Set in Regency England, a war is brewing between mill owners and weavers in a small village. The weavers want to continue their traditional role of making cloth but are threatened by the introduction of machinery by the mill owners that will take away their jobs. With their way of life that has been passed down through the centuries threatened, will the weavers take drastic actions to save it?

Kate Dearborne belongs to a reigning weaver family. After the mill owner’s grandson, Henry Stockton, returns from war, Kate keeps finding herself encountering him everywhere she goes. She’s been raised to believe that mill owners and their families are evil, but Henry Stockton seems to care about his workers more than his Grandfather. Kate feels she can help him to see the evil of the conditions of the mill. Will these two unlikely friends become more than friends?

I enjoyed this novel. I liked so many different aspects of it. I like how it looked at how mechanization changed the way work had been done for centuries, but that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I like how the book looked at how this affected families and relationships as well. The Weaver’s Daughter also had moments where Henry Stockton must deal with his memories of serving in combat against the French. This is a subject that Jane Austen wouldn’t touch. It was also interesting how he had to meld back into society after being the military for so long. I loved the characters and setting, and I liked the Romeo and Juliet type relationship between Kate and Henry.

Favorite Quotes:

“Sometimes I barely recognize him. In years past he would sit with me for hours and talk on any subject, serious or frivolous, it didn’t matter. Now he clutches every thought so close to his chest. He used to be an open book. Not it seems as if his time on the Peninsula robbed him of some piece of his soul.”

“Everyone makes mistakes in their life. It is how you respond to them and learn from them that matters.”

“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.”

Overall, The Weaver’s Daughter is a great regency book with a stellar romance, great characters and a fascinating look at how mechanization affected traditional workers.

Book Source: E-book copy as part of the TLC Book Tour. Thank-you!

You know, any book that reminds me of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, will pull me in. This one had the feel of the time period, even though it was a totally different story.  the characters are strong in their own right. The touches of mystery keep you reading and wanting to find the answers along with them. 

The romance is light, more in undertones, but with an overall feeling of fighting the fact that there was romance included. The history of the weaving of cloth, the business behind it and child labor makes you stop and think a bit. I would say this book would be a great novel to use in history class as something to pique your interest in the industrial age. 

I obtained this book from Netgalley and the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.

I originally read this book because it was in the Christian category. I didn't see this book really as a Christian book, though it did teach forgiveness in times of adversity. In a way, it reminded me much of the movie North and South. When I first began reading it, I found myself wondering if it was based on that movie, or vice versa. As I read further, I realized that wasn't the case, but it was during the same era and similar circumstances. Though it wasn't the same genre I am used to reading, I did find it enjoyable and well written.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book. A tale of weavers and million workers in Yorkshire. It's a story of love and family loyalty. A tale of mill workers and weavers and their working conditions. This story is not without its twists. Extremely enjoyable. I would highly recommend it.

Sarah E Ladd’s first standalone novel was quite marvellous. The cover and description of ‘A Regency Romance’ might give the impression that it’s a quaint and slightly whimsical story when its anything but. In fact, parts of it reminded me of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell- although that was set several decades later. Those who are acquainted with me may know that BBC adaptation of North and South is one of my all-time favourite historical dramas, starring one of my favourite actors.

So that’s a good start. Needless to say, the historical backdrop of the novel made for a lot of drama and intrigue. We refer to the protestors who broke up machinery and attacked mills in the second decade of the nineteenth century as Luddites. Their principal motivation was that they believed the machinery would replace them and take their jobs: and there were also concerns about exploitation of workers who operated said machinery, with small children working long hours in unhealthy conditions.

So, The Weaver’s Daughter is the story of two conflicted characters, Henry Stockton, a war veteran who comes home to his grandfather’s mill wanting to keep the business running, but feels threatened by protesting weavers, and Katherine Deerbourne, the daughter of one of the weavers who had been friendly with Henry as a child.
He is now considered ‘the enemy’ by her father, and a family friend who is interested in marrying her. Yet she and Henry cannot seem to get past the feelings they once had for each other, which have been stirred up afresh, and Katherine can’t help but noticing that Henry is not the ogre he is made out to be, especially when she strikes up an unlikely friendship with his sister Molly.

Overall, I thought it was a beautiful tale about love, duty and friendship in turbulent times with a host of very interesting minor characters who might deserve their own stories. It could have been perfect, but there were two issues. One was pointed out by another reviewer, was the characters inconsistent attitude towards morality. Henry’s sister was pregnant outside marriage: yet most of the characters acted as though her lying about being a widow to save her reputation was worse than the sin which got her into that situation in the first place.
The second issue was with certain American speech patterns and mannerisms. There were several references to characters eating with only a fork, in the modern American manner and using words like ‘gotten’ which weren’t common in Britain at the time.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this title via Booklook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I will happily add it to my shelf with my other Sarah Ladd books to be reread in future.

Sarah is one of my top 5 favorite writers and this book just makes me love her even more!! This book really shows what holding on to anger, not letting go, and not forgiving can do to not just you but your family and the future as well. Such great messages spun into a novel that makes you look at your own self. This novel builds up a beautiful romance slowly without it being insta lover or too over the top. This novel was beautifully written (plus look at that cover!!!). Sarah is such a talented writer as her stories are smooth and fluid. She does her research well and it shows in her writing as she hits accurate historical points. 5 stars and a one click read for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson--FICTION through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Love Sarah e Ladd. Such a wonderful easy to read author. I found this story just so so but because her writing style is so good I just had to finish it

Ladd has a way of putting her readers into the story. Enjoy her books. Can’t wait for more from this author.

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)

I was captured in this book about love, loyalty, deception, honor, and forgiveness. There are probably more words to be added to the list, but I can't think of them right now. :)



Kate and Henry could be described as star-crossed lovers. There families are basically feuding. Henry's family is looking at progression and bringing in new inventions to speed up the business of making wool into material. The competition is fierce, and progression means the possibility of people loosing their jobs and the traditions passed down in families. The book brings up a great point of adding to technology and using fewer people to fuel and industry. Also, the plight of children workers is looked at. I loved how she was sympathetic to the children and made an advocate for them in the story.



This book reminded me that things are not always as they appear to be and there are two sides to every situation. The theme of the book was about mending relationships and making life better in the community. It took the vision of a man recently returned from war to see that life needed to change in the village. It also took the compassion of a woman to help him see where to make the changes.



This is a great book. It contains a few kisses and non-graphic violence.

Author Sarah Ladd is a new-to-me author and I enjoyed the story-line. Set in the 1800’s times were hard for the weavers as the mills were becoming more modern and, in the process, machines were taking away jobs. With Henry Stockton’s grandfather’s untimely death, he is determined to find out how his grandfather died, improve things at the Stockton mill, and carry on the Stockton legacy. Kate Dearborne wants to do more than dye fabric in her family’s weaving business but being a daughter, she is just expected to marry well. Loyalties lie at the heart of each family and there is an undercurrent of distrust and unrest among the workers. As Kate is forced to choose between her father and her brother, Charles, who works for Stockton Mill, those loyalties are tested. A story filled with suspense, adventure, hope, and inspiration The Weaver’s Daughter was a page-turner and hard to put down. I look forward to reading other books written by this author!
I was given a complimentary book from NetGalley, the opinions are my own.

The Weaver's Daughter is a combination of regency romance, historical fiction, and suspense. Pitting 2 families against one another, the Stocktons and the Deerbornes are both have a long history in the woolen industry. The Deerborne family are weavers and the Stockton family are mill owners. It is a battle between the weavers who wish the status quo and the mill owners who wish to become part of modern industrialization to produce more and increase their profits. Kate Deerborne, Charles Deerborne, and Henry Stockton all find themselves caught between the two sides especially after Henry's grandfather, the mill owner, is found murdered.

I found the history of this deadly feud between the two contingents very interesting. Ladd's historical research is obvious as she pulled me into the heated contentions between the two sides in an industry whose history was little known to me. Kate and Henry were both wonderful main characters, and I loved how they worked together to try and find a middle ground. They both were extremely caring people and wanted to find the best solution for all the workers. The touch of suspense with Henry's grandfather's murder and the surprise culprit made this book a definite 5 star read.

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.

A story about hate so strong that it can tear families apart and turn them away from each other. Seeing things differently than anyone else, allowing room for forgiveness. There were moments of strong emotions and tension.

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” by Sarah E. Ladd tells the story of the past versus the future. This novel takes place in Yorkshire, England where sheep, wool, and mills dominate. Those who are weavers raise the sheep, card the wool, make cloth and sell it. The mills are trying to be more progressive and economical by bringing in machinery that will do the job more cheaply and faster. This sets up a war of sorts between the weavers and the mill owners.

Kate Dearborne is the loyal daughter of a weaver and as such follows her father’s wishes on the war against the mills. Henry Stockton is the grandson of a mill owner and has been away from Yorkshire for his education. Coming back into the community pits him against the weavers even though he is not comfortable with what his grandfather is doing. There ought to be a compromise.

Matters become heated, death and destruction follow the raids the weavers make on the mills. The millers defend themselves and neither side is willing to work together. The climax comes when Kate has to make a decision. Does she keep quiet and perhaps cause lives to be lost, or does she do what she thinks is right and try to stop the conflict.

I enjoyed this book and thought the author’s research had to have been extensive to have written such a good novel. I would recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.com in order to be able to post a review.

Another wonderful read from Sarah. I’m hoping we hear more from some people in this book in future books. This story takes us to Amberdale, a sheep/wool making town that has a struggle between the old ways of wool making and the new fangled machines that speed that process up. We meet Kate who is part of the old ways family of the Dearbornes and other’s, John and Jane being in the forefront. For those who own or work for the mill we have Henry, Charles, Mollie, The Penningtons and the Higgs primarily. A good amount of suspense with the tensions between parties and the girl caught in the middle. Be sure to read this one to find out what happens.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGAlley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Murder, social pressure, strength, love, faith. Fully engaging Christian Historical.

This is a time of struggle in England with the traditional mode of business of weavers, mill owners and those who provide other services in making cloth. Family owned businesses that also made up the fabric of the village life and livelihood. Of course, as time goes by new options come up and some are more business minded than others in handling that business. Those who make decisions to grow their business affects the others, with some becoming wealthier than others. Combine wealth and society where the wealthy control and socially snub others makes for a stirred pot in a small village.

Kate's family are weavers. She loves her father and brother, but her brother left them to work at the mill, where he feels the future is. Kate is fully capable of running their business but since she is a woman her father will not allow it. She is being forced by her father to marry a weaver. The man of his choice is not happy when she doesn't want to marry him. Years ago Kate's best friend Frederica, from a mill family, cut off their friendship because of her family's wishes, and she too is being forced to make a decision and marry. But the one she wants is not progressing towards her as she wants.

Kate is both very strong and capable yet has deep feelings and feels hurt by her father, friend and the plight of those who are worse off than her.

Henry was away at war and presumed dead. He returns to his home with his grandfather at the mill to find things have changed. His grandfather has grown their business at the expense of others and made him downright mean in the process. Then he is murdered.

Kate is as intrigued by Henry as much as she distrusts him. But her brother does trust him, and she finds herself thrown together with him more and more.

Henry's grandfather and partner want him to marry Frederica, but he is not so sure. And he's drawn towards Kate.

Would the village, let alone their families, allow them to have a relationship?

#TheWeaver'sDaughter #NetGalley

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson--FICTION - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

This author is an absolute auto buy for me when she has a new release out. A slow to start romance, the book really hooked me. A romantic Regency suspense that I was able to guess until the end. The story wasn't a bunch of fluff romance but the story built steadily with a great story . Work at the mill is assured for everyone in this small village. That's how they support their families but as we all know life changes. Times evolve and get more modern and people start to get replaced by machines in the wool mills even back in 1812 . With many men out of work and no way to support their families riots start and tragedies occur. Henry Stockton takes over the mill with his grandfather's passing. Will he bring new ideas that make people happy and will he be deemed trustworthy after his grandfather made so many enemies? Kate Dearborne has been warned to stay away from Henry, their families are in competition with their mills but they keep finding themselves at the same places at the same time. Can their hearts trust and will love find wings and fly? The author does and excellent job of engaging the reader throughout the book. I hope to see stories from some secondary characters, namely Mollie, who has a child of of wedlock and Charles, Kate's brother.
Pub Date 10 Apr 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson--FICTION through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love that Sarah E. Ladd writes Regency fiction that’s more middle class than nobility. In The Weaver’s Daughter, she explores some people’s resistance to progress as the mill owners and weavers butt heads.

Caught between the two groups, Kate Dearborne’s love for her father (a weaver) and her brother (who left weaving for the mill) causes strain. The return of Henry Stockton—a man the entire community believed dead—creates even more tension in the town.

With rising tensions, attacks on innocent victims, a murder, and some serious chemistry and attraction between Henry and Kate, a rival for Henry’s attention and more, there is plenty to keep this story interesting and entertaining. Kate’s devotion to her father is tested and she has to decide whether to remain loyal or do the right thing.

Ladd’s portrayal of 1800s England comes to life within the pages. Action scenes are timed just right with the more introspective scenes. And for those who are here for the romance, there’s gobs of that, too.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.