2020 John Esten Cooke Award for Southern FictionFinalist in HOLT Medallion Award contestFinalist Greater Detroit Area RWA Booksellers Best Award A love story that spans centuries… 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 trusting in fate, letting go of the past, and believing in things that can’t be seen.
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 the “city girl” 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.
Rich in emotion and poignant in its telling, Lacewood is an unforgettable story about love and loss, roots and belonging…and spirits of the past that refuse to be quieted.
A haunting story that connects the past with the present—and the present with eternity.
“Strong storytelling prose.” – The BookLife Prize
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She needed a new place to rebuild so she goes to a new town where she finds a old house which she falls in love with. There is a mystery about the previous owner. She tries to find out what it is. He returns home and he may just be able to help her heal. See if he will
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading about determined, strong people who work hard and make their dreams happen. Very good story.
This story was amazing and I found it unpredictable informative. I enjoyed the history in a sad era.
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
Very well written. I want to read more of her work.
Loved the Tues between past and present in this book.
Well written book.
I love the way the past and the present are interwoven!
This book was hard to put down. There was a little bit of mystery about the main characters, but it was mainly the back story, the historical part that grabbed me. It was categorized as Christian fiction, and it was a clean book, but no real Bible verses. Still really loved the story.
Enjoyed this book…couldn’t put it down. I liked how past and present times converge in the story.
A thoroughly entertaining read!
I absolutely LOVED this book! Katie finds herself back in the town where her grandmother lived. Katie is tired of her fast-paced life and happens to stumble upon Lacewood, an abandoned mansion. She is very handy, and decides to refurbish Lacewood and live there. The people she meets are all very happy that she has arrived, and the story of her fixing up the house and the happy ending make this one of my top 10 favorites! Read it–you will never regret it!
This is one of my most recent favorites. I love the depth of the characters and the story line. It is obvious that the author did her due diligence before writing; the story rings true in both character and story development. I definitely recommend this book.
This is one of my new favorite books. It’s in my top five. I loved everything about it. It is original. Great story. I will read it again and again.
I loved this book it was a page-turner, tear-jerkier, entertaining, romantic, very original i just had to put it down to go to sleep or feed my family.
Loved the book!
Really liked it a lot. Kept my interest right to the end.
“Lacewood: A Novel of Time and Place” is an intriguing, involving, and haunting romantic tale from superb storyteller Jessica James. With her immaculate eye for historical detail and her beautifully-descriptive writing, she sweeps readers into a past world which is deeply entwined with the events unfolding in the present day. An impulsive escape from big-city emptiness takes Katie McCain on a search for her family roots in Virginia. Lost and confused after a wrong turn, she she unexpectedly comes across a long-unused mansion with a “For Sale” sign. She is immediately captivated by the once-grand home. and instinct propels her to purchase the property. It is no small undertaking to restore a centuries-old mansion to its former glory, and Katie accepts the help of Will Donovan.who has come home to the small community of New Hope. As their work progresses, Katie and Will are not only drawn to each other, but to the Civil War history of the home and the love story of those who lived there long ago. As mysteries and secrets come to light, Lacewood becomes much more than a structure–it seems to take on a life of its own. Katie and Will each have their own issues to resolve in order to clear the way to a bright and happy future–will it be the past that helps them find that future? “Lacewood: A Novel of Time and Place” is highly recommended for lovers of romantic stories full of history, mystery, faith, and most of all, true hearts.
Book Copy Gratis Author
Lacewood: A Novel of Time and Place is my first introduction to Jessica James and her books. After reading this one, it will not be the last. I enjoyed Katie’s story and how she solving the mystery of the past. I was not sure about her at first but she quickly grew on me and I could not put the book down.
I loved Lacewood: A Novel of Time and Place and I am giving it a well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it.
Fabulous read!
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Lacewood is a standalone story where the main character and setting is a house. Set in Virginia, the reader learns about the Civil War, and what it was like during that time for all involved. Annie, one of the characters from the past, is from New York, so she has a bit to contend with! Katie, from the present, is also from the ‘North’, but has her roots in the Virginian soil.
There was information about Katie, but nothing too much about what she did prior to being at Lacewood, just that she was very wealthy. You learn more about the characters from the past as Katie delves into the stories behind Lacewood. Will is the main character in the present, and to be fair, what you see is what you get with him. You don’t actually get too much backstory, or even that much involvement, with him.
Although I enjoyed having this book split into three parts (present, past, present), at the same time it was a bit jarring when it changed. There was no build-up to the change, it just happened. And when we returned to the present, it felt like quite some time had passed, and yet I have no idea how long it was.
For me, the main characters were Annie and Jon. They are the ones that made this story for me, involving me in their lives, and wanting to know exactly what had happened to them. I also wanted to know more about Molly and her baby, and how they coped after Luke was killed.
A gentle read, with oodles of Southern charm, I have no hesitation in recommending this. This was the first book by this author I have read, and I wouldn’t mind reading more of her work.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!