In this sweet Regency romance, two star-crossed lovers must contend with families on either side of the violent clash between progress and tradition. Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather’s plans to modernize the family’s wool mill, ignoring the … ignoring the grumblings from local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry will have to sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family’s livelihood and legacy.
Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder–including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father’s pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.
As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, their village, and their souls–even if it means risking their hearts in the process.
Praise for The Weaver’s Daughter
“A gently unfolding love story set amidst the turmoil of the early industrial revolution. It’s a story of betrayal, love, and redemption, all beautifully rendered in rural England.” –Elizabeth Camden, RITA award-winning author
- A stand-alone, clean Regency romance
- Full-length novel at 90,000 words
- Romeo and Juliet set-up but with a happily ever after
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
more
The Weaver’s Daughter is such a unique glimpse into England’s history. I had no idea that there was so much pushback during their Industrial Revolution, but after reading this book, I can definitely see why. Sarah Ladd does a fantastic job of allowing us to see all sides of the story, and Kate’s and Henry’s points of view are both compelling. The book is written from both of their perspectives, as well as Frederica’s, one of the other members of the community of Amberdale. Each of the characters are well fleshed out in the story, and as we come to see each of their motivations and how it leads them to act, we are taken on a very dramatic ride.
Henry Stockton, the hero of the story, has PTSD from taking part in the Napoleonic Wars. As it is nowhere near the time when it was publicly acknowledged, Henry’s behaviors are a challenge for him and lead to some awkward situations. He longs for peace at home after dealing with war abroad, and he hopes to help his family’s business move into the next phase of fabric production which includes weaving machines.
Kate Dearborne, the heroine, is initially distrustful of Henry as the Stocktons are bitter business rivals of her family. Her family’s business maintains the traditional method of hand weaving fabric, and they are opposed to the automation that is sweeping across England and putting many workers out of job. As Henry tries to win Kate’s trust, she is slowly drawn to him in such a sweet, romantic way. Their conversations, while sometimes heated, lead to growth for both them and the citizens of Amberdale. This is not without some serious growing pains, and the last part of the book is very exciting! This story has all of the hallmarks of a Regency classic, and the way that Henry declares his feelings for Kate is so incredibly romantic. I rarely swoon, but oh, those words! I won’t give it away, but I highly recommend this book for all of its drama, romance, and intrigue!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Weaver’s Daughter (2018) by Sarah E. Ladd is a FANTASTIC standalone novel. This book comes in all forms including eBook, and is 356 pages in length. With a full-time job, a very busy six-year old at home, and packing my house up so we can move, this story took me two days to read. I received an ARC version of this novel in paperback form from the author via her publisher, Thomas Nelson. In no way has this influenced my opinion of the story. All opinions expressed in my review are my own. I give The Weaver’s Daughter 5+++ STARS. This novel is a Christian Historical Romance set in England in 1812.
I have loved and enjoyed every book Sarah Ladd has written, but The Weaver’s Daughter is my new favorite. The storytelling in this book is so fast-paced and engaging that I could not put the book down.
I absolutely LOVED three things the most about this book:
1. Characters and Perspective
This story is told through the points-of-view of Kate, Henry, and Frederica.
Each character — Kate, Henry, and Frederica — is unique and integral to the story, so reading each character’s perspective made the story all the more rich and engaging.
The characters are SO well developed and well written. I definitely want to be Kate’s friend, Henry is an excellent Hero, and Frederica is perfectly awful. But, they are more than just caricatures. They do more than just fit into a particular character mold. All three are believable and realistic in their own rights. I wasn’t just reading a fictional story with made-up characters; The Weaver’s Daughter is a story about people who could have genuinely walked this earth and lived through the struggles shared in this story.
2. Henry Stockton = one of the BEST hero’s ever!
First of all, Henry is swoon-worthy! He is tall with broad shoulders, strong, dark haired, and has eyes so blue it’s like looking into an idealistically perfect ocean. I will shamefully admit that I did enjoy his character from a purely shallow perspective. LOL!
BUT, Henry is way more than just a handsome man. He is a wounded man. Henry has been to war, and it has changed him. Instead of a shallow, selfish boy, he is now a man matured and hardened by the things he personally witnessed throughout his many years in the Napoleonic wars. I found this part of Henry’s character to be exceptionally realistic. My father was stationed in Vietnam during four of the most insane years of the Vietnam War. I can personally attest to the behaviors of a man suffering PTSD caused by war, and Henry has PTSD. I appreciate that Mrs. Ladd illustrates this truth and didn’t sweep the aftereffects of war under the carpet. I personally hate when an author creates a character who is supposedly a war veteran but has absolutely no signs of the wear and tear war does to a person.
