Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason (Book 1 Courage to Dream Series) [Giveway]

Time and Place: 1911, Long Island, New York -Faced With an Uncertain Future, Sometimes All You Have Left Is the Courage to Dream

Brianna and Colleen O'Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he's put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry---as long as her father's choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone's plans.

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O'Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father's machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

GIVEAWAY 
Begins August 11 & ENDS August 31 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. 
Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 Watch for Chat With Vera's review on August 16!

23 comments:

  1. Actually, yes, my parents and I immigrated when I was 3 1/2. We were Refugees from East Germany and fled the Communist regime. Happy to be an American citizen!

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  2. Ah, yes, I am very interested in history, especially family history. I am a German and Polish genealogist by profession and that is my life!

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  3. I visited her blog and learned that she likes to write about romance and faith! Sounds like my kind of author!

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  4. I love history! The times surrounding the American Civil War and World War II have always interested me. And I'm not entirely sure why.....

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    1. I do have Irish immigrants in my family tree-- as well as Scottish, English, and German (among others, perhaps). :) I believe some of my English ancestors immigrated because of a great loss of money or some such. The sons came to America to make their own way because their inheritance was lost, from what I understand.
      And my great-grandparents, as well as their parents immigrated from Germany, but I don't know the circumstances surrounding that.

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  5. From the little I know of my family history, my mothers ancestors came from Germany and my fathers from England. I don't know the timing or reasons for the immigration.

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  7. My own ancestry consists of a blend of German and Welsh. I'm sure there are a few others blended in there for good measure and it wouldn't surprise me if Irish wasn't one. I mean, red hair does run in our family. :)

    As for my own children, they are half Puerto Rican and it is very dominate as far as their outer features show. I have learned from my husband that Puerto Rico is a large mix of ancestral nationalities, as well. My husband's mom was African descent P.R. with dark skin and eyes while his dad was Spanish descent P.R. with light skin and blue eyes.

    My favorite time in history to read about or study is early 20th century. So much of who my Grandmother and Mom are is a result of that time.

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    1. I just visited Susan Ann Mason's website and realized that she is fairly new in the published market. I now want to read her first two (of a trilogy) Rainbow Falls books. The synopsis were really good.

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  8. One set of grandparents migrated to the US from Russia in the early 20th century. My parents recently visited Ellis Island and found their names on the wall!

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  9. I love history, especially the Regency and early Colonial American periods.

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  10. The girls and I are studying Ireland next week in our homeschool so your title intrigued me. Most of my ancestors are from Wales, Scotland, and England, but I think there were a few Irish in the mix as well. My husband's all come from China and Taiwan so we are quite a pair! I love to learn about history. Right now, I'm finding myself fascinated with the history of Southeast Asia since I live here but know so little.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book at Booknificent Thursday this week!
    Tina

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  11. I do, on my mom's side of the family. Goes all the way back to the 1800s!! Last name-Bailey!

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  12. The period of history that appeals to me is the 1970s. That was the decade when I was growing up as a kid.

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  13. When she was a teen, she wrote her first novel, sadly it was rejected.

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  14. I have always liked the middle ages in history.

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  15. I think that it's neat that she likes to read and research our family history on-line in her spare time.

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  16. I am not aware of any immigrant stories in our family.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  17. I am interested in the WW II era as that's the time my parents were young adults.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  18. I am interested in the Civil War.

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  19. She is from Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

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