Rating: 
Summary: Is it just me?
Review: The Thoenes are great at drawing the lines of conflict quickly. Not far into the book, we are faced with these questions: Will Kate ever soften her heart toward Joseph? Will Joseph take a stand for the Repeal movement? Will the Tinker's true nature be revealed? Will the traitors in Ballynockanor be discovered before it's too late? But the question that continues to disturb me is this: Why do I find myself trotting toward the fourth book in this series, obligatorily tagging each book like a base? I see only glimpses of that urgency that chased me through the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant? Bodie's writing, in the past, has moved me to tears, shocked, educated and challenged me. Yes, here in the Galway series, she attempts to do the same, and I find myself desperately wanting to respond...but the response is slow in coming. And I'm not sure why. I, like most other readers, longed for love's spark to finally ignite between Kate and Joseph, though when it finally did so, I felt the resolution had come too suddenly. I did appreciate, however, Kate's conversations with Miss Susan; these made the emotional transformation credible at least. I'm moving on to the next book with restrained expectations. I know the Thoenes can hit the ball out of the park, so I find myself disappointed whenever they hit a 'mere' triple. I'll keep paying the 'ticket price,' though, just to watch them swing.
Rating: 
Summary: An incredible book...
Review: This book has to be the best yet of the Thoenes. The character development and the parallels in the plot are rare in the world of Christian fiction today. When I finished reading the book, I wasn't left with simply a good feeling because I had been entertained. No, I was left thinking about the story, contemplating Mad Molly and the tinker (who was he really, anyway??) and the complexities of life. The questions at the end of the book helped me dig even deeper.
Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent read.....
Review: This book took longer to become involved in than the first book in The Galway Chronicles, but once involved could not put the book down. A wonderful historical fiction read, especially if you have any interest in the pre famine Ireland.
From the intrigue of British spies, to murder, to spreading of smallpox, to amnesia, you will not be able to put this book down.You have to love Mad Molly Fahey. What a neat character to portray if this series would ever be made into a film. The characters remain basically the same as in the first book with a few notable additions. The most interesting being the Tinker. The ending of this book will quickly compell you to begin reading the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Good historical read
Review: This second book in the series took me a little longer to get into than the first, perhaps because some time had elapsed between reading them and I had to get reacquainted with all the characters in the village of Ballynockanor.
Written as a religious fiction, it doesn't come off as over moralizing, though the delightful village priest isn't above calling a spade a spade when the main characters act out of jealousy or self-pity.
Because it was a time period I am expecially interested in, the book held my interest even though at times the characters were mildly irrating. Not a great fan of O'Connell, I was left with a sense of wonder of what he almost pulled off in 1843 before traitors and spies were his undoing.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST THOENE NOVEL EVER!!!
Review: What a read! From theopening sentence I knew I was going to love this book! I've been waiting for months for it to come out since I fell in love with all the characters in Only The River Runs Free! Have there ever been such writers before? They make characters come alive! When smallpox hit the little children of Ballynockanor I found myself praying for Mary Elizabeth. The world of 1840 Ireland has become a part of my world. Now I understand why my family came to America and what's happening in Ireland today! Some things never change...The Thoenes are still the best there ever were. When is the next one coming out?
Rating:
Summary: Bre's
Review: While not quite as good as its predecessor, this book is still an enjoyable read. I did not find this book quite as moving as the majority of the books written by the Thoenes. I'm not quite sure why. Still, the characters are as vibrant as ever, including the Tinker, whom I never quite figured out. Maybe I'm not supposed to. The Galway Chronicles have really opened my eyes to the problems besetting Ireland today, making me realise that the problems are a lot more complex than what they appear. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
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