Henry is SO respectful of Kate. He values her opinions and criticisms, and takes to heart her suggestions. Over the course of the story, Henry blossoms into a truly compassionate and giving man because of his many interactions with Kate. This is my most favorite aspect to The Weaver’s Daughter. Henry truly wants to be a good man, a man God would want him to be, and sees what it means to value human beings as he watches Kate interact with her community. Henry wants to emulate Kate, and therefore becomes a better man BECAUSE of her.
Henry stands up to bullies even when it is scary to do so. I dislike bullies immensely. The Weaver’s Daughter is full of bullies who want to hurt others. Instead of hiding from them, Henry stands up to them. He shows no fear. I loved and admired this aspect of his character.
Oh yeah, the first kiss is amazing!!! It happened exactly when it was supposed to, and Henry, as the initiator, could not have been more breathtaking!
3. A Nod to Romeo and Juliet
I love when authors incorporate motifs from other story lines. It’s fun to see how they make the beloved ideas and concepts their own. Sarah Ladd did an excellent job of utilizing the Romeo and Juliet motif of lovers from two families who hate one another. I love when love overcomes adversity. Kate is a Dearborne and Henry is a Stockton. Dearbornes and Stocktons do not trust one another, and they haven’t for decades. The more time Kate and Henry spend together though, the more they realize that maybe the two families have been wrong to have such distrust and dislike for one another. Maybe a bridge could be made between the two families after all? Maybe peace can be a reality? You will have to read this wonderful story to find out!
I know I say this every single time, but there really are like a thousand more amazing things I could discuss about this book. I didn’t even get to the history aspect — I was completely fascinated by the wars between the Weavers and the Millers during the 1800s in England. I had NO idea about this bitter aspect to history. A lot of peoples’ lives changed during the Industrial Revolution, and not always for the best. In all honesty, “Progress” seems to hurt more than it helps.
Oh my, did I love this book. I am very sad that my time with Kate and Henry is over. I am definitely keeping this book for a second, third, 20th re-read! If you are looking for a book to love and re-read again and again, then I cannot recommend The Weaver’s Daughter enough. Run to your nearest bookstore (or computer!) and purchase a copy of this fabulous story. You will not be disappointed that you did.
I have read every book that this author has written. They are always enjoyable novels that have fully immersed me in the time period. But I can say, without a doubt, that The Weaver’s Daughter is definitely my favorite book by Sarah E. Ladd that I have read so far.
These characters! Oh My! I just loved them, especially Henry Stockton. My heart hurt for him so much for many reasons as I read through the book. He suffered a lot during the war and was plagued with guilt and trauma from that experience. His noble character was evident in the way he treated his sister, as well as his care and growing feelings toward Kate. Henry was a special man indeed.
This novel had great romantic chemistry between Henry and Kate, wonderful historical detail, and a thread of danger that kept me thoroughly engrossed in the story to the very last page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This just became my favorite book by Sarah Ladd!! Loved it!
The Weaver’s Daughter is an absolutely breathtaking story of love and overcoming odds. It reminded me of a Romeo and Juliet tale, without the suicide at the end.
I really loved how this story flowed seamlessly between Kate and Henry’s POV. I often feel that an author cannot seamlessly switch a POV from female to male. The characters can so often sound as if they have the exact same voice. So, when I find an author that does it well, I can’t help but savor the experience. Sarah Ladd really outdid herself with this novel. These are characters to love and cherish. Characters that I genuinely wanted to wish well.
I did feel as if there were nearly two tropes in this book. An insta-love vibe and a love triangle. However, just like with the character voice, the author did this so well. It felt very organic to the story. And really, the insta-love wasn’t like two strangers meeting. Kate and Henry were acquainted.
My favorite thing about this story was Fredrica. Why did I love the villain of the story? Well, she’s a character I couldn’t help but love to hate. Call me crazy, but I like those characters that make me want to reach through the pages and smack them about.
Overall, I think this is the best book that I have read by Sarah Ladd and I’ve read almost all of hers.
Everything was just spot on for me. The romance. The tension. The love that Henry had for his family. EVERYTHING. I loved it!
One last thing to mention and for me, this is not a negative. I felt that Molly’s (Henry’s sister) pregnancy would have been a bigger deal for the time period than Henry made it out to be. But, I loved the story anyway and it didn’t detract from the story for me. Maybe it’s because I frequently deal with judgemental people who need to give it a rest. While some may feel that Molly’s sin is being justified, I didn’t feel that way. I felt that Henry was just determined to love his sister. That’s how families should be. They should love each other no matter what.
