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jan1234's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 star
I've been wanting to read this for a while. Although a nice story, it wasn't a page turner for me until about 3/4 of the way through. Glad I read it though.
I've been wanting to read this for a while. Although a nice story, it wasn't a page turner for me until about 3/4 of the way through. Glad I read it though.
pacific_blue4's review against another edition
2.0
A NOTE TO READERS: PLEASE, PLEASE do not read the plot synopsis provided by Goodreads. It spoils the entire book (shame shame shame!). I don't know that I've ever come across such a terrible plot blurb that ruins the surprise a read might offer, but this is the worst.
Due to that little tidbit, I figured the entire book out before it even started. So, once again, please do not read a plot blurb for this book on any major site, because they have made a major error with this one in ruining any plot twist. If the author ever happens to read this review, please step in and simplify the plot synopsis so readers can actually be surprised.
Here is my plot synopsis, that doesn't spoil the reader:
Tall Acre and Three Chimneys are neighboring properties whose owners have experienced the troubles of war in their own ways, General Seamus Ogilvy returning maimed and a widower with a daughter who doesn't know him and Sophie Menzies, suffering from the choices of her father and
facing destitution. Driven together by circumstances and need, what was once a neighborly relationship takes a turn and both must make important, life-altering decisions.
The Mistress of Tall Acre opens with a birth, an ominous sense that things are about to take an unhappy turn, and war.
Laura Frantz is a very gifted writer. Her writing was engaging, and she gave each character depth. I very much enjoyed this about the book. It can be especially difficult for authors to write in children, but I also loved the hero's daughter, Lily-Cate. Likewise, Sophie Menzies was a complex, well-written, and strong character. It's not often that I encounter a book that I would describe as romantic, but The Mistress of Tall Acre certainly falls into that category. Initially, I enjoyed the interactions between Seamus and Sophie.
Two stars on Goodreads indicates that a read was ok. Starting out, I was hoping to end up giving this one 4 or 5 stars, but did you see my early warning concerning the entire book being spoiled? The book had a tone that was set at the tale's beginning, and this gradually changed and then was massively upheaved about 100 pages before the end. This is when all the spoilers provided by the plot blurb began to take place. It felt like two different books, and that is not good. What began and appeared to be a subtle romantic story very abruptly shifted with major dramatic events. For me, and for the reasons listed below, it didn't work. I think the end portion ruined what could have been an excellent read.
One, I hate that the story was ruined by the plot synopsis. Two, I will never know what my reaction would have been due to the spoilers, but I was hoping that wasn't where the author would take the story, because that was my immediate guess the entire time (and I didn't like the idea). Otherwise, I don't know that I ever would have expected what happened toward the end. As it was, I wasn't surprised, just a little put off that I was correct. It's quite similar to a classic novel, and while I like the classic, I didn't like the turn in this book. And three, after a major change takes place with the two main characters, I stopped enjoying the book as much. That was around the time that the rest of the plot reveal was happening. I just did not enjoy where the author took the story at the end. I also disliked the typical issue with the hero and heroine wanting to express their feelings but not doing so until...well, you guessed it.
Is it because I saw it coming due to its being spoiled for me? Or did I just plain not like it? I'll never know. I will say, once again, that Laura Frantz is a gifted writer and had my attention up until the issues at the end. Her characters were strong and multi-dimensional. I even enjoyed the romantic tone at the beginning. I would be more than happy to try more by this author and can easily see how others would enjoy and even love this read. Just please take my advice and don't read any plot blurbs! Let yourself be surprised and see what you think.
There is something about the strength of the heroine of this one that brings back fond memories of Todd M. Johnson's The Barrister and the Letter of Marque, and that is highly recommended as well if you enjoyed this one.
Due to that little tidbit, I figured the entire book out before it even started. So, once again, please do not read a plot blurb for this book on any major site, because they have made a major error with this one in ruining any plot twist. If the author ever happens to read this review, please step in and simplify the plot synopsis so readers can actually be surprised.
Here is my plot synopsis, that doesn't spoil the reader:
Tall Acre and Three Chimneys are neighboring properties whose owners have experienced the troubles of war in their own ways, General Seamus Ogilvy returning maimed and a widower with a daughter who doesn't know him and Sophie Menzies, suffering from the choices of her father and
facing destitution. Driven together by circumstances and need, what was once a neighborly relationship takes a turn and both must make important, life-altering decisions.
The Mistress of Tall Acre opens with a birth, an ominous sense that things are about to take an unhappy turn, and war.
Laura Frantz is a very gifted writer. Her writing was engaging, and she gave each character depth. I very much enjoyed this about the book. It can be especially difficult for authors to write in children, but I also loved the hero's daughter, Lily-Cate. Likewise, Sophie Menzies was a complex, well-written, and strong character. It's not often that I encounter a book that I would describe as romantic, but The Mistress of Tall Acre certainly falls into that category. Initially, I enjoyed the interactions between Seamus and Sophie.
Two stars on Goodreads indicates that a read was ok. Starting out, I was hoping to end up giving this one 4 or 5 stars, but did you see my early warning concerning the entire book being spoiled? The book had a tone that was set at the tale's beginning, and this gradually changed and then was massively upheaved about 100 pages before the end. This is when all the spoilers provided by the plot blurb began to take place. It felt like two different books, and that is not good. What began and appeared to be a subtle romantic story very abruptly shifted with major dramatic events. For me, and for the reasons listed below, it didn't work. I think the end portion ruined what could have been an excellent read.
One, I hate that the story was ruined by the plot synopsis. Two, I will never know what my reaction would have been due to the spoilers, but I was hoping that wasn't where the author would take the story, because that was my immediate guess the entire time (and I didn't like the idea). Otherwise, I don't know that I ever would have expected what happened toward the end. As it was, I wasn't surprised, just a little put off that I was correct. It's quite similar to a classic novel, and while I like the classic, I didn't like the turn in this book. And three, after a major change takes place with the two main characters, I stopped enjoying the book as much. That was around the time that the rest of the plot reveal was happening. I just did not enjoy where the author took the story at the end. I also disliked the typical issue with the hero and heroine wanting to express their feelings but not doing so until...well, you guessed it.
Is it because I saw it coming due to its being spoiled for me? Or did I just plain not like it? I'll never know. I will say, once again, that Laura Frantz is a gifted writer and had my attention up until the issues at the end. Her characters were strong and multi-dimensional. I even enjoyed the romantic tone at the beginning. I would be more than happy to try more by this author and can easily see how others would enjoy and even love this read. Just please take my advice and don't read any plot blurbs! Let yourself be surprised and see what you think.
There is something about the strength of the heroine of this one that brings back fond memories of Todd M. Johnson's The Barrister and the Letter of Marque, and that is highly recommended as well if you enjoyed this one.
lyratorg's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting premise with an appropriate amount of mystery.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz is a lovely historical Christian romance novel. The Revolutionary War is going on (the year is 1778) when Anne Howard Ogilvy gives birth to Lilas Catherine Ogilvy. General Seanus Ogilvy is Lily Cate’s father (they are going to call her Lily Cate) and he was able to come home for the birth, but he has to return to his duties the next day. General Ogilvy is told by the doctor that his wife cannot go through another birth or she could die. Six years later Sophie Menzies is walking near her home when she encounters Lily Cate. The war is finally over. General Ogilvy and Lily Cate have returned to Tall Acre. Anne passed away during the war according to her sister, Charlotte. Anne went to Wilmington to live towards the end of the war. Sophie has had a hard time during the war because her father, Lord Menzies is a Tory! He created quite a ruckus which made is very difficult for Sophie. Sophie is waiting for her brother to return home. Sophie is glad to see General Ogilvy back home (she has a crush on him).
Seamus had to take his daughter from his wife’s relatives during the night (they did not want to give her up). Seamus wants to establish a safe home for his daughter. Sophie has troubles of her own. Three Chimneys (which belonged to her mother) is being confiscated as Tory property. The only solution is for her to marry. Seamus needs a wife and a mother for Lily Cate. The two decide to marry (which makes Lily Cate very happy). Just when things are looking up for the threesome, someone from Seamus’ past returns.
