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
This is a wonderful English historical romance with delightful characters and an in intriguing plot! I was not aware of the conflict between the weavers and mill owners. That made it especially interesting. Well done!
A betrayal by Kate Dearborne’s best friend, Frederica Pennington, left Kate confused and angry. Twelve years later Henry Stockton seemingly appears from the dead. How can these two seemingly unrelated events be a harbinger of things to come in Yorkshire, England?
Sarah E. Ladd’s book, A Weaver’s Daughter, covers many social issues germane to the English Industrial Revolution, though many are still around nowadays. For instance, we have child labor and sweatshops in parts of the world today. She vividly portrays the history of the era, specifically how the industrial revolution affected those who were hand weavers at the advent of new machines which could weave much faster.
I was drawn deeply into the story and could see advantages and disadvantages to both types of weaving. I felt the frustrations of the hand weavers and the excitement of the mill owners. I also felt Kate’s frustrations, pain and anger at her father’s betrayal of her and her brother.
A Weaver’s Daughter is a well written, profound book. Although it is written during the Regency era, Ladd focuses on the grittier side of the time period as opposed to the glittery opulence of the Regency balls, clothing and homes. She realistically portrays the pull of old to new, past to future and customary to visionary. This is not your typical Regency romance, as it doesn’t follow traditional styles for the time period. It is a wholesome, uplifting story that I highly recommend.
I received this book from The Fiction Guild. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book in a contest from Sarah E. Ladd, one of my most favorite writers of faith-based historical novels. The book was a proof so of course I found some pieces where I’m sure they were caught in the editing process — just things like a missing name in one sentence, the wrong last name in another — but overall I was impressed as always at…dare I say…how well-woven the story was even in the proofing phase. I never thought I was much of a mystery lover, but after having read her novels and Julie Klassen’s I think I must be. The story opens with the ending of a friendship between the main character, Miss Kate Dearbourne, and her friend, Miss Frederica Pennington. The story then takes you to a grown up Kate working in the dye house, the daughter of a weaver. The weavers are rising up against mill owners who bring in gig mills because it will mean less work for local weavers. The granddad of Henry Stockton, who returns from war, is keen on his grandson following in his footsteps at Stockton Mill. He’s a hard man who has a grudge against Kate’s father, Silas Dearbourne. They are enemies, but Kate and Henry are soon drawn together piece by piece. I loved that Ladd uses weaving terminology in metaphor and symbolism throughout the story. I won’t give details away but there’s a fire, a murder, and more thrilling details this author deftly weaved together to create a great story of love and redemption. I kept my notebook by my side as I tried to go all Sherlock Holmes on this story. If you liked Elizabeth Gaskell’s “North and South,” you will see an homage to that writer…though The Weaver’s Daughter is set in the Regency period instead of Gaskell’s in the Victorian age. I loved this book and was sad when the pages started to dwindle. It can’t be over this soon, I wailed. I will have to read the completely edited book now!
Sarah E. Ladd has once again penned a fantastic story that kept me captivated from the start. She is a master at creating colorful, engaging characters and plopping them down in intriguing settings and situations. Her obvious attention to historical detail and events adds authenticity to the tales. Kate Dearborne is intelligent, capable, and fiercely loyal, and I admired her from the start. Henry Stockton is an admirable, compassionate hero who is torn between the past and the future in the mill business his family owns. As the mills add new machinery, the jobs for the weavers are eliminated. As the conflict between the mill owners and weavers grows, things get dangerous.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Kate and Henry change as they tried to navigate the divide between Kate’s weaver family and Henry’s mill owning family. A stellar cast of supporting characters add to the intrigue.
If you enjoy clean, fascinating historical romance, you should like Sarah Ladd’s stories. She’s one of my go-to authors. I always look forward to reading her books. 4.5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The best kind of regency romance. Great cover, even better, the story. I really enjoyed the more middle-class aspects, and the author did a great job utilizing industry within the story, making it as intriguing as North and South by Elisabeth Gaskell.
Wonderfully written!
