Unflinching and plainspoken, Tessa Swan is not your typical 18th-century woman. Born and bred on the western Virginia frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with. Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is not your typical 18th-century man. Raised by Lenape Indians, he returns a hero from the French and Indian War to the fort that bears his name, bringing with him Tessa’s … him Tessa’s long-lost friend, Keturah, a redeemed Indian captive like himself.
Determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander, Clay remains aloof whenever he encounters the lovely Tessa. But when she is taken captive by the tribe Clay left, his hand–and heart–are forced, leading to one very private and one very public reckoning.
Intense, evocative, and laced with intricate historical details that bring the past to life, An Uncommon Woman will transport you to the picturesque and dangerous western Virginia mountains of 1770.
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‘Fear was never far away. She’d felt its cold clutch since childhood.’
Sometimes, you read the last word in a book and you just sit there, unable to think properly because your heart is so incredibly full. Such is the emotion that a book by Laura Frantz evokes in this reader.
”Everyone on the frontier had a chair that sat empty, a place unoccupied. Who would be next?’
Tessa Swan has lived on the Buckhannon River on the Virginia frontier all her life, plainspoken in her ways and a force to be reckoned with. Clay Tygart was raised by Lenape Indians and has returned home a hero in the French and Indian War to the fort named for him. He brings with him a white woman named Keturah by the Indians who kidnapped her nearly twelve years earlier; Tessa’s best friend, she was. Clay Tygart is a courageous man, but quiet and prefers not to be entangled in relationships. However, he is soon taken with the outspoken Tessa and when she is taken by the Lenape, he will do everything in his power to bring her back home.
I am a forever fan of Laura Frantz’s books and have been since I read her very first novel. When I sit down to begin one of her books, I sink way down deep into its words, settling in for a wonderful time. I find myself torn between not wanting to finish and thus prolonging the pleasure of the read and reading swiftly to get to the end! Frantz is especially gifted at drawing the reader into her stories with her intoxicating prose, her words flowing like water over a waterfall, refreshing the reader with their crispness. Her vivid descriptions bring the American frontier vibrantly to life. She manages to pull the characters’ lives right into this reader’s heart, which simply sighs with contentment.
Frantz brings history to life in the pages of her books, something this history buff thoroughly enjoys. In fact, she so captivates me with her accurate historical research that it puts in me a desire to do some research into her stories myself! And I have done that very thing with each book.
Her powerful and vivid descriptions of everything are so amazing that I find myself stopping and reading certain passages over and over again before being able to press on with the book. Truly, my heart sings reading a Laura Frantz book. These characters, Clay and Tessa, will take up space in my heart for a very long time to come. I cherished every moment of this book . I highly recommend this author and this book.
*My thanks to Revell for a preview copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
An Uncommon Woman is the first Laura Frantz book that I’ve read. The story, set not too far from Fort Pitt which was located in present-day Pittsburgh, is well know to me since I have family from there. Laura drew a beautiful, if rugged, picture of life in that time that was so incredibly endearing. It was such a pleasure that I would now like to sit and binge read all of her books. And in time, I know I will!!
I’ve read every book that Laura Frantz has written, so of course An Uncommon Woman was on my list. This story captured the difficult reality of living on the frontier and each character goes through their fair share of struggles.
In Tessa we find a heroine who has never known life outside of the rough, vast wilderness. Threats of attack and death always seem to be hovering on the peripheries and it lends both a strength and a heaviness to her character. Clay is a rugged, thoughtful man who you can’t help falling in love with. His slow pursuit of Tessa feels true to what you might have found actually occurring between a couple in the wilds of 18th century Virginia.
This book is by no means a fast-paced, edge of your seat read, but I think that was an intentional choice by the author. It suits the pace of life that you get immersed in within these pages.
Although I can’t say that An Uncommon Woman has become a favorite, it is certainly one for the keeper shelf. Recommended to all those who love a good frontier love story.
Tessa Swan was born and raised along the Buckhannon River in the western Virginia frontier. Twenty-four years old in 1770, she lives with her mother and five brothers, her father being struck down by Indians. All her life she has had to live with the threat of attack and longs to know what life is like safely overmountain. Though men strongly outnumber the women at the settlement, Tessa is content to be a spinster, until Colonel Clay Tygart comes to command the new fort named for him. Clay had been captured by Lenape Indians as a child, living as their adopted son for ten years, later being released and then becoming a hero in the Seven Years War. Though Clay is also attracted to this uncommon woman, Tessa, he has much work to do and fights the attraction. It is always fascinating to read a Laura Frantz book and learn so much about frontier history written in her beautiful way. These characters are memorable and their hardships great before they can have anything close to a happy ending. Though the ending of the book was satisfactory, I am glad the author chose to write an epilogue to give us a more rounding out of the story. I highly recommend An Uncommon Woman to anyone who enjoys history.
