Publication Date: January 3, 2023
In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.
No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems—a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.
Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies—and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.
From the gorgeous cover to the cleverly appropriate title, The Rose and the Thistle, this sweeping tale by Laura Frantz delivers on every level. Covering the period of the Jacobite uprising in England and Scotland, the characters are engulfed by historical events, finding themselves on opposite sides of the conflict by no choice of their own.
Caught between duty, honor, and love, they each must wage battle in their own way to not just endure but survive the horrors thrust upon them.
Labeled a Jacobite sympathizer because of her father’s political leanings, Lady Blythe Hedley finds herself thrust into the care of Everard Hume, eldest son of her godparents.
Loyal to the throne of England and having recently lost his father, the now Lord Wedderburn wishes only to be rid of Lady Blythe to allow him to focus on his new duties and the particular needs of his far-ranging family, which includes a wayward brother whose own Jacobite leaning could bring dishonor to the Hume family name. As Blythe and Everard grow closer, their highs and lows, accompanied by wrenching plot twists and turns, will lure the reader into reading faster and faster, fully engrossed in their story.
If you have been searching for the perfect book in which to immerse yourself in a wide-sweeping tale filled with history, local color, dialect, and love, look no further. You have found it in The Rose and the Thistle. The characters are deep, rich, and fully engaging in their plight, anguish, and joy.
Set against a period of history replete with folklore, heroes, and sacrifice, this story’s own bold hero and demurring heroine weave a delightful spell, leaving the enthralled reader with a rapidly beating heart right until the very end. 
Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky. According to Publishers Weekly, “Frantz has done her historical homework.” With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lindy. Frantz is a gifted writer and I am glad you enjoyed her new novel.