The Thorn and the Rose

Mackenzie Davenport has spent years perfecting the appearance of a full life: a stable marriage, a daughter on the cusp of greatness, and a quiet home nestled in the South where everything has its place. But the truth is more fragile. Beneath the surface lies a story she's never told, a self she's slowly buried beneath expectation, duty, and the hush of unspoken things. When a mysterious letter is discovered in the back of an antique picture frame, it shakes her entire foundation. The message is simple, but it carries the weight of a life she never allowed herself to live, and a man whose memory she thought she had put to rest.

What follows is a profound unraveling-a journey through old love, abandoned dreams, and the quiet betrayals we commit against ourselves in the name of safety. As the boundary between past and present blurs, Mackenzie must choose whether to keep living the life she's built, or finally step into the truth of who she is, no matter the cost.

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The Thorn and the Rose keeps you wanting more. The characters feel authentic, like

real people with real stories. There is a sincerity in the writing, a heartfelt honesty that

brings the characters to life in an emotional way.

- Cindy Kamelchuk

The Thorn and the Rose is a story that reiterates what the heart already knows; that

true, unconditional love does not have to be dictated by society's norm but that true love is

an incredible gift and should be cherished in whatever form it is given. L.J. Henley reminds

us to listen to those inner voices we all hear, to respond to them, to accept them, to nourish

them. L.J. Henley writes in a style that is refreshing yet ancient. The reader is drawn in by her

expressive use of imagery and gets carried along in the storytelling to a place deep in the

writer's soul. The story had me from page one!

- Michele Shooter

If you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down. It draws you in from the very beginning. Each

chapter leaves you wondering what will happen next and wanting more. It's written in such a way that

you feel connected to each character and feeling all the feels throughout the story. Definitely a must read.

- Theresa B