This was an enjoyable read with likeable characters. Verity had spent much time living with her father and in one way that was fortunate as he truly was a horrid man. However, it did mean she hadn’t experienced much love in her life. I did like the way that Verity cared for the mill workers and how she helped to make their life easier. Class difference is mentioned several times from various classes in society. There is romance in the story for several different people, some having misunderstandings, before a happy ending is achieved. Verity also comes across a number of men who think women are incapable of running a mill. There is some danger as well. It was a little slow at first but then it moved along at a good pace. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An interesting and intense historical saga set in 1897/8, with some very “unlikeable” characters, mainly men. Verity is young and naive, but she gains strength and character throughout the book. Women were fighting for their place in the world and workers wanted to better their lot. Verity was all for social change. An intriguing look at a slice of Yorkshire history.

I enjoyed this; it was a quick read with engaging characters. It felt realistic in that bad things happened to good people and good things also happened - much like everyday life. I have to admit I was initially turned off by the dialect spoken by the mill workers and wondered if I could manage reading the entire book while spending so much time trying to decipher what was being said -- however, the frequency of the accent/dialect receded within the first 10-15% of the book.

The portrayal of the drunken mill-owner father was difficult but his comeuppance was cause for rejoicing; I liked that his stroke and death were treated with dignity showing strong character for Verity and Clara.

There were a handful of examples of upper class vs lower class distinctions and society's reaction to classes intermixing. Again these played out in believable ways with the expected miscommunications/misunderstandings built in. In this story, after fairly easy resolutions, all the good characters triumphed in the end.

I'd read another installment involving these characters!

What Yorkshire 1897. Verity Lockwood despises life at Fair View House, where her father and mill owner, Jebediah Lockwood, drowns his fortune - and his wits - in drink. With debts mounting, whispers spread - how much longer can Lockwood's Mill survive? The dark and dirty mills of Yorkshire are no place for gently bred young women, but when Verity learns that her father's ruin threatens not only her home but the livelihoods of the workers who depend on it, she refuses to stand idly by.

Verity Lockwood is not happy when she learns that her drunken father is not running his mill properly, so she decides to run it for him. Verity wants to improve working conditions for the workers. The mill is close to bankruptcy.

This nook will mess with your emotions. Verity is a strong character in an age where women were second class citizens. She has great ideas to improve working conditions.

Published 26th June 2025.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #ChrissieWalsh for my ARC of #ANewDawnForTheMillGirls in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book.

Verity, now back the home her family lived, she was always having to move homes since being a child. But Jebediah, her father, makes it clear that he feels no love for her as he wanted a boy to carry on the family name.

But his behaviour makes Verity to whatever age can to carry on with her life, more so when she finds out that the mill is facing hardship due to the way her father lives.

The manager doesn’t make that much of her when she meets him to talk through the changes she’s wanting to make, can she make him change his opinion of her?

As she begins to familiarise herself with the work that’s carried out in the mill, there’s some there that are happy with the chsnges, and others that aren’t.

The story was well-written and had me turning the pages and found it hard to put down.

I highly recommend this book.

A good story told well by the author. Easy reading and some wonderful strong women. Amazing what we can do if we put our mind to the task! Have read a few of this authors books and thoroughly enjoyed all.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

Verity Lockwood is shuffled around between her aunts after her mother dies but eventually she is back living with an alcoholic, abusive father. When he has a stroke she vows to revive his failing mill. Verity had a lot of spunk and even though she didn't have a lot of confidence she had a heart and wanted to make things better for the mill workers. This was a little bit of a love story and at times I just wanted her to talk to Oliver instead of assuming they knew what the other was thinking. In the end I enjoyed this. I liked Verity and Oliver and the bond they were forming and the growth of her character throughout the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with a digital copy.

