| Title | : | Longing for Home (Longing for Home #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1609074610 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781609074616 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 432 |
| Publication | : | First published August 5, 2013 |
| Awards | : | RONE Award American Historical, Honorable Mention (2014) |
Longing for Home (Longing for Home #1) Reviews
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters were realistic and likeable, the romance kept me guessing, the history was eye-opening, and the conflict intense. The only thing I didn't like was that the storyline was not completely wrapped up and I have to wait for a sequel...
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This was a little different from Sarah Eden's other stories. First of all, it was a little more of a downer than her regency ones. Secondly, it wasn't a regency story--it was a western.
I love the name of the town--Hope Springs. But...I was surprised at how much the town was divided. I was surprised that the hatred of immigrants extended out West. I know the people started spreading out but I would have thought that everyone was just trying to make a go of life out West and were generally more accepting--not as judgmental as the folks in the East.
I am a reader who doesn't mind a love triangle, as I've mentioned before. However, I am usually able to choose which guy I want her to go for, even if he's the less popular one. This time, I really struggled with it. I really liked both guys for her and could see how both could be really good for Katie. I wasn't able to choose a favorite, which bothered me. Am I the only one who struggled with this?
Katie is a character that draws a lot of sympathy from the reader. She blames herself for things that happened in her past that she had no control over and struggles to support herself. She is strong and brave.
The guys, Joseph and Tavish, were both great!! Fiercely protective of those they care about, yet very kind. Different, yet the same.
Content: nothing of note--clean. -
This is by far the best Sarah Eden book I've read. It probably deserves 5 stars, but the love triangle didn't work out the way I had hoped. This triangle was an exception to my rule that love in the shape of triangles stinks. I just wish the writing had made me love the losing party less! At any rate, all involved are mostly working at friendship, so there's not a romantic see-saw going on.
I don't understand why the Irish were so hated. I wanted to kick the owner of the mercantile in the teeth!
Reading the second book (it's a duology) in hopes of my Mister getting some love of his own. I'm just so hung up on him! -
3.5
I liked this one. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but overall I liked it. Our heroine, Katie, has a lot of spunk. She has had a very hard life and is pretty hard on herself. She has moved to Wyoming to try and earn enough money to move back to Ireland to help out her estranged family. Once there she finds a new family and friends who love and accept her. With their friendship she really starts to warm up and open her heart to letting people in. Her sad story is a constant part of the story and you can’t help feeling sorry for her and rooting for her to find peace.
When she arrives in the small town of Hope Springs it stirs up an old rivalry between the Irish and non-Irish. I know these prejudices existed, but it was sure hard to read about. I have never been able to understand how people can be so cruel to one another, especially over something as stupid as where they were born. It is especially hard to read about supposedly Christian people who would hate someone just because of their nationality. And it’s sad that their preacher would encourage this kind of discrimination. He should know better.
So, aside from Katie’s sad past and all the turmoil with the townsfolk, I think what I had the hardest time with was the love-triangle. I am just not a fan of these, as many of you know. While I loved both Joseph and Tavish, I always feel this plot distracts from the courtship. Both guys are hard working, charming and care a great deal for Katie. I liked that they put her first and were always doing things to support her and make her feel welcome. I'm think I'm on Team Tavish, but I sure hope there is someone for Joseph. Since this is the first book in the series, hopefully it will end with everyone getting their own happily ever after.
It did seem like the first in a series, where there is a lot of set-up and back story, but not a whole lot happens. I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where things go. If you like historical fiction I suggest picking it up, Ms. Eden is a great storyteller.
Content: Clean. -
Longing For Home is a well-written and satisfying story with endearing characters and a fascinating glimpse of Irish culture in the Old West at a time when prejudice against them prevailed throughout most of the country.
I thoroughly enjoyed Longing For Home and consider it well worth the wait. It is a deeper, more involved story than Sarah’s other books, proving that she has taken her talent for storytelling to an even higher level. The characters are dimensional and real, with histories full of struggle, survival, love, and loss. They are so well-developed I feel as if they are MY family and friends.
The dialogue is wonderful. I could “hear” Katie’s brogue simply because of the words and phrases she uses with very little, if any, phonetical spelling. I appreciate that more than I can say. The use of traditional Irish phrases is enchanting and adds a wonderful lilt to Katie’s voice in my mind. Tavish and Joseph are remarkable, hard-working men with very different personalities and situations yet with the same capacity for love and desire for peace in the community. I love them both and hope that I will get to read more about them in the future.
Experiencing the story through the point-of-view of all three main characters not only gave me a better understanding of their thoughts and motivations, it also made me care about them even more and kept me guessing about how events would unfold. I truly didn’t know how things would turn out for Katie, or even how I wanted them to turn out because I was as torn about what to do as she was. I was unsure about Katie at first, but her growth throughout her experiences in Hope Springs felt natural and I was glad to see how far she had come by the end.
Longing For Home is a must for fans of Sarah M. Eden. Readers who appreciate clean romance and quality writing will want to add this book to the top of their reading lists. Though I don’t often rate books in my reviews, I don’t hesitate to give Longing For Home an appreciative and enthusiastic five stars.
Review originally published on LDS Women's Book Review -
www.ldswbr.com -
Sarah Eden is one of my very favorite clean romance writers. It was with glee I responded to the request from Shadow Mountain to review this book. Seriously? Uh, yes. Yes, yes, yes. Thank you Shadow Mountain for hooking me up with this book to review. You made my day.
I love historical fiction and combining romance with historical fiction is like raspberries and chocolate to me. Yummy. I loved this book. It was everything I was hoping for when I first laid eyes on it.
When we first meet Katie she is distrustful, prickly and carefully protecting herself. I love how the Katie's story unfolds for us. You get to know her and her story a bit at a time. It's a tragic story and while I found myself filled with compassion and heartache for the young Katie and all she endured, I never felt bogged down and encompassed in negative feelings. Katie has a real sense of loyalty and honor. Her fighting Irish spirit has kept her reaching for her goals no matter how the odds seem stacked against her. It was the moments of music that I really connected with Katie. Loved those moments in the book.
Tavish. I'd like to put an order in right now for a Tavish. First of all, his name is lovely. If I were to have another boy I would likely name him Tavish. Honest. But, alas, no more babies for me. In the beginning of the story you think you have Tavish pegged right along with Katie. Too handsome for his own good, flirty, never serious and up to mischief. But, as the story goes along we get to see the deeper side of Tavish, his hopes and dreams. I loved him. He is the perfect compliment to Katie, even if she doesn't know or like it. :) Oh, and he grows berries. I LOVE berries!
The sense of community among the Irish immigrants really drew me in as well. I loved their sense of family- how they take care of each other. It's seriously embarrassing how we as people through time have been so prejudice and mean to groups of people different from us. Shameful really. Eden has captured the whole idea so well in this book.
This seriously has to be one of my very favorite Sarah Eden books. I really fell in love with the characters, the setting and the story. The romance is gentle and slow, growing more in trust and friendship than anything. Have I said I love this book yet? Well, I do. You should read it. I will anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
I'm hosting a giveaway for this book if you are interested... Ends Aug. 21st 2013
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.bl... -
After struggling through a couple of so-so books, Sara Eden came to the rescue once again! I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I've read by this author and Longing for Home was no different for me. I love how Miss Eden's characters seem to jump of the page and take on a life of their own. Going into reading this one....I do wish I would have known that this is just BOOK 1!!!...There is a love triangle and it's so frustrating because BOTH guys are SO likeable! I was so excited to see that this wasn't the last I would be able to read about these characters!!!...and I am SO hoping that Hero #2 gets his happily ever in the next book. :) Great, clean, read!
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I had a hard time deciding what to rate this one. I enjoyed it a lot... even though absolutely nothing happened in 400 pages. I like that Sarah Eden has expanded to some stories about the American West, and I think she did a fine job of it. I also like that she didn't write in a heavy accent. More writers should learn that telling the readers that the character has a heavy accent is far less disturbing to the reading experience than attempting to write it out.
My biggest problem with this book I didn't realize until I was almost finished -
end rant.
Despite all of that, I actually did like the book, even that particular character that I raged against. I am pleased to know she'll be writing more about this place and these people. -
I hate triangles. Hate, hate, hate.
The writing is OK, nothing special, but I didn't enjoy the story or romance.
*I received this book as judge for an award contest* -
3.5 stars
I listened to this on cd and read it when I wasn't listening. If I hadn't been able to listen to it I don't know if I would have finished it. It seemed to take forever to get through. And after 400 pages there still isn't complete closure. That drives me crazy.