I enjoyed reading this book. I love all of Sarah Ladd’s books. I like how she develops the characters from the beginning of the book until the end. I won’t say more so I don’t give it away.
Very great historical read.
The author did extremely well developing the main characters. I grew to love them both! Wonderful story.
Loved this book!
This is a lovely “Romeo and Juliet” story! It is very well written, easy to follow, and has a great story line! Sarah Ladd has a wonderful way of telling a story that grabs your interest and keeps it. I really appreciate that. The Weaver’s Daughter tells of a feud between the towns weavers and millers. And a grandson and daughter, one from each side, that are drawn to each other. Seeing how they possibly can work through their differences and see things from another prospective is well worth your time!
I was introduced to Sarah E. Ladd’s writing with The Curiosity Keeper. It was a different Regency novel filled with suspense and relatable characters. With each addition to her writing resume, Ladd has written more novels gripped my attention. With her latest book The Weaver’s Daughter, I was taken away to a small town in England where weavers and millers fought over the importance of their job.
The writing was clear and concise. Ladd is a wonderful writer who really dives into the setting of her stories. Each setting comes to life and invites me into the setting where I can walk around with each individual character. I felt the drama that Kate felt as she struggled with her growing emotions for Henry, a local rival.
The plot was interesting. I have never seen a story like this one. I imagined an old town with black wrought iron gates and fences surrounding an old brick factories with tons of windows overlooking the town with nice shady trees filling the holes in between. I enjoyed the rivalry between the families.
The romance was predictable, like they are in most historical romances. It moved along at a nice pace, and involved many moments were I hoped Kate wouldn’t marry someone else. Being an avid reader of suspense, I imagined something sinister happening to Kate from this other person. But Ladd kept it pretty tame for Regency readers. Henry, the hero, was nice and a complete opposite character from his grandfather who I met in the first couple of chapters.
The spiritual element of forgiveness ran throughout the entire novel. Everyone had someone they needed to forgive. There were hateful words and actions done, but Kate still learned to forgive and move toward a better future for her life. Henry learned, from Kate, the quality of a child’s education
and the ability to be a good boss who provided but cared at the same time.
Overall, The Weaver’s Daughter is a fine-tuned plot with a sparkling setting and characters who learn to forgive. I can’t wait to add this book to be Keeper shelf with all Ladd’s other novels. Fans of Julie Klassen would love this novel, I believe.
I received a complimentary copy of The Weaver’s Daughter from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Wow, Sarah E. Ladd knows how to write an intense plot!
And that Henry Stockton gives Mr. Darcy a run for his money.
Honor. Loyalty. Justice. All of these are tested throughout the disputes between weavers and mill owners as each one fights for progress.
Henry Stockton was declared dead in battle, so what a surprise it is when he arrives galloping back home one day. Only, he doesn’t find things and people exactly as he left them. And he’s not the same either.
When tragedy strikes, Henry is seen as the greatest threat to the weavers’ cause since he’s intent on keeping his family’s legacy. But he’s also questioning how should success be attained, so can he finally be the one to find resolution between weavers and mill owners? Or will decades-old rivalry always be stronger than a person’s character?
Kate Dearborne’s loyalties and goodness have been tested too much. By her father. By her brother. By her friends. She wants to honor her legacy but she also has a mind of her own. A mind that wants to show she believes in the weavers’ cause, even if not in their actions. Still, until when can she have her heart pushed and pulled without breaking?
Kate is sure she has Henry Stockton figured out, only to be proven wrong at every turn. Can he truly be different from his grandfather? Is there honesty in his search for an equal ground with the weavers and the people from the village? Or is a plot? A way to get close to them only to sever the fragile tie built once and for all?
Solid plot. Intriguing mystery. Endearing characters. This book will keep you on edge and wishing for more with every turn of the page. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Sarah E. Ladd’s best yet.
I can definitely see it becoming a series *hint hint*
I loved the feeling of being immersed in the setting as I read this book! The author wove in details of the weavers, mills, and the politics of both sides without becoming boring, rather it enhanced the plot and showed insights into the characters and the hard work they tackled. It reminded me very much of the BBC miniseries of North and South, with industry being at the forefront of everyone’s lives. Kate is a strong woman who has been raised participating in the work of the weavers, but as she is ready to take on more responsibility, she finds that her father and others only see her value in marrying to strengthen the weavers’ position. She struggles with the conflict between her stubborn father and her brother Charles who has chosen to work as an accountant for the mill owners. I loved her relationship with her brother and felt bad that they were being made to choose between the life they grew up with and a brighter future. Her unlikely friendship with Henry was so sweet and as he continually shows his compassion and kindness, her eyes are opened to new possibilities for the community. The story has a steady pace as tensions mount and conflicts arise, and I was surprised by how far the weavers’ protests went. I appreciated the history and learning more about this difficult time of change and transition and how it affected families and communities.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
This novel is set within the time period of the Indusrial Revolution in Yorkshire, England. Henry Stockton is coming home to the village of Amberdale after serving as a soldier for three years. The sights, sounds, and actions of war has caused him to have nightmares and flashbacks, but he must fight it and begin working with his grandfather in his textile mill. It’s a very volatile time with new machinery being invented that will improve efficiency but also cause many to lose their jobs.
Kate Dearborne works as a weaver with her father, but he is not willing to progress and is clinging to the old ways. Millers vs Weavers is beginning to start a war in their village with threats of damage to the mills. Henry just thought he was back from the war!
I enjoyed getting to know each character and their personalities, some good, some questionable. The story moved right along with action and danger within the pages. New friendships were formed while old ones died away. Loyalty is questioned as pride and bitterness take root. And yes, there is romance too! The author described the time period perfectly to where I could picture myself there among the turmoil.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Fiction Guild but was not required to write a review.
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild, I was not required or asked to give a favorable review. This is a wonderful story of how far women have come in working in business from when the opinion of women in the work place or even the family business was not thought off as needed. I have read other books from Sarah and have enjoyed each one.
Sarah Ladd never disappoints in her Regency novels that sweep us away to another era. It is never a rushed storyline but builds at a steady tempo that has you waltzing through the pages. The time is 1812 in Yorkshire, England as unrest has developed between the weavers and the progressive mill owners. Add Our heroine, Kate Dearborne and you will be engrossed in a young lady who is torn between her love of family and a budding romance with the supposed enemy. It is a beautiful story of loyalty to what is expected and following where God leads, forgiveness, grace, and love. This is not a fluffy romance, but has depth of character and will leave you in tears.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
This is great story that opened my eyes to a trade I knew little about. The author does an exceptional job of giving readers historical facts that make the story come to life. Kate is a wonderful character who has dreams of becoming a part of her father’s business. I loved how she tried to convince her father that she should be more involved in the company.
Henry is a pleasant enough person but he sure shocks everyone when he returns home after being feared dead. There is definitely friction between Kate and Henry’s family. You can feel the tension in the air when they encounter each other. I thought it was funny that Kate and Henry kept running into each other. Is romance in their future?
Technology seems to be playing a part in the industry new machines being introduced. Will this cause weaver’s to lose their jobs? Can Kate and Henry find a way to work together to save their families businesses? I liked how Henry stood up to his grandfather. His loyalty to his sister is admirable and I wanted the author to spend a bit more time on where she was and why she is being shunned by her grandfather.
The story is filled with danger, loyalty, fear, suspense and a romance that makes the story a success. Overall a great book that keeps readers intrigued by the smooth writing of a very gifted author. I can’t wait for her next book to come out.
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.
Very well written clean love story. Sarah is a talented story teller and is definitely one of those authors where I know I will enjoy reading. Have read most of her book and can say there was only one I didn’t’t care for. Looking for a clean author with good story lines then try the weaver’s Daughter
The Weaver’s Daughter Is a suspenseful romance – love those. The book grabs you by your hand at the beginning and walks with you – sometimes run with you through the whole thing even though the bends in the road, and there are those – you get involved with the characters – the longer you read the more invested you get. It is a small village and when you get that you usually get the whole town working the same job – or most of them anyway – and here in this village it is the mill – come join them on their journey because the journey is all the fun. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
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