Note from the momma: I'm excited to share this review by my friend, Lisa. She won a giveaway for Sarah M. Eden's book, Longing for Home. The deal was that she also got to write a review. :) Without further adieu, here it is! Thanks, Lisa. And thanks to Deseret Book for the giveaway copy.
Longing for Home by Sarah Eden
“Eighteen years had passed since Katie Macauley killed her sister” thus begins the latest from author Sarah Eden.
Set in Wyoming territory in 1870, the story of Katie Macauley is a tragic, touching and romantic one.
Racked with guilt over her role in her sister’s death two decades earlier, Katie is still searching for a way to make amends and return home to her family in Ireland. She has come to Hope Springs, Wyoming to serve as a housekeeper for the town’s wealthiest man, Joseph Archer, to achieve this goal.
Upon her arrival in Hope Springs, accompanied by Tavish and Ian O’Connor, Katie is promptly fired by Joseph Archer. His explanation, because she is Irish. She manages to convince him to allow her to keep her job until a replacement can be found, to which he acquiesces, and then the troubles really begin.
Hope Springs is a battleground, currently in an uneasy truce, between the Irish and the non-Irish settlers. Joseph has elected to stay out of the fray, and having Katie as a housekeeper upsets the balance of things and his ability to continue to stay out of the conflict. At some point, his ability to remain neutral will no longer exist.
I was touched by Katie’s resilience and willingness to work hard and stick to her guns. She was “sold into service” at the age of eight and has spent her life working for others with the goal of being able to go back home someday.
The Irish community of Hope Springs adopts her and you slowly see her starting to come out of the shell she has built to protect herself. I was heart-broken over and over again to think of the challenges this young girl faced and the resilience it took to for her to survive. I was happy to see the friendship between Katie and the Irish women blossom and her confidence increasing, realizing her contributions mattered and that people cared about her, not just what she could do for them.
Tavish O’Connor is a young Irishman who’s fiancé was killed in the same epidemic that took Joseph Archer’s wife. He looks out for Katie and in several cases, keeps her from being harassed or harmed by the non-Irish settlers. He is charming and funny and can make her smile. He has a wonderful family and she is welcomed as one of their own. As a romance begins to blossom between Katie and Tavish, the Irish folk see it as a foregone conclusion that they will marry.
Joseph Archer, a young widower with two young daughters, is in a tough spot. As his attraction to Katie grows and her feelings for him and his daughters soften, he is put in the position of being her employer & protector while she is living in his home, which limits his ability to court her.
He is also faced with the growing aggression of the town’s people against the Irish and his position and influence may not be enough to keep the town from exploding into violence again.
The romance between Katie and Joseph is subtle…a look here, a shared moment there, but you wonder if circumstances allowed, would it not be more? Or will Tavish win her hand before Joseph even has an opportunity to vie for it?
In the midst of the turmoil in Katie’s heart and in the town, she is faced with the decision of whether or not to return home to Ireland and her family…hoping for some type of absolution and peace from those who abandoned her, or to stay in Wyoming where she may have found the home she has always been longing for with a man who loves her.
I am a fan of Ms. Eden’s and have read all of her novels. I loved this book, I think it is actually my favorite of hers, for several reasons:
- It was an “American” story. I love the “regency” romance books and stories of society in England, but this one resonated with me more because I am descended from people like Katie and I could really relate to her story. I have heard the stories of the difficult life in the early American West…the struggle to survive throughout the harshest of winters and brutal summers, the horrible epidemics that killed entire families and the resilience and determination of the settlers to not only survive, but to thrive.
- The conflicts in this story were more “real” to me. As a history student, and the wife of an Irish descendent, I’m ashamed to say I really had no idea of the struggles and prejudice against the Irish who came to America after the famine. I was angered by so many of the things that the non-Irish did to the Irish and I am inspired to learn a little more about the history of the Irish Conflicts in America. I was again inspired by the Irish’ determination to stay and to prosper in the midst of persecution and discrimination.
Katie herself, this character had been through so much in her life and her ability to open her heart to love, touched me. Her happiness truly mattered to me.
I highly recommend this book to fans of Ms. Eden’s and those of you who may not have read one of her books. It is a wonderful, touching, and to me, thought provoking, story.
I can’t wait for the sequel in Spring 2014!
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About Sarah M. Eden
Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including Whitney Award finalistsSeeking Persephone (2008, Covenant Communications) and Courting Miss Lancaster(2010, Covenant Communications). Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference, acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat and is one-third of the team at the AppendixPodcast.com. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary Agency.
Stay updated about Sarah Eden's work by liking her Facebook page and following her blog.
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