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The Callahans #4
Prelude: The Callahans Book Four
Since original publication in 1996-1999 in hardback, under the series title, Spirit of Union, this historical fiction saga has achieved measurable success. Multiple readers in the USA and the UK have commented on the way the series weaves a spiritual thread throughout the story without overtly becoming a “Christian” novel. Most have found it compelling, yet not intrusive to the primary story of a family who face life each day, seeking to find the strength to endure the hardship and to enjoy the rewards.
Released again in 2010/2011, in six volumes under a new title, in both e-book and print editions, The Callahans is the story of a young man escaping an abusive life in Ireland and a young woman from a wealthy family leaving Norway at the turn of the twentieth century. Over nearly seventy years, the family they create encounters a world that is often at war, or in economic peril. Each volume speaks of individual family members who are at times confused by their choices and are alternately happy or sad, and achieving success or failure as they follow their dreams.
Simply stated, The Callahans depicts the common problems that everyday people face as they traverse life. Through the facility of fiction, Tom and Katrina are able to live their life with more financial resource then is generally available to most people, but what would a story be if it were not larger than life? They find, however, that money is not the source of happiness.
The Callahans also presents the chronicle of a religious conflict that for many years separates two people who are deeply in love, with a differing faith, yet a commitment to each other. They confront these challenges in the hope that their God will be pleased with their effort.
The story is not designed to proselyte or convert anyone to religion in general, or to a specific denomination, yet it does attempt to demonstrate that faith which contains a value system based upon consideration for others is often necessary to withstand the trials of humanity.
Hopefully, you will not be offended by the religious sub-plot and come to love Thomas and Katrina and their children as much as I did while creating the story. If you so desire, I would be pleased to hear from you concerning your thoughts about one of my literary “children” at GordonWRyan@aol.com.
Released again in 2010/2011, in six volumes under a new title, in both e-book and print editions, The Callahans is the story of a young man escaping an abusive life in Ireland and a young woman from a wealthy family leaving Norway at the turn of the twentieth century. Over nearly seventy years, the family they create encounters a world that is often at war, or in economic peril. Each volume speaks of individual family members who are at times confused by their choices and are alternately happy or sad, and achieving success or failure as they follow their dreams.
Simply stated, The Callahans depicts the common problems that everyday people face as they traverse life. Through the facility of fiction, Tom and Katrina are able to live their life with more financial resource then is generally available to most people, but what would a story be if it were not larger than life? They find, however, that money is not the source of happiness.
The Callahans also presents the chronicle of a religious conflict that for many years separates two people who are deeply in love, with a differing faith, yet a commitment to each other. They confront these challenges in the hope that their God will be pleased with their effort.
The story is not designed to proselyte or convert anyone to religion in general, or to a specific denomination, yet it does attempt to demonstrate that faith which contains a value system based upon consideration for others is often necessary to withstand the trials of humanity.
Hopefully, you will not be offended by the religious sub-plot and come to love Thomas and Katrina and their children as much as I did while creating the story. If you so desire, I would be pleased to hear from you concerning your thoughts about one of my literary “children” at GordonWRyan@aol.com.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2011
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Ryan
23 books15 followersPassed away November 14th, 2012. He was 69.
Gordon Ryan was a writer with a varied history. He lived and worked in six foreign nations and a dozen or more states, including Alaska. He served in the 1st Recon Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He also served as a member of the American Embassy staff in Dublin, Ireland, during the violent seventies. His first published novel, Dangerous Legacy, was released in 1994 and he published ten more over the intervening years with the three Pug Connor novels, the last one released in early 2011.
Gordon Ryan was a writer with a varied history. He lived and worked in six foreign nations and a dozen or more states, including Alaska. He served in the 1st Recon Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He also served as a member of the American Embassy staff in Dublin, Ireland, during the violent seventies. His first published novel, Dangerous Legacy, was released in 1994 and he published ten more over the intervening years with the three Pug Connor novels, the last one released in early 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 10, 2013
You knew if had to happen. The crisis of faith between Tom's Catholic heritage and Katie's Mormon faith are finally resolved. They were not resolved in a bolt of lightening from the sky or through a voice in a burning bush. But they were resolved.
Tom and Katrina Callahan continue their love story in the intervening years between the two world wars. Their three children have grown up and are making their way in ways that are very different from the life that their father has lived. They find themselves in a world that is inching closer toward World War II.
Beautiful and talented Tess is using her talents to build a Broadway and then a Hollywood movie career. PJ remains down under and is a successful sheep rancher in New Zealand. While Tommy is continuing to pursue his career in the Marine Corps. The Marines have taught him about war. And now he is learning about war, but about the perils of romance. Tommy finds himself in England prior to WWII where Winston Churchill calls on him to examine the economic growth of the rising German people as they secretly prepare for war.
And Tom finally begins to look at life after work. He impulsively buys a piece of property while vacationing in Hawaii and decides to sell the bank and retire. He also is called to missionary work. Although not feeling worthy or qualified, he accepts the call and becomes a missionary in South America. But before he can complete the sale of the bank, the great stock market crash occurs and Tom utilizes considerable personal wealth to save the economic lives of many who have been his customers for so many years.
War is definitely on the horizon and there is much left to be resolved in the final book of the series. I say, "Bring it on." This series has been worth the investment so far.
Tom and Katrina Callahan continue their love story in the intervening years between the two world wars. Their three children have grown up and are making their way in ways that are very different from the life that their father has lived. They find themselves in a world that is inching closer toward World War II.
Beautiful and talented Tess is using her talents to build a Broadway and then a Hollywood movie career. PJ remains down under and is a successful sheep rancher in New Zealand. While Tommy is continuing to pursue his career in the Marine Corps. The Marines have taught him about war. And now he is learning about war, but about the perils of romance. Tommy finds himself in England prior to WWII where Winston Churchill calls on him to examine the economic growth of the rising German people as they secretly prepare for war.
And Tom finally begins to look at life after work. He impulsively buys a piece of property while vacationing in Hawaii and decides to sell the bank and retire. He also is called to missionary work. Although not feeling worthy or qualified, he accepts the call and becomes a missionary in South America. But before he can complete the sale of the bank, the great stock market crash occurs and Tom utilizes considerable personal wealth to save the economic lives of many who have been his customers for so many years.
War is definitely on the horizon and there is much left to be resolved in the final book of the series. I say, "Bring it on." This series has been worth the investment so far.
January 26, 2012
This is a delightful series of books starting with Thomas Callahan and Katrina Hansen at ages 17 and 15 in the 1800's, all the way through the first World War, the Great Depression. Expanding when their family does, it now includes their three adult children. The book switches from chapter to chapter to keep us up to date with each character as time goes by. Book 4 ends somewhere around 1930's, with Tom and Katrina running a soup kitchen in Salt Lake City, Utah, P.J living with his family in New Zealand, Tess and her husband on a ranch near Salt Lake City, and Tommy arriving in England to start a tour assigned to lecture at a University and striking out with a second girl. He doesn't have the luck everyone else has had with love at first sight, and I look forward to book five and the conclusion. This has been a wonderful journey with this family and the history has been interestingly scattered throughout the story.
February 25, 2012
Very good - I am anxious to read Vol. 5!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews