I struggled with this book, truly. Nothing in it is bad, of course - yay, Christian romance! - but it's just kinda...dull, at times. Tempe's character was excellent, but Sion's felt a little flat to me, strangely. Also, while the story was compelling, I just didn't feel drawn into it. And my geography was totally off, which didn't help my reading. BUT the rest of it is excellent. The personal struggles that each person faces are true-to-life, hard decisions are made, and this book does mention the little things (like people do leave the story for a bit to use the restroom, etc.). The romance was sweet, but felt a little...I dunno, like it lacked chemistry for me. And I do feel that Sion's previous romance was brushed aside as soon as Tempe came along. Overall, this book is well-written, with a thought-out plot, and compelling characters, but something still bored me. But it is worth the read. Take it as you will. :)

There are some books that read like a fast food meal, quick and easy, with little thought. Some read like a decadent dessert, rich, filling, and sweet. Others are like a snack to be read in little bits, as time allows or when you're bored. Some are like a family meal, creating good memories, lots of laughter, and heartfelt moments. Still, there are others, like A Moonbow Night, that read like a six course meal which should be savored, unhurried, purposeful, and satisfying to the very end.

I just closed the pages of A Moonbow Night and my heart is full of Kentucke, Boones, Indians, settlers, friends gained, friends lost, breathless kisses, enduring love, betwixt and betimes, and a beguiling moonbow. What a stunning tale Laura Frantz has spun. With each scene, each character, each backstory crumb, the gossamer threads are woven together to make a tapestry so intricate and so beautiful, it's truly a work of art.

Laura's passion for Kentucky is breathed into the very essence of her characters and storyworld. My own desire to see Kentucky has increased tenfold, though I feel as if I've been there and it has become a part of me. She has taken my preconceived ideas of Kentucky and turned them inside out, teaching me about the history that shaped the state and country and the men and women who sacrificed everything to settle the land.

The story is full of historical references, well-researched details, and breathtaking prose. Several times I stopped just to enjoy a sentence or capture a feeling. The romance grows gently as it changes the hero and heroine, drawing them out of their brokenness and into a place of healing. Some scenes are so powerful, they will leave your heart beating a little harder and make you eager for the next.

I loved reading this story and experiencing a piece of history I knew little about. When I came to the end, I was sad to say goodbye, but thankful I had been invited on the journey.

Thank you to Laura for another adventure, another unforgettable hero, and another timeless love story tucked inside my heart.

Laura Frantz gives readers such a wonderful feel for the time and place she is portraying! It is a privilege to read her novels. A Moonbow Night is set in 1777 in Kentucky. Only a few settlements are in Kentucky or Kentucke as it is spelled in the book. The white man is encroaching upon this beautiful, wild area to the dismay of Indians who have called it home for centuries. This, along with a push from the British since the Revolutionary War is on, leads to death and destruction.

The main characters are Tempe, whose parents own a remote inn and who is an accomplished frontierswoman who can shoot, hunt and read sign with the best of men. Sion is the male lead and is a surveyor, marking and claiming land for future settlers. Their story is told over the course of time and miles, as they put the ghosts of past loves to rest and find new love together.

Laura Frantz has done it again!

Such a great book. Mrs. Frantz is an excellent writer...her use of language and imagery, her characters, her settings. She is so amazing. I absolutely love the characters in this novel. They are very believable. The story is intense. Some moments were exceptionally tense. It was as if I was there with Tempe and Sion. Excellent book. I highly recommend it.

To say that Laura Frantz's writing is great would be an understatement. She is in a league of her own. There have been few authors in my life whose books have literally captivated me from the first page.

A Moonbow Night was a different type of story than what I'm used to reading by Laura - but different in a good way. This tale had ample historical detail, a halting romance, and just enough suspense with threats of surprise Indian attacks to keep the pages turning. What was different was the immense attention to detail of the characters, their occupations, and the new territory which they explored. Kentucky was but a dream during this time, and Laura's knowledge of its early history and how it came to be explored made this book all the more interesting.

The sub-characters in this book were also fun to meet. I would love to see a future novel (or even a novella) about Russell and Paige, but I may have to let my imagination tell their story.

Suffice it to say, this is another winner from Laura Frantz. I will never stop recommending her books because I know they are just that good.

Why have I waited so long to read a novel by Laura Frantz? This is exactly the kind of historical novel I love—one that brings another time and place vividly to life and delivers characters and a story I don’t want to let go of.

Set in the largely untamed Kentucke territory in 1777, both Sion and Tempe’s lives have already felt the brutal impact of tensions between White settlers and Red natives—tensions that are only heightened by Sion Morgan’s purpose for being in Kentucke territory: to survey and claim the land for the Loyal Land Company. Unfortunately for Sion, his presence is no more welcome to Temperance Tucker’s family, despite the hospitality their isolated inn offers his small company of men; Tempe’s father is a marked man after a boundary dispute with a Crown surveyor turned lethal. But Tempe’s skills as a guide and tracker and her knowledge of the area are unparalleled and Sion’s best hope of surveying the Green River country further west. Furthermore, Tempe’s father wants them gone, and what better way to achieve that, than to have Tempe lead them? But the journey is fraught with danger . . .

Frantz’s writing is a delight to read, perfectly matched to the era she’s depicting, and she takes the time to build her story, layer by layer, drawing you further and further into its world. The relationship that grows between Sion and Tempe is my favourite for this kind of novel: subtle, but ever deepening and enduring.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Laura Frantz has a way with words. She paints 18th century Kentuckee with prose that transports the reader, dropping them into Temperance Tucker's beloved wilderness. Tempe, as she likes to be called, has been dealt a tough hand. Although she believes in the Lord, joy and hope seem forever out of her reach, until she meets Sion Morgan.
Sion has been sent to survey the wild of Kentuckee but needs a guide to ensure he doesn't get lost or lose his life at the Natives' hands. Like Tempe, he's battling demons of his own. The difference is he's chosen to ignore God.
I love stories where a person has turned their back on God, but He shows up and shows His mercy and love. The power of God can overcome every heartache. It's a lesson both Temp and Sion must learn in order to embrace the second chance life offers.
If you enjoy the time period and are a fan of Ms. Frantz, you won't be disappointed.