First Line Fridays: The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah Ladd

 

Friday has come around again! I have a couple of new followers, so just to explain First Line Fridays is a group in which we share a post each week (sometimes less often), featuring the First Line of a book we are currently, or have recently read. 

I know that this week's days has particular resonance for Star Wars fans, but for me its significant as my father's birthday. He has a better claim, since he was born before the first movies were made! I'm not going to share anything Star-Warsy anyway, since its not really my 'thing'.

Instead, I am going to be sharing the first line of a book I received way back at the beginning of April. The Weaver's Daughter, which is the latest Regency novel by Sarah E. Ladd

 Kate's loyalties bind her to the past. Henry's loyalties compel him to strive for a better future. In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder --including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father's pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather's goals to modernize his family's wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family's livelihood and legacy.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry's side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village's future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls - even if it means risking their hearts in the process.

Sounds good doesn't it? Shades of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and the delightful adaptation starring Richard Armitage. Yeah you know, the one that culminates in this dreamy scene....

So, erm yes, romantic reveries aside. My first line for today is taken from Chapter One (Missing out the Prologue). 

January 1812, 

Amberdale, West Riding 

Yorkshire, England

 

"Henry Stockton pulled his mare to a stop at the edge of a stone bridge and tipped his wide-brimmed hat low over his forehead to guard against winter's icy blasts" 

So that's my contribution for this week. Now its my audience's turn. Comment with your own first line, or just share your thoughts, and don't forget to click the meme to see what the other members our the group are reading.