Daughter of the Loom (Bells of Lowell Series #1)

The mill town of Lowell, Massachusetts, comes to life with intrigue and drama from the creative writing team of Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson. Young women at the end of the 19th century seek employment from driven men intent on transforming America's textile industry. Daughtersof the Loom features Lilly Armbruster, who is forced to work in the mills as her only means for survival. But Lilly's resentment runs deep against the "lords of the loom"--the men she believes have stolen her father's farm and caused his premature death. Her animosity happens to include Matthew Cheever, her childhood friend and one-time betrothed. Though separated by their opposing views about the future of the mill and the community that surrounds it, the emotions of their hearts still bind them. Will their dreams for the future allow their fragile love to survive?… (more)

Subjects

Christian fiction

Lowell (Mass.) Fiction

Textile industry Fiction

Women Massachusetts Fiction

Women textile workers Fiction

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historical fiction

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Language

English

Original language

English

Physical description

384 p.; 8.25 inches

ISBN

0764226886 / 9780764226885

User reviews

LibraryThing member thornton37814

Lilly's parents sold their property in East Chelmsford, Massachusetts to the companies starting the mills and renaming the community Lowell. They died; her brother squandered the fortune. Lilly must go to work in the mills she despises. She even feels abandoned by her former boyfriend who went to

work for them in management. The novel is about forgiveness. Lilly has a lot of it to do. Some works of Christian fiction seem to be able to weave Christianity better into the characters' lives without becoming preachy. This is not one of them. While I am a Christian and appreciate the lack of profanity in the novel, I would have liked to have had stronger characterization of some of the characters. I would have liked to have seen Lilly's path to forgiveness be a bit more gradual than it was. Ultimately my biggest gripe was with the historical elements of the narrative. The author needed to create an afterward describing where she took liberties that deviated from an accurate portrayal of the early history of the mills.

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LibraryThing member Lynn_in_MI

Very good story of finding self and recognizing that our ways are not God's ways. The authors weave a story of the horrid working conditions of early industrialization and how bitterness and anger can cloud our vision of God's will for our life. Lilly loses nearly everything and becomes bitter and

vindictive. Through a very loving friend she learns that what she thought was God was only her selfish ways. She soon learns to break through the anger and listen to God. A few loose ends points to a series but a very good book by itself.

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