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Just as the cloth at the center of The Weaver’s Daughter is woven by skillful hands, the author’s skill weaves a warm and engaging tale of a way of life forced into change by new technology and of the growing love between two people on opposite sides of that change.

For centuries, weavers of Amberdale like the Dearborne family have woven broadcloth by hand and displayed it at the cloth halls where buyers can judge its quality. But in the last few years, a milling process has been perfected to make broadcloth more quickly and at lower cost. The Stockton family owns one of the area mills, employs many local people, and lives alongside the weavers in an uneasy alliance. At the age of ten, Kate Dearborne and her best friend Frederica Pennington secretly giggle over young Henry Stockton, and Frederica declares she will marry him. Following that statement, Frederica informs Kate they can no longer be friends, for Frederica’s father has become a mill owner and friendship with a weaver’s daughter is now forbidden.

I’d compare this novel to North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Ms. Ladd’s smooth writing rhythm, effective dialog and vivid descriptions rely on emotion and tension to draw the reader into the conflict and romance with a sure touch. The characters are well-drawn, and I wondered to the last pages how Henry and Kate’s love would fare, and how others in the story would find their balance in the new social order. As I re-read the book in order to write this review, the multi-layered story offered me new insights on compassionate living and building bridges with people on all sides of an issue. I’ve already recommended The Weaver’s Daughter to friends as a fine example of an inspirational romance with an historical setting, and I recommend it here without reservation.