Song of the Silent Harp

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1. Christy Lockstein  •  Sep 13, 2010 @5:52 pm
   

   Song of the Silent Harp by B.J. Hoff is the first book in the Emerald Ballard series. Nora Kavanagh is struggling to survive in the days of the Irish potato famine living in Killala in County Mayo. She’s already faced the death of her husband and young daughter from the Hunger, and now her eldest son. Morgan Fitzgerald, known as the bandit, Red Wolf, has been in love with Nora since they were children, but his love for his beloved Eire has always been stronger. He’s been taking care of Nora as best as he can, but when things become even more dire and they face eviction into the cold road, he tries to get her to agree to leave their home for a new life in America. Michael Burke is a police sergeant in America who grew up with Nora and Morgan. He had asked Nora to be his wife before he left, but she turned him down. Despite his marriage to the late Eileen, he still has feelings for his Irish sweetheart, and when Morgan asks him to care for her should she come to New York, he has mixed emotions about their life together. But even in Nora leaves Ireland, there is no guarantee that she and her family will arrive safely in America. Hoff easily handles the multitude of characters in various locations, and her characters are fully-fleshed and the dialogue realistic and compelling. The tension during the chase scene was incredible. As Nora, Morgan, and the rest scramble to escape Cotter and make it to the ship, I could barely breathe. Hoff is a master of writing the epic novel; there is plenty of romantic drama, suspense, faith, tragedy, and unexpected twists.

2. Eileen Ballantine Berry  •  Jun 15, 2011 @5:03 am
   

   Just finished the first four books and can’t wait to get the final one, although I will be greatly saddened for the story to end. These books had my rapt attention from the first paragraph! I’ve never read such gripping tales or known such real characters as Morgan, Nora, Evan, Michael, Sara and all the others. Also, I’ve never cried so much reading any other books, as I went through their trials and tragedies with this family. It makes real the unbelievable tyrannies of the English!!! I will read them again, as soon as I get them back from my friends. B.J. Hoff, Please won’t you consider at least one more sequel to the EMERALD BALLAD series?!

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