Book Review | Lacewood by Award-Winning Author @jessicajames #romanticfiction
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  • N. N. Light
    • Jan 22, 2020
    • 3 min read

Book Review | Lacewood by Award-Winning Author @jessicajames #romanticfiction


Title: Lacewood

Author: Jessica James

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romantic Fiction


Book Blurb:

History, mystery, and a love story that spans centuries.


Two people trying to escape their pasts find a connection through an old house—and fulfill a destiny through the secrets it shares.


Part love story, part ghost story, Lacewood is a timeless novel about love and loss, roots and belonging, and spirits of the past that refuse to be quieted.


MOVING TO A SMALL TOWN in Virginia is a big change for New York socialite Katie McCain. But when she stumbles across an abandoned 200-year-old mansion, she’s enthralled by the enduring beauty of the neglected estate—and captivated by the haunting portrait of a woman in mourning.


Purchasing the property on a whim, Katie attempts to fit in with the colorful characters in the town of New Hope, while trying to unravel the mystery of the “widow of Lacewood.” As she pieces together the previous owner’s heartrending story, Katie uncovers secrets the house has held for centuries, and discovers the key to coming to terms with her own sense of loss.


The past and present converge when hometown hero Will Durham returns and begins his own healing process by helping restore the place that holds so many memories. As the mystic web of destiny is woven, a love story that might have been lost forever is exposed, and a destiny that has been waiting in the shadows for centuries is fulfilled.


A powerful and poignant tale that vividly conveys the heartache of war, the tragedy of loss, and the fulfillment of destiny…even when souls are separated by centuries.


Lacewood takes readers on a journey that connects the past with the present—and the present with eternity.


My Review:

New York socialite Katie McCain has no idea how much her life would change by one drive down a dusty road. One look at the neglected Lacewood mansion in disrepair and she knows she has to own it. Something calls her to the small town of New Hope and as she tries to fit in, she meets mysterious Will Durham. He vexes her at every turn, making her feel less than capable of restoring the Lacewood manor, but there’s something about him that tugs at her heartstrings. The mystery surrounding the Widow of Lacewood intrigues Katie and when she discovers old letters and correspondence, a Civil War love story is revealed. When Will discovers who she is, will Katie be able to mend the rift or will she have to leave Lacewood, the only home she’s felt at peace, forever?


Lacewood is a tender, heart-wrenching tale of loss, love and finding your destiny. It’s told in both modern-day and the Civil War era. The Civil War scenes are historically accurate and it’s obvious the author has done extensive research. I connected with all the characters in the book but especially Katie. She’s never gotten over the loss of grandmother and the isolation Lacewood offers is exactly what she needs.


Will is a hometown hero veteran trying to blend into the woodwork without any fan fare. He’s plagued with guilt and keeps everyone at a distance. He suffers from PTSD and in one scene, his emotions overflow. His anguish, his pain, squeezed my heart and I cried. Again, kudos to the author for her research on PTSD.


From start to finish, I loved reading Lacewood. It holds a special place in my heart and my bookshelf. When it ended, I was a little sad. I wanted to stay with Katie and Will as they carve out a life in the beautiful estate of Lacewood. Highly recommend!


Favorite Character/Quote:


“Maybe we are proof that hope can survive in the midst of death, and love can find someone even after great loss."


My Rating: 5+ stars


Buy it Now:









Author Biography:

Jessica James’ award-winning novels are inspired by her love of the land, her belief in everlasting love, and her curiosity about the past.


She is a three-time winner of the John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction, and has won more than a dozen other literary awards, including a Readers' Favorite International Book Award and a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America. Her novels have been used in schools and are available in hundreds of libraries including Harvard and the U.S. Naval Academy.


To combat the sedentary career of writing, Jessica works as a part-time stagehand at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Pa., the “grandest small-town theater in the nation.”


Social Media Links:

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/jessicajames

BookBub : https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-james

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/586216.Jessica_James

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RomanticHistoricalFiction


Reviewed by: Mrs. N


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