This is a must read for fans of historical fiction that portrays an accurate picture of romance in the 18th century backcountry of colonial America. Ms. Frantz obviously researched the time period and her depiction of the time period was very accurate, with correct terminology for clothing, tools, and every day language of the period. The romance was clean and quietly nestled within the struggles of the Virginia backcountry.
Laura Frantz always stuns with her frontier fiction. You can feel the danger around every corner and the struggles of the settler’s day to day lives. You can also see the strength and tenacity of the remarkable people who lived on those frontiers.
Tessa longs for a life not constantly spent looking over her shoulder. Clay is a man caught between two worlds. Their romance is a slow burn that unfolds in such a sweet and natural way you’ll be cheering on Aunt Hester matchmaking schemes.
Laura Frantz is a master at her craft! Her research and writing as superb and I can’t recommend her enough to any fan of historical fiction. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.
One of the reasons I enjoy Laura Frantz is that she strikes an excellent balance on description for me–just enough to picture the scene before my characters without overwhelming me with everything around them. She’s also very good at creating characters with good hearts but relatable rough edges. Tessa and Clay from An Ucommon Woman exemplify this. I’d really love to know more about a couple of the minor characters, but perhaps future books will tell their story. Otherwise, the supporting cast was varied and (in most cases, as appropriate) delightful.
The storyline itself contained moments of sweetness, moments of amusement, and moments of intense drama. While the ending was believable, it was felt too subdued, perhaps a bit cut off. I would have liked to see more between Tessa and Keturah, perhaps some between Clay and his Indian brother. Still, I was content and can easily move on to another book.
Tessa Swan was born and raised in the wilderness alongside five brothers, working hard to make a life for themselves, each day fraught with the threat of an Indian attack. The return of Lenape Indian captive and Tessa’s childhood friend, Keturah, brings a whirlwind of change in the form of Colonel Clay Tygart.
Clay was taken as a young child by the Lenape, and then returned to his Quaker kin, he is a man who casts two shadows, walking the thin line between two cultures. He is captivated by Tessa’s plain spoken ways, encouraged by her faith, but can he ask a woman to walk beside him in the treacherous limbo between two worlds?
A captivating read that paints a realistic picture of frontier life, the loneliness, wariness, and the close bonds of family. I liked Tessa from the start, a young woman who has only known the dangers of the wilderness, yet longs for a glimpse of finer things. She is sincere, and straightforward, taking initiative when she sees a task needing done. I admired her honesty and compassion for others.
Clay is a man shaped by his upbringing, both by the Lenape and the Quakers. His heart is with both sides of the conflict, he is a natural leader, and a man who draws respect wherever he goes. The line he walks is a hard one, and he struggles with reconciling it with his faith.
A memorable read that transported me into the early days of America, realistically showing the struggles of living in the wilderness, with aspects of isolation and fear. I loved the strong themes of friendship, family, and faith throughout. Utterly riveting, and near impossible to put down!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
2020 is already shaping up to be a spectacular year for Christian fiction. There are so many exciting new releases scheduled for the months ahead, and those published in this first month of the year have set a high standard. It is such a joy to see favorite authors, as well as debuts, writing books that somehow surpass their previous titles while continuing to explore deep spiritual truths. Last year I read my first Laura Frantz novel, “A Bound Heart”, and was moved by the love and heartache in the story. Because I enjoy early American settings and particularly the Colonial period, I knew that I had to read “An Uncommon Woman.”
Laura Frantz has a unique way of telling a story, not relying on the archetypal pleasurable plotline. Fittingly, such is the case with “An Uncommon Woman.” The narrative maintains a somber tone, yet faith and relationships keep it from becoming lugubrious. While we often do read fiction to escape from the vagaries of life, it also helps us to feel less alone in our own struggles and can instruct us. Frantz does not romanticize life on the western Virginia frontier in 1770 but rather writes of it in its volatile actuality. The tensions between not only the settlers and the Native American tribes but also between the tribes themselves results in living “on the razor’s edge of peril.” For “[h]ere on the savage border, things changed in a heartbeat, a breath. Life was lived in the shadow of lasts.” I was surprised to learn about how vulnerable those living outside a city (“overmountain” in this book) were on a continual basis. Truthfully, this is one of the reasons that I love this book so much; this unflinching approach gives me a renewed respect for the settlers and inspires me by their sheer tenacity.
Conflict with and between the Native Americans is a key element in this story, as is diversity. Colonel Clayton Tygart, kidnapped by Lenape Indians as a boy and a hero of the Seven Years’ War, is “the white Indian, a so-called redeemed savage brought back from the brink of heathenism in the nick of time.” As such, he straddles both worlds, which makes his character all the more intriguing, and the fact that he has heterochromia symbolically underscores his duality. Likewise, Keturah Braam inhabits this mediate position after living half of her life as a captive and must try to reconcile both identities. Two periphery characters who captured my interest are Jude and Maddie, former slaves, because they are respected by the central characters, which is a pleasant surprise given the time period. As for Tessa Swan, I expected her to be the titular character, but I think that it refers more to Keturah, although both are unconventional. Tessa is a fascinating heroine who is accustomed to but weary of life on the frontier because “[a]ll her life had been spent looking over her shoulder. Such unceasing, ingrained guardedness wore a body down.” Nevertheless, she never shirks her duty, and most importantly, she remains steadfast in her faith in God: “She wasn’t fancy, but she had the Bible to bolster her. She would be a woman of strength and honor, however humble.” When trials arise, this faith is the necessary element that sustains her, as it should be ours. As Joshua 1:9 affirms, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
An Uncommon Woman
By Laura Frantz
Tessa Swan has had a life of toil and work yet she dreams about what a life overmountain would be like? A life where she would live the life of a lady rather than one in constant worry over Indian attacks and hard daily work. She has no overriding concern that she is not yet married. Though her mother and Aunt Hester are concerned about the sad lack of marital bliss among the Swan offspring but women are few in the western Virginia frontier, Tessa isn’t moved to encourage any man to seek her hand.
Clay Tygart is a most unusual man, he is the new colonel of Fort Tygart and his younger years were spent raised by the Lenape Indians so that when he was “ransomed” he was considered half red. But the skills he learned while living as a son among the Lenape make him a perfect choice to be on the Virginian frontier to stand against them. But as Clay makes his way to his new posting he takes possession of a young woman who, like him, spent years among the Indians and is believed to have originally been from the area of Fort Tygart.
When Clay brings his redeemed captive to Swan Station (the home of the Swan family) she is immediately recognized as Keturah Braam – Tessa’s friend who was more of a sister to her until the day she was stolen away. Keturah has forgotten who she once was – speaking as Tessa phrases it “Indian”. But not all among the Swan’s are happy to see Keturah – eldest brother Jasper has deep-seated hostility towards any with Indian ties.
Tessa has never had her head turned by any man but for some reason, Colonel Tygart has at the very least caught her eye. Why this should be she isn’t sure. And she is unsure of the Colonel’s feelings as he seems to at times ignore and others give her special attention. But when the ever-increasing signs of danger come to pass and the Swans are caught up in it Clay must confront his past and do what he can to rescue Tessa.
This book is set in 1770 a few years before the American Revolution when the wilds of this land were not far beyond the eastern coastline. Treaties were made promising to not further encroach upon Indian lands but were so phrased so that the treaties could easily be broken while not technically breaking them. Unrest is their neighbor and unfortunately, it is with good reason. Both sides have exasperated the already strained relations that has all too easily boiled over into violence and bloodshed. This is the world Tessa wants to escape from – a world that has cost her her father and her friend.
Those who love Early American / Colonial American historical fiction will enjoy this newest offering from Laura Frantz. The characters are easily connected with and one is given a view from multiple viewpoints though Tessa and Clay’s are the most drawn upon. The pacing isn’t rushed but neither does it drag so one can quite easily be drawn in for a long weekend of reading. I would recommend this book as an excellent option if you are in a book club and are in search of clean-reading historical romance.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion – all thoughts expressed are my own.
I love books with some history, it makes them educative and more enjoyable.
Set in the 18th century this book will take you down history lane.
Tessa an only girl among 5 brothers had a very large dose of courage and fearlessness. I admired that she was good with a rifle and fought along side the men during Indians attacked on thier home settlements. Among other virtues of hers her courage was most admirable.
Clay, the war hero. Quiet and reserved. Selfless and courageous too. His heart for peace and defend others will keep you reading this book. Bringing back Tessa’s bestfriend will endear you to him. He tried to avoid any sort of romantic entanglement until she met the uncommon Tessa.
