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Trying Times for the Mill Girls by Chrissie Walsh #Review #TheLockwoodInheritanceBook2

  West Yorkshire 1900-1918 Today we are going back to the early days of the twentieth century to see how life in Almondbury changes at this critical time.   Trying Times for the Mill Girls by Chrissie Walsh is published  today on December 5th by Boldwood Books .   You can read  my review of Book 1 in the Lockwood Inheritance series, A New Dawn for the Mill Girls   here   In changing times, even the strongest must fight to hold on... At the dawn of a new century, mill mistress Verity Hardcastle and her husband Oliver welcome their long-awaited twins: gentle, golden-hearted Briony and spirited, stormy Blaise. From the beginning, their children seem destined to pull in different directions—but the Hardcastles stand united, proud stewards of Lockwood Mill and its tight-knit community of hardworking girls. As the winds of change sweep through Yorkshire—from the rise of the suffragette movement to the shadow of war—the mill stands firm. ...

New Beginnings at Roseford Hall by Fay Keenan #Review #PublicationDay

 

The first in a new series by Fay Keenan is published today. New Beginnings at Roseford Hall is published by Boldwood Books


Life in London has lost its sparkle for Stella Simpson.

So when she gets the opportunity to escape to the country for a year, it seems too good a chance to miss. In the beautiful Somerset countryside, the majestic Roseford Hall has been painstakingly restored and is now ready for its grand opening. And as the writer in residence, Stella gets to see it all  – from the rowdy resident peacocks, the hidden secrets of the Hall, to befriending the Lord of the Manor himself.

At the other end of Roseford, single father, Chris Charlton is facing his own refurbishment woes. Rocked by a tragedy two years previously, his plans for crumbling Victorian wreck Halstead House are as stuck as he is.

As Roseford Hall prepares to welcome a new era, and Halsted House’s future is under threat, Chris and Stella find themselves drawn to one another. Can they finally leave their pasts behind, and will Chris and Stella be able to embrace their new beginnings together – or apart…


 My Thoughts

This is a very promising start to a new series. The rural setting has a community feel and in Roseford Hall, you have a ready -made hub for community events. You see the village through the eyes of a newcomer, Stella, which is a good way to introduce it. Stella is making a new start as the Writer in Residence and settles into the demands of that role quite quickly. 

    Chris Charlton has a tragic event to get over and is struggling to renovate Halsted House and to come to terms with how he is going to bring up his own son. Much of the story centres around the barriers he has put up against his friends and family and his desire to punish himself for past events. Stella understands loss from her own family and has to reevaluate her first impression of him. Making your own family and starting over are major themes in the story. I can see the potential for future books and am looking forward to wnat happens next.

In short: New beginnings and starting over.

About the Author


Fay Keenan is the author of the bestselling Little Somerby series of novels. She has led writing workshops with Bristol University and has been a visiting speaker in schools. She is a full-time teacher and lives in Somerset.

 

You can follow Fay here:  Twitter    | Facebook   |  Instagram   |  YouTube  |  Pinterest  |  Bookbub   |  Blog  |  Newsletter sign up

Book link:  Amazon UK

Thanks to Fay Keenan, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

 

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