Bells of Lowell, 3-in-1

Bells of Lowell #1-3

by Tracie Peterson, Judith McCoy Miller

As the Industrial Revoltion sweeps across the land, three adventuresome women will be transformed when they become "mill girls"

Daughter of the Loom--Forced to work in the mill as her only means of survival, Lilly Armbruster is deeply resentful of the powerful mill owners she believes forced her father's premature death. Lily is torn, however, when she discovers her one-time betrothed is one with the "lords of the loom." With her heart conflicted, Lilly's faith will be put to the test.

A Fragile Design--Fleeing the life of the Shakers, Arabella Newberry finds a taste of freedom working in the mills. But her greatest desire is for true equality for all mill girls, which puts her at odds with the dashing Taylor Manning. When several girls go missing, will she endanger more than her heart?

These Tangled Threads--Daughtie Winfield is outspoken in her support for the mill girls struggling for better working conditions and the immigrants on the other side of town. Dissention and upheaval threaten the future of the textile industry, but it is her growing friendship with Liam Donahue, a local artisan, that plays havoc with the love she yearns for.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction

704 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

Tracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.

pen name: Janelle Jamison

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 - By the end of the third book, I was totally in love with this series. The setting of the mills was interesting. Girls living in boardinghouses and working the hours they did at the mills. Fell in love with Miss Addie and Miss Mintie. Could just imagine these older sisters, a little plump maybe, running boardinghouses across the street from each other. Lilly, Bella, Daughtie, and Miss Minnie all marry good men and their love stories are fun but not overbearing in the book. Mystery accompanied the story with the girls being kidnapped, and then Daughtie helping Liam with the runaway slaves. Course there was the trip to England that put John's life in danger that I wondered how they would make the escape. The men plotting against the Boston Associates finally being apprehended was a good thing. Daughtie and Liam dealing with him being an Irishman so they were frowned upon by others in the community when they married. I felt for them because they were so in love and yet the times weren't favorable for the Irish. They were so looked down upon. It was a big book that I checked out from the library - it had all 3 stories into one book. But I found it hard to put down in spots and was glad I had all 3 in the series to read without having to wait if one was checked out.

[Kirsty Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of characters and storylines woven together as tightly and beautifully as the looms that are a core element in this series, though each book is delightful in it's own right, my favourite would have to be the last one. Not only does it feature an Irish architect hero, and a sweet romance, it also delves into the historical fight going on at the time for both the education and freedom of African Americans.

Centered around a core group of tried and true friends, the spiritual lessons and romances are both gentle and impacting affairs, staying with you long after the last page. Getting a glimpse into the world of the mill girls across these three books is fascinating and sad at the same time, with the villains also adding a nice touch of suspense and tension.

[Mandy Spigle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Tracie Peterson. The Belles of Lowell series transports you to a different time when life was tough and finding true friends was even tougher. The chronicling of these girls lives during the industrial revolution will make you laugh, cry and thank God for your 8-5 desk job! Be ready to be sucked in to a series you won't want to put down!

[Peggy]

Great books

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series. It really kept my attention. Loved the historical aspects of it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good look at what early factories were like.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant easy read story. Towards the end promoted a faith in GOD which was well done. I thought it did not portray realistically the hardships and the difficult life of the mill girls.

[wanda pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfu,

Wonderful,third time reading this collection. Excellent time piece in historical viewpoints. Citing the hardships of early American industrialization. The hard SD hips of the female workforce. Overcoming bigotry and cultural lines still exists today as it has for all of humanity. Wonderful story of life, love and Godly doctrine. Faith!

[Diane Vernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this trilogy. It had good characters and an interesting look into the not so distant past. A good historical romance without sex and references to God in a way that applies to every day life.