I had to abandon this book, it was not captivating for me for the first 3 chapters at all. It felt clunky.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for a review based on my honest opinion.

I was excited to read this book, the premise sounded amazing; unfortunately, I could not get into this book. I just did not connect with the characters, I found the book dragged on at the beginning and then the ending felt kind of rushed.

The Glovemaker's Daughter begins in Good Hope Township, Pennsylvania, 2014. After seeing a ghost in a three-hundred-year-old Meeting House (Quaker Church), Sam finds a notebook hidden in the walls. He connects with Rachel Moorside, a descendant of the person who wrote the ledger, in order to find out more about the Meeting House and the people who built it. Through mainly journal entries from the 17th century ledger, we are told the story of a young woman named Rejoice (Joy) who embarks on an epic journey from England to the New World.

Fleming creates incredible characters filled with personality, description, and emotions that they feel like real people that I actually know. I found Joy to be annoying, however I appreciate that she always learned from her mistakes, and I admire her perseverance.

Joy's story grabbed me from the very beginning. I love Fleming's writing style and definitely want to read more by her.

Some readers have described this as a mystery, but it doesn't feel like one. The present day part of the book doesn't really serve a purpose to the plot. I think if there had been more from Rachel and Sam's perspectives it could have been more exciting. The ending feels incredibly rushed as well.

The Glovemaker's Daughter is a slow-burn historical tale about a young girl's epic journey discovering family secrets, peace, and love. I recommend this one to readers sixteen-years-old+ who enjoy slow-paced stories filled with tons of description and history.

Setting: 3/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Message: 2.5/5
Overall: 3/5

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Glovemaker’s Daughter was a slow read for me. And although I love a good historical fiction and found the portrayal of Quakers in the 17th century a fascinating plot topic, I wasn’t able to connect with the characters or care about their plight. For me, the plot development was too simplistic and did not require much if any investment from the reader. I was also a little confused by the brief modern day time line that didn’t seem to add anything to the overall story.

With that said, the book has much potential to appeal to other readers who enjoy a slow methodical plot development. If you are a patient reader who enjoys knowing a character’s every thought and hearing every conversation, this writing style may appeal to you much more than me. The persecution of the Quakers and their escape to America for a new life was not something I’d read about before and I appreciated the novel idea. I even learned many fascinating details about the Quakers. I just wish I had been able to connect better to the characters and story.

I tried real hard on this one. I really wanted to enjoy The Glovemaker's Daughter, but I struggled to connect with the protagonist and plot in general. However, I really enjoyed the representation and portrayal it gave to 17th century Quakers. This was a different characterization and one I had not seen before. This book was evidently well-researched, however, it was slow and plodding and I found it difficult to read. I tried valiantly to enjoy it, but in the end, gave up. For those who enjoy a slower read, this may be the book for them. Unfortunately, not for me!

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The story of Rejoice (Joy), born to Puritan parents who die shortly after her birth. An interesting look at what the Puritans believed and how they lived. Review based on an ARC received from NetGalley.

The story gets a little slow in the middle of the book, but overall an enjoyable novel. I enjoyed the historical information about the Quakers and their immigration to America.

In 1666, a child is born in England. Named Rejoice (Joy), the child is soon orphaned and then raised as a Quaker by her mother's family. As she grows up, she witnesses the persecution of their religion as a banned faith. Many years later, Joy joins a group of Quaker pioneers to travel to the New World.

Fast-forward to 2015. A man named Sam Storer finds a journal in the walls of a building. He traces its origins and contacts a woman, Rachel Moorside, who appears to be Joy's descendant. A correspondence begins between the two of them as Rachel seeks to uncover Joy's life.

I really enjoyed the setting because I will devour any book with a historical setting. And as far as I can tell, the historical aspect was done very well! I don't know a lot about Quakers, but the novel does a great job at showing the persecution they suffer. At the time of the novel, Quakers are banned from practicing their faith and Joy's community runs into a lot of violence with the communities practicing the mainstream or "acceptable" religion.

