A gutsy woman is thrust into an unexpected marriage amid rising hostilities between Great Britain and the American colonies, in this sweeping historical from Frantz (A Matter of Honor). Juliet Catesby lives with her father on a Virginia plantation, where she helps him grow tobacco and indigo. She harbors a grudge against Leith Buchanan, a widowed Scottish tobacco farmer whose shady business practices have left the plantation deeply in debt. When Leith travels to the colonies to visit his trading partners and find a new bride, Juliet's surprised to find she enjoys his company--though she has no interest in marriage and tries to set him up with her younger sister, Loveday. When Juliet's matchmaking efforts fail and her father orders her to marry Leith in exchange for his forgiveness of the plantation's debt, she's humiliated and tries to resist, but desperate circumstances eventually force her to agree and begin a new life in Scotland. As Juliet and Leith navigate their tenuous union, their faith lends them the strength to endure unexpected challenges, including business intrigue, family jealousies, and a ghost from Leith's past that threatens to destroy his reputation. Frantz's characters leap off the page, propelling an ambitious, twisty plot that draws energy from the tensions of the Revolutionary era. The results are captivating. (Jan.)

Juliet Catesby holds the dubious title of "Indigo Heiress," which should help in making a profitable marriage match. Virginia, however, is a hotbed of political unrest in 1774. Plus the plantation is broke, and her soul cannot abide slavery any longer, leading her to secretly help enslaved families get to Pennsylvania. Then Juliet's father makes a marriage arrangement for her to one of Scotland's notorious tobacco lords. At first, Leith Buchanan seems like a heinous and oppressive man, but when Juliet is caught in a midnight rescue, his estate an ocean away seems like a refuge. As affection slowly develops in the arranged marriage, someone is trying to undermine the Buchanan name, and the Catesby family is caught in the crosshairs. VERDICT Frantz (The Seamstress of Acadie) always provides an exquisitely researched historical setting; here she deals unflinchingly with the controversial legacy of the tobacco lords and the early stages of rebellion in the American colonies. Those who like to read beyond the victor's perspective in history will also enjoy A River Between Us by Jocelyn Green and The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli.

Juliet Catesby is uncommonly gifted in business dealings for a woman in 1774 Virginia, but conceding her own hand in marriage is a transaction over which she is unwilling to bargain. Following his late wife's scandalous death, tobacco baron Leith Buchanan hopes erasing the Catesby indigo plantation debts in exchange for returning to Scotland with Juliet as his bride will eventually prove fortuitous in profits and passion. As danger builds on both sides of the Atlantic, and talk of independence sows division among the colonists, the indigo heiress must decide how to cultivate a marriage of convenience into something more enduring. Frantz adds another tale to her captivating roster of novels intersecting colonial life and legacy and Scottish heritage. With lush prose and the backdrop of the looming American Revolution, Frantz infuses color and life into a multifaceted story of liberty featuring unexpected twists and transforming history. From fragrant estates and sisterly matchmaking to subverting slavery and personal stakes, this is an engaging story of growth, trust, and love that inspires integrity.