Call Home The Heart

Rating:
Summary: Moving and passionate
Review: Historical Romance
Ireland, January 1845

Muireann Graham Caldwell and Augustine, her husband of two weeks, are
on a journey to Barnakilla, his estate in northwest Ireland. However,
Augustine goes no farther than a Dublin grave, after putting a gun to his head
and pulling the trigger. After living with constant criticism from her
mother and sister for not being a proper lady, and defying her strict father
by learning all sorts of masculine things, Muireann Graham Caldwell is not
about to run home to Scotland now. With the help of Lochlainn Roche,
Barnakilla's estate manager, Muireann is determined to travel on to her
new home.

When Lochlainn met the ship carrying the newlyweds, he was taken by the
ethereal beauty of Augustine's wife, but the next months prove the lady
possesses strength...and a will of iron...that belie her fragile looks.
She needs that toughness, for her "wealthy" husband bankrupted a once
prosperous estate in the three years since he inherited, and he'd
already gambled away the thousands of pounds from Muireann's father.

The last few years have been hard ones, and the hundred tenants who
depend on Barnakilla are in arrears with their rents and have no means to pay
in the foreseeable future. Muireann always wanted adventure; she's wanted
to prove to herself and her family that she's capable of more than tea
parties and dancing. Here is her chance.

CALL HOME THE HEART is very much Muireann's story. She has an almost
impossible task ahead of her -- already the portents hint at the
disastrous potato famine to come -- but she rallies and leads the people in
rebuilding Barnakilla. Lochlainn grew up on the land, and he's there to help her,
but she's the dynamic one. He's an interesting character, who was betrayed
in the past and loath to risk his heart again. He's torn between wanting
to be Muireann's partner, and believing he's not good enough for her.

The tenants and landed neighbors play important roles in CALL HOME THE
HEART, for they add warmth on the one hand and conflict on the other.
While the relationship between Muireann and Lochlainn waxes and wanes, the
plot revolving around the fight to feed the people and save the estate takes
off at a run and turns CALL HOME THE HEART into an all-nighter. And a
nail-biter.
CALL HOME THE HEART is a moving and passionate novel fans of history
and romance will enjoy.
Jane Bowers
Romance Reviews Today

Rating:
Summary: engaging historical romance
Review: In the early 1840s in Ireland, Lochlan loves his home Barnakilla but fears that he will have to confront the abusive owner Augustine Caldwell eventually though he knows altercation means losing. However, his anticipated quarrel will wait as Augustine has left on his honeymoon in Dublin with his new wife Muirecann. Lochlan prays that Muirecann somehow mellows her spouse into caring more for the well-being of his tenants, but expects she will end up another abused victim. Instead, Augustine commits suicide leaving a stunned Muirecann to return home in scandal.

Muirecann tries to do the right thing with the people working the land though she has pressure from Augustine's family who question why he took his life when he seemed to have everything to live for. Needing an ally, she turns to Lochlan for help as they share a love for the land. As the potato famine spreads, Lochlan and Muirecann fall in love, but now he falls under suspicion of killing Augustine as he has several publicly known motives.

This is an engaging historical romance with a touch of a who-done-it that emphasizes the setting during a period when people are in trouble. Shannon Farrell provides a powerful picture of a not so enchanted Ireland that in spite of the food shortage still paints quite a magical land especially seen through the hero's eyes. Readers will agree the lead couple belongs together although the odds of achieving that seem astronomical; in spite of their solid believable duet and a strong supportive cast inside a deep historical, 1840s Eire is the soul of CALL HOME THE HEART.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Call Home The Heart
Review: When suicide ends the life of a tyranical landowner, his new bride is left bewildered and saddled with a failing set of holdings. Fortunately, those lands come with a handsome, loyal, and passionate manager, Lochlainn Roche, who is more than willing to help Muireann Caldwell save his boyhood home. Their passion for Barnakilla extends to each other, then from the grave, Muireann's husband reaches out to endanger their joy. With a cloud of possible murder charges hanging over them, the lovers must clear Lochlainn's name before they can have a life together. Using a seldom utilized setting and strong characterization, Ms. Farrell has created a true gem for historical fans in search of something new and different.

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rating:
Summary: Romantic Times Review
Review: Widowed by a shooting accident on her honeymoon, Muireann Caldwell discovers that her wastrel husband has left her penniless, and almost homeless. She now faces returning to a smothering family or charting her own course with the crumbling Caldwell estate.

Deciding to tackle Barnakilla and its mountain of debt, Muireann turns to the handsome, capable Lochlainn Roche, her late husbands estate manager, for support.

Lochlainn worries that with Augustine dead, his lifelong home will be forfeitedespecially if the young widow decides to run home to Scotland. But hes surprised by the strength Muireann displays and grows to admire her courage and determination. She grows to love Barnakilla as much as he does. Dare he hope she returns the love he has found for her?

Ms. MacMurrough weaves a wonderful tale of survival and love that defeats seemingly insurmountable odds. It is refreshing to see a heroine with such strength and common sense, and a strong hero who actually believes she can have it! CALL HOME THE HEART is a story you wont want to put down.
-April Redmon

Trade paper version Top Pick Sept, Review's Choice Award nominee