I loved this compelling new novel by Ms. Ladd! The book tells the story of the gritty realities and conflict between weavers and wool mill workers in 1800’s, England.
Kate is a wonderful protagonist that I loved from the very beginning. As the weaver’s daughter, it is clear where her loyalty lies. Henry is of a different mind-set altogether, which I really liked. When the two of them crossing paths, much more than either would like, I just read as fast as I could because I was very intrigued by both characters.
This Regency,is one of my favorites in this genre by any author. It held my attention throughout. I love that it isn’t a typical romance where the characters are pining away for each other. It’s about progress and how some embrace it while others are less willing to do so.
The descriptive storytelling and wonderful characters made this one a pure joy to read.
I received a copy from the publisher and was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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.

The Dearbornes are weavers; the Stocktons are mill owners. Competing in the textile industry, differing philosophies and strong feelings have left the families enemies. When Henry Stockon returns from war, he finds himself different; he still wants to run his family's business to the best of his capabilities, but he also finds himself at odds with some of his grandfather's sentiments Kate Dearborne has worked her whole life to learn about weaving, trying to please her father, and her loyalty lies with him. But as Henry shows himself to be different than her grandfather, and her father shows himself to be more prideful and stubborn than she realized, Kate starts to question where her loyalty truly lies.

This book started a little slowly for me, likely because I know nothing about the textile business and the competition between weavers and mill owners, but it quickly picked up. Kate's struggle to be loyal to a father who never quite manages to see her value while at the same time being drawn to Henry and his willingness to listen to her views was such a compelling plot line and made her such a great character. Henry, hurting from the war and his actions in it, is in a position to open to learning more about others, a position perhaps he wouldn't have been in without the war, which was a beautifully subtle message about how God can make horrible things work for our good. The historical setting was so interesting--the textile aspect that at first seemed a little dull to me became really fascinating as Henry and Kate shared their views and showed how there weren't any easy answers to figure out what would most benefit their village. There were intriguing supporting characters as well; I really liked Kate's brother Charles especially. Well written and really appealing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Romance and Murder in Regency England

In the early 1800s, the town of Amberdale is torn by strife between the weavers and the mill owners. Kate Dearborne, ten-years-old, and her best friend Frederica Pennington, come apart. Frederica’s father, a mill owner, tells Frederica that she can no longer be friends with a weaver’s daughter and besides, she’s slated to marry Henry Stockton, grandson of Stockton Mills owner.

The break between the girls illustrates the strained relationships in the town. Both sides are angry, and it inevitably leads to violence. Henry’s grandfather is murdered. Now Henry, newly returned from the Peninsular army, must discover who killed the man. In the process he comes to respect Kate’s opinions, but who will he choose to marry?

The author does a good job presenting a community in transition. The weavers and other skilled workers tied to the production of fine woolens see their livelihood disappearing as their skills are no longer needed in the automated factories. The story is about people learning to accept each other and beginning to work together.

Kate and Henry are strong characters. Both want to do the right thing and must come to realize that there is truth on both sides of the dispute between the families. The plot is intricate with plenty of twists, and the historical background is accurate.

I recommend the book if you enjoy a well written historical romance.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Sarah will take you on an unforgettable journey. The Weavers Daughter is a well written story set in England during the 1800s. It was a historical romance with lot's of adventure. Kate, our main character is extremely loyal to her family and small village of Amberdale. She loves the family weaving business and plans to one day take over. Now that her brother has abandoned ship and switched sides working for the enemy, the mill owner. Kate has worked next to her father now for years and has learned all she needs to know to run the business. There is one problem she is a daughter, not a son. War is coming between the weavers and the mill owners. Will anyone win this war? The mill owners are fighting for progress and wanting to bring in modern machinery. The weavers feel threatened for their livelihood. They want things to stay the way they are with everything being done by hand. Henry Stockton, the heir to Stockton Mill and fortune, is just home after being away three years to war. Determined to bury the past and escape from his haunting memories he takes hold of his grandfather's goal of modernizing the mill. After being gone three years Henry returns to find his grandfather changed and not for the better. There has never been two people more different than Kate and Henry. Both have been advised to stay away from the other family. Due to chance meetings that keep throwing them together, their lines and opinions are wavering. Sarah gives us beautiful storytelling in The Weavers Daughter. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley, Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Amberdale, West Riding Yorkshire England - 1801

Kate Dearborne, age 10, is hurrying to meet her friend, Frederica Pennington. It appears that Henry Stockton, grandson of the owner of Stockton Mill, is in town and Frederica is enchanted with him, declaring that she wants to marry him one day. Kate is amused because her own father and Mr. Stockton are bitter business rivals. She then learns that Mr. Pennington who is Mr. Dearborne’s partner, is going to work with Mr. Stockton. Frederica says her father has told her she and Kate can no longer be friends and he also says that Mr. Dearborne’s methods are wrong. Now, Kate is hurt and angry.

Amberdale - 1812

Henry Stockton has spent three years fighting on the Iberian peninsula and now he is happy to be returning to Amberdale. On his way home, he meets Kate on the road and helps her put a bundle of wool in her cart. She is surprised to see Henry because it had been said that he died in the war. Kate now learns that the weavers who make their living by wool are being run out of business by the Stockton and other mills and are also producing low quality cloth.

When Henry see his grandfather again, the man is shocked but happy that he is alive. But Henry soon learns that his sister, Mollie, is with child and unwed. His grandfather has sent her to live with an aunt in London.

Kate is unhappy to learn that her father does not want her to be involved in the family weaving business and now that she is 21, he wants her to be a lady. This frustrates her because she is as talented a weaver as the men and she loves the craft.

Henry is taken aback when his grandfather demands that he do as he says not realizing that Henry is a man. But when his grandfather is murdered, Henry must step up and run the company. It is unknown who killed his grandfather. But as there are a lot of disgruntled people in the town unhappy about the lack of jobs available work at the mills, it could be anyone. Kate sees Henry one day and tells him that he must listen to the opposition and consider both sides so that the jobs and pay are fair to everyone. She explains to him how over the years, the Stockton Mill has taken over the town and the workers have been squeezed and unable to make a living wage for themselves, leaving them scared, hungry, and angry. But the people in the town must do their part too, so both must meet in the middle.

Henry is attracted to Kate and likes how she understands the weaving business and the needs of the people of the town. Frederica, however, is a flighty society gal who has her eyes set on Henry and wants to marry him. Will the people of the town be able to come together for the good of all? If Henry does marry, whom will he choose?

Quite frankly, this is not a favorite book by a favorite author. I found there to be so much fighting, hatred, and unhappiness and the story came across as a “social issue statement." This a story about the individual weavers vs. the mill owners. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if there had been more explanation about the process of weaving the wool into cloth. I have always enjoyed Sarah E. Ladd’s books and eagerly await them. I hope her next one is better.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am not normally a fan of Regency romances but I enjoyed The Weaver’s Daughter. The book is well written with a good plot and believable characters. The author is new to me and I certainly liked her writing. If be looking for more of her books.

Reading a novel by Sarah E Ladd is a gift that you give yourself....Enjoy and savor every page. She is a gifted author and storyteller. Treat yourself!

Pulled in two directions… Kate had always thought of the Stockton family as the enemy. Kate is very loyal to her father, a weaver and has worked in his dye shop for years. Kate has always been in the middle between her father and her beloved brother Charles, who works for the Stockton Mill. When Harry Stockton returns from war, she slowly realizes that Harry is different from his grandfather. Harry is drawn to Kate's natural beauty as well as her kindness and strength. This book is set when the mills are taking the business from the weavers. There is rising tension and suspense in the book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I love this book. Kate is a strong woman who feels pulled between the weavers and the mill workers. In town the lines are clearly being drawn and it's very difficult for Kate to stay in the middle.