I also liked the novel's premise. The synopsis promises a mystery of sorts, with Rachel trying to discover Joy's life. I expected to have Joy's historical narrative, alongside Rachel's present narrative as she tries to uncover mysteries related to Joy's life.

But this is where the book started to fall a bit flat. Because there isn't a mystery that drives the novel forward. The correspondences between Sam and Rachel in present time occur maybe five times during the entire novel, and don't contribute anything to the overall story. In fact, the present narrative is entirely irrelevant. The entirety of the novel could have simply comprised of Joy's narrative alone. There was also low momentum in Joy's story to keep me invested. I knew she'd make it to America eventually (the synopsis told me so), but there wasn't enough in the story to make me care about how or why.

Beyond the issues of the present-time narrative and low momentum, which I imagine a lot of readers may overlook, the biggest problem for me was the depiction of indigenous peoples once Joy arrived in the New World. I guess you can argue that to be historically accurate, a novel that takes place in newly-colonized America needs to show the colonizers' interactions with the natives. But I was not a fan.

Without spoiling too much, I want to mention that the natives are described as "savages" and there are discussions of colonizing their barbarity by the Europeans. Joy does maintain a friendly relationship with some indigenous people, but then there is an entire instance where less friendly natives do...really terrible things to a group of colonizers, including Joy. And it really wasn't a great depiction of a group of people who have already been historically demonized. It was just exhausting and uncomfortable to read.

If you like historic novels about religious persecution and are interested in the perspective of colonizers in the New World, perhaps this book is for you. But this book had too many problems I couldn't overlook.

Set in the mid-to late 17th century( with a very small portion happening in the 21st century), The Glovemaker's Daughter tells us the story of Rejoice( Joy) Mooreside, a young Quaker woman that loses both her parents on the day of her birth. Joy grows up in the home of her uncle and aunt, who do their best to teach their niece the Quaker life. However, dark clouds are forming over England and the Quakers soon find themselves heading across the sea to a new life in the Americas.

As I reflect on Leah Fleming's story, I think my biggest take-away is that this story really is set on one women's journey to choose the type of life she would like to lead. Joy spends a great portion of the story trying to live up to the martyrdom of her own parents. Many other characters try and help Joy to see the many lessons of their faith, but she will struggle with this ethical dilemma for many years as she records the trials and tribulations of the Quakers.

My rating is right in the middle as I did read the majority of the story in one sitting and I would recommend it, but I am not sure I am drawn to re-reading it again.

This book caught my eye because of the dramatic cover; after reading the synopsis, I was doubly hooked. I don't have a ton of knowledge about Quakers and settlement in the New World, so I was interested to see what this story brought us. It was different then I had anticipated (more time in the 1600s than in the 2000s) but that wasn't a bad thing. Instead, I found myself falling deeper into Joy's story and waiting to find out if she would get her happy ending.

Different Quakers Than Anticipated
The only thing I knew about Quakers before this book is their role in the Underground Railway; they were responsible for so many slaves finding their way to freedom. I remember reading stories as a child about their good deeds and support for anyone who needed it, so I definitely walked into this book with some preconceptions about what the Quakers in this novel would be like. I was really surprised that they often came across more Puritan than Quaker in many instances. They were often quick to judge, unforgiving, and outright cruel to anyone who dared to question them. While there is a definite chance that history views Quakers with rose-tinted glasses, but I was shocked by the way Friends treated Joy. I had to stop reading a few times and confirm that “Friends” mean “Quaker”, and not “Puritan”.

Surprising Ending
I LOVED the last few chapters of this book; the adventure that Joy finds herself in (kidnapping, escaping, almost being tortured) and her ultimate decision to chose love over loyalt was everything I wanted and hoped for for Joy. I didn’t expect Joy’s story to end the way it did, and I’m so happy with how it happened. I’m trying hard not to give any spoilers, so I’ll simply say that people who are fans of the classic happily ever after will be pleased with Joy’s choices.

