The Weaver's Daughter - Sarah E. Ladd

Date of Reading: 26/05/2018

Author: Sarah E. Ladd

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Place: Nashville, Tennessee

Year: April 2018

From: NetGalley

Rating: 4.3/5

About the book (Goodreads):

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 seeking 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 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. As unlikely adversaries, 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.

My Review: 

        A beautiful novel that will hook you to the end even though we know full well what is going to happen. We are presented with a set of admirable characters which, if I should be honest, is quite unlike the era of their setting. Kate is fiercely independent and in no way be subdued by a marriage of convenience or the talks of being a lady. She wants to be taken seriously as any other weaver in the society. Needless to say, Henry is attracted to this caring, brave and generous woman and the duo make a handsome, happy couple.
         The book has been put under the category of Christian fiction, but it focuses on the innate idea of Christianity rather than customs and prayers of the Christian religion. The story stresses the need to forgive and to be truthful and even gives insight into the heart of the major rival, Frederica Pennington. Like many other beautiful girls, she is trapped by the conventions of the society where the only means of escape is a profitable marriage.
       Beginning lightly with Kate as a child, the story picks pace with the mystery of a murder at its core and concludes with a peaceful and satisfying ending. Thanks to the gripping narration, you won't be able to put it down without finishing.

Meet the author:

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing and lives in Indiana with her family and spunky Golden Retriever.