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.

I liked this book, but not as much as I expected. Somehow it just didn't resonate much with me and I didn't really connect with the characters. However, there are some great things in this little story.

Things are changing for the weavers in England. Mills and machines are replacing workers and taking business away from local weavers. As you might imagine, they aren't too happy about that.

There has been bad blood between the Dearborne and Stockton families for years. Lines have been drawn and it's 'us vs. them' with the weavers and mill owners. Rather than seek a solution for everyone, Stockton and Dearborne dig in their heals with their pride.

Charles Dearborne sees no future in weaving, so he leaves his father to go work for the mill. This causes more tension. Kate Dearborne is stuck between her father and brother, both of whom she loves dearly and she is loyal to both.

Henry Stockton was thought dead in the war and everyone is stunned when he comes home. The weavers are angry because they assume that he'll be just like his grandfather. Kate starts to get to know him (secretly, of course) and discovers that he might be different, or at least has the opportunity to change. Henry craves Kate's approval and opinion and wants to change... for her.

Taking the higher road, making the first move to peace, turning the other cheek; all these and more are themes in this book. Also explored are not judging people by their families, loyalty, and the damage prejudice does.

A lesson in greed is played out in the Pennington family. Greed motivates Arthur to abandon the weavers and join the mills and greed motivates him to kill Stockton.

Great lessons and themes. Worth a read.

A Romeo and Juliet type love story. Both on opposite sides of a family rivalry but try to mend the the conflict. Wonderful historical romance.

I have read several books by Sarah Ladd, and love the way she brings the Regency era to life. In The Weaver’s Daughter, she tells a story of how the world around us grows and changes, and how we must adapt with it.

The pacing of this story is wonderful—starting out unhurried, then slowly building into an exciting, page-flipping quest. I enjoyed reading about the tense family relationships and the plight of mill owners as times and needs change.

The characterization is wonderful. Kate and Henry are memorable characters. It was easy to sink into Kate’s role, and I became invested in her rather quickly. Though I admired her family loyalty, it also annoyed me at times. I suppose that’s a good thing when you get aggravated at a character’s choices. If you didn’t care, the story wouldn’t be worth reading. ;)

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 368
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
First Lines (prologue): Alarm’s menacing sting pricked Kate Dearborne’s consciousness and hurried her steps. Clutching the note in her hand, she climbed the wooden steps over the stone fence separating Amberdale’s main road from the churchyard.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and BookLook Bloggers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new book by Sarah Ladd!! Unlike many of this genre of books, I was not able to figure out the ending too early on. That alone made the book very enjoyable. I also learned some things that I did not know previously about weavers and mills. Ms. Ladd wrote a book that pulled me in, filled the desire for a sweet romance at the same time as she wrote a bit of a mystery. I wholly recommend this to my friends!!

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.)

What a great historical romance novel! Focusing on the working class instead of royalty, Sarah Ladd does a fantastic job of weaving story and romance into working-class vs upper-class disputes. How does one chose between brother and father, home loyalty vs love? Very difficult to put down!

The Weaver’s daughter is a fantastic choice for those who like historical fiction. This book had my attention throughout and was really enjoyable. This was the second book I have read by Sarah Ladd. And I am completely hooked.
This is a story of two families and two industries at odds for generations. The tension increases throughout the story. While the weavers clung to tradition, the mills were switching to modern technology. There did not seem to be a logical solution to solving this dilemma. Emotions were high and no room for compromise on either side. And of course in the middle of the conflict are two young people from different sides who seem to be drawn to each other. The Weaver’s Daughter is about tradition, embracing change, family loyalty, and love in the midst of difficult circumstances. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review

Another really lovely story from Sarah E. Ladd. I knew next to nothing about weaving and textile mills in early 1800s England, and found it very interesting. Ladd gave enough technical information without boring the audience. The romance was very carefully handled and therefore very charming. Is this the first of a new series? Because I'd like to know what's next for secondary characters Mollie, Frederica, and Charles.

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

~~Reviewed by Monique~~

Nothing had prepared Henry Stockton for what awaited him in the small village of Amberdale upon his return from war. The animosity between millers and weavers has reached a point where deadly attacks are carefully planned to eliminate the millers, whose new machines threaten the weavers’ very livelihood. The Stocktons are millers, Henry has come home to continue the family’s legacy, and maybe to rekindle a romance from years ago, but the war has changed Henry.