I just loved reading The Mistress of Tall Acre. It was a pleasurable novel to read. This is one of those books that you start reading and cannot put down. It is very well-written and one chapter just flowed into the next. The person who returned was expected, but I liked the outcome. There are some great messages in this novel (it is Christian themed). I give The Mistress of Tall Acre 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more book by Laura Frantz.
I received a complimentary copy of The Mistress of Tall Acre from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-mistress-of-tall-acre.html
Seamus had to take his daughter from his wife’s relatives during the night (they did not want to give her up). Seamus wants to establish a safe home for his daughter. Sophie has troubles of her own. Three Chimneys (which belonged to her mother) is being confiscated as Tory property. The only solution is for her to marry. Seamus needs a wife and a mother for Lily Cate. The two decide to marry (which makes Lily Cate very happy). Just when things are looking up for the threesome, someone from Seamus’ past returns.
I just loved reading The Mistress of Tall Acre. It was a pleasurable novel to read. This is one of those books that you start reading and cannot put down. It is very well-written and one chapter just flowed into the next. The person who returned was expected, but I liked the outcome. There are some great messages in this novel (it is Christian themed). I give The Mistress of Tall Acre 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more book by Laura Frantz.
I received a complimentary copy of The Mistress of Tall Acre from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-mistress-of-tall-acre.html
dotreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Laura Frantz doesn’t write an easy life nor circumstances for her hero’s and heroines. Another heart wrenching love story set during the Revolutionary War found me unable to put the book down again. This time a once-upon-a-time lady loses everything and is in need of a savior. In a time where marriages of practicality are common Miss Menzies finds herself married to a man she isn’t sure loves her. Circumstances make their uncommon bond even more difficult. Secrets, past hurts and blending a family sure make for a difficult yet riveting story! Loved this one!
rgyger's review against another edition
4.0
I'm starting to notice a trend where the description on the back of the book is more like a summery of the final fourth of the book, not the actual plot. Is it because the rest of the plot sounds far lest gripping? I don't know, but it seems a little deceptive for any reason. So, I've descided to write my own book description (which I never do).
~Five years after assisting General Seamus Ogilvy's wife in labor, Sophie Menzies is the disgraced daughter of a Tory. Deserted by her family because of her Patriot believes and shunned by her town because of her family, Sophie has found her self in financial ruin. To make matters worse, her childhood home has been confiscated and is to be turned over to a soldier she has never met.
Now that Seamus has returned as a widower and single father, Sophie finds herself the recipient of his kindness. What first begins a friendship turns to an arrangement of convenience, one that fills both their needs. All except for that of love.
When a woman from Seamus' past shows up in the Tall Acre parlor, it is a matter of time before they discover just who will be the Mistress of Tall Acre.~
Now, I must say that just who this mysterious woman from Seamus' past was surprised me. I was expecting a completely different person, but was pleased with this end result. Getting to this point in the novel did drag a little bit. There were scenes that I felt were not needed and I wish that other parts had been drawn out more. Yet the story was still interesting to read and I finished it in couple of days.
Overall, I believe that Mistress of Tall Acre was well worth the read, even if it was not exactly what the description said it was.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
~Five years after assisting General Seamus Ogilvy's wife in labor, Sophie Menzies is the disgraced daughter of a Tory. Deserted by her family because of her Patriot believes and shunned by her town because of her family, Sophie has found her self in financial ruin. To make matters worse, her childhood home has been confiscated and is to be turned over to a soldier she has never met.
Now that Seamus has returned as a widower and single father, Sophie finds herself the recipient of his kindness. What first begins a friendship turns to an arrangement of convenience, one that fills both their needs. All except for that of love.
When a woman from Seamus' past shows up in the Tall Acre parlor, it is a matter of time before they discover just who will be the Mistress of Tall Acre.~
Now, I must say that just who this mysterious woman from Seamus' past was surprised me. I was expecting a completely different person, but was pleased with this end result. Getting to this point in the novel did drag a little bit. There were scenes that I felt were not needed and I wish that other parts had been drawn out more. Yet the story was still interesting to read and I finished it in couple of days.
Overall, I believe that Mistress of Tall Acre was well worth the read, even if it was not exactly what the description said it was.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
rosannelortz's review against another edition
5.0
In The Mistress of Tall Acre, Laura Frantz explores the time period directly following the American Revolution. What is life like for a young woman whose family was on "the wrong side"of the war, a heroine left friendless in the new United States with her home under threat of confiscation?
Sophie Menzies is an endearing and sensible heroine. At the close of the war, she is sinking into poverty, alone and ostracized in her home Three Chimneys. The only person who doesn't seem to care that her father had Tory connections is Seamus Ogilvy, the American war-hero whose young daughter has befriended Sophie. As a widower, Seamus quickly sees Sophie as a good candidate to provide a mother for his daughter. But even though she agrees to his proposal, he still has no assurance that her heart can ever belong to him....
I used to really, really dislike American historical fiction. For me, books set in America have always lacked the richness of the Old World setting that I love in historical novels. Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Calico Captive were two exceptions that captured my fancy, but taken as a whole, American HF was not for me.
Laura Frantz has changed my mind on this subject. Courting Morrow Little and her Ballantyne Legacy trilogy make 18th century frontier life, abolitionists, and westward expansion almost as interesting as...well, as the Black Plague or the Battle of Agincourt. The Mistress of Tall Acre is a wonderful addition to the Frantz canon. Its well-rounded characters and satisfying romance flesh out a period of history I would never have thought to explore.
Sophie Menzies is an endearing and sensible heroine. At the close of the war, she is sinking into poverty, alone and ostracized in her home Three Chimneys. The only person who doesn't seem to care that her father had Tory connections is Seamus Ogilvy, the American war-hero whose young daughter has befriended Sophie. As a widower, Seamus quickly sees Sophie as a good candidate to provide a mother for his daughter. But even though she agrees to his proposal, he still has no assurance that her heart can ever belong to him....
I used to really, really dislike American historical fiction. For me, books set in America have always lacked the richness of the Old World setting that I love in historical novels. Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Calico Captive were two exceptions that captured my fancy, but taken as a whole, American HF was not for me.
Laura Frantz has changed my mind on this subject. Courting Morrow Little and her Ballantyne Legacy trilogy make 18th century frontier life, abolitionists, and westward expansion almost as interesting as...well, as the Black Plague or the Battle of Agincourt. The Mistress of Tall Acre is a wonderful addition to the Frantz canon. Its well-rounded characters and satisfying romance flesh out a period of history I would never have thought to explore.
bookishquilter's review against another edition
4.0
The first half of the book was almost tedious. I usually prefer books where the angst isn’t from the denial of feelings but in circumstances outside of the feelings. I really wondered if the entire book was going to be the angsty mistakenly perceived unrequited love. However, that part of the book was like the slow ascent up a rollercoaster hill before it plunged you over the edge and through the twists and turns of the track. I finished the book very satisfied with the ending.
readingistravel's review against another edition
4.0
Might contain spoilers
First time reading a book by this author. I felt it was kind of slow in some parts out picked up pretty quickly. I wasn’t sure why Sophie didn’t think or consider that Seamus would love her and it wasn’t really explained. Or maybe she thought he loved his previous wife so much that she didn’t think he could love her.
I would it frustrating that anytime anything happened the only option Sophie had was to wait and see but I guess that was because of the times (year) they were in.
I loved Lily Cate, she was like sunshine and a breath of fresh air throughout the story.
First time reading a book by this author. I felt it was kind of slow in some parts out picked up pretty quickly. I wasn’t sure why Sophie didn’t think or consider that Seamus would love her and it wasn’t really explained. Or maybe she thought he loved his previous wife so much that she didn’t think he could love her.
I would it frustrating that anytime anything happened the only option Sophie had was to wait and see but I guess that was because of the times (year) they were in.
I loved Lily Cate, she was like sunshine and a breath of fresh air throughout the story.