Dinca’s Duckies Do Series review of The Irish Brides Trilogy by St. John, Ryan & Griggs
Historical Inspirational Romance published by Love Inspired Apr – Jun 12
The story unfolds aboard the ship crossing to America in The Wedding Journey by Cheryl St. John, introducing us to Maeve, and the groundwork is laid for her two sisters in Mistaken Bride by Renee Ryan and A Baby Between Them by Winnie Griggs. I cannot believe three different authors wrote each story. The coordination of the trilogy is truly remarkable. If you don’t pick up these books, you will miss so much of the unity and love between the sisters, whose hearts are as big as any ocean filled to the brim with love and devotion. By no means are these little Irish lasses sappy. They are independent characters with strong minds and intellect. You will love every one of them, along with the men who claim their hearts.
When authors don’t take the time to research is when a story is spoiled for me. I can tell a lot of time and effort went into the historical research for these books, and not one bit of this trilogy is spoiled by a lack of hard, diligent work in any aspect of writing these stories.
The Wedding Journey (Book 1) by Cheryl St. John
3 Apr 12
As famine swept Ireland and took her father’s life. Maeve Murphy and her two sisters, Nora and Bridget found themselves homeless. While packing up and having nowhere to go they discovered they had inherited a home in America, in a place called Massachusetts. Taking the biggest risk in their young lives, they sold all they had left for tickets to America and their journey begins.
Before boarding the ship the good hearted Maeve helps an injured lad on the dock. When the ship’s doctor, Flynn Gallagher is summoned, he enlists her aid in caring for the boy. She becomes his assistant when he realizes his first assigned assistant was a bad choice. He also finds jobs for her sisters when he realizes they are in need of funds.
Coming from wealth and privilege, Flynn is so far above Maeve in station she knows she better watch her heart. She recognizes his heart is grieving and she tries to help him back into the real world and realizes she is wishing for a reality that can never be.
Flynn develops an admiration for Maeve’s healing abilities. She is a natural and relies on her a lot during the journey. He finds his battered heart being healed as well by her gentle encouragement and words of wisdom coming from someone so young. After losing his wife and son he did not ever expect to love again. What he finds with Maeve surpasses all hurts and boundaries he had set around his heart.
You will truly not wish to miss this love story. Cheryl St. John has created a love story to remember.
Grade: A
Summary:
The mysterious inheritance is the answer to a prayer. Now Irish lass Maeve Murphy and her sisters can come to America! She’s sure happiness awaits her, even if it won’t—can’t—come from widowed ship doctor Flynn Gallagher. Yes, he made her his assistant, but she’s not foolish enough to fall for the man all the eligible, wealthy female passengers admire.
Flynn Gallagher may have his pick of ladies, but only one cares as he does for the sick and poor. Flynn vowed never to marry another woman who could break his heart. With Maeve, has his heart found safe harbor at last?
Read an excerpt.
Mistaken Bride (Book 2) by Renee Ryan
1 May 12
This is Bridget’s story, which takes off when the sisters make port in Boston, Massachusetts.
William Black, a man on the dock, is expecting a mail order bride named Bridget. He is reluctant to believe this woman is not his intended. Once he is convinced, he changes his tactics. He is in need of a wife. Any wife who can be a mother to his young twins. He tried love and his wife ran off, leaving him and their new-born twins. He is disappointed when Bridget will not marry without love.
When Bridget and her sister Nora arrive in Faith Glen to claim their home, they find a few surprises in store. One being William Black lives there too and owns the chocolate factory. Another roadblock is someone lives in their house and it takes time to know if it is legally theirs. They still need jobs in this new place and also a place to live. The boarding house the sheriff directed them to fits perfectly within their budget.
William Black’s mother is ill and he has no choice but to accept Bridget on her terms – as the nanny for his children. The twins and their grandmother thrive under the watchful eye of kind-hearted Bridget. William still wants to marry her and is determined to do so until his original wayward mail order bride turns up. He feels he is honor bound to hold up his end of their bargain, even when he knows no one will be happy with the union. He sees no way out for any of them and resigns himself to the situation.
The rest of the household, along with William, is devastated when Bridget leaves to make room for his true bride. But Bridget realizes she has done the worst thing possible. She has fallen in love with a man who will never return her feelings. Despite that realization and the pain it causes, she continues to see the children, whom she also loves.
There are a lot of surprises and twists and turns in this relationship. The secondary characters also get their fair share of those twists and turns. I enjoyed every minute of this book.
Grade: A
Summary:
The Wrong Bride…the Right Woman?
When William Black’s mail-order bride fails to appear at the Boston docks, he’s relieved when beautiful, vibrant Bridget Murphy steps in. However, she has a surprise in store. She will be a temporary nanny to his young twins…but she will not marry without love.
Faith Glen, Massachusetts, is worlds away from the poverty Bridget knew in Ireland. And William Black couldn’t be more different from her faithless ex-fiance. Yet that integrity Bridget so admires binds William to a promise that could keep them apart forever. In this new land of opportunity, does she dare to wish for a happy ending?
Read an excerpt.
A Baby Between Them (Book 3) by Winnie Griggs
5 Jun 12
Usually by Book 3 in a trilogy, I just want the series to be over. Rarely do I stay up all night enthralled to the very end, but this third book definitely kept me reading to all hours of the morning.
Nora Murphy is the oldest of the three sisters who have come to Faith Glen, Massachusetts from Ireland. Aboard the ship a baby was abandoned and became the primarily responsibility of Nora, along with her sisters’ help. Upon arrival they repost the child, baby Grace, as abandoned to the authorities and it remains in Nora’s loving care for the time being.
Sheriff Cameron Long is smitten at first sight with the lovely Nora Murphy. However, the baby is another thing altogether. He’s never seen himself as father material. Being responsible for the safety of the community is much different than having a defenseless child totally dependent on him. Seeing as how he’s the sheriff and all, that made Nora his responsibility. She enlists his services in making sure the property they purchased legally belongs to the sisters. He also provides her with a job that allows her to care for the baby while she cooks for his staff and prisioners and cleans the jail.
When the run-down property is deemed theirs, the sisters move in with the elderly caretakers. Sheriff Cameron and the town are impressed by their concern for the elderly couple. Cameron, William Blake, and Maeve’s husband, Flynn Gallagher work to make the house dry for the coming winter. Nora is resigned to being alone with only Grace to care for after Bridget gets married. Her dream of a large, loving family seems impossible with Cameron backing off every time Grace is near. When the baby is kidnapped, however, Cameron is determined to find her and safely return her to Nora’s loving arms. The why and the how of it all you will just have to read for yourself. I am glad I did.
Grade: A
Summary:
For two months, Nora Murphy has cared for the abandoned infant she found on their Boston-bound ship. Settled now in Faith Glen, Nora tells herself she’s happy. She has little Grace, and a good job as housekeeper to Sheriff Cameron Long. She doesn’t need anything more — not the big family she always wanted, or Cam’s love….
A traumatic childhood closed Cam off to any dreams of family life. Yet somehow his lovely housekeeper and her child have opened his heart again. When the unthinkable occurs, it will take all their faith to reach a new future together.
Read an excerpt.
So much happens in these books which intertwine the three stories of this historical and inspirational series. The authors have worked magic together. I will always remember this series. It is old-fashioned and heartwarming and a must read for historical romance fans.
Overall Grade: A
