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Windfell Manor #1
The Mistress of Windfell Manor
Charlotte Booth loves her father and the home they share, which is set high up in the limestone escarpments of Crummockdale. But when a new businessman in the form of Joseph Dawson enters their lives, both Charlotte and her father decide he's the man for her and, within six months, Charlotte marries the dashing mill owner from Accrington.Then a young mill worker is found dead in the swollen River Ribble. With Joseph's business nearly bankrupt, it becomes apparent that all is not as it seems and Joseph is not the man he pretends to be. Heavily pregnant, penniless and heartbroken, Charlotte is forced to face the reality that life may never be the same again . . .
- GenresHistorical Fiction
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2016
48 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Diane Allen
32 books24 followersDiane Allen was born in Leeds, but raised at her family’s farm deep in the Yorkshire Dales. After working as a glass engraver, raising a family, and looking after an ill father, she found her true niche in life, joining a large print publishing firm in 1990.
Rising through the firm, she is now the general manager and has recently been made Honorary Vice President of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is the author of For a Father’s Pride and The Mistress of Windfell Manor, and its sequel, The Windfell Family Secrets.
Diane and her husband Ronnie live in Long Preston in the Yorkshire Dales, and have two children and four beautiful grandchildren.
Rising through the firm, she is now the general manager and has recently been made Honorary Vice President of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is the author of For a Father’s Pride and The Mistress of Windfell Manor, and its sequel, The Windfell Family Secrets.
Diane and her husband Ronnie live in Long Preston in the Yorkshire Dales, and have two children and four beautiful grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 25, 2019
Nice, easy and quick read set in the Yorkshire Dales, particularly the cotton mill area and during the period when raw cotton was difficult to obtain due to American Civil War. Book one of a trilogy, worth following just to see how the story pans out.
November 2, 2021
I picked this as a cozy autumnal read and it really fit the bill.
Charlotte lives a privileged life with her father on their sheep farm. She is from the gentry but when Joseph Dawson enters her life he offers the kind of lifestyle even above her station with his manor and his mill.
But then a young mill worker is found dead in the mill race and her husband is quite patently not what he seemed. Pregnant and heartbroken, Charlotte is forced to face the reality that life may never be the same again.
This was an enjoyable read but there was an awful ot of set up. The body isn't actually found untill about 120 pages before the end so the mystery element drags.
I found the character of Charlotte conflicting. At the beginning of the novel she is a conceited and cunningly deceitful girl but as soon as she marries Joseph she becomes unbearably cowed and gentle.
It was an interesting plot and historically informative but the ending was not satisfying. The plot is left up in the air and a lot of ends are left untied. What happens to her husband probably happened a lot in those times but it felt a bit to easy after all the build up.
I felt that a lot of characters weren't true to their individual set up and changed personality to suit the plot.
Overall it was pleasant but dragged a tad and wasn't ultimately true to itself or it's characters.
Charlotte lives a privileged life with her father on their sheep farm. She is from the gentry but when Joseph Dawson enters her life he offers the kind of lifestyle even above her station with his manor and his mill.
But then a young mill worker is found dead in the mill race and her husband is quite patently not what he seemed. Pregnant and heartbroken, Charlotte is forced to face the reality that life may never be the same again.
This was an enjoyable read but there was an awful ot of set up. The body isn't actually found untill about 120 pages before the end so the mystery element drags.
I found the character of Charlotte conflicting. At the beginning of the novel she is a conceited and cunningly deceitful girl but as soon as she marries Joseph she becomes unbearably cowed and gentle.
It was an interesting plot and historically informative but the ending was not satisfying. The plot is left up in the air and a lot of ends are left untied. What happens to her husband probably happened a lot in those times but it felt a bit to easy after all the build up.
I felt that a lot of characters weren't true to their individual set up and changed personality to suit the plot.
Overall it was pleasant but dragged a tad and wasn't ultimately true to itself or it's characters.
November 26, 2025
I found this book in a free Book library with photo box, and I'm so glad I did as it's a very enjoyable book to read.
When you meet Charlotte Booth is living with her father and her farm, which is a high up in a place called Crummockdale .
Charlotte meets a business man called Joseph Dawson and when he entered their life, Charlotte and her father decided that he is the man for her and she marries him .