Really, I have nothing negative at all to say about The Weaver’s Daughter. I would like to see if there are any plans to turn this into a series.
This book was provided to me by The Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
Cultures clash in this enjoyable regency romance. While the story is set in the Regency era in England, there are still nuggets of truth that apply today. Misunderstanding and Prejudice can easily destroy not only families but entire towns. With progress, comes change, and change can be very difficult. Especially when you are a weaver and factories are starting to take over.
For me, the story started out a bit slow, but before I knew it the characters had walked their way into my heart and I found myself not only talking to the characters but also holding my breath and rapidly turning pages to find out what would happen next.
I enjoyed the character growth, with both Kate and Henry. Watching them as they began to understand the role they played in not only their respective family, and in the community, but also in the future. With a gentle reminder of forgiveness and “Everyone makes mistakes in their life. It is how you respond to them and learn from them that matters.” This story is sure to not only entertain but warm your heart.
Fans of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South are sure to be delighted with this latest story from Sarah! I give this story 4-stars. I look forward to reading more from Sarah in the future.
(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
“He’s back! Henry Stockton’s back from the grave!”
Kate Dearborne has already seen the local ghost with her own eyes; the Stockton Mill owner’s grandson was apparently never killed in the war, for Henry Stockton has returned to Amberdale to join his family’s thriving business, and while unbeknownst to her father, Kate; through no fault of her own, has just become reacquainted with the imposing local figure.
Returning home after serving his country, Henry Stockton mistakenly believes that he is arriving back to the same peaceful community that he left behind; however, nothing could be further from the truth. His grandfather’s iron clad business tactics have hardened his approach to profit, stirring wide discontent between the local weavers and those who have chosen to step forward and become employed by Stockton Mill. One man has truly crossed the line; Charles Dearborne, son of a formidable weaver. But it’s the beautiful weaver’s daughter that strikes the eye of Henry Stockton; in spite of their differences, and it in spite of his business partner’s alluring daughter; who makes it quite clear that she wants to become Mrs. Henry Stockton.
As tensions rise and the stakes become higher, will Kate and Henry rise to the occasion, or will they fall back on conventionality and destroy any chance of happiness between them? For, “they were two people fighting the same battle on different sides of the war”.
Enjoy Sarah Ladd’s melodic style, as she demonstrates her own knowledge of weaving; using the power of words to fabricate a beautiful story.
The Weaver’s Daughter is about loyalties and traditions. What will happen when a daughter keeps her loyalties with her father and want to be loyal to her brother as well. Well, things get a bit dicey when Henry Stockton returns.
Kate struggles with wanting to keep her loyalties to her past or they at least bind her to the past. Her father is a weaver and Kate try and prove to her father and the others that she wants to help with wool. Her brother Charles has chosen to work at Stockton Mill.
We are shown what it like for the time period and the history during Weavers vs Mill owners are tested. Weavers are trying to save their job and livelihoods and mill owners are trying to provide and work with the progress of the coming future.
Henry seems drawn to Miss Dearborne. Will Miss Dearborne come around or will she fight for what in the past. She is seemed like torn between loyalties to her father and brother. She will have to make a choice.
There are tensions with Miss Dearborne father and Henry Stockton? Old man Stockton has tensions with Weavers or at least with the Dearbornes. When someone kills Henry grandfather, who did it and why.
Mr. Dearbone seem to think that Old man Stockton’s grandson will be the same as his grandfather? Mr. Dearborne tells his daughter to stay away from Stockton Mill and the Stocktons. Kate seems to keep entering Stockton property and is found out. Find out why and you will need to read it and find out the ending.
This was such a good book! I loved it! Sarah Ladd wrote such an excellent regency story. I loved the characters. The way the story wrapped up was very satisfying. It felt like the story flowed really well. I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The Weaver’s Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd sweeps readers back in time to January of 1812 in Amberdale, West Riding Yorkshire, England. Kate Dearborne lives with her father at Meadowvale Cottage and helps him with the weaving business. She is shocked when she learns her father has no intention of leaving her the business. Silas Dearborne wishes her to marry a John Whitby, a weaver who will run the business while Kate tends to the home (she is allowed to supervise the dye house). Silas clings to the old ways along with other men in the area, but the mill owners are bringing change to the industry with machines. The issue has divided the town, and, in Leeds, the mills have been attacked. Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton Mill, returns home after fighting in the Iberian Peninsula for the last three years. On his way home, he encounters Kate and she captures his interest. Henry is surprised at the changes that have taken place during his absence and does not agree with all of them. Henry does, though, feel that the machines are needed especially if they are to keep up with the demand for their goods. Then tragedy strikes the Stockton family and Henry will face major challenges. Fate keeps bringing Kate and Henry together despite their being on opposing sides. Soon Kate will need to make a choice that will change many lives including her own. What will happen to the weavers of Amberdale? Is there a chance for Henry and Kate?
I like how the author introduced three of the characters in the prologue of The Weaver’s Daughter. We get a glimpse of their personalities and it sets the stage for the future. The book is well-written, has a gentle pace and multifaceted. Sarah E. Ladd has a descriptive writing style. She creates a rich environment with her words. I could picture the village with the cottages and businesses as well as the people moving about on foot and in their conveyances. In the description of the mill, I could visualize the people working to create the finished cloth. The whole weaving industry was changing, and it was just the beginning. A process that used to be completed by hand was now being taken over by machines. However, the machines were far from perfect. They still needed to be monitored and many workers received debilitating injuries. It was deplorable that children worked in the mills, but it was a fact of life. This circumstance would not change for another hundred years (longer in the United States). The author did a remarkable job at weaving the history into The Weaver’s Daughter. The characters are well-developed, complex and realistic. The romance between Henry and Kate builds throughout the novel. They slowly get to know each other and do not rush the relationship. They know that they cannot think only of themselves. The Christian element is light and handled deftly. The mystery was well crafted (many will be surprised by the culprit’s identity). The Weaver’s Daughter is filled with tension, love, suspicion, heartbreak, loyalty, drama, and conflict. For readers who enjoy the Regency period, you will not want to miss The Weaver’s Daughter.
I loved it! I couldn’t put it down, so beautifully written. This is my new favourite book bt Sarah E. Ladd. This is a must read!
Are you looking for a consistent reliable author for clean regency fiction? Then look no further. Sarah Ladd is one of the best when it comes to unique and new plots, well developed characters and an engaging storyline.
The Weaver’s Daughter is no exception. This is a tale of two families that have been at odds for many years, not only that, they are being torn apart from within. As industry is transforming in the region, the need for weavers is shrinking. Understandably as the Mills switch to more advanced machinery the traditional laborers in the Yorkshire Moors, are finding themselves out of work, and resorting to desperate measures. They are lashing out in illegal and violent ways as they try to destroy the Mills in the area. Silas Dearborne has been a master weaver his entire life and has already lost one son, whom he considers a traitor of the worst kind, to the Stockton Mill. His daughter Kate, is loyal, smart and true and has judged the Stocktons to be the worst kind of people.
Though he has been presumed dead in the war, heir to the Mill, Henry Stockton is back in Amberdale and the news has spread fast. Under pressure from his grandfather, and the Pennington’s (the other wealthy Mill owners in the area), it doesn’t take long for Henry to realise he has changed, and the things that used to matter to him are fading into the distance.
As Kate and Henry negotiate their respective circumstances, they find their situations are not all that dissimilar. Desperate to prove themselves to their respective family heads, they find that stubbornness rules.
Will Kate soften towards her brother Charles reasoning for leaving a dying trade to work for what he calls the ‘future’ in the Mill, and in turn give Henry a chance? Will Henry be able to get through to his Grandfather, and the weavers of the village and find ways to compromise?
As tensions escalate, Henry and Kate find themselves coming together despite the climate of conflict.
I loved the real history that Sarah always pulls into the story. It’s interesting to note that whenever change comes along there will always be that need to accept and adapt. It’ll never be without its challenges – in this case, the people lost livelihoods. Skills long valued become useless. Though many could now find employment in the Mill, it’s clear the conditions were harsh. The hours long. The pressure to send their young children in also, and the abuse of that by some Mill owners a real problem. Even though the weavers choose a path that appears fruitless and dangerous, you will feel great empathy for their plight. Sarah does a great job of reaching across the barriers and allowing the reading to clearly see both sides of the difficulties being presented and taking you to a place of genuine concern for all.
There is a fairly size able group of characters, who all play a significant part. The mystery over Henry’s sister Mollie, was intriguing and I’m hoping she gets a story next. I liked the lightness she brought to the serious storyline, despite the situation she has found herself in. Charles also would be a fun one to explore. He plays a pivotal role at supporting Kate through the difficulties that are thrown her way.
This is a beautiful story of overcoming barriers, of learning to not judge based on hearsay, or even by association. Both Kate & Henry are so very different from their father and grandfather yet both are judged for them. Discovering who you are may be something very different to what you’ve always believed.
