Ok I have read yet another one out of my comfort zone, and I LOVED IT!!! I thought this was such a quaint story, a story of Charlotte. I didn’t realise this was linked to another book – The Silk Weaver where she is first introduced – but she is a minor character. However, I don’t feel like I have missed out on anything but I do want to go back and read and meet Anna and Charlotte again.

I have one small tiny, not complaint but I did feel at times there was a bit too much detail that I felt I didn’t need. But I do think that was more down to the fact I was itching for Charlotte to go back on her adventure and discover the truth about the silk!

It was also quite unnerving to read, in the story, there is some discussion of the typhus spread and it sounded just truly horrifying and sad….and then it reminded me of the dreaded C-word and how we have experienced the modern-day version.

I loved Charlotte, her independence and her shop! It all sounded amazing!! Despite the awful woman who wanted a refund – vile person! The hunt for her birth mother was truly heartbreaking, and although I guessed it, I was still happy and sad at the same time. It was a joy to read and I really hope there will be another book about them! I want to know how they are getting on.

Charlotte is wealthy for her time, not in monetary value but the support she has and being a single woman and having her own independence was definitely something to marvel at. She had so much love and care surrounding her and you could feel that coming off the pages. It was hard when you see other people trying to play against her because she spoke her mind!! Urgh people!

I am sad the book is over. I really hope Charlotte, Louisa and Peter come back again, I want to see the happy ending continue and thrive!!! Please!

This was a great way to submerge more into this genre. I have been dipping my toe slowly and Liz’s writing is a fab way for me to get started. Her storytelling and knowledge are something to respect and adore. The fact that she has personal links to silk weavers and such is just amazing and you can tell it by the book. Plus I loved the chapters that tell you more about stitches, fabrics and design. I love my sewing and embroidery but I am a complete novice compared to those in the book!

I can’t wait for the next outing with Liz and her characters!!

I struggled to get into this one but once I did it was an enjoyable read. It was a slow read for me which contributed to the struggle to get into it and pick it up.

A great read. I enjoyed reading it and it has a great plot and characters. I also look forward to more books from the author.

I enjoyed this book, but felt as though its pace dragged at times. The characters and historical period were well written and this made it interesting. I would recommend this tale.

In The Dressmaker of Draper's Lane, Liz Trenow returns to the setting of one of her previous novels The Silk Weaver, a few familiar faces make a reappearance but the main focus is on Charlotte who had a more minimal role in the previous book. This story can easily be read by itself without having read the previous book as there is plenty of background information supplied. For those who already know what has occurred so far it is nice to catch up with and see how characters that may have stolen a place in your heart are now getting on from where we last left them. This story is very much a slow burner and when it does get going things are over and resolved rather too quickly. I felt there was an awful lot of repetition with not much happening and it really is a book that you have to persist with in order to see what is going to unfold. It's not action packed by any means instead it is filled with lots of detail which shows the in-depth research undertaken by the author.

That said it does provide a fascinating insight into life in London in the mid 18th century in particular the silk trade and dressmaking. It showcases a very different way of life from the way in which we live today if perhaps some elements were a little too modern. Several times I found myself stopping and thinking did they have such a thing at that time and would they have used this etc. The little snippets supplied as a heading at the beginning of each chapter were interesting as they provided information on different types of clothing and the material used to make them. The inclusion of a small picture of said item or method would have been excellent as we could see what was being described.

Charlotte Butterfield has her own dressmaking business in Draper's Lane in London. The business is quite successful and she employs several women who work at her shop crafting wonderful creations to order for her numerous customers. Charlotte is unusual for the time in that she is still a single woman and has her own business. From the outset it is clear she goes against the norm but I sensed fairly early on this was more to do with past circumstances rather than any wilful desire to remain unmarried. Charlotte appeared to be a very closed book, keeping things hidden to herself for very good reason. I thought it was too obvious fairly on what the secret was and that it was revealed too early but it became apparent there was something even bigger going on and I was glad this was kept secret until the last few chapters.

