“A New Dawn for the Mill Girls” tells the familiar tale of the working class of their employers. For many people, even today, what they earned and how they lived depended on how the owner of the property managed things. Unfortunately for some, this was not very well, as you will see in this novel. Verity is a breath of fresh air for a heroine. Early on, however, I felt the story did not need her to have a romance and her determination along with the stories of Dolly, Georgie, and Theo could have carried the story. Oliver has the appearance of a male lead you have seen a dozen times. Tall, blue-eyed with those ‘strong arms’ you always read about. If I am honest his character was not very interesting to me, because I feel this man exists everywhere in Victorian set stories. More on Verity. How nice to have a smart female lead. There are things she does not know, but shows eagerness to learn and help people. She is also described as being on the taller side which one does not see often for female characters. All around she made the story interesting because she felt real. She is also kind and not needlessly rude like the leads, male or female, in so many books today. Then we have her father Jeb who from the start you will want to see walk off a cliff. He is horrid to her. So horrid it is a wonder Verity has a shred of self esteem. The poor Medleys downstairs fair none the better under his hand. Worst still is Sam, a learning man at the mill who will not keep his eyes and hands off the women and girls. Theo on the other hand was great and Dolly almost stole the show. The main characters in general were nice to read about. No lust at first sight here. In fact all of the lustful characters, Amy, Sam, and Clarence are painted in a negative light and pay the consequences.
I would recommend this book to those interested in the late Victorian era and the working class.

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.

This book had me completely gripped from beginning to end. I found it very hard to put down.

Based around a failing mill, this story follows the owners and employees of the mill and their struggles to get the place back to full working production. I thought that this book was excellently written and had a very compelling and engaging plot. Will Verity (the mill owner) and Dolly (one of the employees) overcome class divides and eventually find happiness? I highly recommend you read this book to find out! 5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

A historical novel set in The 1890’s in England. It features a strong female protagonist who’s been shuttled around most of her life. Strength grows through adversity. Women in that age were considered second class citizens, unable to do things that men could do. This book demonstrates what a strong-willed woman is capable of. I was given a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

Great start for the new series. Verity inherits Lockwood Mill from the death of her father. Jed Lockwood has left a mill that is debt ridden, can Verity work alongside mill manager Oliver to bring prosperity and confidence back to her family legacy.

I really enjoyed this book. Another great start to a series.
Thankyou netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I received a free copy of, A New Dawn for the Mill Girls, by Chrissie Walsh, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Verity Lockwood is not happy with her father, he is a drunk, who is not keeping the Mill together. Verity decides she will run the Mill. Verity is such a strong character, I really liked her.

Is it a good start to a series? I would yes
Is the Main characters good. Again yes . Especially the female Main character. I just want some more oomph from it. But looking forward to the next book in the series
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Having lived in Huddersfield for three years I was excited to read this book. I could picture the streets named and the buildings that were being described (having lived at Storthes Hall on the outskirts of the town I was intrigued by the references to Storths and looked up old Victorian maps of the town!)

The book was very good and sadly a lot more enjoyable once one of the main characters was taken ill! It explores a lot of different social matters such as the boundaries between upper and lower classes and the lack of confidence and respect of the female sex.

I hope it is the start of a new series as the characters were all so likeable and I feel there is so much more that we could explore with them both in terms of political (leading up the WW1) and social history.

Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and of course the author for allowing me to read and review an Arc copy.

A new dawn for the mill girls
Book one in the new series, the Lockwood inheritance.
A fantastic historical saga.
1897 Huddersfield West Yorkshire.
Far View house and mill owner Jebediah Lockwood is drowning is fortune in drink.
His daughter Verity despise him but refusing to stand idle she becomes the mistress of the mill.
With his doubts manager Oliver Hardcastle as well as the workers she soon gets respect from the men and women can they all pull together and save the mill.
A unique emotional story of family friendship and love.
That's see's this iconic lady work hard with a sharp mind.
I enjoyed and love the start of this series looking forward to the next in the series.
Commen

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish.
Although Verify seemed each at times she had a kind heart and I wasn't sure Oliver would return.I
Probably a stand alone novel but I'm sure there could be more story to come I if the author wanted to write another book