A Family Secret: An emotional historical saga about family bonds and the power of love

The third book in this series, and an excellent stand-alone read! Bessie is a expert weaver at the local mill and her wages go to help keep the family. Her older sister, Peggy, works as an apprentice at the local Girls School, and hopes to qualify as a teacher one day. Their parents have always made decisions for their daughters but now the girls are coming of age, they want to decide things for themselves. Then some familiar faces return to Blackburn bringing upheaval to the Eastwood family. Will the family survive - or will some choose a different future? Unsurprisingly, I'm late to the party again; actually, I didn't realise this was part of a series until I got to the end of the book. I'm rather fond of a good historical saga, and this certainly fits the bill. A good story with lots going on, personable characters and lots of interesting scenarios popping up. Libby Ashworth is certainly an author worth reading - I really enjoyed this one and I'm sorry I didn't come to the series earlier. Beautifully written, well-crafted with a good solid ending leaving no questions remaining all adds up to a novel I'm very happy to recommend to saga lovers, and give this 4.5*.