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Maid of Steel
It’s 1911 and, against her mother’s wishes, quiet New Yorker Emma dreams of winning the right to vote. She is sent away by her parents in the hope distance will curb her desire to be involved with the growing suffrage movement and told to spend time learning about where her grandparents came from.
Across the Atlantic – Queenstown, southern Ireland – hotelier Thomas dreams of being loved, even noticed, by his actress wife, Alice. On their wedding day, Alice’s father had assured him that adoration comes with time. It’s been eight years. But Alice has plans of her own and they certainly don’t include the fight for equality or her dull husband.
Emma’s arrival in Ireland leads her to discover family secrets and become involved in the Irish Women’s Suffrage Society in Cork. However, Emma’s path to suffrage was never meant to lead to a forbidden love affair…
Across the Atlantic – Queenstown, southern Ireland – hotelier Thomas dreams of being loved, even noticed, by his actress wife, Alice. On their wedding day, Alice’s father had assured him that adoration comes with time. It’s been eight years. But Alice has plans of her own and they certainly don’t include the fight for equality or her dull husband.
Emma’s arrival in Ireland leads her to discover family secrets and become involved in the Irish Women’s Suffrage Society in Cork. However, Emma’s path to suffrage was never meant to lead to a forbidden love affair…
- GenresHistorical Fiction
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2023
8 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 3, 2024
In a Nutshell: A historical romance that is strong on history and good on romance. Loved the Irish setting. An interesting debut that aims a bit too wide.
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Plot Preview:
The book began quite strongly for me. The harrowing details of the fire, possibly referencing the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911, and the situation of the women trapped inside make for a compelling beginning.
As most of the book is set in Ireland thanks to Emma’s long stay there, there are many historical details incorporated from the Irish side as well. We see glimpses of the Irish suffrage movement and the local resistance to the monarchy. We also see the trauma faced by returning soldiers (though my historical knowhow was not comprehensive enough to understand where the soldiers were ‘returning’ from), the state of the workhouses and the poor who lived in them during the famine, the construction of St Colman's Cathedral, and towards the end, a key historical accident. Courtesy Emma’s stay at the hotel and her interactions with Thomas and Alice, we also have romance, secret affairs, adultery, acting ambitions, women’s rights, and a big reveal about one of them that is actually easy to guess because of the hints provided earlier. Basically, this is yet another debut suffering from what I call the “kitchen sink syndrome” – it includes too much.
This is not to say that the accuracy of the historical events is questionable. On the contrary, I felt like the author is very passionate about history, and her research shows. I am still amazed by how much was included within a novel covering just a little more than a year. As a historical fiction fan, I loved learning about Irish historical events as we don’t often get to see those. However, I still wish that the focus on the novel has been more streamlined, staying limited to certain key events so that we could *feel* the impact better. Even Emma’s original intent of discovering her grandmother’s past, is achieved within the first quarter with hardly any hurdles.
The pacing of the book is quite fast, which is a positive. However, because of the sheer number of topics covered, I felt like it was rushing across the topics without pausing to explore them. In this sense, the book feels somewhat episodic, covering many whats but hardly any hows or whys.
It was interesting to have the third person perspectives of two women who are so opposite each other. Emma allows past trauma to guide her while Alice is motivated by future aspirations. Emma has a conscience, Alice seems to have none. Most of the book tells us Emma’s story, but I found Alice more intriguing. I wish her character detailing had been better because her motivations don’t come out clearly and the instant change in stance at the end is not convincing. Thomas feels relatively dull in front of the two vibrant women.
The romance theme was of secondary importance to me as I had grabbed this more for the history. But it does work if you are looking for a calm and clean romance. (There is adultery though, so ‘clean’ doesn’t equate to ‘Christian’ in this case.) On the pro side, Emma and Thomas both felt like caring humans, and were good for and with each other. However, the progress of the “relationship” felt very abrupt. I didn’t feel the development of their connection, and after a certain other ‘development’, the story felt even more distanced, though I must give it credit for not going the typical way.
The same opinion applies to the ending as well: I thought I could predict where the book was going, but the last quarter or so sprung some surprises my way. I am not sure how I feel about the neat finish, but as the book is promoted as a historical romance than just a historical fiction, it fulfils the requirement of a happy ending as per the genre.
All in all, this is a good debut with a strong historical base and fluid writing. Had it had stronger character development and a slightly restricted list of topics, it would have worked even better for me. Nevertheless, I appreciate the author’s keen eye for research and am curious to see what comes from her pen next.
A shoutout to the cover art that represents almost every aspect of the story so well.
Recommended to historical romance readers interested in a look at Ireland during 1911-12.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and author Kate Baker for a complimentary copy of 'Maid Of Steel'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
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Plot Preview:
New York, USA. 1911. When Emma, just recovering from a traumatic incident and loss, decides to become an active suffragist, her parents send her away to Ireland for some time not just to recuperate but also to get her mind off the activism. Though Emma is reluctant at first, she agrees for one secret reason: she wants to discover the workhouse her grandmother lived before immigrating to the USA.
Queenstown, Ireland. 1911. Hotelier Thomas is used to being taken for granted by his actress wife Alice. Married for a long time, he knows that Alice loves only her career and will do anything for success, including breaking her marriage vows. But as a Catholic, Thomas feels compelled to continue in the marriage.
When Emma arrives at Thomas’ hotel, she soon gets involved in various activities, but the last thing she expected was to get involved with Thomas.
The story comes to us in the third person perspectives of Emma, Thomas, and Alice.
The book began quite strongly for me. The harrowing details of the fire, possibly referencing the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911, and the situation of the women trapped inside make for a compelling beginning.
