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 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. ( )

I love it when I get a book that teaches me history and geography that I don't know about. This is one of them. I had heard about the Acadians that came to Louisiana, but I didn't know about any others or their background. I appreciate the writing style of Laura Frantz. I read 100 pages the day I got this book, but slowed down a bit after that because of life. I will continue to read this author's books in the future. ( )

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 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. ( )

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz is a beautiful work of Christian historical fiction. I did not know the history of the Acadian people and the atrocious things England did to them to gain their land. It was a joy to learn not only about the beauty and bounty of Acadie but of the character of the people who lived there. The Acadian characters in this story inspired me with their stewardship of their land and gifts and their unprejudiced love for others. I’m thankful for getting a glimpse of what it would look like to live in a community that is so Christ-minded!
This story deals with heavily emotional topics. But despite many characters walking through incredible hardship, there is healing and hope to be found. As a reader, I couldn’t help but turn one page after another because I was so invested in Sylvie and Will’s story. (It was difficult not to think of them even when the book was closed!)
Sylvie was so relatable that what hurt her heart, hurt mine, too. I adored her so much I couldn’t leave her for long, and by following along in her journey, I was blessed with a beautiful story of hope and redemption. Will is a force of nature. A talented warrior with a heart for humanity–a war battling in his own body. His strength and presence as a soldier was enough to make me swoon, but it was his extravagant love for others that made me fall for this ranger. The super slow-burn romance between him and Sylvie was complete perfection.
Overall, I loved this story and blazed through this book as fast as possible (with small children). The history was unknown to me, and I’m so glad the author chose to tell about the people of Acadie. They will forever be within my heart. I highly recommend this title and hope you all enjoy The Seamstress of Acadie as much as I did!
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own. ( )

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 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. ( )