Charlotte's history created and inspired the life she leads today. She is proud of the position she occupies in society as a business woman and she loves her job of designing and making wonderful dresses for ladies but still being left by her mother in a foundling hospital when she was just a baby has had a profound affect on her. Only for her sister Louisa and her husband Ambrose came to find her and take her away when she was of age, Charlotte would have had no family in the world. When close friend Anna, the main character in The Silk Weaver, brings Charlotte to an auction of materials being sold from a merchant who is no longer in business, that is when her life changes for ever. The women purchase bolts of fabric and amongst them is an unusual silk which when Charlotte touches it makes her feel very unusual. Snatches of memories or feelings run through her mind. Has Charlotte been in contact with this fabric before and what significance does this have in relation to her past life? If any at all. So many questions race through Charlotte's mind and her interest is more than piqued as she sets on a journey searching for answers in order to seek peace and resolution in the present.

I wanted even more of unravelling clues, linking pieces together and making connections. When this happened this aspect was the best and strongest part of the book, instead I felt the story went off on tangents not strictly necessary to the main over arching plot running through the story. When we did reach the end I understood it was necessary and perhaps the author was leading us in a different direction to throw us off track. But in the midst of reading it felt like the quest so to speak was forgotten about as attention turned to Charlotte visiting her sister and nephew in the country. I was constantly awaiting that sense of mystery to increase for that element of excitement, trepidation and discovery to materialise but it manifested itself briefly and then vanished.

Charlotte is more than anxious about her heritage and the fate of her mother and for an enthusiastic and intelligent woman I thought she would have taken matters into her own hands and really stood up for what she was trying to achieve. Not to be fobbed off by brusque answers and to also confront Ambrose. He was the most awful character, full of hatred and malice who presented a lovely, happy and respectful front to his parishioners but behind closed doors he was a demon and ruled over those he lived with.

The Dressmaker of Draper's Lane was was a good read but not one that will be the most memorable for me when I reflect on the books I will have read during the year. It's not the best work by this author whose earlier books I loved without question but I am glad I read it simply to discover the extension and continuation of a story begun in The Silk Weaver. There were really strong aspects to the book but Charlotte needed to be that little bit more ruthless in never giving up to seek the answers she so desperately desired. I guessed the very ending before it occurred but if I hadn't I would have been totally surprised. The strands of the story did come together very well but as there were lots of scenes that were over long and didn't move the story on enough and at times my attention did wander. Still, I will read more from Liz Trenow in the future because I know when she hits the right note her books are excellent.

I am sorry but I could not warm to the characters at all. I felt no empathy for them. I could not get interested in the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Charlotte was a foundling who managed to make her own way in the world and now in 1768 has her own dressmaking business. She has also managed to find out about her past and the pregnant unmarried mother that was sent to the nuns, but she has now become close to her sister. She is not interested in marriage but still feels that something is missing from her life..... will she be able to find Iout what it is?

Another enjoyable book from this author, it is loosely connected to the silk weaver which I also liked and a good story with a well researched historical aspect and strong characters

As historical Fiction goes this is a competent book. The author has an understanding of time and place as well as the subject of her book - dressmaking.
I found the descriptions of types of dressmaking at the beginning of each chapter interesting but of very little relevance to the whole.
She has accomplished a narrative that is good to read and her characterisation works well. I liked the interweaving of past and present and she has tried to put in some surprise twists to the tale - although i think they were quite obvious at times. I also enjoyed the power she gave to women in that time period.
In the afterword she mentions a previous novel in which Charlotte was a minor character - "the silk weaver" This book does not depend upon that one for it storyline and can easily be a standalone, but my guess is that it will form part of a series in the near future.I like how she has brought real people into the mix like William Hogarth and the actor David Garrick.
I would happily read more from this author but am not desperate to do so (I have a long TBR). I might be tempted to the Silk Weaver but worry that having read the next chapter. so to speak, it would spoil the previous story.

It's an okay story following Charlotte in her life but rather vanilla for my tastes.

Whilst I wanted to read on, nothing excited me about the story and sometimes it felt as if feminism was being pushed to the front even though you'd think in the period its set nothing like that was around.

The mystery surrounding the scrap of material was not a surprise in the end.

For some reason I found it difficult to connect and therefore care about the characters in this book. It wasn’t for me.

Great historical read with an interesting plot and well developed characters. Would recommend this book

Yet another deep, well researched, moving and fascinating book from Liz Trenow; who weaves in her depth of knowledge about the fabric/textile industry in a thoroughly germane way.

Lovers of all things sewing will find this account of one young girl's struggle to find herself, from foundling to successful businesswoman, in an era when everything was stacked against her.

I enjoyed The Dressmaker of Draper's Lane enormously and learned a lot about my favourite craft along the way!

Excellent book with a great storyline. Characters that are so well written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!