The Present Day Was Unnecessary
I won’t ramble on about this, but I really did not see the purpose of having characters from the present day find Joy’s diary. While I’m happy her story was told, I didn’t think it made sense the way Rachel and Sam were included into this book. Their relationship meant nothing to me (although it is sweet that these two retirees are hinted to be falling in love by the end) and I was usually annoyed to find that I had to read a bit about them before I could jump back into Joy’s story.

This book stayed with me for days after reading it, as I continued to think about Joy's journey and struggles. I felt so connected to her story that I was really disappointed when it ended! I’d recommend this book to anyway who likes Historical Fiction or wants to get a more personal insight into Quaker life. I really enjoyed reading this book and I can’t wait to read what Leah Fleming writes next.

The Glovemaker’s Daughter by Leah Fleming is filled with lovely descriptive writing that has the ability to transport you over four generations from the lives of the Quakers and their exploration to new lands to the modern day. However, the language from the 1600's seems a little too modern to be totally believable.

I tried valiantly several times to read this story but I just didn’t feel anything for the protagonist.

I would say that this would be a good YA book but some of the situations may be too intense for a younger person.

THE GLOVEMAKE`R`S DAUGHTER by Leah Fleming is a beautiful historical novel. . I had never read any of Fleming`s novels before but I will be on the hunt to read more from this great author.

I wanted to love this book I really did but for me it was just alright.

This book began following Joy's parents who are Quakers set free from being imprisioned in 17th Century England. Joy is born into the world the same day her parents pass away.. Joy is left to be raised by her uncle who runs a Quaker Farm. The story follows Joy and the many hardships the Quakers endure during this time before she makes the decision to join other Quakers travelling to Philadelphia to start a Pioneer village.

After the long trip we see how they adjust to surviving through harsh winters, communicate with the Native Americans and battle sickness and disease.

Although this book was well researched and full of historical information I found it very slow at times. I thought there were parts added that were not really necessary to tell the story. For that reason it was just a 3 for me.

Leah Fleming has written an epic tale with The Glovemaker's Daughter. Charles Dickens would be proud of her! The story takes the form of a journal written in the first person during the 17th century. The journal is uncovered during the renovation of a . . . . and hence begins the correspondence between the sexy American foreman and the shy British historian, but that is not what this story is about. The journal writer is Rejoice, a Quaker girl at a time when Quakers were reviled and persecuted in England.

Fleming has used her vibrant imagination together with her extensive research to create the story from the time Rejoice is in her mother's womb up until to her old age. (Yes, her mother was a glovemaker.) Rejoice barely survives her birth by her martyred mother who was recently released from prison, and is indeed orphaned within hours of her delivery. She is raised by her aunt and uncle who see her as a stubborn and wilful child whom they gladly turn over to the authorities when she disobeys the law and holds prayer meetings in their barn. At her trial she is recognized by the judge as his long, lost grandchild . . . trials and tribulations follow until Rejoice finds herself aboard a ship destined for America where she plans to become a Quaker preacher. Illness and death are her companions on the sea voyage but she does manage to meet a handsome, but forbidden, soldier who will keep popping up in her life.

Once in America Rejoice's story continues but she has stopped spending so much time on self-reflection, maybe the hard work of helping to establish a settlement while being an indentured servant has left her too exhausted to keep on writing about her thoughts so the story starts of move along now. Of course she is tempted by the love of her handsome soldier yet betrothed to a strict Quaker and even manages to get kidnapped by the natives. Upon her escape she is not welcomed back to the Quaker community . . . more twists and turns until she manages to live happily ever after, except for one major heart break and eventually hides her journal in the wall of building that is under construction, where it will be found centuries later when her ghost points it out to the sexy foreman.

We are left with a cliff hanger, wondering if the sexy foreman and shy historian will find true love in one another. I did not reward Fleming with five stars for her epic sage because there was just to much self-reflection in the first half of the novel. She has overstated the point that Rejoice knows she is stubborn and defiant, which is a sin against her church, yet she keeps on repeating the same behaviours. This point is belaboured too much for this review' enjoyment.

I received a free copy of this ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.