I read a lot of historical fiction, but I cannot remember reading anything prior to The Weaver’s Daughter about the conflict of weavers and mill owners during the Industrial Revolution. While Ladd does not refer to the group of weavers in this book as Luddites, they use similar tactics, destroying textile machinery in an effort to protect their craft and their livelihood. Change is difficult, especially when change threatens one’s way of life. Not everyone views progress in the same way. Ladd does a very good job of placing readers in the emotionally charged conflict that divided communities and families. While one will likely not condone the weavers’ methods, it is still possible to understand why they felt driven to such lengths. With our acceptance of the constantly changing technology of the 21st century, Ladd reminds us of the birth pains of what are now eagerly anticipated improvements in technology and manufacturing.
Kate Dearborne is the daughter of one of the leading men of Amberdale’s cloth industry. While her brother has chosen to go to work for a local mill owner, Kate remains loyal to her father and his peers. That is, until she meets Henry Stockton, grandson of the Stockton Mill, and until the weavers cross a line into violent protests. Then Kate is forced into making very difficult decisions about loyalty and right and wrong. Henry too must make difficult choices between preserving his grandfather’s legacy and the right treatment of those working under his authority. He also must choose between his childhood sweetheart and the bold Miss Dearborne. The Weaver’s Daughter helps the reader to explore moral dilemmas, something we are often called to do in today’s landscape.
I highly recommend The Weaver’s Daughter as an entertaining and thought provoking read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've been reading both historical fiction as well as Christian fiction more frequently. Sometimes this is tricky for me because I don't enjoy all time periods and I don't enjoy all Christian stories. I do typically enjoy the regency time period and Sarah E Ladd had high ratings on all of her previously published books. I can now see why.

Henry was easy to like as I often find so for main male characters. His PTSD from the war was used in just the right way to make it believable but yet not end up being a story about war PTSD. I liked that he was honest about trying to do the best he could for the entire village while not sacrificing progress. His genuine appreciation for the character of Kate was my favorite part of their romance.

Kate was at a disadvantage. Because her brother already chose a path different from the one their father had mapped out for him, Kate was able to see how her father responded and regarded her brother. Not wanting to damage her own relationship with her father, Kate endures quite a lot of verbal scolding. I appreciated Kate's struggle to be considered valuable in the weaving profession yet not being considered beause she was a woman.

The romance was enjoyable, but it was a slow building romance for sure. As a matter of fact I really feel like the story about the weaver's conflict with the mills was more of the driving component of the story and the romance took a backseat to this. Normally I might find this annoying, but I enjoyed the conflict over the fight against progress enough for it not to matter.

While The Weaver's Daughter is classified as Christian fiction and published by a Christian publisher, I really wouldn't have known this was the case based upon the story alone. There were no "preaching" moments. And as a matter of fact, the characters rarely mentioned their faith...even in passing. Principles of Christianity--namely forgiveness and the downfall of pride--were present throughout. I think this is a good example of showing and not telling. I do see a place for stories that have a more direct approach where faith and principles are concerned, but I enjoyed this one nonetheless. It was really just a nice clean story with a great moral. So if you're hesitant to read Christian fiction because you don't want to be preached to yet you like historical fiction, I really like you'll enjoy this one.

Favorite quotes:
-"We cannot control what others do. We can only control how we react to it. Being angry will only hurt you, not them."

-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.

The Weaver's Daughter was a quick read for me given my limited time to read this year. I know I would have finished it much sooner had I had the amount of time that I used to. I enjoyed the history involved just as much if not more than the romance which is rare. I didn't feel like I was having a history lesson or a sermon considering this book is labeled as Christian fiction. The Weaver's Daughter gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Weaver's Daughter? What did you think? Let me know!

This book is filled with vivid imagery. I felt as though I was transported to another time and another place. I loved Kate and empathized with her struggles. She loves her father and her brother even though they are on opposite sides of the mill problems. She tries her best to maintain a relationship with both.

This book made me stop and think about making the right decisions, the hard decisions, in the face of adversity. Even when others turned their back on her and considered her the enemy, Kate held true to her beliefs. A very courageous young woman.

I loved this book!

