It is the late 60’s in Tullamore, County Offaly, and life is full of exciting possibilities for Fiona Tracey, as she prepares to leave Ireland to work for a wealthy family in New York.
Fiona’s parents have the local shop and bar, and her younger sisters are already leading independent lives. Bridget is at a convent school preparing to be a nun and Angela has led a life of her own since she was … since she was hospitalised up in Dublin for years with childhood polio.
Then, sudden tragedy forces Fiona to postpone her departure for New York. As her mother sinks into illness and depression, her responsibilities mount. When help is offered by her aunt and cousin, Fiona is mystified by her mother’s animosity towards them.
As summer approaches, an American architect, Michael O’Sullivan, takes a room above the bar. Within a short time Fiona finds herself involved in an unexpected and passionate affair.
Then, as a surprising incident threatens Bridget’s vocation, Angela uncovers information which explodes old family secrets.
Before Fiona can embark on an independent life again, perhaps in New York, she must find a new understanding of her family – and of herself.
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This book was informative and realistic in its time-setting. Fiona’s character feels the full brunt of caring for her ill mother after her father dies. Her mother remains ill for months, partly due to feelings of guilt from something in her past, and Fiona must give up her dream of going to America. It can be a slow read for those looking for excitement in a story but I enjoyed it very much
Quite a cast of characters, including sisters Fiona, Angela, and Bridget alom with Mam and Pa. aunt Catherine and cousin Joseph. Patrick at the pub and Mrs. Mooney, the housekeeper. In other words, while this book attempts to be a family saga, the author was only partially successful. For one thing, the characters were all one-note rather than complex and well developed. Mam (Nance) was always a cranky, foul-tempered, self-centered egotist, while Bridget was always the good-hearted convent girl. For another, the beginning was too narrow as it focused on one character after another. Even the death of Pa seemed manufactured rather than emotional. All together this was a so-so book.
The author did a great job in describing Ireland in the 1960s and i found it a very enjoyable read.
It is amasing what people had to endure 100 years ago.
This was a very enjoyable book about Ireland the mid-twentieth century. Good characters and realistic.
Loved it!
This was good if you’re just looking for some light reading. Turned out to be much more “romancy” than I care for and everything was tied up neatly at the end. Not too realistic, but a good distraction nonetheless.
My heart broke for the young woman whose plans of a new life in America must be cancelled when her father’s unexpected death leaves her to care for her mother and siblings. Her strength and selflessness cover the sadness and disappointment hidden within. When she becomes acquainted with an American visiting her native Ireland, her future happily changes .
It kept my attention throughout.
I loved the story and the characters. I couldn’t put it down wanting to know what the next secret was.
I enjoyed the contrast between the USA and Ireland in the 1960’s
A good book to give one the prespective on people with life altering disease and how they persevere. I went thru a raange of emotions while reading this book and am really glad it was written!
Great characters in an entertaining story.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. Incredibly well written and what a page turner.
Interesting but a little too wordy for me.
This is a book with characters you can cheer for. All three sisters are so realistically written, as well as the parents. Lots of hurdles and problems to overcome, but also lots of love of family to help get through the hard times. Unexpected romantic twists which warm the heart make this book worth reading. Plus I love reading about Ireland!
Geraldine O’Neill manages to make you feel like the characters are friends or neighbors. She weaves family issues into a story you don’t want to put down.
So pleased to have discovered this author! Love both books I’ve read and definitely buying more.
I enjoy the way the characters developed and the realistic way things happened, especially the way love came totally unexpectedly.
I loved the main character and felt her emotions as she lived her life. Her 2 sisters did not have easy lives either but triumphed through the bad times also. All the characters seemed to have the adult lives they deserved and made them, for the most part, happy.