“A fascinating story, rich in emotion.” –Diana Gabaldon, New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander seriesNorth Carolina, 1793Ian Cameron, a Boston cabinetmaker turned frontier trapper, has come to Mountain Laurel hoping to remake himself yet again–into his planter uncle’s heir. No matter how uneasily the role of slave owner rests upon his shoulders. Then he meets Seona–beautiful, … Seona–beautiful, artistic, and enslaved to his kin.Seona has a secret: she’s been drawing for years, ever since that day she picked up a broken slate to sketch a portrait. When Ian catches her at it, he offers her opportunity to let her talent flourish, still secretly, in his cabinetmaking shop. Taking a frightening leap of faith, Seona puts her trust in Ian. A trust that leads to a deeper, more complicated bond.As fascination with Seona turns to love, Ian can no longer be the man others have wished him to be. Though his own heart might prove just as untrustworthy a guide, he cannot simply walk away from those his kin enslaves. With more lives than his and Seona’s in the balance, the path Ian chooses now will set the course for generations of Camerons to come.A story of choice and consequence, of bondage and freedom, of faith and family.
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Wow. Lori Benton is an extremely talented author (one of the very best living today), but this book also proves how brave she is. The historical context of North Carolina in the 1790s is a rather painful one, but with unflinching detail, Lori has given us a story of slavery and redemption, bondage and freedom, of slow corruption and of spiritual transformation. I had a hard time rooting for the hero in this book because of his perspective and choices, but taken in the world in which he lived, it’s easier to understand him. One of the most moving scenes in the novel for me came when he finally recognizes his brokenness and asks one of the slaves to tell him about his Jesus. Seona, as a heroine, comes across to me as reluctant for us to get to know her. This fits with her characterization as a slave who has been trained to hide true emotions and thoughts. This is not to say I didn’t like Seona. I really did. She simply seems cautious about letting readers in for a while before she opens up. Flaws and all, I couldn’t help but ache for these very real characters as I read their story. Being human means we make mistakes, and even the noblest of intentions can have unintended consequences. How we carry on after stumbling is still, always, up to us.
I can’t wait for the next book to continue this family’s story, and I really hope we get to know Judith better. She is stronger than she seems.
When you come across an author of this caliber, you rush to read every book they’ve written. I have been an admirer and vocal supporter of Lori Benton ever since reading The Wood’s Edge (2015).
One thing that endears me to her is how she consistently pens sympathetic characters who have to stumble down the wrong path in order to find their way—The Way. Often times, as it was with Ian Cameron, self-reliance and fleshly desires lead to heartache and forced humility. The destruction left in the wake of Ian’s choices frequently made me wonder how his world could ever be set right. As I read, I allowed myself to imagine each character’s motives and actions in light of the times. This process was made possible by the author’s skill blending relevant historical details with emotionally captivating scenes.
So far, I’ve only mentioned Ian but I should also mention Seona, the woman of mixed heritage who wins his affections as well as my two favorite secondary characters, Lily and Judith. I liked Seona from the start. In some ways she’s naive, yet in others, she has experienced too much darkness for her age. Despite this, she possesses an indomitable spirit and effervescent hope. As for Lily and Judith, I caution readers not to mistake their meekness for weakness because underneath their calm demeanor beats the heart of resilient women with incredible faith.
The truth is we all long for stories about people who are flawed and fallen because we see ourselves in them and when they triumph we celebrate their victory. I continue to read Benton’s works because I relish such stories. Once you read Mountain Laurel, you’ll understand why I’m such a fan of this author and you’ll join me in waiting for the conclusion of the Kindred duology. There is more of Ian and Seona’s story that needs to be told!
I received this book from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
From Endorsement:
With a masterful pen, Lori Benton creates a poignant story that will have readers flipping pages late into the night. Filled with historical authenticity, heart-touching romance, and inconceivable circumstances, this book is a celebration of freedom—both the physical and the eternal. I finished Mountain Laurel with both a sigh of satisfaction and a longing of expectation for what comes next for these characters. I highly recommend this novel!
I have been a fan of Lori Benton’s books since her first book, Burning Sky in 2013. I don’t even read the synopsis on the back of the books anymore because I know that if Lori Benton wrote it, I’m going to love it!
Reading this story was like taking a trip back in time. I felt like I was in North Carolina in 1793. These characters wrapped themselves around my heart, flaws and all. This story has unapparelled depth, both in the characters themselves and in the very fabric of the story. I took my time reading this story, and I loved every moment. My heart may never be the same after finishing this story, and I am really excited to see what will happen in the next book!
