Erin's Children by Eileen O'Finlan
In 1851 Irish Famine survivor, Meg O'Connor, buys passage to America for her younger sister, Kathleen, and arranges employment for her as a maid. Kathleen's feisty spirit soon puts her at odds with her employers, the bigoted and predatory Pratts. Driven from their home, Kathleen ends up on a wild adventure taking her to places she could never have imagined.
As a domestic servant in the Worcester, Massachusetts home of the kindly Claprood family, Meg enjoys a life beyond her wildest imaginings. Yet she must keep her marriage to Rory Quinn a secret. Rory, still in Ireland, eagerly awaits the day he will join her. But as the only jobs open to Irish men pay poorly, Rory's imminent arrival threatens to plunge her back into dire poverty.
On the eve of the Civil War, while America is being rent asunder by the fight over slavery, Irish Catholics wage their own war with the growing anti-immigrant Know Nothing party. Through grave doubts, dangers, and turmoil, Meg and Kathleen must rely on their faith and the resilient bonds of sisterhood to survive and claim their destinies in a new and often hostile land.
Read an Excerpt!
In mid-afternoon, Kathleen stepped outside to dump the wash water from the dinner dishes. The sky was still a deep blue, still dotted with massive creamy clouds, but something had changed. The air had quieted. Not the slightest zephyr disturbed the atmosphere. Kathleen stood motionless, barely daring to breathe. No birds sang, no small animals rustled amongst the garden leaves. Not one sound reached her ears. Aye, a storm’s on the way, she thought, but for certain it’s taking it’s time getting here.
“Mrs. Pratt, may I speak with you in private?” Kathleen asked that evening as she cleared away the supper dishes, arresting her mistress before she could leave the dining room.
The sky had grown overcast as the day wore on. The wind, which had returned with greater vigor, now rattled the windows, echoing the rattling of Kathleen’s nerves as she prepared to speak to her mistress about Lemuel.
“What is it?” asked Mrs. Pratt as the two women stood alone in the kitchen.
Kathleen had rehearsed the words in her head all day. Now faced with Mrs. Pratt’s sober and self-assured countenance, she wasn’t sure how to begin. An image of her mam filled her mind. Her mam would brook none of Lemuel’s nonsense. The hope that Mrs. Pratt would feel the same allowed her to plunge ahead.
“Something happened here yesterday while you were out shopping with Clara. I thought at first to say nothing of it, but after I saw the results this morning I felt I’d better tell you.”
Mrs. Pratt looked quizzical. “You broke something.” It was a statement, not even a question. “What? It will come out of your pay.”
Kathleen straightened her back. “No, Ma’am. I’ve not broken a thing.”
“Oh. Well, then what is it?”
“Yesterday, while I was ironing and cooking dinner, Master Lemuel came into the kitchen for a drink of water. I fetched a cup and handed it to him.”
Mrs. Pratt’s bored expression never wavered.
“Once I handed him the cup, I turned to go back to my work.”
“And?” Mrs. Pratt was losing patience.
“And that’s when Master Lemuel grabbed me.”
“Grabbed you? What do you mean?” Her eyes narrowed.
“My arm. Here.” Kathleen rubbed her bicep.
“Is that all?” Mrs. Pratt asked.
Kathleen gritted her teeth. “When I woke this morning, my arm was bruised. It’s been aching all day.”
“I’m sorry for that, Kathleen,” Mrs. Pratt said, though her expression had not changed to one of sympathy. She turned to leave.
Indignant, Kathleen continued, “My mam would never allow my brother to touch a lass, much less harm her even if the lass be no more than a simple servant.” A gust of wind slammed the shutters on the windows.
Available on Amazon
About the Author
Eileen also loves history which is why she went back to college in her late twenties to earn an undergraduate degree in it. She later returned to college for a Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry. Now she teaches online courses for the University of Dayton, Ohio. Seems she can't get enough of college.
She also can't get enough of books - reading and writing them. And cats. She can't get enough of cats. Since she's had at least one since the age of six, she can't comprehend life without a cat.
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Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, June 28Guest Post at Novels Alive
Tuesday, June 29
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Wednesday, June 30
Review & Excerpt at Niki Loves to Read
Thursday, July 1
Review at Two Bookish Babes
Excerpt at CelticLady's Reviews
Monday, July 5
Review at Reading is My Remedy
Tuesday, July 6
Interview at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, July 7
Review at The Enchanted Shelf
Giveaway
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Erin's Children
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