Victoria and Maeve meet for the first time on the treacherous journey to New York City, but that meeting is not the first time they have seen each other. Victoria is hoping Maeve will not recall the circumstances under which she could have seen her before. The pair become best friends and adversity makes that bond grow stronger. Both have lost parents and when Maeve's brother does not meet them in New York as promised she fears the possibility that he is lost to her as well.
Homeless, starving, and penniless after being robbed of the money Victoria brought with her on the ship they end up living in a slum and working for slave wages. As they begin at last to build the life they dreamed of, a brutal attack has Victoria planning her revenge, and I was cheering her on all the way. I was thoroughly engrossed in this story and didn't want it to end.

I received an advance copy for review ( )

Orphaned, Victoria travels from Ireland to New York City to escape the potato famine. She quickly meets Maeve, a young girl also on her way to NYC. They are tricked out of their meager savings very quickly, and forced to take work as underpaid seamstresses. Determined to thrive, the pair quickly come up with a plan.

I thought this was an interesting and well written book. I wish the author had stuck to Victoria’s point of view, but that’s really my only complaint. Overall, well worth picking up. ( )

Michael Wallace is a novel genius! This is about two Irish girls after the great potato famine in Ireland who board a ship to America to try to make a better life for themselves near the five points of New York. When Maeve O’Reilly's brother fails to find her after the ship's arrival, she teams up with Victoria MacPherson. It occurs to Victoria that they had only been living less than two miles apart most of their lives but never knew it.

Although Mr. Wallace kind of keeps it from us, there was or is something going on between the two families. It is very subtle, but it is there nonetheless.
The two girls stick together, even though Victoria is swindled out of her silver. She and Maeve decide to take the little money they do have left to become seamstress's by purchasing needles, thread, and other provisions.

The book keeps goes back and forth from their current time in 1851 and growing up. The book is full of excitement, intrigue, and suspense all along the way. You won't believe the ending, but you will have to read it to find out.

Thank you to Michael Wallace, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me a free e-ARC of this book to read and give my honest review. ( )

Victoria Crossing by Michael Wallace has a classic plot of a young woman seeking to make her way independently and despite hardships. She finds friends and enemies along the way. She achieves success. She suffers setbacks. She starts again. The concept holds a promise that is not completely reached; the ending points to a potential sequel. The book is a quick entertaining read but leaves a lot of depth unexplored.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/05/victoria-crossing.html

Reviewed based on a publisher’s galley received through NetGalley ( )