I enjoy historical dramas, but generally prefer American stories to European. The Weaver's Daughter, however, caught my attention and drew me in. I was riveted and had a hard time putting it down at the end of the day. I especially loved the way the romance was women into the world of the wool mills and weavers. What distinguished The Weaver's Daughter and gave it considerable depth was the way author Sarah E. Ladd allowed us to see the story from the various viewpoints. Rather than black and white heroes and villains, we were able to see the struggles faced by individuals each believing themselves to be doing the right thing.

Very enjoyable story taken place during the 1800's in England. It was interesting to read about the struggles and confrontations between the weavers and the up and coming mills. I found both Kate and Henry very likable, sincere and compassionate characters. Tensions were high in both of their families but both Kate and Henry rose above. Highly recommended!

The Weaver's Daughter is a good historical book. In my opinion I believe men and women both would like this book. There is a love story but it is not the major part of this story. The story is about power and control. I liked the characters especially Henry. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and some surprises as well. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical books.

I grew up in a mill town and the history of its heyday has always interested me. Sarah E. Ladd brings this time period to life with not only the history, but realistic characters and an interesting plot.

Henry Stockton and Kate Dearborne are caught in a Romeo and Juliet family war while an actual battle between the weavers and the millers is happening all around them.

While respecting their families, they must also decide if they should follow what their parents and grandparents believe, or if they should follow their hearts.

The characters are strong and I felt a connection to them. I could also tell that Ladd put a lot of research into this book which I appreciated.

I really enjoyed this book. However, there was one negative for me. I liked that Henry’s sister wasn’t shunned. After all, a sin is a sin. However, I fell that Henry glossed off his sister’s sin and treated it as only an “indiscretion”. If his sister had only repented, we would have been left with the positive message of forgiveness of all sins.

I would still recommend this book and look forward to more from Ladd.

Honor. Justice. Family. Loyalty. These are all words I would use when describing this story. Interesting setting and beautiful, gripping writing.

I got a free copy of this book to review. It's scheduled for release April 10, 2018.

Although the underlying plot was a bit predictable, the author kept me intrigued throughout the book. The main character struggled with loyalty and ethics, things that each of us deal with often. And while it was Christian fiction, it's not in your face preachy, so I think a non-Christian reader will enjoy it too.

Sarah Ladd gets a bit wordy for my personal preference, but it was still a light and quick read. She allowed the characters to become real, to deal with life issues and to not always get it right.

I highly recommend this book.

The Weaver’s Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd is a story of family ties, love, dissension, and forgiveness. A lot in one book but it all works together to create an exciting story line. It is set England in 1801 at beginning.
Kate Dearborne’s family raises their own sheep in order to ensure the quality throughout the process from wool to cloth. Her father Silas runs the business along with his second-hand man, John Whitby who he expects Kate to one day marry so he may leave the business to them. Stockton Mill is their greatest competitor and there is a fierce dispute between William Stockton and Silas Dearborne not the lest of which concerns Charles Dearborne choosing to work for Stockton and therefore disowned by his father. Kate has been told by her best friends that they can no longer remain friends due to Fredricka’s higher social class as her father owns Pennington Mills and works very closely with Stockton Mills. Fredricka also tells Kate that she plans to marry Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton money, when she is old enough. Jump ahead several years and Henry, who was listed as dead, returns from the war and begins to work at Stockton Mill. Are things what they seem? Is anyone who they seem to be?
I loved this one! Sarah Ladd does an excellent job of writing her characters as very realistic people who you come to love or hate. Those you hate in the beginning you may love later or vice versa. Her plots keep you turning the pages to find out what will happen next. The ending does not prove a happy one for every character leaving them to God’s mercy. The characters all deal with feelings of doubt, hope, insecurity and faith. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys historical Christian romance novels.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was looking forward to to reading this latest book by Sarah Ladd. I was not disappointed. This is not the usual setting for a Regency story, as it’s set among the “merchant class”. The social and economic conflict between the mill owners and the weavers drives this storyline. It also sets the stage for the seemingly impossible romance between Kate, a weaver’s daughter, and Henry, the owner of a mill. I love Ms. Ladd’s writing style. Everything she writes, especially the dialogue, perfectly fits the time period. Not everything is “pretty” in this story, but the conflict and drama make for very interesting reading.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion about this book.