The Daughters of Ireland

Who wouldn't be interested in reading about the lives of three very different women living in Ireland with the Deverill Castle as the common setting? I was until I began reading The Daughter's of Ireland, at least that is what made me want to read the novel in the first place. To understand a few things, the novel takes place during 1925 to 1931 and involves the lives of three unusual women who have different motives for wanting essentially the same thing, true love and control. In the Edwardian period of history since marriages were built upon social status and wealth instead of love, most of the marriages involved affairs for either partner as long as they were keep discrete. So this happens with virtual every couple mentioned in the book. Even one such affair involved a homosexual relationship as well.

Keeping that in mind, I really wanted to see where this would go and if it could keep my interest enough to even finish the novel. Sadly it did not. The Deverill family was placed under the curse of Maggie O'Leary back in the mid 1600's that none of the Deverill family members would ever rest in peace until the land which the O'Leary's believed was taken from them was returned. Kitty Trench is married to a wonderful man Robert who has vowed to take on the illegitimate son he believes resulted from an affair with Kitty's father and another women. The child however belongs to Jack O'Leary a man Kitty has had a long standing affair with and had promised at one point to take the child and move to America and begin a new life for them. The child however is a product of another relationship with Bridie who gave the child up to be raised by Kitty whom she felt would offer a much better life because she was dirt poor at the time and raising a child was simply out of the question.

Now that her circumstances have changed and she finds herself with a large inheritance that will change things not only for her, but now she wants Jack back. She promised Kitty that she left him behind once and she will not leave Ireland without him. But she does when her plans to kidnap the child result in her almost being caught when Jack doesn't remember who she is. She then decides to head back to America to New York where she can simply start over again. The Deverill castle is now bought by Celia, a former Deverill before being married who wants to restore it to its former glory along with all her new husbands money to do it with. She tries to get Kitty's buy in to join her but Kitty is making her own plans to leave Robert, despite her conflicting feelings and running away her Jack and her lover Jack to start a new life in America. Oh what a tangled web they weave.

I received The Daughters of Ireland by Santa Montefiore compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. While I wanted so much more from this novel, it simply did not deliver. Kitty sees and can communicate with the former Deverill ghosts even though others can not, the promiscuity between all the characters is hard enough to keep track of despite them wanting the very thing that stand right in front of them. It is a book format of the those desiring for the greener grass on the other side of the fence but missing what is right in front of them. I would have to give this novel a 3 out of 5 stars based on my own rating scale and hope others might find this book to be more enjoyable than I did.

For more information about The Daughters of Ireland, Santa Montefiore, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Daughters of Ireland by Santa Montefiore

You can find Santa Montefiore on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Daughters of Ireland, please visit Harper Collins Publisher's website. 

Grounded Hearts

During the onset of WWII, countries were almost asked to chose a side. Either on the side of the Axis powers or the Allies, for the small country of Ireland, they choose neither, to remain completely neutral since they didn't have enough military might to join either cause and neither did they have the resources to defend themselves. If you should find yourself unexpectedly in the country, if you remained close to the Northern border, you were allowed to cross and no one would try to stop you, however if you were caught in the middle or southern borders, all service personnel on either side would be held in respectable internment camps until the war was over. There would be no negotiations from their country to get them back into the war.

So when RAF pilot Dutch Whitney found himself in the bogs of Ireland after his plane crashed, his concern was initially where in Ireland was he, and how could he get back to his crew in London again. He wasn't even certain if any of the men he told to jump even made it and he had no clue where to begin looking for them. All he understood is that he had to get away from the crash site before anyone came looking for him. He managed to make his way to the doorstep of Irish midwife Nan O'Neil and she knew without a doubt the choices she had to make. Knowing she simply couldn't turn him in initially, not when he needed medical help, she had hoped she could doctor him up and point him to the way home before anyone in her city of County Clare discovered him. Not only would it be dangerous for him, but hiding a pilot could land her in jail.

Knowing she must keep things as normal as possible while still trying to care for Dutch, she has ton negotiate a persistent man, Finn, who believes if he can find this missing pilot, he will be in a much better position to be head of the Garda, in Ireland and then gain a respect within the community he struggles to find now. All he knows is Nan is the only woman for him, because not only is she single, beautiful but she also possesses nursing skills that would enable her to care for his aging mother. Now all he has to do is convince her that they would make a suitable couple.

