Review: A satisfying read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 13, 2013
The story opens on Mary and Rose who are departing Ireland for America at the tender age of 16 to create their fortunes. At the departure "Wake," Rose is smitten by Sean, a handsome young man who melts everyone with a song.From there, the story leaps forward through the years, taking us on a journey with Rose as she learns the ways of life in late 1800's America as an Irish servant girl. The details are well-researched and the story is fast-paced as we follow Rose through the next 20 years in America.Eventually Rose meets up with young Sean again, who has come to America to escape murder charges. Sean, who has changed his name now to Peter, is hired by the Lancasters. Eventually he wins Rose over and soon she is pregnant. This leads to them getting married and Rose being fired.Now begins a trying time for Rose. Sean, as Peter, keeps his job with the Lancasters, which separates him for long periods from Rose. Despite this, over the years he and Rose have more children, even as they grow further apart.The distance soon finds a tipping point and Peter takes a new lover, taking him away from Rose emotionally as well as physically. He begins to wonder if the Lancaster's son is the real father of his first born with Rose, and this adds to his emotional distance.Soon Peter finds a new love interest and poor Rose struggles to raise the boys, essentially on her own. In the background, America is changing rapidly as new technologies emerge and time marches into the 20th century. It is on this note of promise that the story reaches it's conclusion, both satisfying and tantalizing at the same time.This is a fun story with well-developed characters and plenty of lusty adventure.