THE WEAVER’S DAUGHTER caught my eye because it does not deal with dukes, rogues, or spies, but with the lives of ordinary people during the Regency. However, it does deal with class issues, which I found way more powerful than what we are used to. In 1812, industrialisation has begun and progress is disrupting the foundation of British society. In THE WEAVER’S DAUGHTER, Sarah E. Ladd takes us to Yorkshire for a glimpse into what ailed the cloth industry, and the author had me completely mesmerised. The author’s extensive research and her meticulous attention to historical detail vividly recreate a moment in time; this is the sort of book that, if you stop, you blink a few times to get back to the twenty first century. The backdrop of the cloth industry plays a critical part in every aspect of the story, as Henry Stockton, the well-off miller, and Kate Dearborne, THE WEAVER’S DAUGHTER, come to acknowledge that they are attracted to each other, but Kate’s father forbids her to even speak to Henry. She had been prepared to hate Henry on principle, but he is not the devil her father made Henry out to be.

THE WEAVER’S DAUGHTER is such a gripping story with innumerable layers that I found it almost impossible to review. Ms. Ladd is a formidable storyteller, making us experience every facet of the conflict that shakes the village, and that perturbs Kate and Henry’s lives in more ways than one. The romance develops very slowly, it could not have been otherwise; the spark between Kate and Henry is akin to a microscopic flame hovering over a powder keg: society dictates that they should remain enemies, but can they change that? Do they want to, do they dare to? What could be the outcome? People are hurt and killed, allegiances shift, betrayals occur, lives are ruined, and some shocking developments have lasting consequences. Ms. Ladd has created characters of indescribable depth, and some unforgettable secondary characters such as Charles, Kate’s brother, and Mollie, Henry’s sister, whom I hope will have her own story, or even Frederica, who finds herself in a situation she never expected.

Sarah E. Ladd’s writing is sublime; her prose is exquisite and incandescent, flowing and utterly flawless, always faithful to the era’s language; light yet descriptive. The dialogues are stunning in their accuracy and tone, down to simplest endearments, and without a hint of stiffness. THE WEAVER’S DAUGHTER should not be missed by readers who really appreciate historical reality with their romance; it is absolutely outstanding.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Weaver’s Daughter is the first book I have read by Ms. Ladd. I highly recommend you read this book! This is a historical romance set in the Regency time period. The book includes some suspense that engages the reader to want to find out who is behind these acts. Ms. Ladd does a great job in engaging the reader into trying to figure out what will occur next. This book focuses on Kate, the weaver’s daughter, and Henry, the heir to the company threatening Kate’s legacy. The reader will be transformed back into the past to this time period and the threat of change. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and look forward to any books that will come after this one. I would especially love to see a continuation of what happens to some of the characters.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

The Weaver's Daughter was my first book by Sarah E. Ladd. Set in early 1800s England, it is the classic story of the weaving industry in a time of great industrial and technological changes. The plot includes a budding relationship between rival families, a baby out of wedlock, sabotage, fire, poor working conditions, and of course, murder. It had all the makings of a good book, but I found myself comparing it to other similar books which I happened to like better than this one. The pacing was slow, and it took too long to reveal the real culprit. Nevertheless, Ladd is a talented author, and I will try some of her other books.

This story is based on the rivalry between the weavers and the men who want to modernize the mills so they can produce more cloth. Kate's father is one of the weavers and Henry owns the mill that was left to him by his grandfather. Even though Kate is forbidden to see Henry, their paths always seem to cross. Soon Kate is questioning her loyalty to the mills and wondering if her father is right. Henry and Kate start to develop feelings for each other, and Kate is forced to make a decision that will change her life.
A great historical fiction read by Sarah E. Ladd!

Kate Dearbourne loves working with her family, and dreams of taking over operating her father's weaving business, but her father has plans for her to marry. But with Henry Stockton and his modernized wool mill, her family's livelihood is at stake. When Kate finds a young girl sick on the steps of the mill she takes her to the office, and is shocked by Henry's warm concern, he even has coats made for all of the children.



Henry Stockton returns from the war to take possession of his inheritance, and wants to modernize his grandfather's wool mill, despite the grumbling from the local weavers. Henry must care for his family, and he can see the advantages of marrying Frederica Pennington, but he can't get Kate out of his head.



