I heartily enjoyed every second of A Matter of Honor by Laura Frantz. The Rose and the Thistle is one of my favorite Frantz novels, so I could not wait to read this sequel. I found the storyline to be totally engaging. This was another Frantz story I attempted to enjoy slowly, but finished in under 24 hours. Not only did the pages fly by, but I stayed up WAY past my bedtime reading. Ultimately, I was enchanted. Frantz beautifully transports readers back to 1739 Scotland. I felt like I was right there with Orin and Maryn. I rode across the merse with Orin, I could smell Lady Maryn’s famous roses, and I sat for some coffee in Wedderburn Books, Orin’s beloved bookshop. So much fun! As with all her novels, Frantz crafts uniquely wonderful and very believable characters. My heart hurt deeply for Lady Maryn. It’s truly unfortunate, but it seems like some people’s lot in life is to be perpetual mourners. This is true for Lady Maryn. All the loss this poor woman goes through — it’s really rough. I wanted to reach into the narrative and hug her. But she never loses herself. She never loses her hope. And she never loses her faith in God. Maryn is a truly remarkable character. And Orin — he’s a sweetheart. He was a sweetheart when he was a 7-year old in The Rose and the Thistle, and he’s a sweetheart of a man at 32 in this novella. I love his drive to escape the noise of London for the quiet of his native Scotland. I love his desire to bring literacy to his hometown so that his people can have a chance at a better future. And I love how he so desperately desires to protect and care for Maryn. Orin’s a sweetie of a hero in every sense. And it was so much fun getting to see characters from The Rose and the Thistle — 25 years brought a lot of change, so it was good to catch up!

There is much more I could say about A Matter of Honor. I didn’t even mention the sweet second-chance romance journey Orin and Maryn traverse (it’s SO good!). For a novella, A Matter of Honor sure does pack a punch! Suffice to say, I love this story and highly recommend it. If you’re a fan of excellent Historical Romances filled with endearing characters and timely themes, then A Matter of Honor is a story you do not want to miss.