This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
B&H Books (January 1, 2013)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michael K. Reynolds is the writer and producer of Emmy and Telly Award-winning film campaigns and has more than two decades of experience in fiction, journalism, copywriting, and documentary production. He owns Global Studio, a marketing agency, and is also an active leader in church and business, speaking in both ministry and corporate settings. Michael lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America.
Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.
Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Flight of the Earls, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Apparently my knowledge of Irish history is sadly lacking because I failed to understand the significance of the title of this book until near its end when there was a brief mention of the historical event(s) that inspired it. A bit of the original history at the beginning to set up the story might have helped those like me whose Irish education was neglected. Perhaps I place too much importance on a title but I was tempted to pass this one by and that would have been a shame. Fortunately my lack of knowledge did nothing to prevent my enjoyment of Flight of the Earls.
Flight of the Earls is a well-written historical novel that makes the Irish immigration of the mid-1800’s come to life. The pages of the novel are filled with drama, action, secrets, betrayal, and romance. I was quickly drawn into the lives of Clare and Seamus and eagerly followed their journey from famine torn Ireland to a land of opportunity in America. I experienced tragedies and triumphs, disappointments and accomplishments with them as they struggled to find their way in their new home. Despite hardship and tragedy, Clare’s determination, the love of a good man, and finally her surrender to the Lord helped her to overcome the obstacles in her life.
Flight of the Earls is definitely a must-read for all historical fiction lovers.
