The Nightingale's Song [Mass Market Paperback]

In 1874 Baltimore, Maggie Quinn is a twenty-six-year-old teacher at St Columba's Orphanage. Orphaned at the age of twelve, when her mother died on board a ship from Ireland to America, Maggie found shelter with Father Fitzhugh at the Orphanage. Gordon Kincaid, a Virginia southern gentleman, visits St. Columba's to claim the child he never knew that he had. Five-year-old Clara is a special favorite with Maggie, who has nurtured the young girl since she was an infant. And Maggie is an enigma to Gordon, a man hardened by the brutalities of war, who sees a unique combination of naiveté and Irish backbone in Maggie.

When Gordon asks Maggie to marry him and accompany him and his daughter to his Virginia estate, Maggie is completely unprepared for what she must face. There is Gordon's difficult twelve-year-old son from his first marriage, bigoted neighboring landowners, and their prejudiced society wives.

While adjusting to her new life, Maggie is forced to face her past . Remembering that her real father never married her mother, ostensibly because of class differences, Maggie wonders if she can ever fit into Gordon's world without hurting him in the process.

The complex pasts of the hero and heroine add depth to their many-layered personalities. And the vitality of supporting characters such as Sister Bernadette and Father Fitz add the finishing touches to this incredible read. For an emotional read that is certain to keep the reader glued to the pages into the wee hours of the morning, this novel is a sure-fire winner.

Orphaned at twelve while immigrating to America with her mother, Maggie Quinn is whisked away to St. Columba's orphanage in Baltimore, Maryland. Fourteen years later, Maggie is mentor and teacher to the orphans there, contemplating becoming a nun -- until the day Dr. Gordon Kincaid comes to St. Columba's and turns Maggie's world upside down. One look at the debonair Dr. Kincaid confirms the parentage of Maggie's favorite orphan, five year-old Clara.

Gordon Kincaid arrives at St. Columba's with a bequest from his late father only to find out that he fathered a child five years previously while involved in a brief affair. Gordon has been in limbo for ten years since losing his wife and receiving a severe injury in the Civil War. His body has healed, but not his soul. Then, he meets Maggie Quinn. Her gentle spirit, deep and abiding faith, angelic singing voice, and innocent sensuality call to him. As Gordon acquaints himself with his daughter, so, too, does he re-acquaint himself with his heart and soul.

Maggie and Gordon are two melancholy people as different in class as any two people can be in that trying time of restoration after the Civil War. How they meet may be by chance, but the reader feels that fate definitely has a strong hand in bringing these two together. Clara is a delightful five year-old sprite who somehow knows she belongs with Gordon, but is not willing to give up "her" Maggie. Due to the evil gossip of a jealous suitor for Gordon's attentions, Gordon and Maggie marry and move to his estate in Virginia, where a whole new set of problems arises. However, these characters weather the storms, and their relationship develops to a whole new level. Secondary characters, from Father Fitzhugh, Maggie's rescuer all those years ago, to Gordon's twelve-year-old son from his previous marriage, all come together to enhance this intense love story. Dialogue and interactions between all of the characters quite simply sing, as do the narrative and descriptive prose.

THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG is perfection from first page to last. Debut author Kathleen Eschenburg delivers a heart-warming, tender, enthralling story rich in flawless characterization and the history of THE post-Civil War ERA.

Tantalizing all of the senses and engaging your every emotion, THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG will leave you eagerly anticipating Ms. Eschenburg's next book!