Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lacewood is a story about two women whose lives intersect through an old home. The main heroine Katie McCain stumbles across an antebellum mansion that’s been neglected for several years. On a whim, she buys the old property and moves in, planning to escape her glitzy life in New York. As she begins renovating the old home, she slowly begins to unravel the mystery of its rich and heart-wrenching history.
This was my first Jessica James novel, and my first impression was the vivid descriptions. I felt like I was standing in the middle of the home with Katie as she worked. The descriptions dragged me into the story so much, I felt the same emotional need to discover Annie Logan’s story as Katie did.
Annie’s story is woven into the tale through hidden letters, portraits, and tidbits passed through the locals. I became so engrossed in Annie’s history that I began to wish to see her point of view. However, when it finally came, I was a bit jarred at first. There is a bit of warning with a division (the novel is in 3 parts), but it took me a moment to transition to a new time period. I began to wonder why James didn’t just alternate between Katie and Annie through the entire book, but once I began to read Annie’s part, I understood why. Annie’s part flowed easier through the passage of time when the reader had already gained knowledge of her story from Katie’s investigation while renovating the house.
Both Katie and Annie’s stories are haunting at times, but the strong heroines become stronger throughout the book. I enjoyed the patriotism interwoven throughout both heroine’s stories as well as the realization that both sides of the Civil War were fought by men who had strong belief in their country. I always enjoy when an author makes me once again think of the sacrifices of others and how they affected my life, just as Katie began to think about the sacrifices made in a community that’s still new to her.
I do feel the need to point out that there is some light cussing in this book. By “light,” I mean instances of d***it and h*ll. Some readers won’t be bothered by it and may feel that James has created realistic characters by using this language since people do slip up sometimes. Others, like myself, try to avoid this language at all cost. It really depends on your taste. There is also some slight innuendo at the end that may not be suitable for younger readers and those who prefer to avoid such things. I still felt like this was a good story, but if I had known about the language and innuendo, I might not have picked it up because of my personal preferences.
God is mentioned and known by these characters, especially Annie, and Katie does struggle some with rectifying her grief with a loving God. However, there’s not a spiritual arc, or at least the kind that I’m used to. That will be a relief to some who don’t like to be preached at. Others, like myself, enjoy a spiritual arc that plays a large role in the book. Once again, it depends on personal tastes.
If you’re interested in checking it out for yourself, Lacewood releases on June 18. You can preorder it here. In the meantime, you can follow Jessica James on BookBub, Amazon, and Goodreads.