As most of the book is set in Ireland thanks to Emma’s long stay there, there are many historical details incorporated from the Irish side as well. We see glimpses of the Irish suffrage movement and the local resistance to the monarchy. We also see the trauma faced by returning soldiers (though my historical knowhow was not comprehensive enough to understand where the soldiers were ‘returning’ from), the state of the workhouses and the poor who lived in them during the famine, the construction of St Colman's Cathedral, and towards the end, a key historical accident. Courtesy Emma’s stay at the hotel and her interactions with Thomas and Alice, we also have romance, secret affairs, adultery, acting ambitions, women’s rights, and a big reveal about one of them that is actually easy to guess because of the hints provided earlier. Basically, this is yet another debut suffering from what I call the “kitchen sink syndrome” – it includes too much.
This is not to say that the accuracy of the historical events is questionable. On the contrary, I felt like the author is very passionate about history, and her research shows. I am still amazed by how much was included within a novel covering just a little more than a year. As a historical fiction fan, I loved learning about Irish historical events as we don’t often get to see those. However, I still wish that the focus on the novel has been more streamlined, staying limited to certain key events so that we could *feel* the impact better. Even Emma’s original intent of discovering her grandmother’s past, is achieved within the first quarter with hardly any hurdles.
The pacing of the book is quite fast, which is a positive. However, because of the sheer number of topics covered, I felt like it was rushing across the topics without pausing to explore them. In this sense, the book feels somewhat episodic, covering many whats but hardly any hows or whys.
It was interesting to have the third person perspectives of two women who are so opposite each other. Emma allows past trauma to guide her while Alice is motivated by future aspirations. Emma has a conscience, Alice seems to have none. Most of the book tells us Emma’s story, but I found Alice more intriguing. I wish her character detailing had been better because her motivations don’t come out clearly and the instant change in stance at the end is not convincing. Thomas feels relatively dull in front of the two vibrant women.
The romance theme was of secondary importance to me as I had grabbed this more for the history. But it does work if you are looking for a calm and clean romance. (There is adultery though, so ‘clean’ doesn’t equate to ‘Christian’ in this case.) On the pro side, Emma and Thomas both felt like caring humans, and were good for and with each other. However, the progress of the “relationship” felt very abrupt. I didn’t feel the development of their connection, and after a certain other ‘development’, the story felt even more distanced, though I must give it credit for not going the typical way.
The same opinion applies to the ending as well: I thought I could predict where the book was going, but the last quarter or so sprung some surprises my way. I am not sure how I feel about the neat finish, but as the book is promoted as a historical romance than just a historical fiction, it fulfils the requirement of a happy ending as per the genre.
All in all, this is a good debut with a strong historical base and fluid writing. Had it had stronger character development and a slightly restricted list of topics, it would have worked even better for me. Nevertheless, I appreciate the author’s keen eye for research and am curious to see what comes from her pen next.
A shoutout to the cover art that represents almost every aspect of the story so well.
Recommended to historical romance readers interested in a look at Ireland during 1911-12.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and author Kate Baker for a complimentary copy of 'Maid Of Steel'. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
August 20, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised about this book; the story was wonderfully written. The story was set in the time of the women's suffrage movement around the world. What happens when you lose everything in one quick moment, and you become the only survivor among your friends in a factory warehouse fire in New York. How do you move on from the nightmares? This is a story of one women's courage to heal and discover her family history in Ireland. But what she does not realize she will find so much more in her time in Ireland including love.
You have to add this book to your fall reading list, it will not disappoint, I am looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for copy of this book for my honest review.
You have to add this book to your fall reading list, it will not disappoint, I am looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for copy of this book for my honest review.
September 25, 2023
I'm afraid I was slightly disappointed by this book. Having met the author - a lovely lady, very enthusiastic about the history she explored and her own visit to Ireland which inspired this story - perhaps my expectations were set a bit too high.
The plot follows the 'adventures' Emma Quinn as she survives a horrendous factory fire, travels to Ireland to recuperate and learn about her Grandmother. We follow her as she settles into life in Ireland, taking the lead in developing a suffragette movement in Queenstown with the support of leading suffragists, whilst visiting a home for returning soldiers and sailors to volunteer her services to support their recuperation. Alongside this, we follow Alice and her husband Thomas as they go their separate ways. Her leading a travelling life as an actress and Thomas managing their hotel. Alice's promiscuity is identified early on - with her relations with her agent clear immediately, and inferences of an unidentified lover (though quickly easy to guess on her return to the hotel) - whilst Thomas seems to lead a quiet and calm life.
It is a very pleasant, gentle read, with a slight twist at the end. (By slight, I mean that I had anticipated 80% of the twist before it happened.) However, it is perhaps an unfortunate testament to the dangers of self-publishing as opposed to the traditional publishing process.
Almost immediately there are inconsistencies which a professional editor would have identified and corrected. We are told that Thomas married his wife Alice when he was 20, yet only a few pages later he apparently met her when he was 23... I get confused early on as to whether he smokes a pipe or a cigar (whilst this is a really minor point and has no effect on the plot, the choice is a character feature).
As a historical novel, there are a large number of historical events covered, and the protagonist Emma goes through them all. And within a very short period of time - if I've got my calculations right, only 12 months! It feels a bit like the author was trying to cram as many events in as possible, all with the protagonist in the centre. I'd feel sorry for Emma if at times I wasn't annoyed at her own inconsistencies - though these may be down to writing style again. Emma is both generous, considerate, focused, un-focused (flitting between 'projects'), independent and soppy.
There are a lot of historical questions that I don't believe are answered, or perhaps even considered:
1) How can a middle/ working class family in America afford to send their working daughter to Ireland?
2) How can that same family (and indeed the girl herself) afford to keep extending that holiday?
3) What did Emma do for money? There is no mention of paying the hotel for her board and food, no mention of other purchases or costs, though she is posting letters home.
4) What about her laundry and luggage?
5) Where people able to access family history research in the local library then?
6) Was the 100 year restriction on personal details not in place then?
7) Would cuts and burns to the wrists really required 3 months recuperation?
8) Would there only be one housekeeping staff (and one cook whom we never meet) to help with the running of what is implied as a moderate to large hotel?