But I liked Katie, and Tavish, and Joseph. I cared enough about them to finish this book. It was a good story overall. Just very drawn out. Like a 400 page set up for the next book... -
Let's start a slow clap for Sarah Eden's best book yet! Seriously I thought that this was such a sweet story! Have you ever watched Far and Away with an Irish Tom Cruise? It's amazing and reminds me a whole heap of this story! This is a love story that is like molasses! It's a sweet and slow romance and you just find yourself enjoying every minute of it! Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley has placed all her hope in Hope Springs, a small town in the 1870 Wyoming Territory. She comes into town with the hope of being a house keeper for landlord Joseph Archer. She dreams of getting enough money to return to Ireland and find her family that she hasn't seen since she was put in servitude at the age of eight. She also carries around a terrible secret that weighs down on her soul but I won't spoil that for you! When she gets to Hope Springs with her bag and her fiddle she realizes that the town is divided into Irish and not Irish. Her boss, Joseph, is neutral to both sides and chooses to stay out of the fight but when Katie shows up and he discovers he is to have an Irish housekeeper it could look bad to the town and makes him look like he's picking a side. This was actually the part that made the whole story intriguing and gave us conflict! Loved it! Also as Katie becomes familiar with the town we are introduced to Tavish O'Connor. He is an ultra handsome Irishman that loves to tease Katie and is just plain adorable! Want a teaser? When they meet this is part of the conversation-
"I am Katie Macauley." She added, with emphasis, "And I don't particularly like you."
"A great pleasure to be making your acquaintance, Miss Macauley." He tipped his hat. "And I'll wager you'll most particularly like me before too long."
See! He's cute! Things that I absolutely loved about this story-1) I loved Katie! At first she's very guarded but underneath it all she is FIERY! She doesn't need anybody to stick up for her because she is smart as a whip and you find yourself cheering for her as she stands up to prejudice and overcomes her obstacles! 2) When I was about 50% done with this book I stopped and literally said, "O NO!!!" out loud. Why would I do this? Because this book has a very, very good love triangle! The reason this is troubling is because you don't really have a guy preference at this moment because they are both amazing men! Katie finds herself torn between Joseph and Tavish and you find yourself wondering who in the heck she is going to choose! This is one thing bad about a Kindle-you can't skip to the end! I was sorely tempted to do so on many occasions! Now the one thing I have to complain about! I got to the 95% mark in the book and realized their wouldn't be enough pages for me to be satisfied with the ending and then BOOM we find out there will be a sequel in the Spring of 2014! Cliffhanger!!!!!! NOOOO!!!! There are some things that are resolved but there are some things that aren't and if you are like me you want it to wrapped up with a bow by the end. Sadly I was only left with wrapping paper! I'm super excited for this one to be released! I loved it! Just remember, "Hope springs eternal!" :) -
This is a fresh new take on stories of 1800's America about an Irish immigrant with good reason to be angry and bitter, yet despite her initial prickliness, has a tender heart and a strong, unbreakable will. Her backstory unfolded naturally and was compelling. There was a love triangle, which, at first threw me because that's not Ms. Eden's usual MO. I dislike most love triangles but this was very well done. The heroine's character arc is gradual and believable. The romance is tender and left me very satisfied if a bit baffled by the triangle. Still, that, and other issues, leaves plenty of material for the next book, which, thankfully is already published. The story feels completed even though there are unresolved issues that clearly suggest a sequel. The book made me question my own views on prejudice. I have a greater appreciation of the Irish people and the struggles they faced when they first arrived in "the land of the free."
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Beautifully told historical romance...
I read an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and was excited to see what one of my favorite Regency authors would do with a new historical setting. Hope Springs is a small town in the middle of Wyoming and the "Reds" (anyone who isn't Irish) and the Irish have been in a feud for years. When Katie arrives at the home of Joseph Archer to serve as his housekeeper, the first thing he does is fire her. Katie comes from a long line of hardships, and this proves to be one more. But Katie is resilient and stubborn, and finds a way to make Hope Springs her new home--in more ways than she could have ever dreamed of. -
The characters were easy enough to like, but the conflict of her being in the center of a feud and having such power to make that big of a difference was annoyingly far-fetched for me...couldn't quite get around it...
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𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 (𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 1 & 2)
𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑴. 𝑬𝒅𝒆𝒏
𝑾𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒚, 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑰'𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆! 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒖𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓. "𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒖𝒑, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈...(𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉)
𝑨 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 𝑻𝑹𝑰𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑳𝑬 𝑵𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶!!!!
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 "𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌(𝒔) 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆". 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒅. 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒐𝒌. 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆.
𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆...
✔𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
✔𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒔
✔𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔
✔𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔
✔𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅
✔𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔
✔𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑰𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔! -
Review:
http://www.fireandicereads.com/2013/0...
Sarah M. Eden is one of my go to authors for clean, historic romance. So, of course, when I saw stack including Longing for Home at the Shadow Mountain booth at BEA I may have squeed a little. This is my first choice from the books I picked up at Book Expo America. Within days of arriving home from NYC, I had already read it and wanted to hug it just as Katie MacAuley hugs her violin on the front cover. Katie is exiled from her childhood home after famine and harsh landlords cause her father to lose their land and a tragic death claims the life of her sister. She is far from home in Baltimore when word of opportunity anew reaches the East. But going far away can't keep the ghosts at bay that keep haunting Katie's memory. Literally crippled both emotionally and physically she begins to heal form the neglect and guilt harbored deep inside. Ultimately, her dream is to make things right by returning to Ireland, but two men vying for her affection have different plans.
Sarah Eden paints a clear picture of Irish life with historic elements of their homeland, Ireland...the soda bread, the music, the neighborhood gatherings or ceili, and the accent. All of these gave me a glance into what life may have been like for the green settlers who were trying to make their way in a "red" frontiersman's world, as well as the opposition my ancestors likely faced trying to make their way and earn a living here. The separation and prejudice against the Paddys, or "green" Irish side runs strong and heated fueled by "the red road" where Katie finds herself literally living in the middle. Joseph Archer, a widow with two children, also is torn between the town and his Irish. Enter Tavish, the very confident berry vendor, who is determined to tip the scales in his favor and win the heart of Ms. MacCauley.
As a descendant of the Irish who immigrated to the United States, I absolutely loved Longing for Home. Sarah's writing keeps getting better and better. I would definitely recommend all of her books.
Excerpt: Katie pulled open the back door only to have it pushed closed once more. For a moment she couldn't account for such an odd thing. Her mind, however, quickly pieced the mystery together. Mr. Archer stood behind her, his arm reaching out past her shoulder, hand flat against the door. She'd been so lost in her thoughts shed's never even heard him catch up to her.
Katie kept her back to him and folded her arms in front of her. "Have you come to order me about some more?"
"Order you about?" Though Katie knew Mr. Archer had to be standing almost touching her to have reached the door from behind her, the nearness of his voice still startled her. "If I've learned anything about you over the last week, it's that you do not respond well to being told what to do." p.151
Content: clean, mild violence -
I have loved all of Sarah's books. There is just something about her characters and style of writing that strikes a chord with me. This book was no different.
We are introduced to Katie MacCauley who is traveling to the Wyoming territory to accept a job as a housekeeper. She is traveling in the back of a family wagon, uncomfortable around children because of what happened to her sister. The first line of the book is, "Eighteen years had passed since Katie Macauley killed her sister." If that doesn't make you want to keep reading and find out more, I don't know what will. And yes, what happened to her sister is a big part of the book and who Katie is today.
She makes it to her new employer's house who fires her as soon as she opens her mouth and he realizes she is Irish. You see, the town is divided between the Irish and the Americans of the town and Katie tips the balance. Her employer, Joseph Archer, is trying to remain neutral and if he keeps her on, the other people in the town might get upset.
Katie needs the promised employment so she can return to Ireland and make amends to her family so she forces his hand. It's so incredible to me how the author is able to write someone so tenacious and vulnerable at the same time. I loved Katie and her personality. She was true to herself, worried about the people around her, and yet battling her own demons at the same time. The author creates a town filled with people that are endearing, horrible, annoying, and compassionate, but always believable. Some of the things the Irish suffer through made my fingers turn pages faster so I could see how the town/Irish would deal with it. I have Irish ancestors of my own who suffered during the famine and came to Canada, so I really felt connected to these people.
The best part of the book for me, besides Katie as a character, was the love triangle. I love Tavish and all his humor on the outside and real depth on the inside. The other part of the triangle was a bit of a surprise and I don't know how I feel about that part yet. I think I'm firmly Team Tavish right now.
I realized that there is a sequel to the book and was worried that this would be a cliffhanger ending (I hate those) but I should have known Sarah Eden wouldn't do that to her readers. The ending was great and I honestly can't wait for the sequel and to find out what happens next for Katie.
This book is a definite five stars from me. Every historical fiction fan should read this book and put it on your Christmas and birthday lists. Completely loved it. -
This was my second read through and I think I enjoyed it more than the first time. It had been long enough I remembered the main storyline but not all the details. I'd just purchased the second book at a summer sale and was very excited to read it but first needed a refresher. I think Katie is one of my top 20 heroines. She's strong, hardworking, stubborn, she's lost everything but keeps living and surviving. She isn't afraid to call people out when they are in the wrong nor is she afraid to change when she is wrong. She is overly compassionate (in a very good way) and puts everyone above herself. She's clever and funny, humble and very loving. What a difference a very well written and lovable, flawed, humble character makes in a story.
Katie carries the burden of all the hardships her family endured during the potato famine in Ireland. Her brothers leaving one by to free up food for everyone. The tragedy of her sister and being left by her father to be a servant. It's incredible the weight from all the sorrow that weighs down on her shoulders. Yet she stares it in the face and tries not to look back.
As she enters the town of Hope Springs, out in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, determined to earn the last bit of money to return home buy the family farm and something for her sister she comes to realize it isn't going to be as easy as it sounded.
Katie feels she is selfish and a burden to everyone but she comes to learn that as she allows them into her life they can help lift her and ease her burdens just as she can do the same for them.
Hope Springs has a long standing grudge between the Irish group and the non-Irish, otherwise known as the Reds. It has been allowed to fester and grow for years on end with the only person who can calm it being Joseph Archer, the man who owns all the land and is leasing it out to members of both factions. He is torn and looking for peace and healing for he and his two daughters after the death of his wife. Joseph hires Katie as his housekeeper without knowing she is Irish. He has remained neutral but by employing another Irish he is unfortunately adding fuel once again to the fire and the Reds will not stand by being idyl.
Katie meets two different men, Joseph Archer and Tavish O'Conner. Both are taken by Katie and she by them. At the end of the first book she is showing preference to one but unsure of what her heart and the other two truly feel and want.
I really enjoyed the story and was excited to continue on with the story in the book.
Happy Reading!!! -
(4.5 stars)
Katie Macauley is a 26-year-old woman who heads to Wyoming so she can save enough money to go home to Ireland. She's going to be the housekeeper for Joseph Archer. She was delayed in her journey and ends up hitching a ride into town with Tavish and Ian O'Connor. Ian is married but Tavish is very single and very handsome. She meets Joseph Archer and he's also young and handsome, but is also a widower with two children. Katie feels she can't be trusted with children because of something that happened years ago so they need to figure out a different arrangement. The town is sharply divided between the Americans and the Irish. Joseph is an American who lives in the middle of town and keeps out of the feud the best he can but with Katie around, tensions are going to heat up.
I loved this book! Katie has a lot of baggage which makes it hard for her to open up to people. Her childhood was sad and she carries burdens from her past that she feels responsible for (even though she isn't). She's looking to head back to Ireland as soon as she has enough money to make amends with her family. I enjoyed seeing her growth as she works to become independent, forms friendships and eventually realizes what a difference she makes to the people of Hope Springs.
There's also a love triangle as Tavish and Joseph are both hunky, available bachelors. I had my favorite and she chose him so I won't give anymore away. I did really like both of them and would have been okay if she wound up choosing the other one.
I enjoyed getting to know the people of Hope Springs and am glad this is a series that will continue on. I loved the ending because it wasn't a cliffhanger so I felt satisfied that the story ended and yet I know there's still more to come. We get a sneak peek into book 2 at the end and there's lots more tension and drama to come! This is a long book but I didn't feel that it was slow. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
Mel's Shelves -
Katie Macauley was eight when her family lost their land during Ireland's Great Famine. Her father became a broken man and her younger sister died. Katie blames herself for this loss and vows to make it up to her family even as she enters into a life of servitude from a young age and is separated from her family for good.
Eventually she takes on the position of housekeeper in Hope Springs, Wyoming. But the small town is divided because the Americans despise the Irish. Despite this feud, Katie finds a family among the Irish immigrants and must decide whether to follow her heart in Hope Springs or return back home to gain her father's forgiveness.
I enjoyed this heartwarming novel mainly because the author has a way with dialogue and was able to bring the Irish expressions and culture to life. I was pulled into the story immediately because of the witty banter between Katie and the O'Connor brothers. Katie was an interesting character, feisty and vulnerable at the same time. I was intrigued by the events in the past that had turned her into such a reclusive figure with barely any friends in the twenty years she was in servitude.
Halfway through, however, it began to drag a little for me. The plot was good but came in second to the romance. I would have gladly forgone some pages of dialogue that was sweet but that no longer moved the plot along for me. (This is a long novel of 432 pages.) As a result the story was a little anticlimactic for me. Everything pointed toward a climactic event between the townsfolk because of the tension the author skilfully built from the beginning, but it didn't really happen or perhaps not like I thought it would. Also, the change in Katie's personality was too drastic in the few months she was there. It was like she was a different person altogether and some of her internal conflicts no longer seemed important to the story.
Apart from these issues, this was a good story. If you like clean romances with good characters in a genre not labelled Christian fiction, then I suggest you try this one. -
From the first sentence, I was intrigued by the main character, Katie, and the situation she found herself in. The progression of the story felt natural, the main characters complex and interesting. I loved that I was quickly immersed in Katie's new world, discovering the West along with her and learning about Katie's past with her friends. The fact that this was not your typical western/pioneer setting I found refreshing, and I appreciated the glimpse into the history of Irish immigration in the United States--something new to me. The best aspect of the book for me--the witty conversations and playful teasing between the love interests. That chemistry, of course, is the most important part of any romance.
If I had to come up with any cons to this book, it is that I don't feel there is a true wrap-up in the end. I didn't realize it wasn't going to be a stand-alone book, so I was slightly disappointed by the ending. I realize now that there is a sequel, which I am sure will tie up those loose ends, but I feel the resolution to this book could have been tighter and still left room for the planned sequel.
Overall, Longing for Home is an enjoyable read with engaging characters and lively banter. It's a nice balance of romance and history, fluff and fact, wit and emotion. The author has a comfortable style that makes the art of writing appear deceivingly easy. I will certainly look for more of Sarah M. Eden's books...and I guess I'll have to make sure to read Longing for Home's sequel next year. -
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sarah Eden's books!
I have read EVERY ONE of them!
I LOVE her strong female characters!
I LOVE the sweet and tender romance she includes!
I LOVE reading about the "proper way" in which one had to conduct oneself during that time.
I LOVE how positive her books are!
I just LOVE her writings!
In the past she has always had the setting be during the 1800's in England
In this book it is still 1800's, but the setting is in Wyoming, USA
A time of struggle.
A time of poverty.
A time of feuding.
Katie Maculey has traveled from Ireland to Wyoming in answer to a housekeeping job post.
She has been working and saving since she was 8-years-old in hopes of returning to her Irish roots.
When she arrives in the small Wyoming town of Hope Springs she finds herself in the middle of an ongoing feud between the Irish and the American frontiersmen.
Katie finds herself in not only a love triangle between two wonderful men, but also caught between her hopes of returning home OR staying and being the HOPE of the Irish people.
Sarah has included some "book club worthy" questions at the end of the book!
An AMAZING story that will enthrall everyone who reads it! -
I'm surprised to see this book has been written so recently, it reads more like a first novel and Eden has several under her belt.
I have two major problems with it. First it is very "telley" instead of "showy." The reader knows it takes place in Wyoming because the author tells us that it does. There is no mention of surrounding settlements, Indians, or even sagebrush. She also tells us that Katie is intelligent, but never really shows us by her dialogue or actions.
The second problem is with the narration. Sometimes the 3rd person narrator is Irish, sometimes not. There are way too many 'Twas, 'Twere, 'Tis's in the narration. It should have stayed in the dialogue or character's thoughts. I'm very surprised that the editors didn't catch that.
By the way, this is not a Western as some reviewers have said, it would fit better in the historical romance genre than anything. Sure it takes place in the West but it doesn't have any of the other markers of the genre. -
This story was different from anything else I've ever read. It has a western setting, but instead of feeling like an average Western, it's about an Irish girl and a feud between two factions: the Irish and the Red Road. The different elements were refreshing and kept me guessing the whole time. After about the halfway mark, I couldn't put it down, and I'm glad I already have the sequel.
-
So this is the first of two books in Longing for Home (home being Ireland).
Wyoming Territory, 1870
Katie Macaulay had no idea that the job she was promised would upset her life, and that of the whole town. The "Red" side of town was against the "Green" side of town which is the Irish. The Reds were so prejudiced against the Irish that they'd start trouble, charged higher prices to the Irish and simply wanted them to leave. The Irish just wanted things to be fair and to live in peace.
