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Mysterious Arts #5
Weaving Hope
Jeremy has a house.
To be precise, Jeremy has unexpectedly inherited a large country house in a remote area of Norfolk. Jeremy knows how to manage accounts, thanks to his work at Albion’s Ministry. But he has no idea what to do with an estate, how to talk to the staff, or how to keep everything working for another generation. And he certainly doesn’t know anything about tapestries, and he’s inherited those as well.
Eda has a good life.
She’s built up her weaving workshop from scratch, and it’s now overflowing with apprentices, commissions, and looms. Widowed during the Great War, she’s happy with her comfortable kitchen, colleagues in and out at all hours, and a range of people asking for her expertise.
When Jeremy asks her to come evaluate a set of tapestries, she’s glad enough to do so. It won’t even be a problem to do an initial set of repairs, to better judge how long tending the set of ten tapestries might take. Once she’s in Norfolk, however, she and Jeremy keep stumbling over other mysteries.
Weaving Hope is the fifth book in the Mysterious Arts series exploring the arts in Albion in the 1920s. It can be read in any order. Come enjoy the pleasures of weaving, ancient family secrets, and a beautiful garden with elusive gardeners.
To be precise, Jeremy has unexpectedly inherited a large country house in a remote area of Norfolk. Jeremy knows how to manage accounts, thanks to his work at Albion’s Ministry. But he has no idea what to do with an estate, how to talk to the staff, or how to keep everything working for another generation. And he certainly doesn’t know anything about tapestries, and he’s inherited those as well.
Eda has a good life.
She’s built up her weaving workshop from scratch, and it’s now overflowing with apprentices, commissions, and looms. Widowed during the Great War, she’s happy with her comfortable kitchen, colleagues in and out at all hours, and a range of people asking for her expertise.
When Jeremy asks her to come evaluate a set of tapestries, she’s glad enough to do so. It won’t even be a problem to do an initial set of repairs, to better judge how long tending the set of ten tapestries might take. Once she’s in Norfolk, however, she and Jeremy keep stumbling over other mysteries.
Weaving Hope is the fifth book in the Mysterious Arts series exploring the arts in Albion in the 1920s. It can be read in any order. Come enjoy the pleasures of weaving, ancient family secrets, and a beautiful garden with elusive gardeners.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2025
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Celia Lake
47 books75 followersCelia Lake spends her days as a librarian in the Boston (MA) metro area, and her nights and weekends at home happily writing, reading, and researching.
Born and raised in Massachusetts to British parents, she naturally embraced British spelling, classic mysteries, and the Oxford comma before she learned there were any other options.
Born and raised in Massachusetts to British parents, she naturally embraced British spelling, classic mysteries, and the Oxford comma before she learned there were any other options.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 10, 2025
Another excellent entry into a fascinating world. Weaving is another art that has always fascinated me, although I haven't tried it myself, and I've also done a bit of fabric dyeing (although not with plant dyes). I found this book especially interesting for its exploring of these topics. And it's always nice to have main characters who are older and well-experienced in their careers.
August 9, 2025
Another wonderful cozy historical fantasy romance from Lake!
Weaving Hope is a later in life romance between an autistic man who has recently and unexpectedly inherited a grand estate and a widowed master weaver who he hires to restore some tapestries.
I loved all the discussion of craft and weaving in the story. There isn’t too much magic but I enjoyed the descriptions of the process of doing spells. There’s a mini mystery or two, but mostly the story is a romance. I enjoyed both main characters and how they get to know each other over the course of the book.
This is a very gentle, slow story.
February 7, 2025
So cosy and warm!
Celia Lake's books have become a key part of self-care for me. Her characters are complex and believable. Magical Albion is my happy place. Here we meet two new characters, are treated to a later in life romance, see glimpses of previous characters, and learn about weaving and horticulture in Albion in the late 1920s. Highly recommended.
Celia Lake's books have become a key part of self-care for me. Her characters are complex and believable. Magical Albion is my happy place. Here we meet two new characters, are treated to a later in life romance, see glimpses of previous characters, and learn about weaving and horticulture in Albion in the late 1920s. Highly recommended.
February 9, 2025
Cozy, cool and a little mystery
I liked this story. I liked the tufynrss and the small mystery left open. I liked the maturity of the main romantic pair. I found it restful.
Not every reader wants "restful", but I found it a nice change from world-peril, to visit a country manor with only one ghost, and no problems with dry rot, or collapsing roofs, or sinister servants.
Nice.
I liked this story. I liked the tufynrss and the small mystery left open. I liked the maturity of the main romantic pair. I found it restful.
Not every reader wants "restful", but I found it a nice change from world-peril, to visit a country manor with only one ghost, and no problems with dry rot, or collapsing roofs, or sinister servants.
Nice.
February 10, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5
The romance is delightful, the characters are terrific, and the setting is practically a character in its own right. However, the author once again pulls the trick of not resolving parts of the major mystery (ghost? Hello?) in favor of resolving the character arcs.
The romance is delightful, the characters are terrific, and the setting is practically a character in its own right. However, the author once again pulls the trick of not resolving parts of the major mystery (ghost? Hello?) in favor of resolving the character arcs.
February 9, 2025
Nice calm, gentle historical romantic fantasy with an autistic hero. Lots of weaving information (*ahem*) woven into the background.
July 3, 2025
Delightful. Weaver heroine—loved the weaving bits. Quiet, contemplative story. Competent—expert!—characters at their jobs. Slow burn, growth of friendship to more. Consent is sexy!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews