Madam Muldoon's Garden

by E.V. Sparrow, Hannah Hagen (Editor)

Award-wining story! 1866 Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland

What would Christ write about her in the dirt? A Mary Magdalene message?

Eighteen-year-old Orla Muldoon’s hidden life is nearing exposure. But America will free her of all conventions and from being an outcast. Created a misfit with her peach-colored hair, and disturbing eyes, God and the Saints chuckled at her misery. Her loving da said God blessed her with a clever mind, which was better than beauty. He’d never been hideous.

Enticing rumors about America portray a country free of most restraints. Women run their own establishments. She will invest all her hard-earned coins in a successful business. If God doesn’t suddenly notice her existence and strike her dead first.

John Murphy is content with his situation. He’d carved out a perfect, peaceful life for himself. No one suspects his identity. The men he works with didn’t ask and don’t care who he is. Greed for gold blinds those simpletons. Not him.

An outcast young woman without beauty, but with scathingly brilliant plans.
The incognito lake freighter worker with a wounded soul and a guarded heart.
A wild iron-ore harbor mining town on Lake Superior, unaware of its fate.

Book 2, in Those Resilient Muldoon’s series shows how our best-laid plans don’t compare with destiny or God’s fathomless ideas

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2025

About the author

*Award winning author of First Place for Muldoon's Misfortunes, and Madam Muldoon's Garden, from BookFest and International Impact Book Awards—2024, 2025.
Sparrow served on missions, worship, and prayer teams as well as in Divorce Care and Single’s Ministry. Her readers encounter God’s unexpected presence through her character’s adventures. E.V. once bought a one-way ticket overseas and stayed for a year, and also spent a weekend hopping a freight train.
Her self-published prequel novella released in May 2023. Book 1 released in July 2024. Book 2 released in July 2025. Watch out for Book 3!

Reviews

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank erin sparrow world for giving me the opportunity to be on her arc team for this novel. Now I haven't read the first book in this series but I'm sure I will in the near future. I will say that Erin is a wonderful writer and this story was a very interesting read.
We are introduced to the setting of the nineteenth century where it was a time where anything that was considered different was often ridiculed. Our main heroine is a young lady named Orla who is a bit of an outcast to those around her. However, with hardwork she will manage to rise above and prove everyone wrong.

[Susan Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading through Madam Muldoon's Garden, I realized why the author named this series Those Resilient Muldoons. We get an in-depth look at a 19th century Irish family as they struggle to survive poverty and prejudice. Although the interaction between family members is often light and humorous, the very disturbing reality of what people sometimes endure pervades the story--along with the resilient spirit that God placed in humans and how He can redeem each one.

[Jennifer Sienes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recently released Madam Muldoon’s Garden is Book Two of E.V. Sparrow’s Those Resilient Muldoons Series. Although a historical fiction novel, it was inspired by the author’s relatives. Who doesn’t love a story inspired by true events?

The story opens in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1863. We meet Orla Muldoon and her family, most notably her mam, sister Kathleen, brother Mick, and cousin Tarah. It took me a few pages of reading to catch up with who’s who, but I assume that is because I didn’t read Book One, Muldoon’s Misfortunes.

I found it fascinating that Orla Muldoon’s profession as a prostitute is one of the facts the author uncovered in her familial research. This in itself is unique to a Christian fiction story. The author does a wonderful job setting up the dire circumstances of why Orla (and many other young Irish women) resorted to prostitution as a means of survival for their families and themselves.

Not only is Orla a unique character, but the time period in which the story takes place is unusual. It starts with the wake of Ireland’s failed attempt at independence from the Crown and continues into the United States and the prejudice against them when they emigrated.

It’s once Orla has settled in Minnesota that we see the title of Madam Muldoon’s Garden come into play. Having lived through famine and poverty, Orla dreams of the day she will acquire enough money to never be at the mercy of another person again. What she comes to realize is that material wealth is fleeting, and security can only be found in her Lord and Savior.

This is a story of resiliency, hope, and redemption. We see the power of grace and the heart of the characters clearly on every page. Although this is Book Two, it can be read as a standalone novel. However, I suggest you start with Book One so you can get in on the action from the very beginning.

I highly recommend this five-star novel.

[Sandy Kay Slawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madam Muldoon’s Garden, set in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1863, is the tale of one woman’s survival and determination to realize a dream that would raise her above the life of poverty and grief in which she’d been reared. Though the topic is bold and somewhat shocking, it is a clean read. For me, the period language was thick and took some getting used to. However, after a little while, I became accustomed to the terminology (glossary provided) and enjoyed the story. Also, this is a story steeped in Catholicism, which, I understand, was common for many in Ireland.
There aren’t many details I can give without giving spoilers, but I will say this novel runs the gamut of emotions. Fear, pain, suffering, loss, love, hope, mercy, and forgiveness can all be found in Orla Muldoon’s story. If this book did nothing else, it led to a compassion for those who do hard things, shameful things to survive. And I hope you will read it and find that measure of grace for others and for yourself, too.

[Lana Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Muldoon family did not disappoint! I’m so grateful to have been on the arc team. This story is about Orla, with the peach colored hair, who always had self-esteem issues. She dreams of going to America, until finally, her dream becomes a reality. When she arrives, however, there is no work for her, anywhere, that she could find. Well, if that’s the way God wanted it, she says, then so be it. She opens her own “business”, hires a couple of girls. But God, thank goodness, had more in store for her life than she could ever have dreamed!! You really will love this story of mercy, grace, resilience, fortitude, and, finally, finding her true love.

[Christina Sinisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times, this book was too real for me. I prefer my fiction to be unrealistic--either with elves or happiness levels--however, the writing kept me going.

I might have wanted the romance to be more involved, more time spent together, but the ending was happy-eve3r-after enough for me.

Well researched and well written, I recommend this book and pray no one has to ever suffer again like the Irish did at the beginning of the story, even though I know life with original sin corrupting everything will bring suffering.

God bless, Christina

[Lynn Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly anticipated Orla's (Madam Muldoon) story. It took me down a path that I did not anticipate after reading E.V. Sparrow's first book in the series (Muldoon's Misfortunes). Orla is a kind-hearted woman in difficult circumstances, learning to trust God. I'd love to say more, but spoilers...

[Ronda Six Garnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

!st book I have read from this author...and now I need to find more...Loved the story line..unique :)