I'm in two minds about the plot itself - aside from having too much crammed into it. The blurb on the back focuses on the romance and the women's suffrage aspects of the story. However, my understanding of her visit to Ireland was to focus on learning more about her Grandmother. This is resolved - very quickly and briefly (with no apparent challenges or complications...the research in the library is glossed over, and the conversations with the workhouse manager answers all questions in short order) in the first quarter of the story, and should (in my mind) have been the end of the story. Or at least, the end of Emma's holiday! But instead, she gets involved with women's suffrage, caring for returning soldiers and sailors, and (for some reason) helping in the hotel!
I understand that women's suffrage is important to her, and caring for soldiers and sailors returning home likewise, but if she was sufficiently determined (which she must be if she's confident enough to travel alone and working to set up a local suffragette group) she should do both of these at home, regardless of any disapproval she might get from her family. So why stay?!
The romance between Emma and Thomas is inevitable. However, the where-and-wherefore are questionable given the time period. Would they really have agreed - hotel manager and his guest - to take a boating holiday together in 1911? Even if his friend was supposed to accompany them.
You may already anticipate that I have some misgivings about the characterisation. Although set in 1911 and 1912, the plot, dialogue and characters are (in my mind) written and read through a contemporary mind-set. The dialogue and actions particularly feel contemporary and inappropriate to the time period. Would people introduce themselves, part way through. conversation as "I'm FIRST NAME by the way"? Would Emma as a paying guest, however generous, help to set tables/ clear tables etc. in the hotel? Would the housekeeping staff really talk to and befriend guests? It all felt very informal.
We read the story through Thomas, Emma and Alice's perspective, with the hotel housemaid Aoiffe a key character.
Of the characters, I feel that Thomas is the least developed. He is supposed to paint, but aside from telling Emma that he has painted those pictures, we never see him paint. He is a manager of a hotel, but we never seem to see him really managing... occasionally when there is a social event, or he has a bit of shopping to do (but would't there be deliveries to a hotel, even in 1911?). We are told by several other characters that he is a good Catholic, but there is no evidence of this - he doesn't have a rosary, or a cross at his neck, or any imagery in the hotel, even in his office. In 12 months we should surely have had a glimpse? The only evidence of personal interest we have is his interest in rowing, which he is unable to pursue due to demands of his wife and the hotel.
The most well-founded character, I felt, was that of Alice. Self-absorbed, demanding and flirtatious though she may have been. She was at least consistent. Or at least, she was until the end. When during the sinking of the titanic she decides to help Emma and her unborn baby by sacrificing herself. This seems so out of character that it is almost ridiculous. Yes monumental events can change your perspectives, your views and intentions, but for us as readers this comes from left field. This would have been so much more effective if, prior to reading Emma's view of the tragedy, we were given insight into what Alice's reactions to the news of the crash.
Of all the events included in the story (fire at the clothing factory; insights into life in a workhouse - although limited; nationalist riots; suffragette protests and arrests; the promise of unmarried motherhood; sinking of the titanic) the last felt most like a shoe-horned item. I got very little flavour of the incident, certainly there was no indication of the listing of the boat. Whereas the fire had hungry flames, splintering timber and the smell of burning flesh, the sinking of the Titanic only had agitated passengers and lowering lifeboats. Perhaps this was down to the length of time the tragedy unfurled over. The factory fire was fairly immediate, whilst the Titanic took time (2 hours 40 minutes, although my understanding of the rapidity of the water filling the hull is that it would very soon have started to tilt!).
This was a story that had a lot of potential, but somehow didn't quite (to my mind at least) achieve it's aims. Sadly.
The plot follows the 'adventures' Emma Quinn as she survives a horrendous factory fire, travels to Ireland to recuperate and learn about her Grandmother. We follow her as she settles into life in Ireland, taking the lead in developing a suffragette movement in Queenstown with the support of leading suffragists, whilst visiting a home for returning soldiers and sailors to volunteer her services to support their recuperation. Alongside this, we follow Alice and her husband Thomas as they go their separate ways. Her leading a travelling life as an actress and Thomas managing their hotel. Alice's promiscuity is identified early on - with her relations with her agent clear immediately, and inferences of an unidentified lover (though quickly easy to guess on her return to the hotel) - whilst Thomas seems to lead a quiet and calm life.
It is a very pleasant, gentle read, with a slight twist at the end. (By slight, I mean that I had anticipated 80% of the twist before it happened.) However, it is perhaps an unfortunate testament to the dangers of self-publishing as opposed to the traditional publishing process.
Almost immediately there are inconsistencies which a professional editor would have identified and corrected. We are told that Thomas married his wife Alice when he was 20, yet only a few pages later he apparently met her when he was 23... I get confused early on as to whether he smokes a pipe or a cigar (whilst this is a really minor point and has no effect on the plot, the choice is a character feature).
As a historical novel, there are a large number of historical events covered, and the protagonist Emma goes through them all. And within a very short period of time - if I've got my calculations right, only 12 months! It feels a bit like the author was trying to cram as many events in as possible, all with the protagonist in the centre. I'd feel sorry for Emma if at times I wasn't annoyed at her own inconsistencies - though these may be down to writing style again. Emma is both generous, considerate, focused, un-focused (flitting between 'projects'), independent and soppy.
There are a lot of historical questions that I don't believe are answered, or perhaps even considered:
1) How can a middle/ working class family in America afford to send their working daughter to Ireland?
2) How can that same family (and indeed the girl herself) afford to keep extending that holiday?
3) What did Emma do for money? There is no mention of paying the hotel for her board and food, no mention of other purchases or costs, though she is posting letters home.
4) What about her laundry and luggage?
5) Where people able to access family history research in the local library then?
6) Was the 100 year restriction on personal details not in place then?
7) Would cuts and burns to the wrists really required 3 months recuperation?
8) Would there only be one housekeeping staff (and one cook whom we never meet) to help with the running of what is implied as a moderate to large hotel?
