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The Hartdale Brides #1
The Clothier's Daughter
Duty to family and country prevented their youthful love. Now malice and murder threaten their second chance…
In the summer of 1816, Emma Braithwaite struggles to keep her family’s traditional wool cloth manufacturing company afloat. Her father has died, her brother is missing, and the new cotton factories are spreading, rendering the fine worsted fabrics the Braithwaites have made for generations, expensive and unfashionable. Being a woman in a man’s world of trade is challenging enough, but when her warehouse catches fire it brings her only a step away from financial ruin and debtor’s prison.
After eight years of war, Major Adam Caldwell is returning for the first time to his family home, Rengarth Castle, when he stops to assist at a warehouse fire … and comes face-to-face with the woman he once loved and lost. Despite all his efforts to forget her, in truth she’s never been far from his thoughts. He was unworthy of her then, and even more so now.
But as the threats against Emma escalate, they discover that someone wants control of Emma’s family company and is prepared to murder anyone in the way of getting it - including Emma.
In the summer of 1816, Emma Braithwaite struggles to keep her family’s traditional wool cloth manufacturing company afloat. Her father has died, her brother is missing, and the new cotton factories are spreading, rendering the fine worsted fabrics the Braithwaites have made for generations, expensive and unfashionable. Being a woman in a man’s world of trade is challenging enough, but when her warehouse catches fire it brings her only a step away from financial ruin and debtor’s prison.
After eight years of war, Major Adam Caldwell is returning for the first time to his family home, Rengarth Castle, when he stops to assist at a warehouse fire … and comes face-to-face with the woman he once loved and lost. Despite all his efforts to forget her, in truth she’s never been far from his thoughts. He was unworthy of her then, and even more so now.
But as the threats against Emma escalate, they discover that someone wants control of Emma’s family company and is prepared to murder anyone in the way of getting it - including Emma.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2019
14 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Bronwyn Parry
14 books186 followersInternational award-winning author Bronwyn Parry has previously written six romantic thrillers set in outback Australia, published by Hachette Australia. Her first novel won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award, and two of her books were finalists in RWA's RITA™ and Daphne du Maurier awards. She has also won the Australian Romance Readers award for Favourite Romantic Suspense three times.
With her latest book, The Clothier’s Daughter, Bronwyn turns her pen to another genre she loves, historical romance, and draws on her long interest in history and particularly textile and costume history to weave a story of intrigue, drama and passion.
When she’s not working at her keyboard, she enjoys researching and making historical clothing, and she's a skilled spinner, weaver, seamstress and knitter. The Clothier’s Daughter is in part inspired by her Honors thesis research on British worsted textiles.
Bronwyn lives in the New England tablelands of northern New South Wales, Australia, and loves to travel.
You can find out more about me and my books at my website, http://bronwynparry.com
With her latest book, The Clothier’s Daughter, Bronwyn turns her pen to another genre she loves, historical romance, and draws on her long interest in history and particularly textile and costume history to weave a story of intrigue, drama and passion.
When she’s not working at her keyboard, she enjoys researching and making historical clothing, and she's a skilled spinner, weaver, seamstress and knitter. The Clothier’s Daughter is in part inspired by her Honors thesis research on British worsted textiles.
Bronwyn lives in the New England tablelands of northern New South Wales, Australia, and loves to travel.
You can find out more about me and my books at my website, http://bronwynparry.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 23, 2019
Spectacular!
It was 1816 when Major Adam Caldwell returned home to Rengarth Castle, after eight years away at war. He’d called in to see his brother George, the Earl of Rengarth, in London on his way through and was saddened at his brother’s poor health. Adam’s first stop though was a warehouse fire in Hartdale – the Braithwaites woolen mill was ablaze and there were people inside. But he was horrified to hear Emma Braithwaite was one of them. Emma was Adam’s love before he had to leave the country and he knew his feelings hadn’t changed.
Emma had been struggling to keep the business afloat with her brother Matthew away and unable to be contacted. She was a strong, determined young woman and would do everything she could before she would see the family business go under. Little did Emma realise that someone was out to take everything from her, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their goal. The danger escalated quickly, and Emma was aware that her life was at great risk.
The Clothier’s Daughter is the 1st in The Hartdale Brides series by Aussie author Bronwyn Parry, and her first foray into the Historical Mystery genre. Ms Parry generally writes Romantic Suspense – this one has all the suspense and tension that I’m used to with her work but is set in England in the early nineteenth century. Gripping, intense, heartbreaking, fascinating; the characters are well crafted with great depth – I loved The Clothier’s Daughter and can’t wait for the next in the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
It was 1816 when Major Adam Caldwell returned home to Rengarth Castle, after eight years away at war. He’d called in to see his brother George, the Earl of Rengarth, in London on his way through and was saddened at his brother’s poor health. Adam’s first stop though was a warehouse fire in Hartdale – the Braithwaites woolen mill was ablaze and there were people inside. But he was horrified to hear Emma Braithwaite was one of them. Emma was Adam’s love before he had to leave the country and he knew his feelings hadn’t changed.
Emma had been struggling to keep the business afloat with her brother Matthew away and unable to be contacted. She was a strong, determined young woman and would do everything she could before she would see the family business go under. Little did Emma realise that someone was out to take everything from her, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their goal. The danger escalated quickly, and Emma was aware that her life was at great risk.
The Clothier’s Daughter is the 1st in The Hartdale Brides series by Aussie author Bronwyn Parry, and her first foray into the Historical Mystery genre. Ms Parry generally writes Romantic Suspense – this one has all the suspense and tension that I’m used to with her work but is set in England in the early nineteenth century. Gripping, intense, heartbreaking, fascinating; the characters are well crafted with great depth – I loved The Clothier’s Daughter and can’t wait for the next in the series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2019
What a story, wow I have been waiting for this one for a while and it was worth the wait, I picked this one up and didn’t want to put it down, but life gets in the way and there were times I had to, but Emma and Adam never left my thoughts, I savoured every word in this beautifully written story, this one is a must read.
Emma Braithwaite is a strong, caring and beautiful woman, she is working hard to keep the families wool cloth company going, while worrying about her brother Matthew, this is not easy doing what is normally done by a man in 1816. There have been a few rumours and problems popping up here and there but when a fire starts at the factory, Emma keeps strong to save her staff with the help of Adam Caldwell the man she has never forgotten in the eight years he has been away.
The war is now over and Adam is returning home to Rengarth Castle and his family to think about his future he knows that with his brother The Earl ill he will need to do what he can, but when there is a fire he steps in to help rescue Emma the girl he proposed to eight years before, the now woman who was always in his dreams while away. There is trouble and danger afoot for Emma and Adam steps in to protect her at all costs.
This book had me on the edge of my seat at times Emma was in such grave danger, but Adam never stopped protecting her and rescuing her, their love for each other is strong and beautiful no matter what is happening, the story is heartbreaking at times and with so many emotions flowing, there were tears and joy throughout, I truly loved this one from start to finish and I am thrilled that it is book one in the Hartdale Brides, so more to come. I highly recommend this story I am sure that any reader will fall in love with Emma and Adam and their story to a HEA that is sure to leave you smiling after all that they have been though. Thank you MS Parry this one is a keeper.
Emma Braithwaite is a strong, caring and beautiful woman, she is working hard to keep the families wool cloth company going, while worrying about her brother Matthew, this is not easy doing what is normally done by a man in 1816. There have been a few rumours and problems popping up here and there but when a fire starts at the factory, Emma keeps strong to save her staff with the help of Adam Caldwell the man she has never forgotten in the eight years he has been away.
The war is now over and Adam is returning home to Rengarth Castle and his family to think about his future he knows that with his brother The Earl ill he will need to do what he can, but when there is a fire he steps in to help rescue Emma the girl he proposed to eight years before, the now woman who was always in his dreams while away. There is trouble and danger afoot for Emma and Adam steps in to protect her at all costs.
This book had me on the edge of my seat at times Emma was in such grave danger, but Adam never stopped protecting her and rescuing her, their love for each other is strong and beautiful no matter what is happening, the story is heartbreaking at times and with so many emotions flowing, there were tears and joy throughout, I truly loved this one from start to finish and I am thrilled that it is book one in the Hartdale Brides, so more to come. I highly recommend this story I am sure that any reader will fall in love with Emma and Adam and their story to a HEA that is sure to leave you smiling after all that they have been though. Thank you MS Parry this one is a keeper.
