In 1898 three young girls leave a Dublin orphanage to enter a life of domestic service. They are placed in the home of Captain Charles Whitmore but soon discover that the household is in turmoil. Charles, hoping to amass a fortune, is preparing to set off on a long sea voyage, deliberately leaving his wife Georgina almost penniless to fend for herself and the servants.Georgina, who has been … been desperate to break free from a life of violent marital abuse, is relieved that he will be gone for some years, but nevertheless the future is frightening.
Then help comes from an unexpected quarter. An organisation that helps women escape lives of abuse or genteel poverty makes Georgina an offer. They propose that her house should become a school designed to train such women to seek employment in the American West. The very idea is at once shocking and appealing.
Can Georgina step into the unknown and lead the women under her care into the future?
The orphan maids listen and wonder. Can they too dare to dream of a better life for themselves?
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The orphans raised in a convent suffered terribly while being trained for a life of servitude. The new placement for three waifs was in the home of an abused wife, herself a tragic figure of suffering. I was so absorbed in this story, I felt a part of it. Wonderful development of characters. The ending was unsatisfying as it left me hanging without resolution as it was only a set-up for the sequel.
A very good representation of how women were treated and forced into Bad situations because they were regarded as being inferior. Parents forced girls into marriages that were hell on earth for some girls. So glad I live in a different era, but the heroine in this story manages to rise above it.
I really enjoyed this book. It opened my eyes to see just how far women have come in their rights to live and make their own decisions.
It’s hard to imagine the sheltered, controlled lives of the wealthy women in the early 1900’s of Ireland or England. They were totally dependent on the men in their lives and felt helpless to make changes. Jackson has written a fascinating tale of very interesting women as they struggle to take control and make their own choices.
Keep your interest until the end.
First reading this author will read more of her books.
The book had a great story line. It read easy. And I wanted to find out what happened to the characters. The ending was disappointing in that none of the characters stories really came to an end!
Not as good as the series preceding it.
The book didn’t read well, seemed like a mixed -up mess. I wouldn’t recommend it
I found this book to be very unusual. It deals with the mistreatment of women around 1900. The main character of the book finds the courage to deal with her desperate situation. It is thought provoking to think about how these women lived with no rights and no means of escape from their situations.
First chapter and I was hooked! Some books take a while to introduce the characters and the story is slow going at first, but not this book. I was riveted right away. I got involved with the characters and wanted to know what happens to them. Absolutely loved it and have already recommended it to my friends.
Was captivated from the beginning. The story was much more complex than expected. The character development was great. I finished the first book and couldn’t wait to continue the story of the three orphans and the rest of the household.
While the ending is kind of “Happily Ever After,” the book made me angry at the injustice forced upon women — young and old. It was good to see people get their just desserts! Also good to see women triumph over abuse.
I couldn’t put the book down! I had no idea how difficult life was for women in England around 1898, how men had absolute power over every aspect of their lives, even to take their inheritances and abuse them physically. And if they left, children stayed with the father.
Good story, well told and complete in the telling, altho’ there is another in the series. Interesting subject with good plot lines, and is a start into the fight for women’s rights as the world moves to the era of the World Wars and beyond.
Good characters and a very good central cast of the people at the heart of the house who support our heroine.
Looking forward to the second in the series.
This book was one of those books that kept my interest throughout. I didn’t want it to end yet couldn’t wait to finish it to see what happened. Well…. I kind of got what I wanted. Apparently, there is another book I’ll need to buy if I want to find out what happens. Normally, I don’t like cliffhangers and if warned ahead of time, won’t choose them to download. I have to say, though, that I will be buying the second book and probably the third if there is one because I enjoyed this first book so much.
I really loved this book. I don’t often give books five stars, but I really felt this one deserved them. It has a really involving and interesting story. The machinations and cruel treatment of Georgina by her husband might seem really incredible and far-fetched without knowledge of how the decks were stacked against women during that era.
It did not end well. You have to buy the next book to find out.
i enjoyed the whole series and learning about women’s lives in the time period
I really enjoyed this story.
First instalment was splendid. When are the next books in this series due? I want them all. All the characters are so strong, interesting and we’ll developed they could each have a series of their own with sequel and prequels. Well researched historic fiction.