From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…

[close] There is tension in the hills of West Virginia--and it isn't just because of post Civil War resentment. No, the tension here is between Ewan Mckay--a young Irish immigrant and his Uncle Hugh who wants him to manage the brickworks he is buying. The two decide to purchase the brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, Laura. Ewan is keen to make the business successful so that he can care for his younger sisters, but his uncle's gambling is a constant worry. He finds an unexpected ally in Laura, however, who loved visiting the brickworks with her father and who is a skilled bookkeeper. She wants to see the brickworks become successful once again--and Ewan wants to get to know her better. As Ewan tries to win Laura's heart and make the brickworks successful he is deeply discouraged by all of the obstacles--including a rival suitor for Laura's hand--that block his path to success.
The well developed tension between the characters kept me from wanting to put this book down and I wondered how Ewan and Laura were going to manage to get together and also save the business. I also appreciated the details about brickmaking and and how the historical happenings of the time period and place were woven into the story. Laura shined as a strong female character and the Irish background of Ewan's family was captured well. Their Irish brogue and customs added quite a bit of liveliness to the story, as did the impish nature of Ewan's sisters. This all made for a very memorable read and I will definitely be interested to read more of the series.