Katie grew up in Ireland ending up in Baltimore where she was little more than a slave. She traveled from Baltimore to Hope Springs, Wyming where she was to work for a widower as a housekeeper. But the employer (Joseph Archer) was not Irish, but he was neutral in the feud as a major landowner. An Irish woman working for Mr. Archer infuriated the "Red" side of town. Extreme unrest was what everyone faced throughout the book.
But there were certainly lots of high moments and fun times among the Irish side of town. More of a family atmosphere, including Céilí dances, where tall blarney tales were told, traditional Irish dishes were served and there was Irish music and dancing.
Katie had several big decisions to make in this story, decisions that would change her life.
Ms. Eden is a talented writer for sure. I love the way she didn’t overdo the Irish accent. A constant thick accent in a story can be tedious. This was perfect. And the Irish sayings and cute phrases were just plain fun!
In the next book of this two-parter, the outcome of her decisions will be more evident.
Good book! -
the only love triangle im fine with but the thing is i was rooting for the wrong endgame all along. it’s okay cuz i love them both
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Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley needs to convince the influential Joseph Archer to hold true to his word and keep her on his payroll as his housekeeper—despite her Irish roots. When Joseph agrees to keep Katie as his housekeeper, the feud between the Irish immigrants and frontiersmen in the 1870 Wyoming Territory erupts anew, and Katie becomes the reluctant figurehead of hope for the Irish townsfolk. As the violence escalates throughout the town, Katie must choose between the two men who have been vying for her love—though only one might be able to restore hope to her own heart. (From NetGalley)
I loved this book. I hated this book—a good sign!
I was absolutely in love with the characters, and hated the fact that eventually Katie Macauley would be forced to choose between two men she found equally attractive—as did I, her reader. I found myself constantly torn between the two, wondering how Ms. Eden would work it all out in the end. Although from opposite sides of the track, or the red and green roads in this case, both Tavish O’Connor and Joseph Archer had the capability to win the heart of a young woman, who had always before thought of nothing but returning home to Ireland to make right the perceived errors of her childhood, a childhood thrust upon her by the famine and choices no child of her tender age should ever be forced to make.
The attractiveness of both Tavish and Joseph were far above just physical. Each man saw the importance of land just like Katie did, and each strove to maintain a balance of peace and harmony among neighbors, even when the masses favored only the rise to power of a single side of the argument—theirs! But best of all, they both fell in love with her, as she did with them, one experience at a time. The building of their relationships was well paced and believable. It’s no wonder Katie took so long to decide. I’m still not convinced I could have done the same, or that her decision will eventually be final at the series end.
One of the tropes of romance is the triangle in which the main character has two equally attractive options. Of course by the end a choice must be made. I love that the door to friendship and support was not also abandoned in this episode of Katie’s life and that enough story questions were answered to satisfy me as a reader, yet others left open for the sequel the author has planned. (Preview chapter inside the book.)
I've read books or seen movies galore about the plight of the Irish during this time in both their homeland and on the streets of New York, but other than the movie Far and Away, and its look at the Oklahoma land rush, I'd not thought about the difficulty the Irish had in facing discrimination in the rest if the country. Eden's choice of bringing a whole community to Hope Spring, Wyoming, was refreshing in and of itself. The addition of the shift in balance Katie causes made for a conflict worth addressing outside of the romance.
I also loved the fact that Eden chose to have Katie be a 26-year-old woman. So many times a character I envision as being older turns out to be in her late teens, especially in romance despite the fact the men she will chose from are obviously going to be older since they are established landowners and well respected among the town’s residents. Not that this couldn’t be, but more unlikely than giving them all realistic ages in the first place would be.
My review is based in an eArc downloaded from NetGalley. It is a rough idea of what the final product will look like. (See this to understand why). Therefore the book had some problems in layout design and flaws such as word or information repetition and an instance of timeline confusion, but overall these did not detract from the text itself, and knowing the meticulous nature of the author I can rest assured these were corrected before the final version was sent to typesetting.
A side benefit for me was an introduction to the beautiful strains of Irish music. I wanted to hear the soundtrack of Katie's playing, so I turned to YouTube. There I discovered jigs and reels and lullabies, haunting melodies, some familiar for which I never knew a name, and others that were brand new to me. As a music lover this was time well spent. As a reader the experience added depth to the novel so it's an activity I recommend.
Overall, I’d give the book an A+ and Highly Recommend to readers who love history, as well as a great romance. -
The beginning of a delightful story about a young woman who comes to America by herself. She learns a lot about what it means to be Irish in America. I love the beginning of the series and look forward to reading No. 2. It is a very clean (no swearing, etc.). It's a sweet old fashioned love story.
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Review originally posted on
Tressa's Wishful Endings.
If you follow my blog at all you probably know that I love Sarah M. Eden. She is one of my favorite historical romance writers. I wrote a
post awhile back about her that you can read, if you're interested. You may also be aware that I have been very excited about this new line of books from Shadow Mountain called A Proper Romance.
Edenbrooke: A Proper Romance, which was one of my favorite books from last year, was the first book in this line. I was very excited to see Longing for Home pop up on NetGalley and for the opportunity to read it early.
I've read a couple other historical fiction novels that have characters with accents, or in this case, brogues. It takes a little getting used to sometimes, but Sarah did a good job of not making it overwhelming. It was interesting to read a story about an Irish versus a non-Irish community and, unfortunately, very realistic.
The plot was steady, although a little slow in places. I wasn't quite sure what the climax would involve and how much violence would be enacted, but I could definitely feel it build. Then I was rather surprised by the ending and hadn't realized, up to that point, that this will be a series. I think I was so surprised because Sarah hasn't ever written a book yet where the main character doesn't get her happily-ever-after at the end, so I will actually have to wait to see what Katie will do and what will happen. (Did you have to do that, Sarah? Couldn't you have had the second book just be about Joseph's daughter and maybe Ian's youngest brother? Sorry, just my wishful thinking. I hate waiting a year or more to find out how these things end.)
I really liked the characters. All three main characters slowly develop and the reader gets to know them better as the story progresses. Katie has a lot of spunk, but she is also so very vulnerable and sweet. Joshua is a little standoffish, but very much a gentleman. Tavish is really a rogue, but one who hides his heart. This is also the first book of Sarah's where there is a definite love triangle. I'm still not sure about it. I guess I'll have to see how things end up working out. I really like both men, but for different reasons. Tavish comes from a similar background to Katie, won't cause as many issues in the community, and his conversations with Katie had lots of teasing and sparks. Joshua has these adorable daughters who love Katie and whom Katie loves. He is sweet, comfortable, supportive, and likes to have long daily talks with Katie. Both men would be good providers and love her and she is also loves them both.
Overall, I enjoyed this new book from Sarah. It isn't one of my favorites, but is definitely one I would recommend if you enjoy historical romance/fiction.
Content: Clean
Source: ARC from NetGalley -
Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 386 pgs.
Rating: ***** (A fantastic, fabulous book)
Review: LONGING FOR HOME has a very special place in my heart. If you read my reviews regularly, you know I'm a BIG Sarah Eden fan (and that might be an understatement). Imagine my joy when I got a tweet from her asking about my home state of Wyoming, particularly of northern Wyoming where I grew up. Emails followed, and I'd have to say, I count this interaction of the beginning of actual friendship with Sarah.
You guys wanted to hear about the book?? Right.
I can describe it in three words. Beautiful. Wonderful. Heart-breaking.
But you will love it.
I am so anxious about it's sequel coming out next year. I have my favorite picked out for Katie, and I'm sure if you know anything about me and the crushes I have on some of Sarah's characters, you know who I'm talking about.
There is a lot of feel in this book. Sarah does a fantastic job, just like always, of taking wonderful historical details and weaving them seamlessly into the narrative. The way she writes the Irish brogue is perfect. I could hear it so clearly in my mind. (But don't try reading out loud. It will ruin the effect.) Having learned a bit more about the Famine before reading this book, it broke my heart even more.
How do people not love the Irish? I don't get it! We're talking about really sexy accents here...
I digress. This is a great book. Her oh-so-accurate descriptions of Wyoming made me laugh and made my heart warm. When I knew that she knew Wyoming: "If there are shades of green here that aren't actually shades of brown, I'd be very much surprised." I laughed out loud. Loudly.
Be prepared to cry. Know that the story continues, so don't freak out at the end.
But read it.
Content: Rated 1-5, 1 being minor instances, 5 being text is saturated
Violence: 0
Language: 0
Sex: 0-ish (There's one kiss?)
Source: Personal (& signed) copy. ;)
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