The Ruins of Lace is about Lace Smuggling in historical France. It is a story of hope and of desperation. It is a good story, but a sad one as the title suggests. The book weaves through seven different viewpoints to tell the story of Lisette and Katharina, and the damage that lace has brought upon their lives. There are many interesting characters in the story and the tales of the historical lace smuggling reminds me of today's drug smuggling, and the length smugglers will go through to bring in illegal contraband. The fact that the story is written in the first person but from seven viewpoints got a little confusing at times. You really have to pay attention when you read this one. The story was tedious at the beginning, but as it progressed it got more interesting. I don't regret reading this book but it's not one that I could read again. Reviewed by JoAnneBook provided by NetGalley for reviewReview originally posted at Romancing the BookI have mixed feelings about this book. It’s a historical novel set in the 1600′s in France with the entire premise of the book about the smuggling of lace because the wearing of lace was banned by the French King.The book had many characters and points of view. We were given each person’s background and story as they were introduced. Each story was told in first person by the character whose story was being told in that chapter which was a little difficult to follow and each character was involved with lace in some way. I felt there wasn’t closure to any of the character’s stories. The descriptions of the French Countryside were vivid though and I felt like I could feel the mud, the anguish of the various characters, including the dog, the fear, the heartache and all too few times the happiness.I felt the book had an abrupt ending not only in several chapters but also at the end which I didn’t realize until I turned the last page in my e-reader. Also, at the end of the book there were discussion questions, information about the author, a conversation with the author that was a series of questions and answers related to this book, acknowledgements, and the author’s notes about her interest in writing this story. All of this amounted to almost 20 pages which seemed excessive.I have not read books by this author before but would give another book a try to see if there was better closure and if she also wrote in the first person by various characters – a format that wasn’t an easy read.Favorite Quote: “To be caught with lace is to be subject to a six-thousand-livres fine. And exile. And the confiscation of estates.” The count raised a finger. “Only if you are caught.” “But…I can’t…I don’t know…I don’t even know how much it would cost…” Father had gone pale as he spoke.“And I’ve already paid you so much…”
What do You think about Die Blüten Der Freiheit (2013)?
IMO Lizzie LIVED...I don't think she died at all. But I'm an optimist. lol
—ABelle
The beginning was interesting, then got silly
—creditcardromance
