The Ludlow Ladies Society by Ann O’Loughlin @bwpublishing @annolwriter

Book Description:

From the bestselling author of The Ballroom Café and The Judge’s Wife comes a new story of friendship, resilience and compassion, and how women support each other through the most difficult times.

Connie Carter has lost everyone and everything dear to her. Leaving her home in New York, she moves to a run-down Irish mansion, hoping to heal her shattered heart and in search of answers: how could her husband do the terrible things he did? And why did he plough all their money into the dilapidated Ludlow Hall before he died, without ever telling her?

At first Connie tries to avoid the villagers, until she meets local women Eve and Hetty who introduce her to the Ludlow Ladies’ Society, a crafts group in need of a permanent home. Connie soon discovers Eve is also struggling with pain and the loss of having her beloved Ludlow Hall repossessed by the bank and sold off. Now, seeing the American Connie living there, the hurt of losing everything is renewed. Can these women ever be friends? Can they ever understand or forgive?

As the Ludlow Ladies create memory quilts to remember those they have loved and lost, the secrets of the past finally begin to surface. But can Connie, Eve and Hetty stitch their lives back together?

My Thoughts:

This was such a lovely story that focuses on Connie and Eve as well as Ludlow Hall.

Ludlow Hall, even though it may have been left uncared for, for a few years, I could very much see the attraction to this building and the scenic surroundings. For Eve and Connie, this mansion is a lot more than just a building with four walls. It offers so much more and I loved the visions that my mind created of this place and I wish I could be there with the characters to enjoy it for myself.

Both Eve and Connie are similar in character. They are also trying to forget the past. Over the course of the novel, we get to find out more about not only the two main characters but some of the other characters within the story. Finding out more about each one was both heart-breaking and humbling.

The Ludlow Ladies Society was such a gentle and endearing read. I really enjoyed my venture into the world of the Ludlow Ladies Society as whilst part of the story was more than emotional, the ladies themselves bring in compassion and fun! It’s a story about letting people in and coming to terms with the past. Such a sweet story that holds more than a few surprises within it’s pages. Highly recommended!