War Demands Choices

The Belle of Chatham Written by Larua Frantz

Narrated by Pilar Witherspoon

Published by Revell Audiobook Published by RBMedia Release Date: 01.27.26 Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

5 Stars! Listening to The Belle of Chatham, I felt as though I had stepped into the 1770s and taken up quiet residence there … as someone sharing the same air, the same uncertainty, the same ache of divided loyalties. Laura Frantz writes in a way that brings history to life … making it feel personal, intimate, and deeply human.

I discovered how war presses inward. It does not stay on battlefields. It moves through homes, through sisters, through hearts that once felt safe in their shared belonging. Family fractures, and those raw breaks are handled with tenderness and truth. There is grief on both sides of loyalty, and no one escapes untouched, unharmed … never the same again.

Maebel’s faith unfolds quietly, shaped by loss and hard obedience. She walks forward not knowing what is going to happen next. She lived out her faith, learning what it means to trust God when love, home, and security are all in question. Her journey carried the ache of real obedience … formed through loss, restraint, and surrender that asked everything of her and offered nothing easy in return.

Rhys Harlow carries a strength that drew me in immediately, anchored and steady. His affection for Mae grows under restraint and responsibility, shaped by conscience and care. Their relationship breathes patience. It honors God through restraint and a willingness to bear cost.

Prayer rises out of an understanding of God’s sovereignty. Forgiveness requires time. Healing unfolds slowly. Even after vows are spoken, love remains a place of choosing, yielding, and learning. Laura Frantz writes this with remarkable clarity and spiritual depth.

The historical time period and the wilderness are dangerous. Homes feel temporary. Liberty feels fragile and unfinished. Everything carries weight, and every detail carries purpose.

Experiencing this novel as an audiobook deepened the tenderness of it all. Pilar Witherspoon’s narration is exceptional, layered with warmth, gravity, and emotional awareness. She gives voice to fear, resolve, and quiet hope with remarkable care, allowing the story to breathe exactly as it should.

This book is for readers who recognize God’s hand in seasons of surrender, division, patience, devotion, and love that is shaped slowly and chosen daily.

The Belle of Chatham feels like a story written with patience and prayer. It honors faith formed under pressure, love refined through obedience, and the slow, sacred work God does.

I received a digital audio version of this book from RBmedia and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and reflect my honest evaluation of the writing, content, and narration.