Spinners Lake

The Gibson Family #5

by Anna Jacobs

**The final installment in the beautifully heartwarming Gibson Family series, perfect for fans of 'Call the Midwife', Dilly Court and Catherine Cookson**Lancashire, 1860. In the mill town of Bilsden, Annie Hallam's husband Frederick is dying. On top of that, a spurned suitor of her sister Joanie is determined to have her, whatever the cost. And he is not the only one who wants to harm the Gibson family.Meanwhile, times are hard in Bilsden and unemployment is rife. Annie has to rebuild her life after the worst happens and plans to create Spinners Lake, an extraordinary project that will keep her workers from destitution and assuage her own grief. And then a ghost from her past returns from the American Civil War . . .Can the secret plans that Frederick made for Annie on his deathbed bring her hope and happiness once again?**************Praise for Anna 'Catherine Cookson fans will cheer!' - Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Anna Jacobs' books have an impressive grasp of human emotions' - Sunday Times'Anna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around' - Historical Novels Reviews

Genres: Historical, Fiction

532 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 1997

About the author

Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in the series about the Gibson family. Enjoyable and easy reading series of books set in a mill town near Manchester during the late 19th Century, describing the poverty of some of the residents and the many philanthropic gestures from those with money. This last book included references to the effect on the cotton mill towns of the American Civil War and the halting of the cotton trading.

[Dawn Ward]

End of a saga

So sad that this story had to end. Anna Jacobs is the best author I have ever read she keeps you turning the pages the wheel way loved it!!!!!

[diane ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read all 5 Gibson family and enjoyed everyone. Well worth reading.

[Pati Mishler]

It was now 1860 and Annie Hallam is sitting with her very I’ll husband Fredrick Hallam, they both know it won’t be long now till he passes away. Fredrick makes Annie promise that after he is gone she will continue her dress making business and continue on with life, he says he knows she will need to be kept busy with the children and her dress making business. And he makes her promise him that she will love again, that she will find love again and be happy.

[MRS S PUSEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant story this author is amazing.

What a wonderful family the Gibson family are I've enjoyed all these stories thanks to this author all her books I've enjoyed .The people of Bilsden were so grateful to this family,Annie done so much for them when times were hard what a women aye,and her family .Thank you Anna.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Anna Jacobs builds character stories for all connected with her lead, not just the lead and the love interest. She really builds out the entire village. I also love that she has grit in the story, not just little ruffles in the ocean, but at times great heaving torment, as well as sunny days and home comings. She is my new favourite author for historic fiction, drama, romance.

[Jan Convey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant read, I have really enjoyed this book . The Gibson family saga.

This is my first time reading her book sets and will be read more of them soon brilliant writing Anna

[Marguerite Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Togetherness

A lot of people should read these books . And think. This is how families stayed together. But some how something has gone astray. Time.Thank you Anna l so enjoy your books you keep my interesting mind wanting more. Marguerite.

[K S Renuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful series..the Gibsons. ..

What a finish to the everlasting and wonderful gibson series. I wish the book never ends. Anna keep writing...and have no words to express my feelings. It is absolutely fantastic. Rocking Anna...

[Adair Sissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satisfied

Anna Jacobs has become one of !my favorite authors. Her stories keep me spellbound and when the saga is done I am so satisfied I want to go looking for more that she has written. She is great at leaving no loose ends.

[samantha loy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed so glad I have a kindle so could read all the books one after the other as couldn't put them down going to read one of the others series o

Hope they make me feel as thou I am there with them feeling part of there family brilliant thank you

[Joan Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read

I have now read all the books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed following the story of the Gibson family through their trials. I knew I would as I enjoy everything she writes and losing myself in the characters she writes about.

[Pauline Haney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Best Anna Jacobs series (in my opinion) I lived in Billsden for the whole series enjoying the highs and lows of The Gibson Family what a read 🥰 Sadly I have now finished them 🥲 but they will stay in my memory for a long long time

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Jacobs earns a higher star rating from me than Ernest Hemingway and I feel only slightly bad about it. Okay, all the rapes, near rapes, past rapes over the course of this series is extremely depressing, but the Gibson family saga of love and perseverance holds strong here.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book. A fantastic finish to a series that was just fantastic. Anna kept all the characters true to themselves and the story line was just consistent. What a great author. Loved it.

[diane simmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Didn't want to stop reading it. Enjoyed all the books in the series.
Fully recommend if you want a good story

[Mrs S E Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turning

A brilliant read of family life both ups and downs. Social history included. Would love to see a film version of this series.

[Elaine Magill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read and a lovely finale to the five book series. Like the other 4 books in this saga, very hard to put down.

[Linda Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished the last book I the Gibson family.saga and loved every one of these books

[Cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful

[Debra Reedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good family saga. I will miss Annie and the Gibson family.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, that kept you wanting more.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry that this series is finished. I need to start a new Anna Jacobs series!

[Christine Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this series, I didn’t want it to end. Great characters come to life, for me this series is a pleasant read, one of her best series for me

[aprilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous books so I'm glad it's the last. Not sorry I read the series though.

[Lesley Puncher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a pity the narrator was changed for this last book in the series. Tian was being pronounced like Sian or Shaun which was irritating throughout.
Otherwise it was a nice ending to the saga.

[Leila Holby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad that the series is over.
They changed the name of Netherleigh Cottage??

[Lynn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This last book starts in 1860 and the social history here included references to the effect on the cotton mill towns of the American Civil War and the halting of the cotton trading.
It again made me cry with the expected death of Frederick and the impact of his loss on Annie.
I loved William and Luke's romances developed here as well.
It was nice for Annie to have a new love and a third husband which was gently set up by Frederick from his wishes laid out in his Will. I liked his character and how he had honourably removed himself from Annie/Frederick after the family painting due to his feelings for her but somehow, I felt something was lacking and I am not sure if it was his time in America which was responsible for this interruption of flow or because I as the reader still mourned Frederick.

Thank heavens Beatrice failed in her attempts to murder her stepmother as her jealousy turned into madness in this last book of the series.
Tom too had his second chance of happiness with Rose whom he had left behind when he fell in love with Madeleine. Here though Anna Jacobs missed an opportunity to describe the complex situation of Rose's illegitimate son by Tom fitting in with his younger siblings and in the wider community itself as there is no disguising his resemblance to Tom so there would have been talk and how would the Doctor have reacted to this on behalf of his dead daughter Madeleine.

Also, I would have liked to see if Mark Annie's 2nd brother returned from Australia before the ending of the book.

It was interesting to have Annie's youngest sister have a romance of her own although she too was horribly raped but, in her case, not abandoned by her sweetheart as Annie had been in book 1.

I Have enjoyed this family saga and it was like losing family and friends when I finished this book. I did not want it to end. I would have enjoyed reading more about Annie and her extended family to take it through to after World War 1 at the least or until the death of Annie herself.

[Elaine Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great descriptions of the Civil WAr and the effects that it had upon the Mills and the people in Lancanshire, England!

[🐝 Shaz 🐝 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have enjoyed this family saga. shame it had to end. would have enjoyed reading more on Annie and her extended family.