I'm in two minds about the plot itself - aside from having too much crammed into it. The blurb on the back focuses on the romance and the women's suffrage aspects of the story. However, my understanding of her visit to Ireland was to focus on learning more about her Grandmother. This is resolved - very quickly and briefly (with no apparent challenges or complications...the research in the library is glossed over, and the conversations with the workhouse manager answers all questions in short order) in the first quarter of the story, and should (in my mind) have been the end of the story. Or at least, the end of Emma's holiday! But instead, she gets involved with women's suffrage, caring for returning soldiers and sailors, and (for some reason) helping in the hotel!
I understand that women's suffrage is important to her, and caring for soldiers and sailors returning home likewise, but if she was sufficiently determined (which she must be if she's confident enough to travel alone and working to set up a local suffragette group) she should do both of these at home, regardless of any disapproval she might get from her family. So why stay?!
The romance between Emma and Thomas is inevitable. However, the where-and-wherefore are questionable given the time period. Would they really have agreed - hotel manager and his guest - to take a boating holiday together in 1911? Even if his friend was supposed to accompany them.
You may already anticipate that I have some misgivings about the characterisation. Although set in 1911 and 1912, the plot, dialogue and characters are (in my mind) written and read through a contemporary mind-set. The dialogue and actions particularly feel contemporary and inappropriate to the time period. Would people introduce themselves, part way through. conversation as "I'm FIRST NAME by the way"? Would Emma as a paying guest, however generous, help to set tables/ clear tables etc. in the hotel? Would the housekeeping staff really talk to and befriend guests? It all felt very informal.
We read the story through Thomas, Emma and Alice's perspective, with the hotel housemaid Aoiffe a key character.
Of the characters, I feel that Thomas is the least developed. He is supposed to paint, but aside from telling Emma that he has painted those pictures, we never see him paint. He is a manager of a hotel, but we never seem to see him really managing... occasionally when there is a social event, or he has a bit of shopping to do (but would't there be deliveries to a hotel, even in 1911?). We are told by several other characters that he is a good Catholic, but there is no evidence of this - he doesn't have a rosary, or a cross at his neck, or any imagery in the hotel, even in his office. In 12 months we should surely have had a glimpse? The only evidence of personal interest we have is his interest in rowing, which he is unable to pursue due to demands of his wife and the hotel.
The most well-founded character, I felt, was that of Alice. Self-absorbed, demanding and flirtatious though she may have been. She was at least consistent. Or at least, she was until the end. When during the sinking of the titanic she decides to help Emma and her unborn baby by sacrificing herself. This seems so out of character that it is almost ridiculous. Yes monumental events can change your perspectives, your views and intentions, but for us as readers this comes from left field. This would have been so much more effective if, prior to reading Emma's view of the tragedy, we were given insight into what Alice's reactions to the news of the crash.
Of all the events included in the story (fire at the clothing factory; insights into life in a workhouse - although limited; nationalist riots; suffragette protests and arrests; the promise of unmarried motherhood; sinking of the titanic) the last felt most like a shoe-horned item. I got very little flavour of the incident, certainly there was no indication of the listing of the boat. Whereas the fire had hungry flames, splintering timber and the smell of burning flesh, the sinking of the Titanic only had agitated passengers and lowering lifeboats. Perhaps this was down to the length of time the tragedy unfurled over. The factory fire was fairly immediate, whilst the Titanic took time (2 hours 40 minutes, although my understanding of the rapidity of the water filling the hull is that it would very soon have started to tilt!).
This was a story that had a lot of potential, but somehow didn't quite (to my mind at least) achieve it's aims. Sadly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2024
Set between 1911/1912 and moving between New York and Ireland, Maid of Steel is a wonderfully engrossing read that pulled me in from the start. From its dramatic beginning when a tragic event in New York drives Emma to Queenstown in southern Ireland, the birth country of her late grandmother, the reader is treated to a vividly described and poignant story with characters that I could really take to my heart (well mostly, there were one or two exceptions!)
Emma’s ongoing passion with suffrage and getting the vote for women hasn’t diminished upon her arrival in Queenstown. Indeed she is inspired by meeting likeminded women to take an active part and campaign harder, at times with the most unexpected repercussions. Her own family is never far from her mind though and the sadness there drives her on to improve life for others, in particular her volunteering work with the Soldier’s Home.
Emma is not the only character at the heart of this story. Hotelier Thomas and his awful actress wife Alice have pivotal roles in Emma’s life and Emma has to face the consequences.
There was so much to enjoy about this story. The detailed research undertaken is clear and the background themes of social injustice, religion and its prejudices, mental health and the fight for women’s rights give Emma plenty to consider whilst she delves into her own family history and the little that was known about her grandmother’s early life. The main characters have their flaws, Emma is brave but stubborn and at times reckless whilst Thomas’ considerate and compassionate nature was a joy but I willed him to show a bit more backbone where his wife was concerned. Strong supporting characters such as hotel maid Aoife deserve their place whilst the romance element and forbidden love add another dimension. As a Titanic obsessive, the inclusion of its tragic maiden voyage meant that I was desperately hoping that there would be a happy ending, however unlikely that seemed.
Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed this well written novel from Kate Baker I may have been a little sceptical as to how events ultimately unfolded. I can’t say any more because I’d be going into spoiler territory. Nevertheless this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment. Maid of Steel is a book I would recommend and I would certainly love to read more by this author.
Emma’s ongoing passion with suffrage and getting the vote for women hasn’t diminished upon her arrival in Queenstown. Indeed she is inspired by meeting likeminded women to take an active part and campaign harder, at times with the most unexpected repercussions. Her own family is never far from her mind though and the sadness there drives her on to improve life for others, in particular her volunteering work with the Soldier’s Home.
Emma is not the only character at the heart of this story. Hotelier Thomas and his awful actress wife Alice have pivotal roles in Emma’s life and Emma has to face the consequences.
