The Lacemaker - My Review

As I was reading The Lacemaker, my thoughts drifted back to my time in Williamsburg, Virginia.  When I was in graduate school at Liberty University, I visited this small historic town, and after entering each unique building, I was momentarily transported back to another time period.  I remember visiting a bookbinder shop, which Frantz mentions in this novel, and I it was so amazing to hear how delicate a process this was.  These men cared for books in such a gentle and precious way because to own a book was quite priceless.  Not everyone could hold or purchase such a luxury.  Knowing this about history reminds me how grateful I am to own such a book collection.

Frantz’ story takes place in Williamsburg, Virginia during a time of much strife.  There are opposing thoughts and beliefs on every side, because so many individuals want to separate from England.  However, there is another side that wants to stay true to the Crown of England.  As she tries to discern the motives of those around her, Lady Elisabeth finds herself in the middle of this conflict.  Trusting people does not seem to come easy and her feelings of constantly missing her mother makes life even more difficult.  Even though she is supposed to marry, the days leading to the blessed event fill her with confusion and fear.  Why would those closest to her leave her side without a word? 

It is also interesting to read the conversations among the male characters in this novel, because they are discussing well-known individuals who are living among them.  Patrick Henry and George Washington are a just a few of the names mentioned during their meetings.  For the reader, learning about how certain characters view the world around them at this time makes for a better understanding concerning this climax in history.  

If you enjoy historical fiction, I recommend checking this novel out.  I love the question on the back of this book: “It is the eve of a new age of freedom in the colonies.  But can a proper English lady dare hope for her own independence?”  What a great question to ask and answer!  Happy reading!    

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy.

When colonial Williamsburg explodes like a powder keg on the eve of the American Revolution, Lady Elisabeth "Liberty" Lawson is abandoned by her fiancé and suspected of being a spy for the hated British. No one comes to her aid save the Patriot Noble Rynallt, a man with formidable enemies of his own. Liberty is left with a terrible choice. Will the Virginia belle turned lacemaker side with the radical revolutionaries, or stay true to her English roots? And at what cost?

Historical romance favorite Laura Frantz is back with a suspenseful story of love, betrayal, and new beginnings. With her meticulous eye for detail and her knack for creating living, breathing characters, Frantz continues to enchant historical fiction readers who long to feel they are a part of the story.

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Award-winning, bestselling author 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.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at: www.laurafrantz.net