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Erin's Children by Eileen O'Finlan

Publication Date: December 1, 2020

BWL Publishing, Inc.

Paperback & eBook; 433 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

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 O’Finlan lives in central Massachusetts with a calico Maine Coon cat named Autumn Amelia who likes to "help" her with her historical research and writing mostly by shoving her research books onto the floor, sleeping on her keyboard, and demanding treats at inopportune moments. Eileen loves Autumn Amelia.

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 28
Guest 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

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on July 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Erin's Children

The Case of the Copper King by MK McClintock Book Spotlight!

 

The Case of the Copper King

A McKenzie Sisters Mystery Novel

MK MCCLINTOCK

---

Clever and feisty Cassandra McKenzie engages her newest assignment for the Pinkerton Agency with a knack for deception and a blade in her boot.

Smart, skilled, and unafraid to get her hands dirty, Cassandra grudgingly takes on a new assignment in one of Colorado’s busiest mining towns, where murder and theft draw her deep into a puzzle of lies, quarries, and forgery. 

When the mysterious and handsome Quinn Morgan is enlisted to help solve the case, she reluctantly accepts his presence for an undercover scheme meant to draw out the crooks and retrieve the stolen money before they end up buried in a mountainside. Will their talents be enough to untangle truth from deceit before they run out of time?

Ride the rails to Durango at the turn of the century with Cassandra McKenzie, a woman cunning enough to solve the toughest cases in some of the Rockies most rugged and beautiful places. 

Immerse yourself in The Case of the Copper King, a stand-alone novel in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series.

Buy Links

E-Book: Kindle Unlimited

Paperback: PENDING 

Add to BookBub | Add to Goodreads

Book Trailer: https://youtu.b e/4lwSLgNRij0 

Book Details

Genre: Historical Western Cozy Mystery

Release Date: June 22, 2021

Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing

Page Count: 290pp

Content: PG – No sex; sweet kisses; some action and content normal to cozy murder mysteries

Author Bio

Award-winning author MK McClintock writes historical romantic fiction about courageous and honorable men and strong women who appreciate chivalry, like those in her Montana Gallagher, British Agent, and Crooked Creek series. Her stories of adventure, romance, and mystery sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles, with places and times between and beyond. She enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains. 

MK invites you to join her on her writing journey at www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about her many books and series, explore reader extras, subscribe to receive the latest news, and browse the blog. 

Praise for the Writings of MK McClintock

"An absolutely delightful mystery adventure that will keep you guessing till the last chapter! The Case of the Copper King is a must to read if you love western mysteries with a touch of romance and lots of twists and turns." —Nicole Laverdure, 5 Stars

"Ms. McClintock’s stories are adventurous and full of budding romance that transports you back to a simpler time where the outside world ceases to exist once you open one of her books." —My Life, One Story at a Time

"Ms. McClintock succeeds in masterfully weaving both genres meticulously together until mystery lovers are sold on romance and romance lovers love the mystery!" 

—InD'Tale Magazine on Alaina Claiborne

"Wow! What a series. I guarantee you won't be able to stop reading. Well done MK!” 

—Pioneer Hearts Reader on The Montana Gallagher series

"Journey to Hawk's Peak by MK McClintock is one of the most gripping and thrilling western novels that anyone will ever read. This is probably the best novel that I have yet read as a reviewer. It clicks on all cylinders—grammar, punctuation, plot, characterization, everything. This novel is a serious page-turner, and for fans of western fiction, it is a must-read." —Readers' Favorite

"This book was perfectly-paced with mystery, romance, adventure, and so much more. I am definitely recommending that everyone who loves historical fiction in general read this book. I cannot wait to start reading the next book in this series."
—Dreams Come True Through Reading on Blackwood Crossing

Excerpts from

The Case of the Copper King

Please use only one!

Excerpt 1

Colorado Springs, Colorado 1899

As one of five women making the rounds in the Lone Dog Saloon, the proprietor expected her to be in high demand. The silky blond hair was pulled up to frame her face while the rest flowed around her shoulders. She drew the attention of every man she passed at the tables, offering a wink, smile, or small wave to each of them. 

None of them held her interest. 

She sidled up to one man and held a half-full bottle close to her chest. 

“Care for a drink, cowboy?” 

“I like a little sugar with my whiskey.” 

“Sugar is extra, sweetheart.” 

“How much extra?”

Amber liquid fell from the bottle into the shot glass on the scarred bar. “Ten dollars.” 

“That’s mighty steep for a place like this, darlin’.” 

Her fingers trailed up his dusty vest. “I’m worth it, darlin’.” 

His boisterous laugh startled a few of the patrons. “Where’s your room?”

“Not so fast. I like to know the names of the men I take to my bed.” 

“Name’s Fletcher. I ain’t gonna take you to bed, darlin’. I’m gonna take you to heaven.” 

Casey palmed the Deringer and pressed it against her quarry’s belly. “Fletcher Jones. You’ve been a hard man to find.” 

Fletcher’s smile vanished as he looked at her with cold, hard eyes. “You got me mixed up with someone else.”

“I don’t think so.” 

“You ain’t got what it takes to pull the trigger.” 

“I’ve heard a lot of things about you, Fletcher. Not all accounts agree on what you look like, who you ride with, or how many innocent people you’ve killed, but they agree on one thing.” 

He smirked. “What’s that?” 

“You’re a very stupid man.” She pressed the pistol harder against his gut. “No, no, stay right there. Don’t make this worse for yourself. I want an audience, but I’m guessing you don’t. Where is your partner?”

Fletcher leaned close, the whiskey on his breath pungent and unpleasant. “Who are you?” 

Casey smiled. “The person tired of hunting you.” 

End of Excerpt © MK McClintock

Excerpt 2

Quinn Morgan rushed into the street and shielded his face from the heat of the fire. He might have been cold without his coat and hat had it not been for the adrenaline pumping through his body. He caught sight of a skirt as a woman rounded the wagon, but she disappeared behind the dwindling flames. Shouts from men and women reached him as he followed the skirt. 

“You worthless drunk. You could have burned half the town down with your stunt!” 

The skirt in question was in fact part of a nightgown peeking from beneath a canvas duster. Boots, similar to his own, completed an ensemble that left little to the imagination. 

“Need some help?” 

More striking than he remembered from his glimpse of her at the restaurant, the woman looked in his direction after she yanked on the other man’s coat. After two failed attempts, she nodded toward the drunken man. “Were you just talking to hear your voice, or did you mean to help?” 

Quinn cleared a few sparks that jumped when someone tossed water on the flames and stepped up to help her. The good-for-nothing reeked of cheap whiskey and slurred his complaint at the rough handling. Quinn heaved the man up and braced him against one of the beams on the store now missing its front windows. 

The woman moved closer and smacked the drunk across his face. “You’re lucky there weren’t people in the wagon or in the store.”

“Sthphm meh dronuk.” 

“I don’t speak the language of drunk idiots.” She raised a hand and called out to someone else. Quinn watched the sheriff run over, with one hand holding his hat in place and the other on his gun. 

“Det—Miss McKenzie. What have you got?” 

“An idiot who spent too much time in the saloon tonight. I found him trying to light a cigar, and a lot of spent matches strewn about. One must have ended up in the wagon.” She pointed to the wagon, now in pieces. “Any idea what was in there, Sheriff? I saw your deputy panic when I first came out.” 

To Quinn’s surprise, the sheriff’s face became an unremarkable shade of red. 

“Powder. It wasn’t supposed to be here.” 

Quinn handed the derelict over to the sheriff. “I believe he’ll find your jail comfortable enough for tonight.” 

The sheriff tipped his hat and hauled the man away. 

“It’s a chilly night.” 

She nodded. 

Quinn grinned. “Some might think it’s too cold for anything but long underwear.” Miss McKenzie—he’d like to know her given name—pulled and overlapped the edges of her duster. “Might help.” 

She narrowed her gaze at him. “I’ve seen you before. The restaurant.” 

“You saw me, and I saw you.” 

“Are you following me?” 

“You mean, did I contrive to have the foolish deputy leave a wagon with gunpowder across from the hotel, hoping a drunk imbecile would strike too many matches, thus causing one to hit the powder and—”

Quinn swore he heard her growl, but to be safe, he cast a glance around to make sure they were still alone or as alone as two people can be in an open street. The water-soaked wagon and ruined powder stood between them and everyone else. He smoothed his grin into a straight line and held up both hands in defense. “My apologies, Miss McKenzie.” He held out one of his hands to her. “Quinn Morgan.” 

“Miss McKenzie.” 

His mouth quirked. “An unusual forename. Your parents had an odd sense of humor.” This time Quinn was certain the growl came from her. 

She tugged her duster as tightly as she could manage, revealing more in the process than she likely intended. With only a heated glance that Quinn decided to mistake in part for attraction, Miss McKenzie tromped back to the hotel. He watched her short journey and smiled when she veered right and headed for the side entrance to avoid the small crowd of people who had gathered out front.

End of Excerpt © MK McClintock

The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance by Samantha St. Claire Book Spotlight!

 

The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance

A McKenzie Sisters Mystery Novel

SAMANTHA ST. CLAIRE

---

Witty and irascible Rose McKenzie tackles Denver’s criminal cases with a woman’s intuition and a loaded Smith and Wesson tucked in her skirt pocket.