There was so much to enjoy about this story. The detailed research undertaken is clear and the background themes of social injustice, religion and its prejudices, mental health and the fight for women’s rights give Emma plenty to consider whilst she delves into her own family history and the little that was known about her grandmother’s early life. The main characters have their flaws, Emma is brave but stubborn and at times reckless whilst Thomas’ considerate and compassionate nature was a joy but I willed him to show a bit more backbone where his wife was concerned. Strong supporting characters such as hotel maid Aoife deserve their place whilst the romance element and forbidden love add another dimension. As a Titanic obsessive, the inclusion of its tragic maiden voyage meant that I was desperately hoping that there would be a happy ending, however unlikely that seemed.
Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed this well written novel from Kate Baker I may have been a little sceptical as to how events ultimately unfolded. I can’t say any more because I’d be going into spoiler territory. Nevertheless this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment. Maid of Steel is a book I would recommend and I would certainly love to read more by this author.
February 28, 2023
It is always with some trepidation that I take on reviews of books that have been written by my friends. It is an exercise fraught with peril. Of course, having this platform that I do, I want to support my friends and help them tell the world about their books – and what a massive achievement it is to have even written a book and got it to publication stage, it is something I haven’t yet managed to achieve – but, at the same time, what happens if I read it and can’t sing its praises? I would never post a review on the blog that wasn’t my 100% honest opinion of the book and, having to tell a friend of yours that you didn’t like the novel they invested a huge chunk of their life and emotional energy in is an awkward conversation I’d rather not have.
This book, in particular, was one I worried about because Kate is a very dear friend of mine and she and I have been taking our writing journey together for the past six years. I have watched how she has poured blood, sweat and tears into this novel and explored every avenue to get it published. It is her debut, and I could not be more proud of this achievement and of her today and I want to do everything I can to support her (as you will have seen from her articles published here over the past few weeks) but, at the same time, this blog and the reputation I have built up here are important to me and I have to protect them.
Imagine my utter relief and joy, then, when I realised that this book is absolutely brilliant and I loved it from start to finish, rendering any fears and doubts utterly unnecessary (not that I really had any, I know how much work Kate put in, how much love, how much research, it could never have been anything but marvellous.)
The premise of this book is one that would have caught my eye, even had I not known the author, as it covers so many subjects I love. Romance, for starters, is one of my favourite genres. Feminism and suffrage are topics I am obsessed with and will pounce on almost any book covering them. The Titanic is endlessly fascinating to me as a topic, and I’ll read almost anything set in Ireland. She was on to a winner from the start with the plot of this book but, we all know that, however beguiling a plot sounds, the execution is all.
Luckily, the execution of the book is perfect. The book is so well constructed that I am speechless with admiration. Kate has managed to weave all of the different strands of the story she wanted to tell together seamlessly and naturally and the story flows effortlessly from start to finish. The characters develop completely naturally to the point that it seems inevitable the story will end as it does, no other outcome was possible. This is quite a feat, knowing as I do the twists and turns that the story took along the way to its final form. It has been fascinating to me to have this very personal insight into how a book was developed and then see its final rendering. As a writer, it has reminded me that what you see in the finished edition is not how things start out and so much work goes in to getting it to the right place for the reader. You’d never know from this book which feels like it someone is just telling you about events that happened organically. Nothing is forced or contrived, this can only be what actually happened.
There is so much period detail in this novel, it will delight the fans of historical writing to their core. The research that has gone in to writing about Ireland at this time, and the suffrage movement in particular, the use of real, events to not only place the story in time but enhance the plot, all the tiny details about the locations, they all just bring the story to life and make it sumptuous. I felt like I was transported to the era and could see, hear and smell the places as they were then. It is everything you could want from a piece of historical writing.
I thought it was important that I set out quite clearly the relationship I have with the author of this book, and how involved I have been with its journey, so you are fully informed when assessing the veracity of my review. That being said, hand on heart as a blogger and someone who cares deeply about the honesty of her reviews on this platform in which I have invested over six years of my life, I can honestly say that I absolutely adored this novel. I devoured it in only two sittings and it left me with a deep sense of contentment and joy at having read something that gave me so much pleasure. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who likes historical romance novels, I know you will enjoy it too. But you don’t have to take my word for it, there will be lots more reviews coming up on the blog tour detailed on the poster below.
And Kate, your book is absolutely wonderful, I could not be more proud of you and pleased for you, it deserves to do wonderfully now it is finally in the hands of readers.
This book, in particular, was one I worried about because Kate is a very dear friend of mine and she and I have been taking our writing journey together for the past six years. I have watched how she has poured blood, sweat and tears into this novel and explored every avenue to get it published. It is her debut, and I could not be more proud of this achievement and of her today and I want to do everything I can to support her (as you will have seen from her articles published here over the past few weeks) but, at the same time, this blog and the reputation I have built up here are important to me and I have to protect them.
Imagine my utter relief and joy, then, when I realised that this book is absolutely brilliant and I loved it from start to finish, rendering any fears and doubts utterly unnecessary (not that I really had any, I know how much work Kate put in, how much love, how much research, it could never have been anything but marvellous.)
The premise of this book is one that would have caught my eye, even had I not known the author, as it covers so many subjects I love. Romance, for starters, is one of my favourite genres. Feminism and suffrage are topics I am obsessed with and will pounce on almost any book covering them. The Titanic is endlessly fascinating to me as a topic, and I’ll read almost anything set in Ireland. She was on to a winner from the start with the plot of this book but, we all know that, however beguiling a plot sounds, the execution is all.
Luckily, the execution of the book is perfect. The book is so well constructed that I am speechless with admiration. Kate has managed to weave all of the different strands of the story she wanted to tell together seamlessly and naturally and the story flows effortlessly from start to finish. The characters develop completely naturally to the point that it seems inevitable the story will end as it does, no other outcome was possible. This is quite a feat, knowing as I do the twists and turns that the story took along the way to its final form. It has been fascinating to me to have this very personal insight into how a book was developed and then see its final rendering. As a writer, it has reminded me that what you see in the finished edition is not how things start out and so much work goes in to getting it to the right place for the reader. You’d never know from this book which feels like it someone is just telling you about events that happened organically. Nothing is forced or contrived, this can only be what actually happened.
