The second in the Lancashire Cotton saga set during the 1860s mostly in Gorbydale, a mill town, and the American South. Jessie and Robert Overdale have married, Honora Darwen is studying medicine in New York and Dolly Tate is wanting a better life for her son and herself and heads for Louisiana with her new husband.

This is a great addition to the series. It was lovely meeting up with some of the characters from the first book, Song of the Shuttle, to find out how they’re getting on. This story complements the first one but can also be read as a stand alone. It’s an interesting and enjoyable tale about some likeable and feisty women, Dolly being my favourite as she’s a little mischievous! It contains a bit of all sorts, from family drama, to adventure, to murder with a sprinkling of romance, and it’s written in an easy to read and engaging style. Highly recommended for historical fiction saga fans. ( )