I received Grounded Hearts by Jeanne M. Dickson compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Waterfall Press. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. Being a huge fan of anything to do with WWI or WWII, I immediately felt a connection to Nan's character. Not only is the position she finds herself in the midst of compromising, she follows her heart to care for a man, no matter which side of the war he is on. It conveys the difficulty of any country that tries to remain neutral in a war which is happening all around you , not knowing if you might find yourself being pressured to make a decision to choose sides or face a hostile takeover of your own country. I love Nan's cat, Mr. Dee, who finds an unlikely partner in the war effort every time Finn comes knocking and I love how this all ended. Not as you might think but I'll leave it there for those that want to read this amazing novel. For me, hands down earned itself a 5 out of 5 stars for keeping me up well past my bedtime so I can finish it.

For more information about Grounded Hearts, Jeanne M. Dickson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Grounded Hearts by Jeanne M. Dickson 

You can find Jeanne M. Dickson on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Grounded Hearts, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


What do you get when you mix World War II, a brave midwife, a wounded pilot, and a risky secret? Jeanne M. Dickson's new historical fiction novel, Grounded Hearts. When midwife Nan O'Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she's taking a huge risk by letting him in. Still, something compels Nan to take in "flyboy" Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection-and an unbreakable bond.

Join Jeanne in celebrating the release of her new book by entering to win the Celtic Knots Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Grounded Hearts
• A Claddagh bracelet
• A Claddagh jewelry box

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on July 31. The winner will be announced August 1 on the Litfuse blog.

The Pub Across The Pond

Living in America, do you ever wonder what it would be like to own an Irish Pub? Well that is the premise behind the latest book by Mary Carter, The Pub Across The Pond.

As the song goes, Ronan McBride was a rambler and a gambler, although he was never a long way from home. I can't tell you what it was that made the birds go absolutely mental over him, except that he was over six feet and had all his hair. Let's just say he had his pick of chickens in our little town, not to mention a hen or two who would have liked to sink their beaks into him. His father had left the pub to him when he past away even though in heavenly retrospect, I bet James, his father, wishes he would've just left it to the girls.

Ronan was the biggest gambler, but Joe, his uncle, a businessman and teetotaler, was well suited to take him on. It was hard to believe they were related. Joe ran the general shop next door and hardly ever set foot in the pub. In the center of the table lay a massive pile of crumpled bills. They were out of cash and had switched to using bingo chips. It was never suppose to get up this high - it was five-thousand when it came down to just the two of 'em, and Joe was willing to keep the pot as it was but Ronan had to push it.

He had four aces. Two on the deal, and two more sweet babies on the draw. It was a sure winner. He almost felt sorry for his uncle. But when his uncle put down the keys to his shop, Ronan felt obligated to put up the keys to the pub. Maybe Ronan was taking unfair advantage of an old fella. A straight flush was the only hand in the world to be a four aces. If Joe wasn't bluffing, he probably had a high straight at best, and when they both laid down their hands, that's exactly what Joe had. Ronan's face wasn't the only thing that was flush.

Now he only had thirty days to find a way to raise one hundred thousand euros or his family's pub would become the latest tanning bed in Ireland. His sisters decide that American's are foolish enough to want to spend $20 to purchase a raffle ticket to own an Irish pub. They feel that not only will they raise enough money but even more. They just hope the person who wins isn't looking to come to Ireland to own it, but that's exactly what Carlene Rivers decides to do. She is stunned when she wins, but everyone else is stunned when she actually goes...and that's where this novel goes.



I received The Pub Across The Pond by Mary Carter compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Mary Carter for my honest review. I loved the way she wrote this novel. The dialogue is so precise you can hear the Irish accent in your head as your reading it. This is an adorable romantic fiction that will have everyone wishing to visit Ireland, head to a pub and order up a pint! I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to pick up more books from this author. She truly made you feel a part of the story from the very first page, you will laugh out loud at times and find some warmth and romance even tucked inside. I LOVED IT!

For more information on this book, the author or where to purchase a copy of this amazing story, please click on the links below:

The Pub Across The Pond by Mary Carter

You can also find her on Facebook by clicking here.