There is so much period detail in this novel, it will delight the fans of historical writing to their core. The research that has gone in to writing about Ireland at this time, and the suffrage movement in particular, the use of real, events to not only place the story in time but enhance the plot, all the tiny details about the locations, they all just bring the story to life and make it sumptuous. I felt like I was transported to the era and could see, hear and smell the places as they were then. It is everything you could want from a piece of historical writing.
I thought it was important that I set out quite clearly the relationship I have with the author of this book, and how involved I have been with its journey, so you are fully informed when assessing the veracity of my review. That being said, hand on heart as a blogger and someone who cares deeply about the honesty of her reviews on this platform in which I have invested over six years of my life, I can honestly say that I absolutely adored this novel. I devoured it in only two sittings and it left me with a deep sense of contentment and joy at having read something that gave me so much pleasure. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who likes historical romance novels, I know you will enjoy it too. But you don’t have to take my word for it, there will be lots more reviews coming up on the blog tour detailed on the poster below.
And Kate, your book is absolutely wonderful, I could not be more proud of you and pleased for you, it deserves to do wonderfully now it is finally in the hands of readers.
April 2, 2024
In 1911 suffragettes are trying to gain the vote for women as well as get them equal rights. Emma is planning on attending a rally with her best friend that is coming up soon. Emma works in a garment factory and when they get to work, they are locked in. When a fire breaks out, most of the women are killed, including her best friend Martine. Emma is saved from the roof, but not without injuries and PTSD. Her parents think she needs a rest and want to her to and stay with relatives, but she wants to go to Ireland, and visit the places that her grandmother told her about. Her mother is all for it and Emma heads of to Southern Ireland. She stays in Queenstown at the hotel owned by Alice and Thomas. Thomas manages the hotel while Alice is off trying to become a famous actress. It's been eight years since they married and they are not in love at all. She is not loyal to Thomas, but they are catholic, so stay together. Thomas helps Emma to discover some family secrets and they begin to develop feelings for one another. Emma also takes up the banner for suffrage and finds direction in her life. When a love affair with Thomas causes problems, she decides it is time to go home, on the Titanic.
There is a lot to love about this story. I really enjoyed learning more about the Suffrage movement in both Ireland and New York. The way the women were treated while working, being abused, having children out of wedlock, was terrible. We sure owe a debt to these strong women. Thomas was such a great character. He put up with a lot and never complained. He was respected by everyone in the village and played important roles in the village and their activities. I loved how he took Emma under his wing to help her heal and discover her families secrets. Alice was extremely narcissistic and I didn't like her much at the beginning, but she does redeem herself and you will have to read this one to find out how. Another historical aspect I learned about were the Soldiers homes in Ireland. I had never heard of them before and read some articles online about the reason they were opened, by a woman of course. This is a story of personal growth, new beginnings, women's history, support for soldiers and of course, romance. I definitely recommend this one and thank Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources and Kate Baker for the opportunity to read and review this book.
There is a lot to love about this story. I really enjoyed learning more about the Suffrage movement in both Ireland and New York. The way the women were treated while working, being abused, having children out of wedlock, was terrible. We sure owe a debt to these strong women. Thomas was such a great character. He put up with a lot and never complained. He was respected by everyone in the village and played important roles in the village and their activities. I loved how he took Emma under his wing to help her heal and discover her families secrets. Alice was extremely narcissistic and I didn't like her much at the beginning, but she does redeem herself and you will have to read this one to find out how. Another historical aspect I learned about were the Soldiers homes in Ireland. I had never heard of them before and read some articles online about the reason they were opened, by a woman of course. This is a story of personal growth, new beginnings, women's history, support for soldiers and of course, romance. I definitely recommend this one and thank Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources and Kate Baker for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 9, 2023
The story begins in Manhattan, USA in March 1911. We meet Emma Quinn and her friend Martina who are both supporters of the American Women’s Suffrage Association. They work at the Joseph Cobb factory, making clothes. Joseph Cobb is an unpleasant man and Emma hates her job. But then there’s a tragedy which changes things forever…
Meanwhile, in Southern Ireland, we meet Alice Murphy. She is an actress, married to Thomas who runs a hotel on the coast. The marriage was arranged by her father ten years ago and isn’t a very happy one, so she has found lovers over the years – some to benefit her career, others for more personal reasons. Her life is seemingly full of secrets…
Emma leaves America and travels to Queenstown in Ireland, where her grandparents were from. She has booked a three-month stay at The Admiral hotel, which is run by Thomas.
The book starts in a very exciting way, drawing the readers into the story immediately. I took to Emma straight away and wanted to know how her story progressed. She has faced a lot of really hard times and you hope she gets the happy ending she deserves.
Alice is absolutely horrible. She treats everyone badly, unless she’s trying to win an acting part she wants and then she is incredibly obliging (if you know what I mean). She is selfish, ruthless and rude. She treats Thomas very badly and when she sees him spending time with Emma, she starts being vile to Emma too.
Thomas, however, is a really sweet and kind man who deserves a much better life than being with Alice.
As well as following the lives of the main characters, we also meet other people in Queenstown and there are many interesting ones here, especially Aoife (who works at the hotel) and Mary, an older woman she befriends.
I really enjoyed the historical setting and also finding out about the time and place Emma’s grandparents were from. The theme of women’s suffrage is also interesting to me and the coronation of King George V, which features in the book, as I am a big fan of the monarchy.
The combination of history and romance is beautifully done, everything felt very authentic and the characters are just wonderful. An impressive debut novel indeed!
Meanwhile, in Southern Ireland, we meet Alice Murphy. She is an actress, married to Thomas who runs a hotel on the coast. The marriage was arranged by her father ten years ago and isn’t a very happy one, so she has found lovers over the years – some to benefit her career, others for more personal reasons. Her life is seemingly full of secrets…
Emma leaves America and travels to Queenstown in Ireland, where her grandparents were from. She has booked a three-month stay at The Admiral hotel, which is run by Thomas.
The book starts in a very exciting way, drawing the readers into the story immediately. I took to Emma straight away and wanted to know how her story progressed. She has faced a lot of really hard times and you hope she gets the happy ending she deserves.
Alice is absolutely horrible. She treats everyone badly, unless she’s trying to win an acting part she wants and then she is incredibly obliging (if you know what I mean). She is selfish, ruthless and rude. She treats Thomas very badly and when she sees him spending time with Emma, she starts being vile to Emma too.
Thomas, however, is a really sweet and kind man who deserves a much better life than being with Alice.
As well as following the lives of the main characters, we also meet other people in Queenstown and there are many interesting ones here, especially Aoife (who works at the hotel) and Mary, an older woman she befriends.
I really enjoyed the historical setting and also finding out about the time and place Emma’s grandparents were from. The theme of women’s suffrage is also interesting to me and the coronation of King George V, which features in the book, as I am a big fan of the monarchy.
The combination of history and romance is beautifully done, everything felt very authentic and the characters are just wonderful. An impressive debut novel indeed!
March 11, 2023
I’m a sucker for a beautiful book cover and this was with it’s art deco design with the shiny gold on the blue grabs the attention. It calls to you to pick it up from the bookshelf and read.
Once inside it’s the words that captured me. Within pages, I was thrown into Emma’s life, her grief for her twin and hatred of injustice. Highly visual, I could easily imagine the initial dramatic scenes unfolding hooking me into the story. From New York to Ireland, this novel’s sense of place is as strong as the women living there. I’ve never been to any of these places, but I was there walking instep with Emma, Alice and Thomas whether it was across Brooklyn Bridge, celebrating the King’s coronation or protesting for women’s rights.
With a forbidden love story, there are characters to love and hate but all well formed and relatable. While both women entangled in the relationship with Thomas are strong and determined to fulfil their dreams, each sees the same person through different lens adding to the dynamic. This is more than a romance, it is a story of self-discovery, finding the past and the future.
The side characters, such as the inspiring Mrs Walsh hold as much intrigue as the protagonists. Moments and personalities from history are blended into fiction effortlessly so I learnt things I never knew about suffrage, Ireland and this important time period without realising which is how I love my historical fiction. It left me feeling great respect for Mrs Walsh, those involved in the suffrage movement and living during the Irish famine when tough decisions had to be made.
All in all, this is a memorable read which reminds me of Lucinda Riley’s the Seven Sisters series with its heart, emotion and accessible historical depth and I can’t wait to read more of Kate’s work in the future.
Once inside it’s the words that captured me. Within pages, I was thrown into Emma’s life, her grief for her twin and hatred of injustice. Highly visual, I could easily imagine the initial dramatic scenes unfolding hooking me into the story. From New York to Ireland, this novel’s sense of place is as strong as the women living there. I’ve never been to any of these places, but I was there walking instep with Emma, Alice and Thomas whether it was across Brooklyn Bridge, celebrating the King’s coronation or protesting for women’s rights.
With a forbidden love story, there are characters to love and hate but all well formed and relatable. While both women entangled in the relationship with Thomas are strong and determined to fulfil their dreams, each sees the same person through different lens adding to the dynamic. This is more than a romance, it is a story of self-discovery, finding the past and the future.
The side characters, such as the inspiring Mrs Walsh hold as much intrigue as the protagonists. Moments and personalities from history are blended into fiction effortlessly so I learnt things I never knew about suffrage, Ireland and this important time period without realising which is how I love my historical fiction. It left me feeling great respect for Mrs Walsh, those involved in the suffrage movement and living during the Irish famine when tough decisions had to be made.
All in all, this is a memorable read which reminds me of Lucinda Riley’s the Seven Sisters series with its heart, emotion and accessible historical depth and I can’t wait to read more of Kate’s work in the future.
March 8, 2023
Emma’s life is about to change.
Maid of Steel opens with exciting drama that I wasn’t expecting, but that drew me in to the narrative instantly and set the tone for Emma’s personality that was developed through the rest of the story. I felt compelled to read on.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of Maid of Steel. Firstly it has obviously been assiduously researched so that it is convincing and transports the reader to 1911 with clarity and authority. Kate Baker blends the real events of the era with a fictionalised story that is entertaining and captivating. I had no previous idea about the soldiers’ homes for example. This educational element to Maid of Steel gave it depth and gravitas.
Secondly, Maid of Steel has an entertaining, brisk, episodic plot too that would make it ideal for adaptation to a television series. I could also envision it as a hugely successful west end play in the style of Les Miserables.
I found the characterisation engendered strong reactions in me as a reader. Emma is by no means perfect. She can be foolhardy and reckless in behaviour, but I found I admired her totally. In contrast, I loathed Alice until towards the end of Maid of Steel when I discovered more about her. It was Thomas whom I found most fascinating though because I couldn’t decide how I felt about him. At times he seems weak, almost insipid and I despised him, and then in contrast he is seen to have self-control and moral integrity despite strong feelings and passions so that he is quite admirable even if mercurial. This made him really interesting to consider. Alongside the main characters, the more minor ones are equally realistic and interesting.
Dramatic, pacy story and great characterisation aside, however, I think it’s the sense of society, and specifically social injustice, that hooked me in so entirely. Women’s suffrage, Home Rule, the impact of church, state and societal expectation, sexuality and class all combine into a rich tapestry of fascination, making Maid of Steel a great read.
