As the past catches up with Catherine one of her sisters becomes a thorn in her side. To make life even more stressful for her, the young woman finds herself torn between two of the people she loves most in the world. As her husband, Patrick, does his best to provide for his young family Catherine fears he is keeping secrets from her, possibly even more hurtful than the one she has concealed in her heart. While Patrick yearns for social change and a better future for his children, his wife is more concerned about the past and what damage it might cause.
A Legacy of Secrets has Catherine and Patrick Gallagher return to Blackrock to live with Maggie, be near James and Mary, and give a better life to the children than the rundown tenements in crowded cities of an industrial England would allow them. They do well except for MaryAnne's venom against the couple for marrying one another, her inability to accept that she never meant anything to Patrick, and her capability of making trouble.
Then Dr Gilmore and his wife appear, and it gets traumatic for Catherine by leaps and bounds - Gilmore persists in accosting Catherine and tormenting her, forcing his attentions and claiming her firstborn Thomas, until her determined keeping him at bay angers him into declaring he wouldn't bother her. But meanwhile he's playing with MaryAnne, who is not just delighted but thriving and has set her cap at him, knowing his wife couldn't survive another miscarriage. She's taken by them as her companion and leaves with them for England.
The saving grace is their brother Thomas and his new wife Lily visiting from N.Y., being loved by the family and helping Catherine in turn, until Thomas asks if Patrick wouldn't want to go with them, and Catherine tells him they'd go together. Its the best solution for the family to survive, away from dangers of encountering Gilmore again.
The scene between James and Catherine is particularly touching, as is James handsomely apologising to Patrick for not accepting him sooner. And there are other scenes involving the siblings that are done well too.
A Legacy of Secrets has Catherine and Patrick Gallagher return to Blackrock to live with Maggie, be near James and Mary, and give a better life to the children than the rundown tenements in crowded cities of an industrial England would allow them. They do well except for MaryAnne's venom against the couple for marrying one another, her inability to accept that she never meant anything to Patrick, and her capability of making trouble.
Then Dr Gilmore and his wife appear, and it gets traumatic for Catherine by leaps and bounds - Gilmore persists in accosting Catherine and tormenting her, forcing his attentions and claiming her firstborn Thomas, until her determined keeping him at bay angers him into declaring he wouldn't bother her. But meanwhile he's playing with MaryAnne, who is not just delighted but thriving and has set her cap at him, knowing his wife couldn't survive another miscarriage. She's taken by them as her companion and leaves with them for England.
The saving grace is their brother Thomas and his new wife Lily visiting from N.Y., being loved by the family and helping Catherine in turn, until Thomas asks if Patrick wouldn't want to go with them, and Catherine tells him they'd go together. Its the best solution for the family to survive, away from dangers of encountering Gilmore again.
The scene between James and Catherine is particularly touching, as is James handsomely apologising to Patrick for not accepting him sooner. And there are other scenes involving the siblings that are done well too.
This was an interesting story of the James and Mary McGrother family and the Patrick and Catherine MGrother McGallagher family. It has romance, suspense, love, family relationships, struggles, survival, and carrying a secret which creates its own turmoil. It has a little historical authenticity and biographical possibilities but is a fictitious story, based on what might have transpired. I found it very gripping, and full of life, and difficult to put down. The author does a good work on developing and portraying relationships among her characters. It shows the hardships that families faced when weather ruins the possibility of major employment and circumstances forced people to leave their country to find work. It was a time when the people were being inspired to speak up and struggle for their independence and rights. These problems were felt by the McGrother and McGallagher families as well as the personal problems they faced.
Book four of the Irish Family saga was mostly about Catherine and Patrick. Due to circumstances their family had to move back to Ireland. Catherine's father still had a hard time accepting Patrick until Catherine told her Father about her secret of her first born son. Patrick still remains unaware that he isn't the father of his son. The book ends with Patrick and Catherine immigrating to the United States. I like that these books pick up where the last one left off, so there isn't any confusion or a lot of time skipped.
These little stories are more like chapters than whole books. I'm hooked on the series and plan to jump into #5 ASAP. Somehow I'm suspecting that parts of my own story, my Irish heritage, mirror the saga as told by Jean Reinhardt.
Another case of the book cover looked wonderful, the story very sappy. Infact, I think this whole series was probably written for the Jr High level reader. I bought all 5 in the series for $5 on Amazon.
Hoopa audio-Book 4 in the series. I don't normally rad series books but this is night light fare that keeps me coming back for more. Again great narrator!
A continuation of a good book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and history of the people of Ireland. I would recommend this author to anyone that wanted a good read.
1. A Pocket Full of Shells 2. A Year of Broken Promises 3. A Turning Tide 4. A Legacy of Secrets
I enjoyed every one of those books in the series of 'An Irish Family Saga'. I love to read about people's lives in the 1800's, this was an excellent adventure. I would recommend this series to everyone. These books started with the 'Potato Famine' in Ireland to the 1800's, there was sadness, happiness, adventure, mystery, hardships, love, family, friends, and secrets, it was all there to absorb.
'A Legacy of Secrets' is an awesome unforgettable book. Every family has secrets, every person in each family has secrets, secrets are not to be shared. Although we are allowed to take a peek in this novel and see some secrets. These four books are so, so, so very good. Thanks, Jean Reinhardt for sharing with the world.
The first book, I thought, was slow and written by an inexperienced author. I found after reading books 2,3 and 4 that the author's writing increased dramatically each book. I found myself crying at the families delema's which I seldom do unless a book has captured my heart the way this saga has. I cried over the truthfulness in the book that I'm sure befell the Irish at that time in history. Very good read and cannot wait for the next book. I'll have my tissue box ready!
I gave this 5stars because I could not put it down. This was the 4th book of the series and every one was better then the last. The author Jean Reinhardt makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of all the family turmoil. I loved each and every character and the storyline continued to captivate me and lead me on. I look forward to her 5th book in this series. I hope it's released sooner rather then later. If you like historical novels you are bound to love A Legacy of Secrets.
There is a 5th book being written so will have to wait to read the conclusion. In this book, two of James & Mary's daughters can't seem to get along. One of them, Catherine, has a terrible secret that is wreaking havoc in her life but she can never ever share it. These were pretty good although I don't know why they were made into four short books instead of 2 or even 1 longer one.
Another spellbinding, attention holding story. Once again I couldn't put this book down. Dr Gilmour is a terrible man and I am hoping in the next story that he doesn't disrupt the family again, but I have the feeling that he will reappear again. I am looking forward to reading book 5.
What a series of books! From the first one to the fourth, packed with hard ship's but a family full of love for one another. I'll have to read book five now!!!