By the time she crossed the threshold and beheld his broad back, a dozen things she’d missed about him were satisfied. Unaware of her, he placed his cocked hat atop a settee and straightened to look into the mantel mirror and smooth his cravat. As if he cared how he looked for her. As if she were special…beloved. In that instant, his gaze met hers in the cracked glass. She nearly forgot to breathe.

In The Mistress of Tall Acre, Sophia Menzies is left without family, connection, and hope of a future at the end of the revolutionary war. Her neighbor, General Seamus Ogilvy returns home a hero, but a widower with a daughter to care for on his own. General Ogilvy soon finds benefit for all in a marriage of convenience with Sophia. She agrees knowing that he asks not because he loves her, but because he needs her. Sophia agrees, only to find herself in the middle of an unexpected crisis where she stands to lose everything…including her heart.

The Mistress of Tall Acre is my favorite kind of historical fiction. I read so many books  hoping to discover a story written so well that it becomes unforgettable. This book is captivating, riveting, and memorable in every way. Like the quote above, there were so many pages I wanted to rewind and enjoy again for the simple pleasure of reliving the moment like I might in a favorite movie. Laura Frantz writes in such a way, I never remember turning the pages. Her stories come to life and always become cherished books.

I promise, if you read this book, you will not stop until you have finished. It is my favorite fiction read of this year! I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. However, it is important to note that I was DYING to read Laura Frantz’s new book and I knew I could not wait until it released. I would have been the first in line to buy it! Bravo and Encore!