This is the story of Verity Lockwood whose father owns Lockwood Mills.Jebediah is an alcoholic and the mill is not being run at a profit ,if it wasn’t for his manager Oliver Hardcastle it would have been ruined.Jebediah does not want his daughter getting involved in the running of the mill and when he finds out she has been looking round it he becomes very angry.Debts have been mounting as he drinks all the money it makes and mill workers are being made redundant.Verity tries to help Oliver to run the mill without her father knowing but they both find it hard to do.Will they be able to turn things around at the mill ,only time will tell.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was originally drawn to the cover. I was a bit confused with how the characters spoke but all in all this was a great book. I enjoyed all the characters and the plot. Highly recommend! I would read from this author again.

A joy of a read through and through! I fully enjoyed reading every moment of the inspiring and heartwarming story. Verity the main character is a little firecracker while she is kind she also has some great ideas to improve working conditions. Verity is a strong character who I liked getting to know more. The plot is full of history, romance and emotion.

A new dawn for the mill girls, a great historical read, with great characters. Good start to a new series.

I love a story about strong women, and this gave us a ripper. Verity Lockwood returns home to find her father is a drunkard and his mill is failing. Gradually, she takes control, but finds things are not always that easy, especially where other mill owners are concerned, especially in relation to workers rights and conditions. I loved Dolly and her friends, the perception of class and the working out of what is important in life. This was an easy read, but it takes us to a time when attitudes were quite different to now. Historical fiction always makes me grateful that I was born in a time where there were more opportunities for women. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book for me to read and review.

Such a wonderfully readable book. Loveable and believable characters and a riveting story line. Excellent

this book was so full of emotional pulls that i never saw or expected to come. i was drawn in to the story and the characters and really cared about what happened to them.
this is not an easy time for woman anyway. back then we can only imagine. so when one woman realises just how much her and others livelihoods are at risk at the mill she does all she can to fight for it and those who she works with.
but Verity is up against alot. her father seems intent on the ruin. she is largely ignore or seen with disdain but the other males who dont like what she could stand for. but the time comes when she is no option but to step up. so she does so with the help of the mill manager Oliver. they both need to turn things around fast. and together they start something really good. things start to come together in far more areas than anyone gave them credit to be able to do.
not only that but the pair start to feel more and care more for each other. but people dont like what Verity has been doing. what it means for them. especially as it HER doing this. so there is now more than work at risk and the pair need eachother more than they will ever know.
i loved this novel! so good. so so good. everything from the story to the characters i was invested in. brilliant.

A good historical read. Verity has had a terrible life with her father who is drinking and gambling away the money what should be being invested in Lockwood Mill which he owns and it's threatening the livlyhood of the workers,so she takes it upon herself to try and improve the conditions and get the mill profitable again. It's no place for a girl but with determination and sheer willpower she intends to prove them wrong especially the other millnowners who are not happy about what is happening.. A gripping story of passion, power and love with plenty of challenges along the way.

I enjoyed reading this story. Ms Walsh brings back other characters from Weaver Street. I liked how the author connected it to her other books.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

se in 1897 Verity inherits a Wollen mill after her father s death. the mill is in debt and she tries to save it. good story.

Thank you net galley and the publisher for this arc,
I really enjoyed this, it was such a gripping story, I just couldn’t put it down!

What a page turner!
Verity Lockwood is back at the family home after being passed from pillar to post since she was a young child. Her father mill owner, Jebediah makes no secret of the fact that he doesn’t have feelings for her, having wanted a son & heir.
All this just goes to determine Verity to get on in life, especially when she hears the local gossip that the mill is in trouble due to her father’s lifestyle. Mill manager Oliver Hardcastle sees her as a fanciful young woman when she first approaches him regarding making changes. Will she convince him to hear her out?
As Verity learns the intricate work that’s involved in the mill it is clear that while some are happy about changes there are always some who are not. It doesn’t do to make enemies!

Again, a wonderful story by this author which just keeps the pages turning. My favourite character was Verity for her determination and compassion. Least favourite was the people who offered friendship but withdrew it to suit.
I shall definitely be recommending this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was informative and taught me a lot about woollen mills. It showed how women were frowned upon and were unable to run factories/ mills. This story was about three main women and how they lived. The heroine was the mill owners daughter who had to learn how to look after the mill. She was a strong character. The book had everything, humour, sadness and happiness. Thank you for allowing me to read this book.