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. But cracks begin to show, not just among the mill girls, but within the Hardcastle family itself.
When a new mill girl arrives, bringing disruption in her wake, Verity and Oliver must fight to protect everything they hold dear. Loyalties will be tested, secrets unearthed, and the ties of love and family stretched to their limits.
Can the Hardcastles weather the storm, or will this be the end of everything they’ve built?
My Thoughts
The story of the Lockwood Mill, its owners and workers, continues from where Book 1 finished. There have been big changes for Verity with the birth of her twins, Briony and Blaise turn out have very different personalities and Verity's reactions to her two children are very different. She becomes obsessed with her son, at the expense of her quieter daughter, and in Verity's eyes, her son can do no wrong. As the story progresses, the children grow up into a vastly changing world and the social issues of the early twentieth century are shown though these two children. The coming war seems to loom in the background with a sense of foreboding.
Life in the Mill shows changes as well as new staff bring their own challenges. Some of the workers are eager for change and do not have the same loyalty towards the Lockwood Mill owners which previous workers had. Verity's husband, Oliver, seems rather down the pecking order as far as his wife is concerned and you see his struggle to accommodate her and to bring in the changes he thinks might be needed, especially where their son is concerned. The war brings many changes to Lockwood Mill as the men are enlisted or join up. The women find their roles changing rapidly and in doing their bit for their country, some find greater independence. This is such an enjoyable series for anyone who likes to read about this period as the social and political changes are immense.
In short: difficult times
About the Author
Chrissie Walsh was born and raised in West Yorkshire and is a retired schoolteacher with a passion for history. She has written several successful sagas documenting feisty women in challenging times.
You can follow Chrissie here:
Facebook: ChrissieWalsh
Twitter: @WalshChrissie
Thanks to Chrissie Walsh, 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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