The Seamstress of Acadie (2024)

About the Book

Book: The Seamstress of Acadie

Author: Laura Frantz

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Release Date: January 9, 2024

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada’s Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family–French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral–are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America’s borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William’s, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

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My Thoughts

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz made me sad. Don’t get me wrong — I agree with all the critics and reviewers who say that Frantz is a wordsmith and that this is her best book yet. The settings are superbly illustrated. I felt like I was in Acadie and Virginia in the 1750s. I could feel the weather; the intense, frigid winter in Acadie, and the oppressive, humid spring in Virginia. I could smell the smells of the apple blossoms in Acadie, and the chocolate in Esmee’s shop in Virginia. The historical detail is impeccable. I learned so much history I’ve never been taught before. I’ve never heard of Acadie, and the atrocities against these people absolutely broke my heart and made me angry. The characters in this novel are perfectly crafted. Sylvie is a wonderful heroine. She is Loveliness personified. And she is so strong. I don’t know if I could be as strong after having gone through all the nightmares she goes through in this story. Will is the best kind of hero. He is tall, dark, and handsome. He is rugged, intelligent, and capable. If Sylvie is Loveliness personified, then Will is Kindness personified. I loved this about him the most — his deeply kind and compassionate heart. Will would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it. I wish more people were kind like Will. In addition to the main characters being outstanding, Frantz treats us readers to cameo appearances by characters from A Heart Adrift and some of the most endearing secondary characters ever. It was so much fun seeing Esmee and her sister, and Lord Drysdale and Henri Lennox again. And I absolutely loved Henrietta, Nolan, Eve, and Eulalie. Seriously such great characters!

If you’ve read this far, you might be asking yourself, “How did this book make you sad? It basically sounds like you loved it.” Well, that’s a good question. I did love this book SO much. It touched my heart deeply and, like all Frantz’s previous novels, will stick with me LONG after the final page has turned. But it did make me sad. I am so sick of the evil in this world. As I was reading The Seamstress of Acadie I couldn’t help but notice the many similarities between our current world today. In this book, the villains are bad. In our world, the villains are equally as bad. In both periods, people are self-focused, self-centered, and self-serving. Kindness is a rarity, not the norm. Seeing people as people is a rarity, not the norm. Stealing, hurting, hating, and mistreating apparently are no biggies. Whatever one wants, one gets. Reading whole scenes in The Seamstress of Acadie felt like reading excerpts from today’s news articles. The clothes, the food, and the amenities may be different in this story, but the heart of the people is the same and it made me really sad. But I won’t stay sad because Frantz ends her story with love and hope, so I will walk away from this story choosing to focus on love and hope rather than all that makes me sad.

The Seamstress of Acadie is a seriously outstanding story. It is a story that pulls the reader’s heartstrings. It is a story that teaches reader’s history that should never be forgotten. And it is a story that readers won’t soon forget. I highly, highly recommend this impeccable story. This is a book you do not want to miss.

I received an eBook copy of this novel from the publisher, Revell, via NetGalley in order to read and review. I also purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on October 4, 2023. In no way has any of this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.