Joseph runs a mill at Accrington, but he's not all he seems.When a young woman is found dead in the River Ribble and with Joseph's business, near the bankrupt , you start to realise that Joseph is not all he pretended to be. At the same time Charlotte is having a pregnant and when Joseph runs away, he leaves her pennyless and heartbroken. With the truth coming out Charlotteis forced to face out that life isn't gonna be the same again, but she is a very strong fighter and she starts to run the mill and turn it round While also being a mother to her baby girl called Isabelle.
This is a read I enjoyed immensely, with a good plot and likable characters step for Joseph Dawson you gladly dislike. I liked the ending for Charlotte , as she and Isabelle return home to Crummock Farm good Christmas with her friend Archie and his family.
When you meet Charlotte Booth is living with her father and her farm, which is a high up in a place called Crummockdale .
Charlotte meets a business man called Joseph Dawson and when he entered their life, Charlotte and her father decided that he is the man for her and she marries him .
Joseph runs a mill at Accrington, but he's not all he seems.When a young woman is found dead in the River Ribble and with Joseph's business, near the bankrupt , you start to realise that Joseph is not all he pretended to be. At the same time Charlotte is having a pregnant and when Joseph runs away, he leaves her pennyless and heartbroken. With the truth coming out Charlotteis forced to face out that life isn't gonna be the same again, but she is a very strong fighter and she starts to run the mill and turn it round While also being a mother to her baby girl called Isabelle.
This is a read I enjoyed immensely, with a good plot and likable characters step for Joseph Dawson you gladly dislike. I liked the ending for Charlotte , as she and Isabelle return home to Crummock Farm good Christmas with her friend Archie and his family.
January 4, 2020
I could hardly put it down
I love family sagas I woke up and thought
I wonder what’s happening in the book
I loved the determination of the main character
Just finished the next book and getting the the 3rd tomorrow from the library
I love family sagas I woke up and thought
I wonder what’s happening in the book
I loved the determination of the main character
Just finished the next book and getting the the 3rd tomorrow from the library
March 5, 2018
Well told story
Easy to read story. Worth reading if you want something light but interesting. Good to know that women do triumph when required.
Easy to read story. Worth reading if you want something light but interesting. Good to know that women do triumph when required.
March 29, 2019
Loved it, a real "trouble at mill" book. Following the life of Charlotte as she marries and wishes she had never met him. Now I am reading the second in the series The Windfell Family Secrets.
May 3, 2019
A fantastic book! Almost worth 5 stars, but my only issue is that it lacked the romance for a “historical romance” novel. But with more romance than this story would not have been the same!
October 23, 2019
This book is a simple tale that will tell you how life can take unexpected turns.
That you just can't plan everything; sometimes you just have to flow and take actions as things come.
That you just can't plan everything; sometimes you just have to flow and take actions as things come.
February 2, 2020
Top read
August 20, 2020
Usual predictable family saga.
January 25, 2022
Amazing story
June 18, 2022
An especially great story
I loved this book I found it was quite a well rounded Book. I am looking forward to the next book in this see coming out
I loved this book I found it was quite a well rounded Book. I am looking forward to the next book in this see coming out
February 8, 2023
Very good
September 12, 2024
Charlotte is a farmers daughter whose father wants her to have a better class of life. She’s attracted to a local boy but thinks she can get more from life than her can offer her!
In walks Joseph Dawson, local mill owner and she falls in love with him and married him and thinks her life will finally be as she dreamed.
She couldn’t be more wrong and it was heartbreaking to read about all she had to go through.
I love though that when it came to it she was strong and showed everyone that even in a time where women were meant to stay at home and cross-stitch, she was capable of so much more.
Really enjoyed this one 💜
In walks Joseph Dawson, local mill owner and she falls in love with him and married him and thinks her life will finally be as she dreamed.
She couldn’t be more wrong and it was heartbreaking to read about all she had to go through.
I love though that when it came to it she was strong and showed everyone that even in a time where women were meant to stay at home and cross-stitch, she was capable of so much more.
Really enjoyed this one 💜
November 12, 2020
An enjoyable saga with a very satisfying ending. Looking forward to reading the next two in the trilogy.
January 8, 2017
A must read book
Brilliant. I have really enjoyed Reading this book. I love any book that you also learn about things. The way when you married the husband was in charge of all money matters. Something I am glad we don't do now. This is a must read book. Finished in two days.
Brilliant. I have really enjoyed Reading this book. I love any book that you also learn about things. The way when you married the husband was in charge of all money matters. Something I am glad we don't do now. This is a must read book. Finished in two days.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews