Review of 'A Matter of Honor' by Laura Frantz
Review of 'A Matter of Honor' by Laura Frantz
Release date: July 24th, 2024
Publisher: Story Architect
What the story is about:
Orin Hume from The Rose and the Thistle comes of age in A Matter of Honor and ventures beyond Scotland's borders, achieving a renown all his own, only to return home again to reclaim the life and lady he once loved.
Having grown up at Wedderburn Castle in the serene Scottish Lowlands, Orin Hume is thrust into the dazzling realm of London society and Court circles as Poet Laureate of Britain. But at the height of his fame a former tragedy and his ties to a lass he once loved lead him home to Berwickshire again. When his return is further marred by lost love letters and scheming kin who conspire to keep the pair apart, can Lady Maryn Lockhart, now Duchess of Fordyce, forgive him? Or will the shadows of the past and the complexities of the present rewrite their love story?
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REVIEW
First I want to say, I loved the dedication on the inside cover as I am one of ‘those who delight in books, birds and blooms!’
I am a fairly new reader of Laura Frantz’s novels and I am so glad I discovered them through another reviewer’s recommendation. The few I have read so far have brightened and encouraged my heart more than I can say with their beauty, faith, hope and gorgeous settings and delightful characters. I recently acquired The Rose and the Thistle but have not read it yet. I mention this because since the character Orin is from that book, I wondered if it would hinder my reading of the novella A Matter of Honor. I can say it definitely did not as Laura paints a comprehensive picture of Orin and also provides enough background that it got me up to speed from the start. So, if there are others out there who want to read the novella first—go for it! I guarantee, though, it will make you want to read The Rose and the Thistle to learn more of this family, setting and time period of the first Jacobite rebellion.
Laura Frantz is a master wordsmith in delivering historical detail in a way that is inspiring and refreshing. With A Matter of Honor I truly got lost in the story and felt I was transported back in time from the very first page. The novel opens with a Prologue in London, England 1739 with rich poetic description that enlivened my senses with delightful scents and images. We meet Orin, who thinks of himself as a ‘humble Lowland Scots lad’ unimpressed by ‘the flash of jewels and arrays of silks and laces.’ He is tired of the ‘bickering, scheming, flirting Court’ life. Although being a poet, a ‘rather romantic profession’ he is more of practical man with his feet on the ground. But he is not void of true romance as far as his heart is concerned. And while skimming stones across the water, he drinks in the scent of certain flowers that remind him of a woman he has loved forever. This is such a beautiful passage of love, longing and sadness that my own heart was aching for this character to obtain his desire!
In Chapter One we are taken to the following year 1740 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Orin, now Poet Laureate of Britain, is at his family’s home: a place he is not terribly fond of and calls it a ‘monstrosity from another century.’ It is heavy with ‘Lowland herbs and Highland spirits.’ He ponders his brother David Hume who partook of the 1715 Jacobite rebellion and lost his life: ‘a lasting lesson on how not to offend the reigning monarch.’ Ironically, he finds himself in a similar though vastly different situation: where he must honour ‘George II’s birthday celebration with an ode… or perish.’ Unless he resigns before the king dismisses him. So, he is in a quandary of what to do. The feeling of unrest and discomfort in his role continues to haunt him, as first established in the Prologue and carried over into Chapter One.
As Orin ponders words for the Ode and two promised plays, he is also reminded of his responsibilities to his niece, Charis, who requests his company of escorting her to a round of balls and other entertainment events. In a letter she begs him to come home to Wedderburn Castle and to put the tragic incident of the past behind him. This, of course, got me wondering what happened that caused such an upset in his life.
In Chapter Two, we meet Maryn Lockhart at Thistle Cottage—the woman who holds Orin’s heart. I loved the sparkling descriptions of this natural setting of gorgeous garden and Border Collie. This is a Lowland oasis for this woman who has suffered deeply. Her surrounds are in sharp contrast to her physical self—that bears scars. Five years earlier she was in a tragic accident and afterwards emotionally and visibly altered. With her beloved Grandfather’s help, she settled far from society in this charming cottage ‘smothered in ivy and roses’. Its fairytale atmosphere, heady flower variety and old world style suited her well. It has been a haven of peace though punctuated with doubts as she begins to wonder what ‘the Almighty thinks of her self-imposed exile’. Sitting alone, she secretly longs to ‘share such loveliness with someone’. And so, our story begins. The fears, concerns, loneliness and insecurities caused by her isolation and physical scars begin to rattle her safety net.
As a reader, I questioned how Orin and Maryn had been torn or kept apart and how they might be reunited. And Laura little by little unveils the pieces of the romantic plot (along with the social subplots surrounding it) and then weaves it together into a stunning and rich tapestry graced with birds, flowers and books. The latter becomes an important part of Orin’s new venture. The words of books and letters are a common thread for this couple as it sews their two lives back together. I felt many emotions for Maryn and Orin. The tragedy they both shared and then the separation they endured as a result of it and the family’s interference. I won’t say anymore but their journey is a challenging one but it is also laced with hope, healing and faith.
I did not want to say goodbye to Orin and Maryn but the author leaves us at a good place in their lives. This beautifully written love story whisked me away to another time and place. I was warmed and uplifted by the passion of the words. So Laura, yes, your novel worked its magic and it definitely has merit and meaning! For lovers of quality historical fiction that haunts and inspires, I highly recommend this stunning novella that is worth every stolen moment for reading. A Matter of Honor will make your heart beam and your spirit soar—as it did mine. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Story Architect and Laura Frantz for a review copy.
