Love's Awakening

Title: LOVE’S AWAKENING

Author: Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell

September 2013

ISBN: 978-0800720421

Genre: Historical

The path to true love lies somewhere between two feuding families

In the spring of 1822, Ellie Ballantyne leaves finishing school and returns to the family home in Pittsburgh only to find that her parents are away on a long journey and her siblings don't seem to want her to stay. Determined to stand her ground and find her place in the world, Ellie fills her time by opening a day school for young ladies.

But when one of her students turns out to be an incorrigible young member of the Turlock family, Ellie knows she must walk a fine line. Slaveholders and whiskey magnates, the Turlocks are envious of the powerful Ballantynes and suspicious of their abolitionist leanings. As Ellie becomes increasingly entangled with the rival clan--particularly the handsome Jack Turlock--she finds herself falling in love with an impossible future. Will she betray her family and side with the enemy?

LOVE’S AWAKENING is the second book in Ms. Frantz’s Ballantyne Legacy series. Readers might want to read Love’s Reckoning first, though the books do stand alone. I enjoyed Love’s Reckoning but LOVE’S AWAKENING fell a little flat for me. Jack and Ellie don’t spend a whole lot of time together and most of the book seems centered around Ellie and her siblings, than on the romance.

I have loved Ms. Frantz’s books in the past, so was looking forward to this one. It was slow, easily put down, and it never did pick up. I also really never fell in love with Ellie. Jack… at times I liked. I did enjoy the historical research Ms. Frantz did and included in the book. A peek at the third book, coming in Fall 2014 is included at the end of the book. $14.99. 416 pages.