Anna is an independent, kind,smart and resourceful t young woman. She loves to draw and paint the natural scenes with which she grew up. But now in crowded London at her uncle's home she is given little freedom by her arrogant aunt. Anna finds ways of respectfully getting around her limitations.

Observant, she witnesses the unfair and inhumane harrassment faced by talented French weavers, and befriends one of the best, Henri. He is learning to become a master weaver, and is inspired when he sees one of Anna's drawings. They agree to collaborate on Henri's master piece to prove he is worthy of his independence.

But then politics, greed and brutality get in the way but strong-minded and clear-headed Anna comes to the rescue with plans that are a win-win for her family, and especially for Henri and herself.

This book is similar to A Bakery in Paris, with Lisette as the strong and loving heroine who knows what she wants and how to get it.

A very satisfying read.

This was an historical fiction that takes place in 1760. It grabbed me right from the beginning and took me on a roller coaster of emotions as I was reading. It is based on a couple of actual events. The main character, Anna Butterfield, was inspired by Anna Maria Garthwaite who was an English textile designer known for and celebrated for the intricate floral designs she created. The other event in the book is the "silk riots" that took place to fight for an honest wage for the weavers, most of whom were French immigrants. These events did not take place at the same time in history, but they were woven together in a great plot.

Anna Butterfield is a vicar's daughter from a small town on the coast of England. When her mother dies, her father sends her to live with his sister and her family to be introduced to society. The hope is that she will meet a wealthy man so he can support Anna, her sister and father when he is no longer able to work. When she arrives in Spitalfields, she faints and is rescued by a young frenchman named Henri. Little does she know that this chance encounter will change her life. Her aunt is determined to assist her in making a "good match" and lets her know in no uncertain terms that she is above the french immigrants. It turns out that Henri is a journeyman weaver who is looking to design his masterpiece to be entered into the Company as a Master Weaver. Anna and Henri bump into each other a few times until they realize that they have true feelings for one another. Anna, who is an artist of nature, designs a floral pattern that Henri wants to use for his masterpiece. Of course this courtship/friendship is deemed unacceptable for Anna. Her family are torn apart when they find out. Anna's aunt has a man in mind for her and he actually proposes, but Anna does not love him. Meanwhile, the weavers are trying to stop the merchants from importing illegal french silk and paying below the accepted rate for their product. This is where the riots come in. One of Henri's good friends gets caught up in the events and Henri tries to help him and ends up in trouble.

Can Henri and Anna fight back against society? Can they fight back against what is expected of them? Is there anyway that they can be together? Will the weavers get the government to back their demands so they can make an honest living? This book covered so many topics from the period. Racism, romance, wage riots, classism, persecution - religiously, gender, race, status and much more. I was so glad there was a good epilogue so I was not left wondering about these characters when the story ended. If you like historical fiction, pick this book up, it will not disappoint. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

A tale of history and a 1700's love story: a country girl sent to good society in London to attract a suitor and marry well. Anna, a lover of art, creativity, and nature. While pressed with obligations, her heart would not resign to solely catching a husband but to pursue her interests. She meets Henri, a poor silk weaver. While he may not be a wealthy suitor, he is her creative match.

I loved how the author inserted such a rich history of the silk trade, design, manufacturing, and demand. I had no idea of the silk riots and trade which was my favorite part about the story. The author has gone on record to reveal the story is her family history and semi-biographical. A fascinating history indeed.

Overall, The Hidden Thread is an Austen-esque look at history, society, strong female characters, family, and love. All of which never get old.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my book copy. All opinions herein are my own. ( )

Anna Butterfield has been sent from rural Suffolk to the house of her aunt in London. In the mid-eighteenth century daughters of poor clergymen are expected to marry advantageously and Anna's aunt is married to a prominent merchant in the silk trade so she has an entry into society. Whilst Anna's aunt does all she can to ensure that Anna meets the 'right' sort of man, Anna is intrigued by a French Huguenot silk weaver. As they fight their attraction to each other, Anna dares to dream of a future governed by love rather than convention.

I was drawn to this book by its setting in Spitalfields, given that I lived there twenty-odd years ago, and indeed much of the action takes place on Wood Street (now Wilkes Street) and I lived in one of the weavers' houses (albeit in a rented room). This is a perfectly pleasant book but it definitely sits at the 'romantic' end of historical fiction. There is some excellent historical and social research here and that impresses - the prejudice against the Huguenots, the laws about imported fabric, the fight for fair wages. Trenow also obviously knows a lot about the process of weaving. In fact if I ignore the extremely syrupy romance this is a book from which I have learnt a lot and the link to Spitalfields means I do view it more kindly than I should. ( )

*** Review & Book Tour ***

The Hidden Thread by Liz Trenow takes place in the world of the silk trade in England. What I find fascinating about the book is the description of the silks and work that goes into designing and weaving each one. What I love about the writing is how seamlessly the history and the fiction story is blended together. The characters and fiction provide the human anchor and emotions for the history, and the history adds the drama to the fiction.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/05/the-hidden-thread.html

Reviewed for NetGalley ( )