Katie Macauley has been working since she was a child, trying to earn enough money for her family's forgiveness. She arrives in Hope Springs, a Wyoming town deeply divided between those who hate the Irish and the Irish trying to make the place a home. Two men, as a different as can be, vie for her heart amidst the feud, and Katie finds making a decision harder than ever.

I will admit I had this sitting on my shelf for several months before my mom insisted I had to read it. Other books kept getting shifted to a higher priority on my reading list, but with Mom finishing the series and telling me details, I had to read it. And am I glad I did!

From the start, these characters came to life. Katie uses her wits to keep a place in Hope Springs, and it's not an easy path for her. Each of the men who intrigue her is right for her in different ways, and her struggles to understand what she needs makes her even more sympathetic to the reader.

The plot moves at a good place, lingering when it needs to and going fast as tensions rise in the town. There is a town full of characters that I want to know more about, especially among the O'Conner family. The end left me a bit disappointed but the second book picks up right where the first ends.

This is a series I would highly recommend to readers of historical fiction. ( )

This book drove me a little bit crazy. I have a hard time when I have to just take the author's word about the characters development. The main character did a lot of opening up in a very short amount of time for someone who had supposedly been friendless and in isolation for the past 18 years of her life. I also became very irritated listening to the inner dialogue of the characters every time they interacted. It was especially frustrating when the text repeated itself or contradicted earlier self talk. Characters would admit that they were in love with so and so on one page and then on the next page they would claim that they were surprised that it bothered them that they felt jealous because they had accepted they were only friends...
Having gotten that out of the way, Sarah M. Eden did throw some interesting history into this book, and while the writing wasn't great- the characters were golden.
If you are stuck in the middle of this book wondering if it is worth it- hang in there. All of the problems that I had with this book disappeared in the second book. It is fantastic! It is better written, the character development is more believable, and there is more plot outside of the annoying love triangle.
I really do love you Sarah Eden. I'm always nervous authors are going to read my reviews and hate me. It's a great book! Had I been your editor though, I would have had a few suggestions to help improve it... ( )

3.5

My very first thoughts on reading this book were not favorable; the opening chapter that sees Tavish and Ian giving Katie a ride did not impress me. I thought Tavish's thoughts and comments were repetitive and based on nothing. Not to mention the way he kept stating the obvious. Tavish was way too interested, way too soon. I just didn't find it believeable. I was about ready to turn this one in as one I couldn't finish, but for some reason, I pressed on a little longer. I'm glad I did.

While Tavish never gives up on his persual of Katie, you quickly spend a lot less time in his head, which makes his interactions more charming than shallow.

Ms. Eden does a good job of providing hard choices and real struggles. Romantically, it didn't seem like an easy choice for me, except for the fact that Joseph wouldn't let Katie know of his feelings. But there was plenty to love in them both, from her point of view.

Her ultimate choice between Hope Springs and Ireland was not an easy one either.

And no easy solutions for the problems in Hope Springs were offered either.

And then, we finally get the whole tale of Katie's past. That's not easy either. The way it was built up, I kept expecting the author to have built in a loophole, something that would remove all blame and guilt from Katie's shoulders, where her family was concerned. I expected it, but it never happened. Her past was understandable, but she still placed reasonable blame on herself. I was really proud of Ms. Eden for giving her characters real problems, real struggles, real regrets. These things build character in a person, making them interesting, unique, and hopefully full of integrity and strength. She allowed Katie the time to earn the reader's compassion and respect. That is not easily done nor common enough.

I rated this book the way I did because though I enjoyed it (I really loved the Irish infusion, the dialogue, the history, the details, everything. So well done!) and thought so much of the plot and characterization well done, I had a criticism for every compliment.

I didn't understand why Joseph thought he could court Katie after she moved out. How did he think that would go with the Reds? Seems to me it never crossed his mind, which seemed totally out of character.

And with all the power Joseph held, and he held it all, why did he not demand peace, require civility, fair prices, no violence/harassment, etc as part of terms of lease? If anyone violated it, they would be given a warning and then, if it continued, they'd be evicted. Seems plenty simple to me.

Why were there no lawmen to enforce anything? I understand that it was a territory, but if they could have a church with a pastor, they could have a sheriff or deputy or something and a jail, even if it was only a one room holding cell.

Why did it not occur to Katie herself to ask Granny about staying there, especially as she'd just spent time with her, reflecting on how much help Granny needed?

At the time, I was wondering why there was so little reference to God and why Katie didn't pray and seek out the Bible for answers, and now I'm thinking, this may not have been a Christian based novel. I'm not sure, so I'm going to discount that.

When it came down to it, I thought Katie flipped from being annoyed with Tavish to being super into him, just a little too quickly. If I remember correctly, it really happened with he saved her by dancing in her stead. I thought that was well done, certainly the kind of thing to turn a girl's head. But Katie seemed to flip too easily (and often) in general for me. First Tavish, then Joseph and back and forth and back and forth (though it did seem that her preference for Tavish was always stronger and present, which appeased me). Then it was leaving Hope Springs, then talk of staying for years, then leaving, then staying, then leaving and ultimately staying. Too much, too easily flip flopping. Perhaps this was supposed to be a character flaw of hers. I'm not sure.

She just changed too much in too short a period of time.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book. It was interesting, stuffed with history and authenticity, and a sobering taste of realism. The things I loved and the things I thought could have been better put aside, the book left me wanting more. Will Katie ever learn to read? How will the Reds and Irish find peace? What will happen with Katie's family? What will happen with the new housekeeper? What will happen with the Archer family? What will happen way down the line with Finbarr? These are just a smattering of the things I'm dying to know and the character's I'm invested in. This book will draw you in and hold tight. ( )

“Longing for Home” by Sarah M. Eden kept my interest until the very last page. In fact, I cannot wait until the sequel, “Hope Springs”. The story takes place in Wyoming Territory in 1870. Katie Macauley answers an ad for a housekeeper for Joseph Archer and his two children. His wife passed away and it is hard to be a full time rancher and a full time father to his children. When Katie finally arrives on the train, she is met by Tavish O’Conner and his brother Ian. They deliver her to Mr. Archer. Imagine her surprise when, upon learning that Katie is Irish, Mr. Archer says he cannot hire her. She makes her way to the O’Conner family where she is warmly welcomed. Mr. Archer agrees to keep her on until a new housekeeper can be found. As she becomes comfortable in her life in Wyoming, Katie is torn between Tavish and his flirty ways and Joseph’s kindness and caring. She also longs for the day that she can return to Ireland and her family to make peace with them.

The anti-Irish sentiment is so strong in this little community that there are two roads that come together where Mr. Archer’s home stands. One way is the Red Road and the other way is the Irish Road. I was unaware that there was this kind of division between the settlers in the Wyoming Territory, and the open hostility that pervaded their lives every day

I loved this book and was so disappointed that the book ended when it did. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

I was sent this free kindle copy of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley.com in return for my honest review of the book.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-86 ( )

I'm her agent so of course I love it! ( )