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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This book is great right from the start. You won’t want to put it down. Would highly recommend it.
Thoroughly enjoy it. It was not what I expected but it was very good.
This is a story about women struggling to climb out of poverty in Ireland. I couldn’t put it down.
I liked this book. From what I’ve read of the second, it’s not going to be a series that I stick with.
This book makes me thankful I was not a woman who
Iived in the late 1800s in Ireland. It is the story of women who tried to better themselves and not be shackled with the man their father chose for them. There is a sequel & the reader is left somewhat hanging.
I can’t wait to read the next volume. Enjoyed the heroine and the little history and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Enjoyed reading about the triumph of women over adversity. Women helping women.
The time for this great book was a key to the plot. I found the treatment and expectations of women unbelievable. The main character was depicted as a smart woman with an open mind and desires to improve her life and those who were dependents on her. I enjoyed following her progress and the other characters.
everything
In the beginning, I doubted that I would enjoy this novel. However, I developed a strong interest quickly, then cheered for the strong determination of a woman who taught herself to fight back, and to win. I liked the novel very much.
unrealistic. Ending left open. Preview of next book about different people.
It kept my interest and was a quick read. However, it seemed to end with too many loose ends.
I loved the historical aspect of how these orphans thought and imagined their lives. Wonderful book
Really like this author looking forward to more of her stories
If you like to read about strong women, read this one.
Cannot wait for more from Gemma Jackson. I always grow invested in her characters
Just a good story, my favorite kind of book
Overall, I thought the premise was interesting. A society helping abused women to get away to a new life. The characters were interesting, but the story could have moved more quickly. It was good enough that I bought the 2nd book. That one was disappointing. Lots of new characters with intriguing introductions that never go anywhere in the story. The last four pages were such a cop out. SPOILER ALERT: the captain and the monster lord and the captain’s common law wife all die in a train accident. Seriously? The book had such potential, but wasted it. Read the first book, but skip the second.
I really enjoyed this book and could hardly wait to see how it ended. But there was no ending or resolution. It just said The End practically in the middle of a sentence. I was very disappointed and felt forced to buy the next book in the series……which I will not. Nor will i read anything else by this author.
Very strong heroin and inspiration to women feeling trapped by a man