December 20, 2025 
Reviewed by:
Chris Jager, Fiction Book Buyer, Baker Book House
Title:
The Belle of Chatham:
Author:
Laura Frantz
Publisher:
The Belle of Chatham – Baker Book House
Date:
January 20, 2026
Format:
Paperback
Length:
384 pages
Overview:
A well-done story that reminds us all that the cost of our freedom started with a ragtag army. One that wasn’t even sure it was going to survive its first winter let alone take down a world power. Much has been written about our war of independence thanks in part to Hamiliton the musical, but in some ways that glorifies all that happened. Laura Frantz pens a story with The Belle of Chatham that actually could be the story of any of our families if they were here in the States.
The Bohannan family has family on both sides of the conflict. Sister Coralie is very much against the rebellion, while the others, sister Maebel and her brothers are all on the rebel side. It is causing more than a small conflict as Coralie sees it as an opportunity to help her fiancée, especially with two Continental officers billeting at their home.
With the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence being celebrated this year, this is the perfect way to kick off your reading. Even if you are looking at this book long after the release date, it is well worth the read. Any and all of Frantz’s books are well worth the read because they open up little known parts of the new country we now claim as ours.
Rating:
5 out of 5
Suggested audience:
Fans of historical fiction
Christian impact:
Patriotism, sacrifice, sisterhood, and love are all important themes in this book.
Thanks Chris. Laura Frantz is one of my favorite authors because she writes about some of the lesser known aspects of history, or or lesser known aspects connected to the more famous parts of history. I especially liked the stories of the Acadiens, a group we rarely hear about.