I really enjoyed this book. As a child I visited some of the Mills in England, and really love the history of this time.
(I recently read another book based in Yorkshire and with a Mill as the main plot. There was far too much dialect written into the dialogue. Sarah has not done this, and I much preferred it – it works, really well. Thank you, for keeping your writing to a more classical style.)
Thanks to Netgalley & Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. This is my honest review.
A story beset by unrequited love and questions of loyalty, The Weaver’s Daughter starts out gently, then culminates in tension-filled scenes and a satisfying ending.
The setting and time-period make for a compelling read. At this point in history, mill owners and weavers were at odds. New technologies were making production more efficient, and mill owners had to change or risk losing their business. This didn’t sit well with the weavers, who valued tradition and loyalty to each other. The new machinery that threatened their jobs were the focal point of the strife between the two groups in this story. I found these details to be fascinating. There were North and South vibes all over this story, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. though Henry Stockton is not quite as stern as Mr. Thornton, it had the same overtones of the disparity between classes. As usual with this time period, I’m always saddened that children were forced to work in order to help their family survive.
Kate, our weaver’ daughter, is caught in the middle. Fiercely loyal to her father, a weaver, and her brother, a worker at Stockton Mill, Kate is already divided between the two men, as her father will not speak to his son on any condition. When Henry Stockton returns from war, she begins to question her fealty to her father, not necessarily because of Henry himself, but because of her father’s own questionable loyalty to her. Is her loyalty misplaced, and how will she respond when lives are at stake?
I appreciated that the story is presented from the points of view of both Kate and Henry. They are both likable, yet realistically flawed. Their characters display compassion for others, with a sincere determination to do what is right. I found both of them to be engaging both as individuals and when they interacted with each other.
Another character, Frederica, also has a few scenes from her point of view, which had me concerned a bit that she would turn out to be the “villain” of the story and do something cheesy or melodramatic, but that wasn’t to be. A complex antagonist, I ended up feeling a lot of empathy for her. It set up things nicely for a story about her, and I hope that’s the case because I do think there may be hope for her yet.
And, ah, I can’t resist saying something about the romance. It was sweet, tension-filled, and utterly swoon-worthy. Regency readers and historical romance readers will be find a worthy read in The Weaver’s Daughter. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading it and look forward to reading more of Ladd’s books as soon as I can.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review; the opinions expressed here are my own.
Penned by a master writer who knows how to draw a reader into her regency tales! This one has divided loyalties and family ties clashing with progress and modern methods of doing an age old job.
Henry and Kate find themselves at opposite ends with him being part mill owner and her a weaver’s daughter. They should never have reason to cross paths, but often do when circumstances throw them together. Each must be loyal to their families but those lines become blurred when tensions run high between the two worlds. Will they find common ground for themselves and other workers and perhaps begin to see eye-to-eye? Or will loyalty win out over peace?
I always love a story by Sarah Ladd! I know I can count on not only an entertaining read but one that completely engulfs me in its’ pages. Each character became real to me and the struggles they faced in everyday life were ones I could easily understand. Though the faith message was light, I still found spiritual nuggets I could apply to myself. Since I am a hopeless romantic, of course my favorite parts of this was the journey Henry and Kate took to get to their happily-ever-after! Well worth reading for anyone who loves the Regency period filled with history, love, faith and a story to connect with in so many ways!
Favorite lines:
“At one time nothing mattered more than having a beautiful wife, amassing possessions, and claiming power. Now, his heart—his soul—longed for things not so tangible. Safety. Security. Happiness. Justice. Hope. Forgiveness.” ~page 64
“Her soul felt at rest, for now she knew the true power of love, the unbending strength of loyalty, and the eternal beauty of forgiveness. ~page 338
* I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not obligated to post a favorable review. *
Wonderfully crafted story involving two main characters who have to decide what loyalty really means to them. When the local weavers fight against the mill owners and the progress they represent, the entire village becomes involved in this war. As the weaver’s daughter and the mill owner’s grandson begin to see that the men that they thought they knew as children aren’t really who they seem, choices must be made. Ladd presents their story with a controlled pace as her characters find their voice and romance along the way. This book lends itself to book club discussion and would be good to share with young adult women also. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was asked for a honest review. All opinions are mine.
This is a fun and entertaining read. A bit predictable and the beginning seemed to be a little slow, but still a very enjoyable read. The plot is very well done and the chemistry and interaction between the characters was lovely! I found myself looking forward to when they would meet again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.