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Brides O' the Emerald Isle
When the little town of Ballymara's tourism is threatened by a cynical journalist, Moyra Rose O'Cullen challenges him. Tracing history back in time, she uncovers the roots of the local legend of the pledging stone at the door to the chapel and learns three stories of how her ancestors' bonds of love were formed over the ancient stone:
Five hundred years after the birth of Christ, Conn came to Ireland and encountered Druids. But could his attempts at sharing his Christian faith be wrecked by a woman on her own personal mission?
Centuries later, Breanda has been abducted by brigands. When plans are formed to rescue her, will her childhood love have to choose between his clan and Breanda?
After being jilted by one American, Keely is bitter. But when a cowboy performing in shows across nineteenth century Europe is injured and dependent on her father's help, can she open her heart to love another American?
After her journey through history, can Moyra convince the modern world that the legends of love are true? Might she form her own match over the stone?
Five hundred years after the birth of Christ, Conn came to Ireland and encountered Druids. But could his attempts at sharing his Christian faith be wrecked by a woman on her own personal mission?
Centuries later, Breanda has been abducted by brigands. When plans are formed to rescue her, will her childhood love have to choose between his clan and Breanda?
After being jilted by one American, Keely is bitter. But when a cowboy performing in shows across nineteenth century Europe is injured and dependent on her father's help, can she open her heart to love another American?
After her journey through history, can Moyra convince the modern world that the legends of love are true? Might she form her own match over the stone?
348 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Griffin
79 books40 followersPamela Griffin lives in Texas with her family. She fully gave her life to Christ in 1988 after a rebellious young adulthood and owes the fact that she’s still alive today to an all-loving and forgiving God and to a mother who steadfastly prayed and had faith that God could bring her wayward daughter “home.” Pamela’s main goal in writing Christian romance is to help and encourage those who do know the Lord and to plant a seed of hope in those who don’t.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 30, 2009
If you have not had the pleasure of reading a historical christian romance before you are in for a treat. This book takes place in Ireland in the present time of now. Moyra, lives and works in Ireland. She is involved with tourism and advertising. Jack comes to Ireland to write an article for a travel magazine. But right from the start he intends to write a negative article so he can save his job. Moyra has to show Jack around, she immediately doesn't like him and knows he could take away her job and livelihood, as well as a lot of other townspeople, with his article. She grows to dislike him even more when he challenges there sacred "Pledging stone" which means any promise made there has never been broken. Well on film Jack promised to love Moyra over the pledging stone. She was furious with him! Does the pledging stone work? Does Moyra and Jack fall in love?
Through the story there are flashbacks into the past. Which is great if you like history, like me! (1850, 1350, and 500) Jack and Moyra learn all about Moyra's family trhough three more fabulous romances! I couldn't put this book down. I recommend it for anybody who wants to read about Ireland, Faith, and Love. It was such a great and inspirational read.
Through the story there are flashbacks into the past. Which is great if you like history, like me! (1850, 1350, and 500) Jack and Moyra learn all about Moyra's family trhough three more fabulous romances! I couldn't put this book down. I recommend it for anybody who wants to read about Ireland, Faith, and Love. It was such a great and inspirational read.
August 3, 2016
Some good stuff here, but too much wasted space and awkward formatting, especially splitting up one story into four parts. Even for omnibuses such as these, I've read much better.
March 22, 2022
A nicely interwoven anthology of four generation tales about love and faith taking place in the Irish countryside setting of Ballymara. While each novella is written by four separate authors, their style of writing blended together so well you sometimes forget such was the case. They did a great job combining Irish druidic traditions with Christian ideologies when the stories brought the topic up. Perhaps the only aspect I wished was different was maybe the ordering of the stories being revealed (especially when comparing to the back summary) and if the authors' acknowledgements and "About" pages had all been at the end of the entire book rather than after their particular novella; I found myself brought out of the stories when I kept coming across them.
March 30, 2019
This is an interesting blend of several short novellas into one fascinating story. Of course the setting gives it a thumb's up ... set in Ireland, about 500 ad, then 1500, then the 1800s and then present day, the present day story winds before, between, and behind the other 3 stories ... all relating to the same family and the same area ... and the same tradition! Quite fun.
May 23, 2022
Enjoyable easy read of different stories loosely joined together.
April 12, 2024
It's hard to make a novella good, because you have to pour all of the right emotions into such a short story. For novellas, they were okay.
May 29, 2024
I LOVED this book. I loved how there were stories in the story and the whole book itself. Definitely recommend.
July 13, 2025
A moving story of love through generations of a singular family that while heavy on the religious tones, is still enjoyable and adds to the fact that it a tale of an Irish family.
May 22, 2019
2.5 stars. Predictable
When travel reporter Jack Andrews arrives in Ballymara, Ireland, his main goal is to expose the town's infamous 'Pledging Stone' as a myth. Supposedly, any vow made before the stone in the name of the Trinity is unbreakable. Moyra O'Cullen, Ballymara's tourism director, makes it her mission to prove Jack wrong by revealing her family's past. Tales from the history of the Pledging Stone unite with a contemporary quest to discover the truth about promises made before God.
A Legend of Peace by Vickie McDonough, set in 1895, is the story of two opposites who find love. Keely O'Cullen had her heart broken when her American cowboy fiancé left her to return to the United States. Her father surprises her with tickets to a Wild West show, where Keely causes one of the cowboys to fall from his horse. As Ballymara's attending physician, Keely's father takes the man, Nick Dalton, into their home for recuperation. Although Keely distrusts cowboys and believes Nick to be similar to her ex-fiancé, his quiet spirit and belief in God begin to change her mind. Can Keely open herself up to love and trust?
Pamela Griffin's A Legend of Mercy is set in the fourteenth century. Breanda and Ardghal have loved each other since they were children, when Lord Garland took the two orphans into his home at Ballymara castle. They make a vow to each other at the Pledging Stone, but soon Breanda is kidnapped and it looks as if Ardghal and his clan are the culprits. A Legend of Light by Tamela Hancock Murray delves into the origins of the Pledging Stone. Conn moves into the area to spread the news about Jesus Christ. Sorcha vehemently opposes what he has to say, preferring to worship her own gods. She devises a trick to discredit Conn, but when he acts in a manner contrary to her expectations, Sorcha finds herself listening more intently to Conn's message. Will God break through Sorcha's closed heart?
Linda Windsor's A Legend of Love introduces Moyra and Jack in the beginning, and then intersperses their story with the historical accounts of the Pledging Stone. Windsor's tale also provides the conclusion, with the answer to Jack's quest for the truth. This is a uniquely written anthology. Typically, historical accounts start with the oldest story first, and then move forward systematically to the present day, but this one does just the opposite. Although I'm not generally a huge anthology fan, this one kept me involved throughout. Each romance is well constructed and readers will warm to the characters.
Linda Windsor is well-known for her well-researched tales set in Ireland. Her contribution adds a great deal to the collection. The intriguing history of the Pledging Stone is fascinating to discover, and the truth is confirmed by each story - it's not the stone that holds the power, it's God. The faith message is clear and meaningful, adding to the enjoyment of the plot rather than feeling tacked on and heavy-handed. Brides O' The Emerald Isle is a pleasant mix of contemporary and historical that is sure to please a wide variety of readers.
When travel reporter Jack Andrews arrives in Ballymara, Ireland, his main goal is to expose the town's infamous 'Pledging Stone' as a myth. Supposedly, any vow made before the stone in the name of the Trinity is unbreakable. Moyra O'Cullen, Ballymara's tourism director, makes it her mission to prove Jack wrong by revealing her family's past. Tales from the history of the Pledging Stone unite with a contemporary quest to discover the truth about promises made before God.
A Legend of Peace by Vickie McDonough, set in 1895, is the story of two opposites who find love. Keely O'Cullen had her heart broken when her American cowboy fiancé left her to return to the United States. Her father surprises her with tickets to a Wild West show, where Keely causes one of the cowboys to fall from his horse. As Ballymara's attending physician, Keely's father takes the man, Nick Dalton, into their home for recuperation. Although Keely distrusts cowboys and believes Nick to be similar to her ex-fiancé, his quiet spirit and belief in God begin to change her mind. Can Keely open herself up to love and trust?
Pamela Griffin's A Legend of Mercy is set in the fourteenth century. Breanda and Ardghal have loved each other since they were children, when Lord Garland took the two orphans into his home at Ballymara castle. They make a vow to each other at the Pledging Stone, but soon Breanda is kidnapped and it looks as if Ardghal and his clan are the culprits. A Legend of Light by Tamela Hancock Murray delves into the origins of the Pledging Stone. Conn moves into the area to spread the news about Jesus Christ. Sorcha vehemently opposes what he has to say, preferring to worship her own gods. She devises a trick to discredit Conn, but when he acts in a manner contrary to her expectations, Sorcha finds herself listening more intently to Conn's message. Will God break through Sorcha's closed heart?
Linda Windsor's A Legend of Love introduces Moyra and Jack in the beginning, and then intersperses their story with the historical accounts of the Pledging Stone. Windsor's tale also provides the conclusion, with the answer to Jack's quest for the truth. This is a uniquely written anthology. Typically, historical accounts start with the oldest story first, and then move forward systematically to the present day, but this one does just the opposite. Although I'm not generally a huge anthology fan, this one kept me involved throughout. Each romance is well constructed and readers will warm to the characters.
Linda Windsor is well-known for her well-researched tales set in Ireland. Her contribution adds a great deal to the collection. The intriguing history of the Pledging Stone is fascinating to discover, and the truth is confirmed by each story - it's not the stone that holds the power, it's God. The faith message is clear and meaningful, adding to the enjoyment of the plot rather than feeling tacked on and heavy-handed. Brides O' The Emerald Isle is a pleasant mix of contemporary and historical that is sure to please a wide variety of readers.
May 19, 2007
When the little town of Ballymara's tourism is threatened by a cynical journalist, Moyra Rose O'Cullen challenges him. Tracing history back in time, she uncovers the roots of the local legend of the pledging stone at the door to the chapel and learns three stories of how her ancestors' bonds of love were formed over the ancient stone: Conn and Sorcha in 500 AD, Ardghal and Breanda in 1366, Nick and Keely in 1895. Can she convince the modern world that the legends are true? Will she form her own match over the stone?
August 24, 2013
Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine... This book did not fail to deliver that either.
I had never read a book so clearly defining each author's work contributed. Each author was showcased in a story & time period that was carefully woven into another author's over all story. It was intriguing to see it how all united into one piece.
I'd like to read more works along this line in the future.
I had never read a book so clearly defining each author's work contributed. Each author was showcased in a story & time period that was carefully woven into another author's over all story. It was intriguing to see it how all united into one piece.
I'd like to read more works along this line in the future.
December 27, 2015
Not very good. . . the first story (set in modern Ireland) was okay, the second story story (late 19th century) was passable, the third (14th century) was pretty awful. . . I didn't bother to read the fourth story, skipping straight to the conclusion of story No. 1 instead. With Linda Windsor's novella perhaps excepted, none of the stories were particularly well-written or engaging.
November 6, 2012
"A delightful little anthology, a little cheesy at moments, but delightful nonetheless."
Going back to my Irish roots, and I was able to really enjoy this book. I like the story that goes all the way through, and the historical aspect of it all. It really offers you a little bit of everything. I've read better anthologies like this one, but this is still worth the reading time.
Going back to my Irish roots, and I was able to really enjoy this book. I like the story that goes all the way through, and the historical aspect of it all. It really offers you a little bit of everything. I've read better anthologies like this one, but this is still worth the reading time.
July 14, 2008
I loved how the book went through several centuries. It was interesting to get a little history of what it might have been like in the 5th century etc. The book was very predictable but still very interesting and worth reading.
July 31, 2015
I loved this novel. Very charming and endearing love stories focused on Ireland. I really fell in love with all the characters in this novel. And thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Irish culture and history in the process.
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October 11, 2007Griffin, Pamela PB
December 14, 2008
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 9, 2010
The Irish "accents" in this book were pretty bad... fun fluffy reading.
May 27, 2013
A charming collection of novellas. I've always been fascinated by Ireland, and these novellas gave an enchanting glimpse into Ireland's past.
June 26, 2015
bored... didn't read it.
June 18, 2016
there was a harp in this book. Yeah.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews