Lace & Locusts

Lace & Locusts

Genre: Historical Romance Appalachian Family Saga

Tone: Emotional, atmospheric, secret-laden, bittersweet, small-town intimate

Heat Level: medium

Core Theme: Family legacy, secrets buried in the hills, love versus duty, generational trauma and healing.

Premise: A multi-generational Appalachian romance saga following the McClain family from the 1850s through the early 20th century, shaped by moonshine, land disputes, family secrets, and enduring love.

World Notes: Locust Hill is a remote Appalachian settlement defined by dense forests, hidden ridges, and isolated homesteads. The McClain family land sits near the north ridge, where early moonshine operations begin. The Braddock family occupies the neighboring valley, fueling a generations-long feud over disputed land boundaries. The town includes a general store, a small church, a mill, and scattered farms. The region is shaped by pre–Civil War tensions, limited law enforcement, and strong community memory. As decades pass, the arrival of railroads, mining interests, and outside influence gradually transforms the region, creating new conflicts and opportunities for the McClains.

Books in the Series

Book 1: The Stranger at Locust Hill

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 2: The Schoolhouse Witness

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 3: The Runaway at Riverbend

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 4: The Quarry Saboteur

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 5: The Bridgekeeper’s Secret

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 6: The Outpost Refuge

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 7: The Workshop Inquisitor

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 8: The Widow in the Clearing

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 9: The Market Thief

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 10: The Mine of Forgotten Men

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 11: The River’s Last Cartographer

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 12: The Fireline Betrayal

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 13: The Rail Yard Conspiracy

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 14: The Orchard Poisoner

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 15: The Millworks Saboteur

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 16: The Ridge Watcher

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 17: The Riverbank Fugitive

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 18: The Outlaw Cartographer

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 19: The Poisoner’s Trail

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Book 20: The Last Saboteur

Finding beauty and enduring love amidst environmental and social decay.

Books in this Series

The Stranger at Locust Hill

When a wounded outsider collapses near the McClain homestead, Emma McClain takes him in despite the town’s warnings. As danger follows him into the valley,…

The Schoolhouse Witness

Hannah McClain shelters a quiet traveler who claims to be a writer, but his hidden notes reveal he is investigating a radical preacher dividing the…

The Runaway at Riverbend

Naomi McClain discovers an injured fugitive hiding by the river. As a relentless bounty hunter closes in, Naomi must decide whether to protect the stranger…

The Quarry Saboteur

Caleb McClain teams up with a mysterious surveyor after sabotage threatens the family quarry. When her past ties to a rival company surface, Caleb must…

The Bridgekeeper’s Secret

Mason McClain rescues a woman hiding beneath the old bridge, unaware she has stolen evidence from a violent gang. As the gang descends on Locust…

The Outpost Refuge

Evan McClain encounters a herbalist hiding in the hills, pursued by a ruthless mountain clan. When her secrets threaten to ignite a feud, Evan must…

The Workshop Inquisitor

Clara Mae McClain discovers a government agent investigating corruption in Locust Hill. When a traitor within the town targets them both, Clara Mae must decide…

The Widow in the Clearing

Riley McClain helps a guarded widow rebuild her life in an abandoned cabin. But when her violent past returns to claim her, Riley must confront…

The Market Thief

Jonas McClain crosses paths with a seamstress accused of theft, only to discover she is fleeing a criminal ring. As the ring tightens its grip…

The Mine of Forgotten Men

Declan McClain uncovers a historian exploring the abandoned mine and hiding evidence of a deadly cover-up. When sabotage traps them underground, Declan must confront the…

The River’s Last Cartographer

Talia McClain guides a mapmaker through the riverlands, unaware he is scouting land for a dam project that would drown McClain territory. As sabotage and…

The Fireline Betrayal

Soren McClain teams up with a wildfire researcher tracking an arsonist who shadows her work. When flames erupt across McClain land, Soren must hunt the…

The Rail Yard Conspiracy

Keaton McClain partners with a rail inspector investigating sabotage on the tracks. As a corrupt company moves to seize McClain land, Keaton must expose the…

The Orchard Poisoner

Maeve McClain discovers an agricultural chemist testing her soil for toxins. When a crop-poisoning ring targets the valley, Maeve must uncover the culprit before her…

The Millworks Saboteur

Gavin McClain catches a mechanical engineer studying the mill’s machinery. When explosions rock the millworks, Gavin must confront a saboteur determined to bring the town’s…

The Ridge Watcher

Soren McClain spots a woman studying fire patterns near the ridge. As an arsonist stalks the forest, Soren must protect both the land and the…

The Riverbank Fugitive

A mysterious woman arrives at the river crossing with a secret tied to a violent gang. When danger follows her into the valley, Talia McClain…

The Outlaw Cartographer

A mapmaker returns to Locust Hill with evidence of a land-grab scheme. As powerful men close in, the McClains must decide whether to trust him…

The Poisoner’s Trail

A chemist arrives with proof that someone is poisoning the valley’s water supply. Maeve McClain must uncover the culprit before the entire region is thrown…

The Last Saboteur

When a final, coordinated attack threatens the entire McClain legacy, the family must unite with the outsiders they once feared. Old enemies return, new alliances…