Will staunch family loyalties keep Kate and Henry apart?



The winds of change are coming, with the Stockton Mill moving towards modernization, no longer contracting out to the local weavers, Kate's father along with the other weavers band together to protest the changes, threatening the safety of the townspeople.



Kate loves working with her father dying the wool, and wants to have more say in the weaving, but her father only wants her to marrying his foreman, John, who cares nothing for her, but sees it as a way to lay claim to the Dearbourne's business.



Kate and Henry despite being on opposite sides of the conflicts find themselves meeting up frequently, and their growing friendship helps them both to see both sides. They both have to bear a lot of the weight of the pressures exerted upon them by their families. There is also a mystery going on, with who killed Henry's grandfather.



Overall, a well written book with plenty of action drama, with high strung tensions. Henry is drawn to Kate and her compassionate heart, loyalty, and how she is willing to stand up for what is right. A very exciting ending brings everything together, great characters, and a drama filled story. Great read all the way through and hard to put down!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

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 is the second book that I have read by this author an I thoroughly enjoyed it. An author's ability to capture her readers within a books first few pages is always worth the read. It was entertaining and wonderfully written! Ladd takes the reader to a time and place where tradition runs deep and loyalty is everything. War rages, not only between the Weavers and Mill owners in a small town in Yorkshire, but also in the hearts of its people.
Henry Stockton the grandson of a respected yet feared Mill owner has just returned from war where he carries the horrors of his years in battle home with him where he hopes he can find peace, but Meadowvale is not the same as when he left it nor are the people within. He finds however, that his future is more uncertain that he thought.

Kate Dearborne, the daughter of a proud and bitter Weaver at odds with the Mill owners of his village, find that she is stuck in the middle of a feud that threatens to tear apart all that she holds dear. A yearning to be independent and forge a different path then is set before her leads her on a journey that might just bring the unconditional love that she desires.

The Weaver’s Daughter is a captivating story of forgiveness, love and redemption, that you just won’t want to put down until the last words are read.

Review posted on both Goodreads and Amazon.

In the Netgalley copy I received in exchange for my honest review, there are several mistakes in continuity, typos, and a lot of wordiness. This is published by Thomas Nelson, so I doubt you'll find those same gaffs, but there were enough to jar my reading pleasure so bear that in mind in reading this review.

I really liked this book. The story is one of prejudice, greed, principles, and how loyalty can be blind, with romance interwoven as tightly as a 400-thread count sheet.

The premise is a good one taking place within the context of the beginning of industrialized fabric milling and weaving. Interesting backdrop for the romance between the offspring of two warring families--sound familiar? Fortunately, the end is not as heartbreaking as Romeo and Juliette.

I found it very difficult to suspend belief that a supposed independent woman could be so gullible and blinded by loyalty to her father who tossed out her brother when he went to work for the rival family's mill. The father had such a hatred for this rival family, it spoiled his character. I just think it shouldn't have taken so long to discover his duplicity. But, they do say that love is blind. Maybe loyalty becomes a habit and is blind as well.

The characters are well-developed, even the supporting cast right down to housekeeping and kitchen help. There is enough action to keep one riveted through the long passages of character angst, second-guessing, and fretting over what was and what will be. Hopefully, good editing will remove a lot of that hashing and rehashing.

The setting is in England in a tiny town close to the moors. So you know the damp cold is deeply biting, but when reading this you don't really feel the cold, or taste the era. To the author it is just place and time with no elaboration or thought to helping the reader settle into the time, the place, and the feel of the environment. There are quite a few misuses of words. For example Ladd uses "banter" for a serious discussion. That kind of word misuse really bothers me. So I skipped over a lot of, what I thought of as, unnecessary pages of dialogue and especially narrative. But I did read to the end.

Anyhoot, the story line and story flow is pretty good, and it seems the historical accuracy is also pretty good. Although, I still don't know what shearing sheep has to do with the gig-mills, or why millers and weavers are so different. Still, you'll enjoy the character development, but if you are into period drama and well-described historical settings--you won't get it here.

All that said, I still give it four of five stars.

