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The Weaver's Daughter: A Regency Romance Novel by Sarah E. Ladd - Kate Dearborne is just a young girl when she first finds out that progress threatens the relationships between friends and family in her community. Her best friend informs her that they will no longer be allowed to speak to each other because Kate's father holds to the traditional weavers way of doing things, but her own father has decided to side with Stockton Mill and bring in machines. After this brief prologue chapter, the story shifts many years forward, with Kate as a young woman working for her father and trying to earn his respect. Mr Dearborne is the head of the weavers community and they are adamantly opposed to the mills like Stockton, because of the jobs lost. In many parts of England, opposition to the mills have turned violent, with machines and buildings damaged and lives lost. Kate remains loyal to her father, but worries that the local protests may go too far. Already her brother Charles has gone to work for the Stocktons and her father has completely disowned him, so her own loyalties are divided.
Henry Stockton returns to the small village after a few years at war, and finds that his grandfather has been pushing progress at Stockton Mill and expects Henry to take over. With some reluctance, Henry begins to learn the business, and finds himself suddenly in the middle of the unrest when there's a suspicious fire in the stable. He had met Kate before, but when she is injured while fighting the fire, he tends her wounds and begins to build a cautious friendship with her. Kate is guarded at first because of the animosity between her father and the elder Mr Stockton, but since Charles claims Henry can be trusted, Kate is willing to give him a chance to prove he is different. When Henry's grandfather is murdered, Henry is thrust into the full leadership role at Stockton Mill, and while he is determined to move forward with modernization, he also listens when Kate explains the concerns of the weavers and tries to make some positive changes as well.
But violence erupts again when Kate's father and the weavers threaten Henry at a community gathering, and soon afterwards Kate finds out that her father is part of a plan to disrupt the delivery and operation of new machines at Stockton Mill. She discovers enough about the plan so that she can warn Henry, but if her father discovers what she has done, her family will be torn further apart.
There are some interesting subplots and a bit of mystery in this novel, as Kate's former friend and her family try to position themselves for power through an advantageous marriage to Henry Stockton; and Henry tries to find out the truth about his grandfather's death. There are family tensions too - Charles Dearborne and his father are on opposite sides of the conflict and completely estranged, and Kate's own loyalties are divided; and Henry's sister Mollie returns to the village with some secrets and scandals of her own. The growing affection and attraction between Kate and Henry is set against an interesting historical backdrop, which sheds light on the effect of industrial advances on traditional trades. The romance and drama take center stage and make this an enjoyable read with a fascinating historical setting.
From the publisher:
Kate's loyalties bind her to the past. Henry's loyalties compel him to strive for a better future.
In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?
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.
Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war hoping to find a refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather's goals to modernize his family's wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort out the truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family's livelihood and legacy.
Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry's side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village's future. Born on opposite sides of the conflict, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls--even if it means risking their hearts in the process.
by Sarah E. Ladd - Kate Dearborne is just a young girl when she first finds out that progress threatens the relationships between friends and family in her community. Her best friend informs her that they will no longer be allowed to speak to each other because Kate's father holds to the traditional weavers way of doing things, but her own father has decided to side with Stockton Mill and bring in machines. After this brief prologue chapter, the story shifts many years forward, with Kate as a young woman working for her father and trying to earn his respect. Mr Dearborne is the head of the weavers community and they are adamantly opposed to the mills like Stockton, because of the jobs lost. In many parts of England, opposition to the mills have turned violent, with machines and buildings damaged and lives lost. Kate remains loyal to her father, but worries that the local protests may go too far. Already her brother Charles has gone to work for the Stocktons and her father has completely disowned him, so her own loyalties are divided.Henry Stockton returns to the small village after a few years at war, and finds that his grandfather has been pushing progress at Stockton Mill and expects Henry to take over. With some reluctance, Henry begins to learn the business, and finds himself suddenly in the middle of the unrest when there's a suspicious fire in the stable. He had met Kate before, but when she is injured while fighting the fire, he tends her wounds and begins to build a cautious friendship with her. Kate is guarded at first because of the animosity between her father and the elder Mr Stockton, but since Charles claims Henry can be trusted, Kate is willing to give him a chance to prove he is different. When Henry's grandfather is murdered, Henry is thrust into the full leadership role at Stockton Mill, and while he is determined to move forward with modernization, he also listens when Kate explains the concerns of the weavers and tries to make some positive changes as well.
But violence erupts again when Kate's father and the weavers threaten Henry at a community gathering, and soon afterwards Kate finds out that her father is part of a plan to disrupt the delivery and operation of new machines at Stockton Mill. She discovers enough about the plan so that she can warn Henry, but if her father discovers what she has done, her family will be torn further apart.
There are some interesting subplots and a bit of mystery in this novel, as Kate's former friend and her family try to position themselves for power through an advantageous marriage to Henry Stockton; and Henry tries to find out the truth about his grandfather's death. There are family tensions too - Charles Dearborne and his father are on opposite sides of the conflict and completely estranged, and Kate's own loyalties are divided; and Henry's sister Mollie returns to the village with some secrets and scandals of her own. The growing affection and attraction between Kate and Henry is set against an interesting historical backdrop, which sheds light on the effect of industrial advances on traditional trades. The romance and drama take center stage and make this an enjoyable read with a fascinating historical setting.
From the publisher:
Kate's loyalties bind her to the past. Henry's loyalties compel him to strive for a better future.
In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?
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.
Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war hoping to find a refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather's goals to modernize his family's wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort out the truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family's livelihood and legacy.
Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry's side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village's future. Born on opposite sides of the conflict, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls--even if it means risking their hearts in the process.
By the same author: Dawn at Emberwilde, The Curiosity Keeper, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, The Headmistress of Rosemere, The Heiress of Winterwood
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