a copy.
Read with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my
Words seem to fail me when describing my thoughts of A Bound Heart – what a sublime reading experience!
The evocative imagery of the descriptions of Scotland’s craggy shores and the sultry summer heat of the New World transported me easily into the world of this story. Lark MacDougall is a rich, endearing character, full of depth. A time-honed friendship between Lark and Magnus MacLeish, laird of her island, layer this plot with a poignant backstory, one that paints a beautiful pict, ure of deep respect yet longing. This is an achingly gorgeous romance, one that truly spans oceans, one that is steeped with integrity and tenderness.
The plot itself ebbs and flows, flavoring the story with a life-like feeling. I deeply appreciated that Frantz does not rush the story, and though I found it one to savor, I couldn’t help but read it as quickly as I could. There is also such inspiration found in the faith of the characters. I can’t describe the faith element any other way than organic and original to the events and characters. Nothing feels forced, in my opinion. While faith is discussed, it never feels preachy, but rather a genuine and sincere element, as it frames circumstances that upend their lives:
“Yet God has seen us here and promises to turn things in our favor no matter how dark. If He promises to bring good from all this, should we not look for the good, too?
A few other quick notes – the secondary characters are varied and fall all along the spectrum of what it means to be human – doubters, believers, those seeking freedom, and those resigned to their fate yet hopeful for the future. Additionally, I appreciated how realistic the dialect and accents feel, without being over the top or losing the meaning of certain words (although there is a handy glossary at the beginning for Scottish terms). The truth to the time period gives this novel a classic feeling that won’t soon leave me. It’s one I definitely wouldn’t mind rereading some day and is certainly a favorite 2019 release so far!
Oh, my heart! This story wove is delicate, threads around my heart and wouldn’t let go! Come along for a journey from the brooding, wind-swept western isles of Scotland to a growing plantation in colonial Virginia. These vibrant characters came alive and strolled through my imagination with such vivid detail that it was as if they were there in person.
I loved the history and the characters. Lark is my current favorite heroine. Lark faces some very difficult choices as well as heart-wrenching separation from all she knows and holds dear. Her strength and poise in the face of unknown hardship and difficulty, along with her faith in God sustain her. Yes, she worries for a time. Yes, she faces internal battles with her fear. But she always turns to God and leans on scripture and prayer. Lark is a shining example of how to face both hardship and the unknown. A gentle reminder that we can trust a known God with our unknown because nothing is unknown to God!
With descriptive beauty and vivid detail, this epic story is one that you will want on your keeper shelf to pull out and enjoy again and again! I give this book 5 enthusiastic stars and encourage you to pick up a copy for yourself as soon as possible!
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)
This had wonderful historical perspecive woven into the story. This had a wonderful romance but also helped history come to life. We got to glimpse into life at the time. The good, bad and ugly. This was done seemlessly within the backdrop of a beautiful romance. I listened to this as an audiobook & I loved the narrator. I thought all the characters were were well written and realistic. There were definitly sad and difficult moments but the story was hopeful. I loved the H. The h was great too and I found I really liked how she was portrayed. I loved the story from beginning to end.
One of my favorite authors.
A Bound Heart
This is the first book by Laura Frantz that I have read. I’ve had a few of her books on my TBR pile and finally decided to read one.
I’m glad I had chosen A Bound Heart for I found myself not wanting to put it down. It had me devouring its pages with its realistic characters and imagery of the Scottish coastlines to the Virginian plantations in Colonial America.
It did take some getting used to the Scottish dialect and phrases but Frantz provides a nice little glossary at the beginning. The storyline flows in a way that feels like real life instead of being forced and expected.
Laura Frantz has become one of my new favorite authors and I look forward to reading more from her.
This was the first book I read by Laura Frantz and I must say I throughly enjoyed it! I loved the details of the book and I actually felt like I was in Scotland. Loved the historical aspect of this book. The characters Magnus and Lark caught my attention from the very start and I absolutely love books where friends slowly realize their romantic feelings for each other.
The emotional roller coaster this book took me on is what I liked most. I loved how even through hardship the characters persevere and always have faith.
Absolutely Amazing book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this enchanting tale, beginning in Scotland and ends up in the New World. I especially enjoyed learning about the author’s Scottish ancestry, which was the spark for the story, and of her visits there. Her characters are so winsome and the brogue easy to follow, making for a delightful experience.