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This wonderful story was set in the early 1800s in England. It was a town divided between the weavers and the millers. The millers were trying to update their mills so more of the work would be done by machines. The weavers wanted things to remain the same so people would not lose their jobs to automation. Tensions increase between the groups with fires and vandalism. The main characters, Kate and Henry had been passing each other on occasion and even though they should have been enemies they were both free thinkers with their own convictions. When Kate found out about a planned attack on Henry's mill, she determined she needed to warn him. He was prepared so even though there was damage there was not a lot of loss of life. Kate's father banned her from her home because of her role so she went to live with her brother on Henry's property. Henry and her brother went with Kate to try to make amends with her father, but he would not have it. Henry and Kate became a couple. At the wedding, her father came to celebrate with them, finally accepting that the community was better off united.
This was a very interesting read and I really enjoyed it.
I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions stated above are my own.

1812 Amberdale, Yorkshire England. Einst waren Frederica Pennignton und die 21-jährige Kate Dearborne beste Freundinnen, beide Webertöchter doch dann im Alter von zehn entschied sich Fredericas Familie zur Zusammenarbeit mit der Familie Stockton und deren Stoff-Fabrik. Frederica ließ sie von einem Tag auf den anderen sitzen, denn der Enkel Henry Stockton würde eines Tages alles erben und so jung schon, hat sie sich vorgenommen, seine Frau zu werden.

Im Januar, in beißender Kälte unterwegs, kehrt Henry aus dem Krieg zurück. Er musste drei Jahre auf der iberischen Halbinsel kämpfen und hat sich oft gefragt, ob er je wieder den Ort mit seinen Cottages sehen würde. Er hofft, dass nun seine schrecklichen Erinnerungen verblassen werden und will sich nun auf seine Zukunft in der Stoff-Fabrik der Familie konzentrieren.

In Amberdale trifft er zufällig auf Kate, der Tochter eines Tuchmachers und eilt ihr zur Hilfe. Dann erinnert er sich, dass sie mit dieser Familie schon lange verfeindet sind. Es stellt sich heraus, dass alle Henry für Tod gehalten haben, gefallen in Krieg. Kate fragt sich, ob Henry genauso ehrgeizig, unmoralisch und rücksichtslos wie sein Großvater auftreten wird. Das könnte das ganze geschäftliche Leben der Gegend beeinflussen.

Zwischenzeitlich ereilt ihre Familie die schlechte Nachricht, dass viele Einkäufer zukünftig nicht mehr bei den Tuchmachern, sondern direkt bei den Fabriken kaufen wollen.  Stockton will die Arbeit mit dem Einsatz von Tuchmaschinen industrialisieren und würde viele Menschen damit arbeitslos machen. Ihm sind die Einkünfte wichtiger, als die Nachbarn. In anderen Landstrichen hat es da wegen schon gewalttätige Ausbrüche und Zerstörungen gegeben. Kate will ihren Vater Silas bei den Geschäften unterstützen, aber er will, dass sie den Gesellen John Whitby heiratet und sich den weiblichen Aufgaben des Hauses und der Färberei widmet. Ihr Bruder Charles hat die Familie schon im Streit verlassen und arbeitet selbst bei Stockton.

Dann muss Henry erfahren, dass seine Schwester Mollie in London weilt, um einem Skandal zu entgehen. Sie ist unverheiratet und schwanger und will weiter keine Auskünfte geben. Henry ist nicht mit allen Neuerungen seines Großvaters einverstanden und findet vieles sehr verändert vor. Sein Großvater war schon immer ein harter Mann mit scharfer Meinung und höchsten Erwartungen, aber nun hat er sich bis hin zu Misstrauen, Abneigung und Grausamkeit verändert.

Es kommt zwischen den Seiten zu den unvermeidlichen Gewalttätigkeiten. Ein unerwarteter Bösewicht wird entlarvt.  Henry kann auch zurückgekehrt den erhofften Frieden nicht finden. Durch Kate erkennt er, dass Mut, Loyalität und Freundlichkeit wichtiger sind als Macht, Geld und Stolz. Das Buch Buch "The Weaver's Daughter" von Sarah E. Ladd ist etwas für Fans von North & South.

Fazit: Ein Buch über Ehrlichkeit, Vertrauen, Familienzugehörigkeit und Verantwortung. Der Roman spielt vor dem interessanten Hintergrund der Industrialisierung.

4,5 von 5 Punkten

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.