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists and/or authors, including netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
Masterfully written, Mountain Laurel is not simply a novel to read but live. With a stunning array of complex characters whose raw, oft redemptive choices and their consequences are as soul-changing today as 1793 North Carolina, you’ll never look at plantation life the same. A vibrant tapestry of good and evil, bondage and freedom, and the truest meaning of kinship. I eagerly await the sequel.
Loved this historical fiction novel masterfully written by Lori Benton. Set in in late 1700s North Carolina, slavery was among several serious topics Benton built her story around. Lyrical storytelling style, characters that come to life, and emotional depth that kept me fully invested definitely make this a book that historical fiction fans won’t want to miss.
This story will continue in a second book, but Benton handled this in expert fashion in my opinion — no cliffhangers, but instead a natural break that does indeed have readers hoping for a continuation. Can’t wait to meet these characters again in the follow-up! Highly recommend.
When I first read the blurb for Lori Benton’s latest story, I could hardly wait to get my hands on it. Lori is a master storyteller, a gifted wordsmith, and the best author I’ve read at winding spiritual truths deeply inside her words so that the characters show us God’s heart without preaching or teaching.
In Mountain Laurel, she’s done it again. With prose that lingers long after closing the book, she tells a memorable story of a free man who is more bound than he realizes. His internal struggle vs the external struggles of many of the book’s characters is a powerful reminder that there’s only one way that a person is truly free.
I would add that this wasn’t an easy read. In a difficult, stressful year, it might not be the best choice for those with highly sensitive souls. But if you appreciate a gritty, grace-filled historical, Mountain Laurel is top notch. You’ll come away with richer, deeper faith and stronger convictions, not to mention an appreciation for the gift of storytelling God’s given to author Lori Benton.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series, Shiloh.
What some readers find cumbersome is what I enjoy–an expansive novel with multiple characters’ stories winding together into a painting, filled with exquisite detail, blurred in other places, waiting to be perused. I’m a Lori Benton fan, and I loved delving into this multi-faceted tale of romance, intrigues, danger, and consequences, all set in a vivid historical context. If you like big novels with all kinds of layers like these, in a story that has many unpredictable twists, you’ll enjoy this book. Oh–and the fact that there has to be a sequel is exciting. Sometimes books leave you hanging in a frustrating way, but this one isn’t like that. It has it’s own kind of closure, yet you know the story is far from over. Looking forward to the next one!
Lori Benton’s latest release, Mountain Laurel, illuminates a theme that is sadly known to humankind from time’s beginning. With stunning effect the story traces sin on multiple levels, its devastating consequences extending through generations. Yet it also illustrates profoundly how God’s redemption unfolds over years as He breaks down strongholds to mend our deepest hurts and free us from sin’s chains.
Ian and Seona’s story settles on the heart as delicately as a dragonfly in summer, like a distant melody heard faintly from long ago. Haunting, heartbreaking, gripping in its telling, the narrative yet brims with unexpected hope. Like Ian, readers, too, will find amazing grace on the road to Mountain Laurel.
Ian Cameron is a young man full of regrets when he accepts his uncle’s invitation to come to his farm, Mountain Laurel in North Carolina. Hugh Cameron’s son died years ago so he wants Ian to be his heir. Ian had visited with his father eleven years earlier and still remembers some of his father’s slaves, though the idea of slavery is not one he is comfortable with. He is very attracted to Seona, who has a white father who is unknown to her, but along with her mother, Lily, is enslaved to Hugh. Ian is a young man who grew up knowing about God but drifted along on his own path, not knowing God or His will for his life. This results in many mistakes that hurt him and others. At one point in the book I had to set it aside till the next day because I had a terrible feeling Ian was going to make a drastic mistake with horrible consequences. There are many notable characters besides Ian, Seona, and Lily. Their neighbors John and Cecily Reynolds and the elderly slave Malcom are instrumental in helping Ian. Judith, Hugh’s youngest step-daughter, had admirable character and faith. Mountain Laurel is another superb historical novel by Lori Benton. I eagerly await the next book in the series to continue the story.
I received a complimentary copy of the book but all opinions are my own.
What a powerful tale set in North Carolina in 1793. Plantation owners, slaves, northern relatives and Quakers who were opposed to owning other human beings. A complex story with characters making choices that had far reaching consequences, far beyond their limited scope.
Lori Benton has an amazing gift of crafting her characters into very believable people, they are real, their struggles are real. The pain and hurt of injustice bled through the pages of Mountain Laurel. Family secrets unfolded as day to day life went on as if nothing had changed, but in truth everything was changing.
This novel is bittersweet and haunting. It’s a book I was afraid to read and afraid not to read! I didn’t want this story to end. It didn’t. Now I have to wait for the sequel.
I received an ARC of this ebook from Tyndale House Publishing through NetGalley.
I’m not sure that I can even find the words to describe this beautiful powerful story. With gripping drama and characters that wrapped themselves around my heart, I turned pages every chance that I had until I neared the end. With ten pages left, I put off reading because I wasn’t ready to leave this story. But then I had to know how Benton would leave things. I was impressed. They only and thing that I can think to say is that the sequel isn’t available yet. But there is a sneak peek of the first few pages!
“I wanted what I wanted, thought I knew what was best, and found a way to make it happen.”
Ian Cameron’s return to Mountain Laurel causes quite a stir. . . .among his kin, among those his kin own, but ultimately within the deepest recesses of his weary soul. Had he run away again, or had he found home; it seemed a mighty peculiar combination of both, especially after he discovers the one for whom his heart must have been longing for all along; Seona.
Seona’s green eyes and fair skin taunted the truth of her heritage behind a curtain of secrecy that most slaves were unwilling to discuss. There was something else that Seona was good at hiding. Since her youngest of days, Seona had cautiously developed her artistic talents, carefully sketching in obscure places when no one else was around. Then along comes the one who had unknowingly been her first subject, recognizing her talent and growing to cherish it, along with her. When Seona’s relationship with Ian evolves into something they dare not ignore, the repercussions drive Ian along a path that covers too many trails.
“Mountain Laurel” is not a story, it’s a journey; one fraught with the sort of danger and complication that result from one man owning another, where forbidden loves hope for futures that were never meant to be theirs. Then again, are “our failures ever an insurmountable barrier to grace”? Never. “The Father’s been waitin’ for ye to come home. Spirit’s calling. The Son blazed the trail. All ye need to do is walk it”. . . . . . welcome into a “new kindred”.
Prepare to be spellbound; though you may reluctantly close its cover, this epic tale will beg to remain within your heart and mind for days, even months, to come.
Lori Benton has penned an expertly crafted tale. I cherished every word and emotion as the magic of its prose whisked me away to frontier America. Benton does not shy away from the tough subjects of right and wrong, handling the issues of slavery and immorality with grace. Mostly, it chronicles the spiritual journey of Ian Cameron, as he comes to grasps with his role as his uncle’s heir on Mountain Laurel.
Ms. Benton crafts characters who wound their way into my heart. With each page, I uncovered layers of truth, revealing grace and mercy throughout. I am so grateful that this is the first in a two book series, so that I can spend more time with characters that populated the pages of Mountain Laurel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Lori Benton draws us into a complex, emotional story with a depth that haunts
long after the book is complete. Mountain Laurel is a novel of contrasts and conflicts, love and heartache, and family and faith. The story begins in 1793 on a plantation along the frontier in western North Carolina.
Ian Cameron, a young man with a troubled past, makes his way to his Uncle Hugh Cameron’s plantation as a last opportunity to make something of his life as his uncle’s heir. A handsome young man raised in the city of Boston with some skills in cabinet making, he struggles with the concept of slavery as he settles into plantation life. His conflicts become even more pronounced as he forms a deepening friendship with Seona, a beautiful young slave woman with a hidden gift.
Ian’s choices and decisions affect more than his own life. Seona’s misplaced trust in him allows him to justify his behavior without fully analyzing the consequences of his actions. In the aftermath of his actions, his Uncle Hugh’s stepdaughter Judith becomes caught up in the turmoil as well. With a careless disregard for other people’s lives initially, Ian makes choices that will affect the future of the entire plantation and all who live there.
Walk through his story as he tries to right the wrongs created as a result of his choices and decisions. His search for redemption means that he must try to settle his life course, a final choice with which he can live. The ending left me unsettled. Ian and Seona’s story continues in Shiloh, sequel to Mountain Laurel. Join me on this emotional, heartfelt journey.
This complimentary ARC copy was received from Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
This book is captivating. I am a big fan of the author! She writes in such a way that the joy and anguish of the characters becomes so real the reader shares those feelings. Ian Campbell moves from Boston to North Carolina to become the heir of his uncle’s tobacco plantation. Ian is very uncomfortable with slavery. He meets an artistic slave Seona. Ian makes choices that have unfortunate consequences for the people he cares about most about. It’s a beautiful story of love, brokenness, and the priceless redemption God provides. However, the ending wasn’t what I expected. It was disappointing because of that, but as their may be a sequel, I am satisfied. I just wish it wasn’t such a long time away. I highly recommend this book. This is review is based on an ARC from Net Galley. All opinions are my own.
‘He went on breathing. The pieces of his heart kept beating. And on that road grace met him.’
Set in North Carolina in 1793, Lori Benton once again takes her readers on another journey to the American frontier. Ian Cameron is his uncle’s heir but cannot be easy with the role of slave owner, especially the one called Seona. As a deep bond forms with them, Ian realizes his life has become incredibly complicated and finds himself in a place where generations will feel the consequences of his choices. Because all choices have consequences and a lot are very painful.
As always, Benton’s prose is deeply moving and her historical detail stunning. She brings to life each character and leaves the reader richer for having read it.
*My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for a copy of this book. The opinion in this review is my own.
No Spoilers!
Author Lori Benton has written an emotive, literary masterpiece as hauntingly beautiful as it is disturbing—the forbidden romance between its pages timeless, all consuming, and powerfully passionate—despite dire, insurmountable circumstances.
Ian Cameron is a kind, compassionate man, easy on the eyes, but uneasy with the role of slave owner—especially when he meets the beautiful, light-skinned, green-eyed Seona. I loved her grit, quiet strength, and compliant spirit, and I literally cried at the unfairness and cruelty she endured because of her pleasing looks and station in life. As a matter of fact, all the slaves became like family to me—Lily, Seona’s mother, clothed with dignity & strength, Malcolm, with a tender heart for the Lord, simple-minded Ally, and Naomi, who could sure cook some good vittles! And ladies…you’ll swoon over the tender love story between the romantic Ian and lovely Seona!
As I was left bereft and staring into space with tears in my eyes at the conclusion of this heartrending story, I was quickly thrown into a state of euphoria when I read the author’s note. Certain memorable characters will return in a sequel and I cannot wait! This novel wasn’t an easy one to read by any means because of the slavery issue, but I’d like to think it’ll make better people of us all and draw us closer to Him. ‘Mountain Laurel’ is a beautifully written, well-researched novel, destined to win many an award. You absolutely do not want to miss this one!
*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Tyndale House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.*
Forbidden love in the wilds of Appalachia.
Cabinetmaker Ian Cameron comes to Mountain Laurel in hopes of claiming a place as his uncle’s heir, but that title comes with more than a few entanglements. Ian is a man struggling to make sense of where he stands after coming from a complicated past, and an uneasiness about becoming a slaveholder. This is a well crafted novel, with well-built, complex characters good and bad, and more than your average amount of heartache.
While I appreciated the well drawn characters and their well developed plights within the larger plot, the attention to detail and how the pieces fall, I can’t honestly say that I enjoyed this book as it was a heart-rending read. There were times when I honestly didn’t want to keep reading because of the direction that things seemed to be headed, but I am glad that I persevered. This book is a bittersweet one, filled with heartache, secrets, and forbidden love, and while we don’t quite get a resolution in this volume it leaves the door open for a much richer conclusion when the duology is complete.
Overall, it is a bit of a mixed review from me, and I think that I will be able to form a more complete picture of how I feel about this book once I read the next one. This was a grittier read than the author’s past books, but it fits the narrative of the story arc. But there is no doubt to the quality of this story, well written, with characters that had my heart breaking along with them. I liked how the events in this story force many of the characters to grow and confront their beliefs as they must reconcile their realities. A poignant and heartrending read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wow! This was a beautiful story by Lori Benton! I have never read any of her books, so I didn’t know what to expect other than what is in the book synopsis. I was drawn into the world of the characters and didn’t want to put the book down. The love between Ian and Seona was beautiful yet heartbreaking. I wanted a different outcome for them, but just as it is in life, the choices we make can change what we have planned for our lives. My heart broke for sweet Judith as well. Her sister, Rosalyn and mother, Lucinda made me angry throughout the story. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I won’t go into detail. I am looking forward to the sequel that publishes this year. Thank you, Lori Benton for your beautiful story.