Rich with impeccable historical detail and filled with unforgettable, colorful characters, The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz brings colonial Williamsburg to life at the beginning of the American Revolution. Elizabeth “Liberty” Lawson is courageous, plucky, and torn between the Tories and the Patriots. Noble Rynallt is a perfect hero—caring, protective, yet ready to help his country gain independence. The interaction between these two characters was entrancing and riveting, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow. Frantz is one of my favorite authors, and I learn much about history from reading her books. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. ( )

Full review at Little Book Jockey. I admit I was hesitant to pick up a piece of Christian fiction. I've had bad experiences with them in the past, so I was wary of a repeat. But this book was actually very nice overall. There were a few places where things seemed to be either resolved too easily or rushed in the writing. I would have liked a bit more conflict or tension in those moments. And the ending did seem a little rushed overall. I kept checking what page I was on, wondering how the book could possibly end so quickly. Reading this made me want to visit lovely Williamsburg again, and it rekindled my admiration of Virginia's rich history. ( )

After years of hearing praise for historical novelist Laura Frantz, I finally took the plunge with An Uncommon Woman. I liked it so much that I immediately downloaded the audiobook of The Lacemaker, a book I knew would be great for my 4th of July reading. I was right! Set in 1775-1776 Williamsburg, the book encompasses the earliest days of rebellion. Main characters, Liberty Lawson and Noble Rynalt are fictional, but Frantz includes historical figures like Patrick Henry to give this book authenticity. Liberty, formerly known as Lady Elizabeth Lawson, daughter of the Lt. Governor of the colony, has definite Tory roots. But her mother’s sense of justice and her own desire for freedom, set her on a course counter to her father’s beliefs and her own place in society. Liberty and Noble will capture your heart as they negotiate the perils of the fight for independence and their own personal journey towards love. Yes, there is romance mixed in with spying and sedition — a great combo for fans who want a love story blended into their history. I listened to the audiobook in the days leading up to the July 4th holiday — a great choice to remember what the day is all about. The narrator did an admirable job capturing the rich mixture of voices that made up Virginia colony.

There is no doubt as to why The Lacemaker won a Christy award. Frantz’s wonderful storytelling, strong characters, and meaningful spiritual message make this one a must read.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

Listening to this book really brought it alive. The dialect helped me imagine the characters. It's a somewhat long listen (12 hours) but worth it. ( )

I finally got to read Laura Frantz's latest, The Lacemaker. I always get excited when Laura has a new book come out, and this time was no exception. I just finished watching the Netflix series Turn, and that set me up perfectly to get into this Revolutionary War tale of romance and intrigue. In fact, I kind of let a couple characters from the television series influence the way I pictured Lady Elizabeth "Liberty" Lawson and the dashing Noble Renaullt.

As is always the case with Laura's novels, The Lacemaker is rich with historical detail and insight into both daily living and period events. It was fun to "meet" Patrick Henry as well as other historical figures brought back to life in these pages. The story of the perils the Patriots faced, both through Liberty as a Tory turned Patriot spy and through Noble who is a leader in the struggle for independence, unwinds slowly and with just the right amount of tension. The love that binds Liberty and Noble make The Lacemaker a romantic and relaxing read I looked forward to picking up again each time I was forced to go cook food, sleep, or perform some other task necessary to life.

If you like early American stories that are elegantly written and fraught with period intrigue, you'll want to read The Lacemaker. ( )