November 25, 2019
This is an amazing book by Bronwyn Parry. I’ve read a few of her other rural romantic suspenses and they’ve all been absolutely terrific, so I was curious to see how she delivered something set in the wet summer of 1816 Regency England. Knowing what an expert she is on fabrics and fashions of that time, I was fairly sure I was in good hands, with a story set around the manufacture of fabrics. And I definitely was. Bronwyn delivered a complex plot with cracking pace, including a beautiful romance. It hooked me in and I simply had to keep reading. I also made sure to google the music she mentioned in the book - a Beethoven piece and a lament by Niel Gow - everyone will know the first one (to my surprise), and the second is so tender it took my breath away. There is an incredibly moving scene towards the end of the book, one that features a woodlark, that I was desperately hoping not to read...I know I’ll keep thinking about it... I can’t wait to see who is chosen to feature in Book 2; all the characters became rather special to me. Thankyou Bronwyn.
November 25, 2019
A great read. Have loved all of Parry’s books and this foray into historical fiction ticks all the boxes. Looking forward to the next in the series.
December 5, 2019
I've read and enjoyed all of Bronwyn Parry's books and wasn't sure if this one would be as good, seeing that it's in a new genre for her. I needn't have worried. The Clothier's Daughter more than met the high standard set by her previous books with a liberal dose of crime and suspense leavened by a judicious seasoning of romance. The setting and subject matter were well researched and it read true to its time. I highly recommend The Clothier's Daughter to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense with or without a period setting, or who, like myself, is a fan of Bronwyn Parry's previous books.
July 14, 2020
I’m not normally a fan of historical fiction, however I love all of Bronwyn Parrys other books so I decided to give this one a go as well and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised. I loved every page, it was incredibly well written and researched. You can’t help but fall in love with the characters and the mystery keeps you turning the page until the very end. A great read even for those not a fan of historical fiction.
August 23, 2019
This is a great read ...well worth the wait from Bronwyn Parry ...looking forward to the next one
May 30, 2020
This was a terrific adventure romance, just the kind I am always looking for. It is well written and well researched. I love the multiple characters which is another thing I look for in a book. The action was visual, the romance sweet, and I hope to see these characters again. Bronwyn could make many a story out of the various other members of the cast, from Matthew, to the mysterious Garrett to all of Adam's various family members, including his brother, Oliver. The time period was captured beautifully and I do hope to see more of these romances from Bronwyn.
Celia Martin
Celia Martin
May 11, 2021
Emma, with lots of responsibilities,with lost love, alone in this world , tries to keep her family legacy in weaving and supporting local communities from falling apart.
Adam, scarred war hero, and next in line to his earldom, after being away for years, reunite with his history in an imaginable way....
I loved both heroes characters, and how grown they became ,loved the family, though book has long tedious dialogues, but plot was nice , though everything happened in matter of days, hope next books will be including Robert as i liked his character l, along qith oliver and louisa..
Adam, scarred war hero, and next in line to his earldom, after being away for years, reunite with his history in an imaginable way....
I loved both heroes characters, and how grown they became ,loved the family, though book has long tedious dialogues, but plot was nice , though everything happened in matter of days, hope next books will be including Robert as i liked his character l, along qith oliver and louisa..
Want to read
July 20, 2019Review copy via author direct.
April 25, 2021
Love the historical setting
This was a nice romance with interesting characters and wonderful families. The business of producing cloth was a fascinating aspect of both the context and the plot. I'll be interested to see who the next Hartdale bride is. Louisa perhaps?
This was a nice romance with interesting characters and wonderful families. The business of producing cloth was a fascinating aspect of both the context and the plot. I'll be interested to see who the next Hartdale bride is. Louisa perhaps?
August 5, 2024
Interesting setting, this author definitely loves her textile history. The writing was a bit lacking. The author doesn't trust the read to have much of a brain and sums up most of the chapters with unnecessary re as of the status quo. It was alright.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews