Courting Morrow Little

Courting Morrow Little is a Christian historical fiction romance written by Laura Frantz.

Morrow Little's family was torn apart when she was only five-years-old. Her mother and baby sister were murdered by raiding Shawnee warriors, and her older brother Jess was taken. Since that day it has just been Morrow and her father, a pastor and strong man of faith. Morrow has found it difficult to come to terms with the past or let go of the horrors of that day, as she and her father continue to wonder if Jess is alive out there somewhere and if he would even remember them.

But now Morrow is eighteen-years-old and her father's health is not doing well. His wish is to see her secured in marriage - but her choices range from those she has no feelings for, to those she dislikes quite a bit. And the one that she almost dares not to believe she is falling for is an impossible choice. What can she do?

First off - I have to say that the cover of Courting Morrow Little is lovely, it entranced me and transported me to the time period (1778) the first time I saw it. Definitely one to pick up by sight alone. :)

The prologue is haunting, terrifying, and nightmarish - a raw showcase of Laura Frantz's skills, in that I was immersed in the moment with poor, scared, little five-year-old Morrow. Then going in the novel, I was almost instantaneously in love with the naturally placed period details and understatedly excellent writing.

Morrow is a feminine, believable character - heart-wrenching and sympathetic - constantly haunted by her past, as if ghosts are trailing her everywhere she goes. And at only eighteen years old, she is accessible to YA readers as well as those adult historical lovers.

Smooth, organic storytelling make it easy to get swept away, the Kentucky landscape soaked in the beauty of atmosphere and visual splendor. Plus, when romantic intrigue is introduced in the plot - one of which is a bold soldier, another a handsome Shawnee - the plot takes off and you can only sit back and enjoy Courting Morrow Little.

The rich historical issues refrain from feeling like a history lesson but give depth to the background goings-on. Exquisite descriptions and breathtaking scenery carry forth into rising warlike tensions and whispering hints of rapturous romance on the horizon. Pages begin to be turned with haste as the quietly, magnificently portrayed raw emotions hit peaks - I'm telling you, no romantic can pass Courting Morrow Little up!!!

One of the best things about Courting Morrow Little (and there are many) is that it is a complete story, no abrupt, fairy-tale end or wedding-cliche conclusion. Instead we have a novel that is equal parts heartwrenching, romantic, historical, suspenseful, and family based. An extraordinarily touching book that caused my trained-to-stay-dry-as-often-as-possible eyes to become watery.

Courting Morrow Little is a killer, truly. Talk about epic!