The Seamstress of Acadie

This book's beautiful and evocative cover drew me in. The exquisite writing, rich historical detail and scene painting held me in wonder. I just could not put this book down.

The Acadian Expulsion by the British in 1755, was a travesty by all accounts. The Acadian s were neutral, had made their

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homes in Acadie for a hundred years, were prayerful and God-fearing. They just wanted to be good stewards of the land and be left in peace. Instead, they were left in pieces. Their homes were destroyed, and families (not necessarily intact) were cast out to sea, trapped in the holds of old unseaworthy ships. The question one may ask is, "Where was God in all of this?"

Ms. Frantz has written an exquisite and moving fictional account (framed by historical fact) of a beautiful, intrepid, strong, and caring woman - Sylvie Galant, a Seamstress Extraordinaire. The reader accompanies Sylvie, experiencing all her joys, fears, and sorrows as she's forced from her home and sent into exile, along with 10,000 fellow Acadians. Her mind struggles with what her heart knows. But can she trust her heart and follow where it leads her? Journey with Sylvie and hear the story of her people.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, then I highly commend this book to you. The writing is superb, the characters well-developed, and the research which went into its telling is herculean. Though this was my first foray into Ms. Frantz's writing, I can assure it will not be my last!

I am grateful to Revell for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Revell (division of Baker Publishing Group)
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
No. of Pages: 416
ISBN No.: 978-0800745660

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As a long-time fan of Laura Frantz, I had high expectations for this book, but this story even exceeded them. I lived in Northern Maine for many years, on the border of Atlantic Canada, and have long been interested in the tragic history of the Acadians, French-speaking settlers in Nova Scotia, who

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despite maintaining neutrality during the French and Indian wars, were ruthlessly displaced from their homes by the British and forcibly transported to the Southern colonies. Their homes were looted and burned, or turned over to British settlers.

This is the backdrop of this novel, which tells of Sylvie Galant, a young Acadian seamstress who lives peacefully with her family on their Nova Scotia farm, and Will Blackburn, leader of a band of Rangers fighting on the British side. Although drawn to each other, the atrocities place a huge barrier between them, as Sylvie is exiled to Virginia, and Blackburn, resigns his commission in disgust and tries to put war behind him. The story focuses on the struggles of Sylvie and the other Acadians living among Virginians who neither want them or trust them. How she and Will meet again, and slowly come to love and understanding is heartfelt and touching.

My favorite novel of Laura Frantz has been "A Heart Adrift", so I was more than pleased to encounter characters from that story in the Virginia portion of this book. It was a welcome bonus of sorts.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are strictly my own.

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Title: The Seamstress of Acadie
Author: Laura Frantz
Pages: 416 (ARC)
Year: 2024
Publisher: Revell
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
This is a novel set in 1755 in Canada. The main character is Sylvie Galant, a 25-year-old woman who lives with her family, helping run their home and working as a seamstress

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for the French Fort of Beausejour. She and her community of fellow Acadians have lived in this area since the early 1600s. While French in origin, they have declared themselves neutral in the ongoing tensions in the area between the French and the British, who also have a fort nearby. Sylvie’s older brother works for the French resistance and brings news their way as he travels. He also brings tales of William Blackburn, a Scotsman leading a team of Rangers Corps who scout out the land for the British for news of the French.
William is also on the trail of Sylvie’s brother in order to arrest him for his crimes against the British as part of the French resistance. He makes a chance encounter with Sylvie who doesn’t know his identity or his purpose, and the memory of her stays with him. She also has trouble forgetting her brief conversation with the charming man. Then tensions overflow between the British and the French, with the British wanting all Acadians out of Canada. What follows is a terrible, horrible time for Sylvie and her family. She faces more than one tragedy and wonders why God is allowing this to happen. When William chances upon her again, she is a changed woman. He wonders how he can help her regain some of what was lost.
This is a story about an event I had never heard of before, so I learned something. The treatment of the Acadians was appalling and criminal. Sylvie’s ability to survive was a miracle in and of itself. The tender love shared between the two lead characters was touching. Sylvie’s love of and devotion to her family also struck a chord with me. Laura Frantz is one of my “must read” authors and each novel I read from her pen continues to show me her talent and why she stays at the top of my list.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

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Laura Frantz skillfully and thoughtfully highlights the plight of the French Acadians in 1755 as British and French battle for this area. I had not known the history of this area so it was a fascinating, but also sad and thought-provoking, lesson. I loved the beauty, vastness, and accepting

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community of Acadie which seemed so different from the crowded and fear-riddled Williamsburg.
Sylvie was a lovable character, full of grit despite heavy losses, grief, and anger. She grew tremendously in faith and maturity. Will was a gallant hero with a noble, loyal, and humble spirit. Their enemies to lovers romance was tender and endured time, distance, and a bit of adventure and danger.

If you enjoy historical romance, you will definitely enjoy this well-written novel by Laura Frantz. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell Books and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

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Incredible journey. The British tried to wipe out the very existence of the Acadia people, nearly did. This story of a rare survivor is anguishing, touching, tense, endearing and very hard to put down. So easy to become immersed in the story. Fabulous characters, including big, strong, cunning

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fighting backwoods men who travel their own hard paths. Such an excellent read. Much as I wanted to see what happened, I didn't want it to end. I'm filing this under "places I'd like to live" and "characters I'd like to meet".

I received this book free from the author, Revell Reads and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheSeamstressOfAcadie #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #Revell #ChristianHistoricalFiction #LauraFrantz

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Sylvie Galant and her family have built a home, family, orchard, and community in their beloved 1750s Canadian Acadie. While the Acadians are peaceful, the two worlds surrounding them are drawing nearer to war. Canada is a fertile land that is drawing the attention of the British, much to the

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dismay of the French. When the British Rangers led by William Blackburn move into Acadie, they are to survey the land, people, and resistance - especially led by local Bleu Galant. As the Rangers search for the elusive Bleu, the British army moves into Acadie, overcoming their defenses and disregarding their cries of neutrality. Sylvie, her family, and their entire Acadian community are forced onto ramshackle cargo ships with only the clothes on their back and the supplies they could carry. As the fleet sets sail, the destination is unknown, the rations are meager, illness is a stowaway, and the route fraught with storms. Their survival is unsure. If Sylvie and her family survive this voyage, what will their future be and where will they begin life anew - British America does not want them and the Acadians do not want to return to France…and France & England are moving towards war.

This was a great book! I could not put it down & devoured it in 3 days! The expulsion of the Acadians from their beloved homeland (now Nova Scotia) and their fate was a devastating tragedy. If you like this book, you would also love the [Song of Acadia] series by [[Janette Oke]] & [[T. Davis Bunn]]. Thank you Library Thing Early Reviewers for this excellent book, that would be the beginning of a great Galants of Acadie series!

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“The evil had come. It pulsated all around her, thick and black and unruly as a horde of gray wolves with no restraining hand.”

All Sylvie Galant and so many of her fellow Acadians wanted was to be neutral, uninvolved in the land grab in the “New World” between England and France. The

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Acadians just want to go on living life in their beautiful, productive land as they have for generations. But that right is ferociously torn away from them by the English governor, who vanquishes them all from the land of their dreams to exile in the English colonies… if they survive to arrive. While all Acadians know Bleu Galant, Sylvie’s half-brother, fights for them and the French, they also know that the man responsible for rounding up the Acadians is Le Diable Blanc (the White Devil), Le Loup ( the Wolf).

Laura Frantz, winner of the Christy for historical fiction in 2023, has written yet another novel, The Seamstress of Acadie, equally deserving of a Christy.

No one has a way with words like Laura Frantz. Frantz writes so beautifully, I can almost hear music or see art accompanying her words. I could certainly see Acadie in all its beauty, then its denudation of its people and prosperity. Frantz makes you feel like you are on those transport ships of death. I could feel the rise and swell of the waves in the storm, smell the odors of sickness and fear, feel the terror of the hurricane, taste the loss of dreams and faith.

Still, people that go through the same horrific circumstances can come out different on the other side. Frantz points the reader to the fact that this is because some, like Sylvie, devastated, turn to their faith to bolster them and provide a purpose for their lives. Others continue to stew in their hatred, with disastrous results.

Some, like Sylvie, attempt to share the bit of light they find. “God Himself collects our tears and stores them in a bottle…God takes note of our suffering. It is no light matter to Him. I find that . . . comforting.” Yet few are willing to see that God can be present in and allow horrible circumstances and still be directing a person’s path. “There is no bottle big enough for Acadie’s weeping.”

Sylvie battles fear, loss of family, loss of homeland, prejudice, and finally her own treacherous heart, falling for the one man she should hate.

With a map, glossary, and short historical note at the front, the reader is well-prepared for this both painful and beautiful journey. In The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz, I found a new book to reread for her rest of my life!!

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. I also ordered a paperback copy for myself and a friend. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Perhaps the Lord was leading her in ways she hadn’t planned or preferred, but still he leadeth.”

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I really enjoy Laura Frantz's historical fiction stories, but my favorites are those set in and around Williamsburg. The female characters who ply a trade are most interesting whether it be a lighthouse keeper, lacemaker, chocolatier, or, as in this book, a seamstress. Sylvie Galant lived in

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Acadie, modern day Nova Scotia, in the mid-1700s, serving as a seamstress to the French Fort Beauséjour. She and her family fall victim to the eviction of Acadians by the English, in spite of their neutrality in the conflict with the French. The story tells of Sylvie's life after she and a few fellow Acadians were rescued when the ship they were placed on foundered in a storm off the Virginia coast. Frantz admittedly has written in some key characters who treat the Acadians as they should have been treated rather than as most Virginians treated them in actuality. That is the beauty of historical fiction, sometimes we can view events through a lens of what ifs. Of course the story includes a touch of romance with a brave hero, Major William Blackburn, a man of integrity and the conviction to do the right thing.

I give The Seamstress of Acadie five stars and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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I was glad to get to read and review this book. I have always enjoyed books by Laura Frantz and this book did not disappoint.

I really didn't know much about the Acadian people or how they got displaced. Laura Frantz brought a lot of the history of these people to light in a very engaging story.

The

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main characters were very nicely fleshed out, they were believable and enjoyable to get to know. I was pleased to find a couple of characters from another book of hers that I had read and enjoyed.

The story flowed well and there were very few, if any grammatical errors. This is important to me and can make or break a good story.

I was given this book through the Revell Reads program. I am required to leave a short review but I am not required to leave a positive review. This review is totally my own thoughts and opinions.

I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 star rating.

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I loved this book! Author Laura Frantz transported me to a time of danger, intrigue, and tragedy, and I learned so much about a subject that was previously unknown to me. The Seamstress of Acadie is a testament to hard work, deep loyalty, and unshakable faith, as shown through a fictional tale that

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centers around Sylvie Galant, her brother Bleu, and Ranger Will Blackburn. These fantastic characters endure the forceful removal of Acadians from their homeland and I loved that there's also a reunion with characters that we've met before. Sylvie's fateful journey from Canada to Williamsburg, Virginia allows an encounter with Esmee Shaw and Captain Lennox, two beloved characters from Frantz's previous novel, A Heart Adrift.

It's apparent that this author has a deep appreciation for the written word and that she also possesses the ability to mesmerize readers with her own words. Each chapter begins with a thought-provoking quotation and from there, the magic continues. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy historical Christian romance!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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There are so many things to love about The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz. In this novel, I learned a bit of history as I knew nothing about the forced removal of the Acadians from their land (now Nova Scotia). The author did an excellent job of representing external and internal conflicts of

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the time. Frantz handled Sylvie’s emotional trauma with enough weight to feel authentic, but not so much that it became a heavy read. I loved the weaving of Psalm 23 into Sylvie’s pain as it served to express Sylvie’s raw, honest emotion, yet it pointed her toward healing.

Though The Seamstress of Acadie hosted a lovely romance, the settings, historical events, and Sylvie’s character drove the plot until the romance with Will began later in the novel. Even then, life events demanded slow growth for their relationship. In true slow-burn style, Will and Sylvie had instant chemistry and lingering romantic tension, but it took time for them to work through their shared past and truly connect. I loved the fruition of their romance.

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz reads fine as a standalone novel, but characters from A Heart Adrift appear in the latter half as the stories run concurrent of each other. For the best experience, I recommend reading A Heart Adrift prior to The Seamstress of Acadie and having a physical copy of the latter novel. The Seamstress of Acadie includes an abundance of French words and flipping to the glossary in a physical book is easier than navigating back and forth on the kindle (at least for me). 4.5 Stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

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In 18th century Acadie, Sylvie Galant and her family have lived and worked their orchards for generations. When tensions arise between the French, British, and Indian tribes, the fate of neutral Acadie looks grim. At first the father is arrested and held at the nearby fort while the family’s men

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are forced to flee. When the women and children are ordered onto British ships, they reluctantly leave their homelands. Held in miserable conditions, one by one the family starts to die, leaving Sylvie alone in a strange land.

The book was a bit slow moving, and the character did not seem fully developed. Despite these criticisms, I enjoyed this book. It followed a group of people that I knew absolutely nothing about. My heart went out to the Acadian people as they were brutally forced off their lands and relocated. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

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Sylvie Galant and her family live in Acadie, a hard-working, loving family. Sylvie was warned of increasing turmoil by William Blackburn, a British Army Ranger, but that was a day they would never forget, not yet realizing the impact it would have on their lives. The conflict between the French and

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British does not permit neutrality, particularly for a family living on land between bitter rivals.

It is a story of loss, survival, grief, and joy. It is a story of kindness, cruelty, thoughtfulness, negligence, resilience, courage, and love. As it tears at every heartstring, it rejoices in every moment of compassion and friendship.

In reading more historical fiction, I realize how little I know of history. I had never heard the name Acadie, so I didn't know where it was. I was immersed in history by the author’s meticulous research, thoughtful care to details, and creativity. History so heart wrenching in its cruelty to innocents; it was difficult not to pause in reflection on the countless times history has been repetitive, and we have learned nothing over the centuries. Or, as aptly written, "The sweeter the moment the faster it flees." A glossary at the beginning of the novel and epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter were meaningfully curated.

I was gifted a pre-order of this book by a bookish friend with the only hint it would be published in early January. On arrival, I was captivated by the beautiful cover and am thrilled to not only have this lovely book on my bookshelf but to feel the depth of the story that is not just a pretty book. KB, my heartfelt appreciation for introducing me to the writing of Laura Frantz and this captivating story.

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