Life for the both of them wasn’t easy. Tessa wanted petticoats and all things feminine, dreaming of a different sort of life and her family’s wish was for her to marry well. But she never despised where she was or what she had. The author weaves of story of grace and victory in travails. The twists and turns of the story will keep you on your toes.
You’d wonder, how does a woman blossom in the midsts of attacks and always looking over her shoulders? This book will sure answer that.
I really loved the faith elements of this book; trust in God, prayers, reading scriptures instead of panicking among others.
Lovers of history will love this book.
I look forward to this authors books every year. They are always a special treasure of a well woven storytelling. This one is no different.
The setting is set so incredibly well, that the reader is taken along on the adventure of those who long ago set off to a new frontier to establish homes, communities, and towns. There was so much danger in that- whether it be seen or unseen-they risked their lives to live differently, to experience a new place, and to put down roots in their own land.
There is the story of a young woman…a sister to five brothers, a niece, a daughter, and a friend. Each relationship is special and each relationship adds another layer to a story well told. A love story that’s so much like any, yet it has its own difficulties. A friendship that withstands so much sadness and loss.
In short, this story is what makes up life. Our homes, our dreams, our hopes, most of all- our love for our fellow human beings and the building of our lives intertwined with their lives.
So take a journey back in time…to the new frontier filled with dangers of Indians, disease, and the unknown pitfalls that lie ahead. It’s a terrific novel that I recommend…as I do all of Laura Frantz’s stories.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own
“All her life had been spent looking over her shoulder.”
Tessa Swan was an uncommon woman, living life deep within the mountains along the dangerous Virginia frontier; she was plainspoken, hard working, and lovely to look upon; occasionally allowing herself the small luxury of dreaming about a different sort of life, the kind where one did not have to fear if the next Indian attack might strike more tragedy among her family and friends.
“The journey out was always more comfortable that the journey back.”
Colonel Clay Tygart was an uncommon man, having lived half of his life captive among the Lenape Indians before being traded back to his wealthy Quaker family; he much preferred wide open spaces to the refined social parlors of cities like Philadephia, so while he was inwardly relieved that he was on the the trail to Fort Tygart, he was also thankful that he had no attachments of the womanly sort to muddle his concentration. That was about to change.
As Tessa and Clay deftly dance around their unspoken attraction; danger draws near, along with a hidden bent for revenge that becomes impossible to thwart. “Almighty God, help Thou me.”
Written in the author’s unmistakable style, “An Uncommon Woman” is all absorbing with its lush descriptive langauge and distinctly heroic characters; penned with a perfect blend of masculinity and femininity in all things wild, scripted with a gentleness and gracefulness in all things meant to be.
“For where thou art, there is the world itself . . . and where thou art not, desolation.”
I received a copy of this book from the author; the opinions stated above are entirely my own.
An Uncommon Woman is not my favorite Laura Frantz novel. That honor belongs to The Colonel’s Lady with The Lacemaker a close second. However, Frantz still managed to grab my attention with an adventurous plot and interesting characters.
I liked Tessa’s plainspoken ways. Not only did it make her a refreshing heroine, it also fit her reality on the frontier. When you’re worried about survival, you don’t have a lot of time to be coy. Frantz did a great job bringing this trait out, especially in Tessa’s interactions with Clay.
Clay himself is a complex character, and I thought Frantz did a great job of fleshing him out. His past as an Indian captive definitely came out in his mannerisms, his clothing, and his strengths as a frontiersman. I also liked the conflict this brought, which side he was more loyal to. And Frantz used Clay’s struggle to highlight the tensions between the Native Americans and the settlers, which I thought was an important aspect of the novel.
Well-written and engaging, An Uncommon Woman is a must-read.
Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I highly recommend this riveting book that will keep you from getting anything else done! Vivid descriptions, accurately nuanced dialogue in keeping with the time period, danger, and a beautifully written, heartfelt romance will make you want to add this to your Must Read list. An excellent read! Five stars!
Laura Frantz is an absolute master at establishing the setting and taking readers there. I haven’t read many books set in this time period, but because her writing is so detailed and yet accessible to any reader, I quickly slipped right into the story and felt at home in the setting, understanding what was going on and thoroughly enjoying the look at life in this time and place. Tessa and Clay are both terrific characters–I love how Tessa is so strong and will just speak her mind. She and Clay were a great pairing–both strong and stubborn and even better together. The romance was sweet and slow, and the plot was really captivating. This book is really well-written and just great all around. One of my picks for the best books of 2020.
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.