This book gave me a personal view of life during the American Revolution I had not seen before. I hadn't thought how much of a perilous time it was for many. History is great at giving the facts but does not share the intimate experiences of individuals during that era. I knew the Patriots and Tories were passionately opposed America's independence, but I had never taken into consideration the great cost and private losses to those faithful to the Crown. I found it strange to think George Washington and Patrick Henry were viewed as the bad guys, when they are our heroes!
Through Elizabeth Lawson I was able to experience all of this. It is 1775 in Williamsburg Virginia. Wealthy and socially elite, she plans her wedding to Miles Roth. There is no love involved; it is arranged by her father. Sadly what Miles has in social standing he lacks in morality and character, a skirt chaser and gambler. On the night of their engagement party he is involved in is favorite pastimes and sends his cousin Noble Rynallt to escort her. This causes quite a stir in more than one way; Rynallt is a Patriot. She is extremely impressed by him, especially in comparison to his no-count cousin.
Then one night her entire world is turned upside down and her future changed forever. The Tories flee, including Elizabeth's father and fiancé, the revolutionaries ransack her beautiful mansion, looting and destroying. All her servants flee but two and she survives unharmed. She goes from being rich to homeless. Noble steps up and to offer his protection by inviting her to his home. This was an awkward situation at best, especially considering their opposing political sides. Having no choice she accepts.
I was amazed at her strength and faith! She was not the whiney, shallow rich girl that many of that time were. I saw a great lesson in controlling one's thoughts. She did not allow negative, self-pitying, or fearful thoughts to remain, but consistently directed her mind back to God's Word. This was quite a feat considering her French maid was constantly bombarding her with negativity.
Noble, lives up to his name and proves to be a man of integrity and compassion. He too has a strong faith in God and that his guide. I admired how he was able to allow Elizabeth her views while continuing to pursue and stand for his quest for our nation's independence.
Through Ms. Frantz's skilled writing I was a part of the scenery, customs, and drama of the time! A book I truly enjoyed!
I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: âGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
Through Elizabeth Lawson I was able to experience all of this. It is 1775 in Williamsburg Virginia. Wealthy and socially elite, she plans her wedding to Miles Roth. There is no love involved; it is arranged by her father. Sadly what Miles has in social standing he lacks in morality and character, a skirt chaser and gambler. On the night of their engagement party he is involved in is favorite pastimes and sends his cousin Noble Rynallt to escort her. This causes quite a stir in more than one way; Rynallt is a Patriot. She is extremely impressed by him, especially in comparison to his no-count cousin.
Then one night her entire world is turned upside down and her future changed forever. The Tories flee, including Elizabeth's father and fiancé, the revolutionaries ransack her beautiful mansion, looting and destroying. All her servants flee but two and she survives unharmed. She goes from being rich to homeless. Noble steps up and to offer his protection by inviting her to his home. This was an awkward situation at best, especially considering their opposing political sides. Having no choice she accepts.
I was amazed at her strength and faith! She was not the whiney, shallow rich girl that many of that time were. I saw a great lesson in controlling one's thoughts. She did not allow negative, self-pitying, or fearful thoughts to remain, but consistently directed her mind back to God's Word. This was quite a feat considering her French maid was constantly bombarding her with negativity.
Noble, lives up to his name and proves to be a man of integrity and compassion. He too has a strong faith in God and that his guide. I admired how he was able to allow Elizabeth her views while continuing to pursue and stand for his quest for our nation's independence.
Through Ms. Frantz's skilled writing I was a part of the scenery, customs, and drama of the time! A book I truly enjoyed!
I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: âGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz takes readers back to 1775 in the Virginia Colony. Lady Elisabeth Lawson is the only child of the Earl of Stirling who is the lieutenant governor for the area. Lady Elisabeth is betrothed to Miles Cullen Roth which was arranged by her father. Lady Elisabeth has led a privileged and sheltered life with her path laid out before her by her dictatorial father. The night before her wedding, she wakes up to glass breaking and a crowd of men (rebels) in her home. The revolution has started, and her father has fled along with the Lord Dunsmore (his wife, children, and their servants). The one bright spot is Miles calls of their engagement (the cad). Elisabeth must now find a way to make it on her own. Patriot Noble Rynallt takes Elisabeth into his home while she decides on her next move. She changes her name to Liberty and obtains a position as seamstress at the Raleigh while selling her handmade lace at the local market. When an opportunity to aid the war effort presents itself, Liberty must make a decision. Will she stay loyal to the British or will she side the Patriots? How will Liberty fare during these tumultuous times?
The Lacemaker is nicely written and the author captures the time-period with her descriptions of the town, clothing, mannerisms, attitudes and speech. You can tell that Ms. Frantz did her research for The Lacemaker. The author provides vivid and detailed descriptions. It allows me to picture the scenes in my head. While I enjoy the historical details, it does slow down the pace of the novel (she needed to find a balance). I was happy to see the pace pick up in the second half of the book. I thought the characters were realistic and well-developed. I liked how the author incorporated her fictional characters with famous historical figures (Patrick Henry, George Washington). Liberty found herself in a difficult position. She is caught between two worlds. One wrong move and Liberty could have found herself in jail (or much worse). The romance between Liberty and Noble does not progress beyond friendship until later in the book. The attraction between them is visible from the moment they meet, but circumstances prevent them from moving forward until later in the story. The romance between the pair is heavily featured in the latter half of the novel. The ending felt incomplete and rushed. We live through each day with Liberty and then in the end months go by. Also, the historical details are missing. I found it deficient. It seemed like the author ran out of steam. The end did not live up to the rest of the book. The cover for The Lacemaker is just lovely. It caught my attention right away which led me to read the excerpt and ultimately, the book. Readers who enjoy historical romance novels will be delighted with The Lacemaker.
The Lacemaker is nicely written and the author captures the time-period with her descriptions of the town, clothing, mannerisms, attitudes and speech. You can tell that Ms. Frantz did her research for The Lacemaker. The author provides vivid and detailed descriptions. It allows me to picture the scenes in my head. While I enjoy the historical details, it does slow down the pace of the novel (she needed to find a balance). I was happy to see the pace pick up in the second half of the book. I thought the characters were realistic and well-developed. I liked how the author incorporated her fictional characters with famous historical figures (Patrick Henry, George Washington). Liberty found herself in a difficult position. She is caught between two worlds. One wrong move and Liberty could have found herself in jail (or much worse). The romance between Liberty and Noble does not progress beyond friendship until later in the book. The attraction between them is visible from the moment they meet, but circumstances prevent them from moving forward until later in the story. The romance between the pair is heavily featured in the latter half of the novel. The ending felt incomplete and rushed. We live through each day with Liberty and then in the end months go by. Also, the historical details are missing. I found it deficient. It seemed like the author ran out of steam. The end did not live up to the rest of the book. The cover for The Lacemaker is just lovely. It caught my attention right away which led me to read the excerpt and ultimately, the book. Readers who enjoy historical romance novels will be delighted with The Lacemaker.