Eager for adventure beyond her scientific experiments, Rose accepts her uncle’s challenge to become Denver’s first female private detective. When a wealthy woman employs her to track down a burglar, Rose zealously applies her unique investigative talents to prove she can handle any job. After two more home invasions turn violent, Rose races to find the perpetrator before another innocent shows up on a slab at the city morgue.

With the stakes raised, Rose employs the help of her friend, the attractive Dr. Taylor Whitman, to lure the perpetrator out of hiding—with Rose as the bait. What Rose fails to foresee is the complexity of the crime, involving more than one perpetrator tasked with silencing her. Will her cunning be enough to unravel the clues before it’s too late?

Step into Denver’s bustling city streets at the turn of the century with Rose McKenzie, a spirited private investigator and a woman brave enough to undertake any case.

Don’t miss The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance, a stand-alone novel in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series.

Buy Links

E-Book: Kindle Unlimited

Paperback: PENDING 

Add to BookBub | Add to Goodreads

Book Trailer: https://youtu.b e/4lwSLgNRij0 

Book Details

Genre: Historical Western Cozy Mystery

Release Date: June 22, 2021

Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing

Page Count: 248pp

Content: PG – No sex or swearing; some action and content normal to cozy murder mysteries

Author Bio

Samantha St. Claire is the pen name of an author passionate about American history and the people whose legacies are woven into the fabric of a nation. She writes these characters to life in her novels of the western frontier, their trials and triumphs. Coming from a family of pioneers, she honestly claims her roots as a Daughter of the American Revolution and descendant of a Scottish Laird.

Never faint of heart, her signature protagonists face the hazards of the frontier with courage, wit, and a healthy pinch of humor. 

​

Sign up for Samantha’s newsletter at www.samanthastclaire.com for early notifications of new releases and interesting news relevant to readers of historical fiction.

Praise for the Writings of Samantha St. Claire

"This intrepid heroine kept me guessing till the end and made me laugh out loud! Rose is the epitome of the perfect heroine that I love to follow. She’s colorful, amusing, ingenious, and brilliant. I loved the setting Colorado 1899 and the atmosphere with a delightful blend of humor and adventure." —Books & Benches, Top Pick (on The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance)

“Rich descriptions and entertaining characters bring to life the beauty and struggle of life in the 19th-century West. This cozy tale grounded in the everyday will surely delight historical romance fans.” —Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review on Comes the Winter

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Samantha St. Claire's style of writing is captivating. She lures you in with vivid word imagery and takes you on a journey with a well written sequence of events that make this book very difficult to put down. Samantha St. Claire's language and storytelling skills combine to give us a very enjoyable, sometimes emotional adventure to another time and place." —Readers' Favorite

“A wonderful book, and an auspicious start to The Sawtooth Range series!” —InD'Tale Magazine on Kat’s Law

"Miss St. Claire's stories unfailingly take readers to places and times of transformation. The author shows an affinity for confronting the crossroads in life. “Portrait of Dawn” is part of Samantha St. Claire’s “Sawtooth Mountain series,” but it stands on its own as a fully realized story and will be enjoyed by a first-time reader. I do recommend seeking out other titles in the series. These are sweet, heart-warming stories, perfect for relaxation, inspiration, and, sometimes, quiet introspection." —The Constant Reader

Excerpts from

The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance

Please use only one!

Excerpt 1

Denver, Colorado 1899

T

he explosion was small compared to her previous miscalculations, blowing out only one window of the study and merely scorching the hem of the damask drapes covering it. Miss Rose McKenzie and her housekeeper, Mrs. Constance Pennyworth, quickly extinguished the subsequent fire. The housekeeper tore down the damaged drapes and threw them on the remnants of Rose’s ruined experiment.

After she raised the window sashes to give the cloud of acrid smoke somewhere to go besides their lungs, she collapsed on the stool across from Rose. The housekeeper fanned her face with her soot-covered apron and grumbled, “Well now, what have you learned from that experiment, Miss Rose? I surely hope it was worth the expense of a broken window and two rather costly drapes.”

Rose pulled a pencil from the mass of auburn curls pinned high on her head and scribbled notes on the still-smoking clipboard. “Reduce the potassium chloride to magnesium ratio.”

Mrs. Pennyworth pushed herself to her feet with a small grunt and heaved a sigh of surprising force for a woman so small in stature. “I came upstairs to ask if you wanted me to bring your breakfast up. If you recall, you didn’t eat your supper last night.”

Rose tapped the pencil against the clipboard and surveyed the disheveled state of the laboratory. “I suppose I should eat downstairs this morning.” Mrs. Pennyworth's scowl transformed into an expression of concern. 

She rounded the table with impressive speed for a woman who’d seen more than a half-century of birthdays come and go. She grasped Rose’s face in her two calloused hands and leaned in for closer inspection. “Why, you’re bleeding!” This time she expressed her opinion with a disapproving cluck of her tongue. “Miss Rose, you are going to do yourself in one day with all this experimenting.” She blew another ponderous breath. “I’m going to ring Dr. Whitman. That might need stitches.”

