About the book: Katie Macauley gave up her lifelong dream of returning to Ireland in order to make a home for herself in Hope Springs, Wyoming, but her future has never been so uncertain.
Katie’s heart still remains sharply divided between playful Tavish and steady Joseph, though she feels ill-prepared to make a decision. Furthermore, the town is more divided than ever with both the Irish and the Reds stealing property, burning buildings, and endangering lives. In the midst of the growing unrest, temperatures drop quickly, too quickly, and Irish nightmares of famine and cold resurface as the little Wyoming town struggles to beat the harsh winter.
Katie makes one sacrifice after another to keep the peace and help see her loved ones through the difficult days ahead, but will her efforts be enough? Can the town make amends before their hatred consumes them all? And will Katie find the love she has been searching for as well as a home to call her own?
My Review: Katie Macauley hasn't regretted her decision to stay in Hope Springs, a small conflicted Wyoming town, instead of returning to her native Ireland, yet. But things in the town are quickly changing, becoming more violent, more self-centered, and much more Irish verses Red Road. Katie must be strong for her friend Biddy when Biddy's husband, Ian is beaten almost to death. It's at this critical time that the Irish are made aware of the price increase for things like medicine that Ian needs badly. Katie knows that she must do something, the medicine is $5 and she knows that none of the Irish can afford to pay such a dear price, so she sacrifices by dipping into her savings to buy the medicine that Ian critically needs. That is only the first of the many sacrifices that Katie will make for her Irish neighbors, but it won't be the last or the hardest for Katie. She's still conflicted about just where her heart lies, the fun and playful Tavish or the steady and caring Joseph. Katie must make a decision about what is best for her and where her heart truly lies, all while trying to keep the peace in Hope Springs between the Irish and the Red Road. But can she succeed in either love or keeping the peace?
I LOVE Katie, she's such a strong young woman, facing fears that have plagued her since she was a little girl in Ireland. She's so willing to sacrifice all she has for her Irish neighbors. I love that she's human in that she can't decide between Tavish and Joseph. The rest of the characters are amazing too! I love Tavish, so fun and playful and loving for Katie. Joseph is great too, always believing that Katie is worth something and can figure things out for herself and so willing to listen. Joseph's daughters Emma and Ivy are so sweet and so in need of being cared for by a mother figure. I love how Sarah Eden is able to make you feel as though you really are in frontier Wyoming in this crazy little town. The ending was so tender, it made me cry, and I was so sad to be leaving Katie's world at least for a little while.
Thanks to Shadow Mountain books for sending me a copy of this book to review!
Purchase Links: Deseret Book - Amazon
About the author: Sarah M. Eden read her first Jane Austen novel in elementary school and has been an Austen addict ever since. Fascinated by the English Regency era, Eden became a regular in that section of the reference department at her local library, where she painstakingly researched this extraordinary chapter in history. Eden is an award-winning author of short stories and was a Whitney Award finalist for her novels Seeking Persephone and Courting Miss Lancaster. Visit her at www.sarahmeden.com.
Check out this video by Sarah M Eden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1sbRm5tHVQLabels: Deseret Book, Proper Romance, Sarah M Eden