Rose drew the back of her hand to dab at her temple, surprised to feel the sticky evidence of Mrs. Pennyworth’s pronouncement. “Hmm. I would have expected more blood from a head wound.” She rose quickly from her stool and stepped to the wall mirror, inspecting her forehead with sharp interest. “It’s a clean cut. It might even develop into a quite colorful bruise. You’re right, Mrs. Pennyworth, I should probably have it tended to.” Rose shook small shards of glass from her lab apron and observed brightly, “I’ve never had stitches. I’m most interested in the experience.”

As her housekeeper stormed off, the exasperated blow from her lips sent a good portion of smoke out the open windows. “I’ll give the doctor a call and set another place for breakfast.”

“Oh, did I forget to tell you? We’re going to the museum today. There’s an exhibit on the embalming techniques of Egyptian mummies, which promises to be interesting.”

“I approve of your company, but to my way of thinking, you’ve a morbid fascination with death.” Mrs. Pennyworth harrumphed as she left the room, her footsteps hammering down the staircase.

Excerpt 2

“That should do it.” Dr. Taylor Whitman sat back and studied Rose with amber eyes that reminded her of brandy in candlelight. At the moment, his eyes had a wolfish glint as he perused her with something more than clinical interest. The moment passed quickly, and the softness returned as his lips curved into a wide smile, revealing normal teeth with no pronounced canines. Except for the thin diagonal scar creasing his right eyebrow, he was a decidedly perfect specimen of manhood. Not for the first time, Rose wondered how a man of such bearing should have wielded a scalpel instead of a sword.

The doctor reached out and touched the tip of her nose. “You’re a very lucky young woman, Miss McKenzie. If that piece of metal had struck you an inch lower, you could have lost the use of that attractive blue eye.”

Rose touched her temple, fingering the stitches. “Only two?”

Dr. Whitman shook his head. “You have my deepest sympathies, Mrs. Pennyworth. I think the patient has not only a laceration but a brain injury as well.”

“Is that what you call it? A brain injury? If it is, I think she had it before the explosion.” Mrs. Pennyworth huffed and left the room, calling back, “If you’ve an interest, there’s breakfast chilling in the morning room.”

With less humor in his eyes, the doctor turned back to Rose, his smooth brow creased in disapproval. “Seriously, Rose, you need to be more careful. You push your studies too far sometimes. Magnesium is unstable in the best of situations. Do you know how many photographers have been maimed and even killed by mishandling it?”

Rose met his intense gaze with her own studious one.

 The doctor frowned. “Did you hear me?”

“Did you know that your left eye has gold radial lines? It’s only in the left eye. Like striations one might find in gold ore. Fascinating,” she said as she shifted her focus from one eye to the other. “One day you must tell me how you came by that scar.” She touched her fingertip to his warm skin and traced the thin line stretching from his hairline to his eyebrow.

Dr. Whitman brushed her hand aside. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re angry.”

With lips compressed and frustration apparent, he snapped his medical bag closed. For a long moment, he stared at her before shaking his head and taking a step to the door.

Rose reached for his wrist and gripped it firmly. “No, I can tell. You’re angry. Your right eye twitches, like now. You can feel it, can’t you? There! I saw it again. I wonder if it’s in rhythm with your pulse. Have you ever tried timing it?” 

Dr. Whitman gently but firmly plucked her hand from his sleeve. “Let’s go to the museum, shall we? I believe we were going to try to arrive before the midday crowds.”

“You’re right! What time is it?” Rose started for the hallway. “I’ll just pick up a wrap from my room.”

“Miss McKenzie?” Mrs. Pennyworth rounded the corner, nearly colliding with her employer. “Excuse me.” She stammered, bringing a hand to her breast. “There’s a lady here to see you.” The housekeeper looked over her shoulder, then leaned forward and whispered, “I think it’s a professional visit. She asked for the dee-tec-tive.” Mrs. Pennyworth always said the word in clearly distinguished syllables, making it sound like three separate words, and not very polite ones at that.

“Oh? Well, that’s wonderful! Please, show her in.”

“Perhaps I should leave you to speak with your client in private,” Dr. Whitman said, already starting for the door.

“Oh, no! If she’s distressed by some criminal activity, I’m quite certain your presence would comfort her. It’s necessary for a client to feel relaxed in order to recall all the details of a case.”

“If you think so.” Dr. Whitman set his bag on the table and took a step back, folding his arms across his chest.

She nodded approvingly. “That’s good. You look very professional standing just that way. How do I look?” She poked her fingers ineffectively into the precarious mass of curls atop her head. “I imagine my stitches give an impression of an adventurous nature. Do you agree?”

“Or that you are extremely clumsy.”