I was impressed by Maid of Steel because it is highly entertaining. It’s packed with historical detail. It’s dramatic and it gives a credible sense of history through interesting characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Maid of Steel opens with exciting drama that I wasn’t expecting, but that drew me in to the narrative instantly and set the tone for Emma’s personality that was developed through the rest of the story. I felt compelled to read on.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of Maid of Steel. Firstly it has obviously been assiduously researched so that it is convincing and transports the reader to 1911 with clarity and authority. Kate Baker blends the real events of the era with a fictionalised story that is entertaining and captivating. I had no previous idea about the soldiers’ homes for example. This educational element to Maid of Steel gave it depth and gravitas.
Secondly, Maid of Steel has an entertaining, brisk, episodic plot too that would make it ideal for adaptation to a television series. I could also envision it as a hugely successful west end play in the style of Les Miserables.
I found the characterisation engendered strong reactions in me as a reader. Emma is by no means perfect. She can be foolhardy and reckless in behaviour, but I found I admired her totally. In contrast, I loathed Alice until towards the end of Maid of Steel when I discovered more about her. It was Thomas whom I found most fascinating though because I couldn’t decide how I felt about him. At times he seems weak, almost insipid and I despised him, and then in contrast he is seen to have self-control and moral integrity despite strong feelings and passions so that he is quite admirable even if mercurial. This made him really interesting to consider. Alongside the main characters, the more minor ones are equally realistic and interesting.
Dramatic, pacy story and great characterisation aside, however, I think it’s the sense of society, and specifically social injustice, that hooked me in so entirely. Women’s suffrage, Home Rule, the impact of church, state and societal expectation, sexuality and class all combine into a rich tapestry of fascination, making Maid of Steel a great read.
I was impressed by Maid of Steel because it is highly entertaining. It’s packed with historical detail. It’s dramatic and it gives a credible sense of history through interesting characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
March 2, 2023
Maid of Steel is such an enjoyable read! I love a book that teaches me something new—whether it’s about history, a location, or even something about myself. I learned from this story. Even though it’s a work of fiction, it is infused with actual history. And even though I’ve visited Ireland several times, I absorbed images and aspects I didn’t gain by visiting.
I connected to Emma quickly and admired her desire to be involved in the suffrage movement, even if it went against her mother’s wishes. I empathized with her and rooted for her.
The author is a wonderful storyteller, delivering a compelling tale with history, mystery, discovery, and romance. If you enjoy wonderful settings and historical romance, this debut book is a win.
First Line: Bright sunshine made no difference to the March temperature, nor did it dry the puddles which covered the surface of Brooklyn Bridge in a rash of reflective measles.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Kate Baker
Page Count: 312
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
I connected to Emma quickly and admired her desire to be involved in the suffrage movement, even if it went against her mother’s wishes. I empathized with her and rooted for her.
The author is a wonderful storyteller, delivering a compelling tale with history, mystery, discovery, and romance. If you enjoy wonderful settings and historical romance, this debut book is a win.
First Line: Bright sunshine made no difference to the March temperature, nor did it dry the puddles which covered the surface of Brooklyn Bridge in a rash of reflective measles.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Kate Baker
Page Count: 312
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
June 22, 2024
3.5 stars
This book is rooted in history, and the author's research clearly shows. It was interesting to learn about Irish history, the suffrage movement etc. was fascinating, and really got a sense of time and place.
However, I feel it perhaps had a few too many strands, meaning there wasn't much chance to absorb, reflect, and feel, before we had moved on to the next thing. I understand it was a period of time where a lot happened, but perhaps less time could have been covered to mitigate that. Then we could have had a series!
Characters seemingly "got over" events quickly, or forgave things within a couple of sentences. I think again this is where the pacing of the book affected it. That being said, the characters are great, and even ones you should hate you feel for in some way. I would get a bit tearful, or frustrated - and I like a book that can make me feel things.
The writing is good, and no word felt wasted. I will definitely look out for future books from the author. Also, just a brief mention to the cover artist - stunning cover!
This book is rooted in history, and the author's research clearly shows. It was interesting to learn about Irish history, the suffrage movement etc. was fascinating, and really got a sense of time and place.
However, I feel it perhaps had a few too many strands, meaning there wasn't much chance to absorb, reflect, and feel, before we had moved on to the next thing. I understand it was a period of time where a lot happened, but perhaps less time could have been covered to mitigate that. Then we could have had a series!
Characters seemingly "got over" events quickly, or forgave things within a couple of sentences. I think again this is where the pacing of the book affected it. That being said, the characters are great, and even ones you should hate you feel for in some way. I would get a bit tearful, or frustrated - and I like a book that can make me feel things.
The writing is good, and no word felt wasted. I will definitely look out for future books from the author. Also, just a brief mention to the cover artist - stunning cover!
February 28, 2023
From beautiful cover, through lovely pages and story that hooks your from the first chapter to unexpected twist at the end. Absolutely perfect debut novel! This book had it all and even though I've read hundreds of books, I've not read one about suffragette movement in US or Europe so this was not only a wonderful read but very educational for me in a way.
Full of strong characters with perfectly built personalities. Some you will love, some you root for and some, well, you wouldn't enjoy a company of, to put it lightly. Great amount of description to set the scene but not too much so you have enough space for your imagination to take over. And dialogue was just spot on. It really felt like listening to people talking rather than just reading their words.
I certainly hope there will be more similarly well written books coming from this author soon as it was really enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
Full of strong characters with perfectly built personalities. Some you will love, some you root for and some, well, you wouldn't enjoy a company of, to put it lightly. Great amount of description to set the scene but not too much so you have enough space for your imagination to take over. And dialogue was just spot on. It really felt like listening to people talking rather than just reading their words.
I certainly hope there will be more similarly well written books coming from this author soon as it was really enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
March 16, 2023
Maid of Steel is by a new-to-me author, Kate Baker, and I was very surprised to learn that this is her debut novel. The story drew me in right away with its many likeable characters and much of the story line taking place in Ireland. Emma, a young American who is injured in a factory fire where she works, is sent by her parents to spend some time recuperating in Ireland. While in Ireland, Emma works on not only healing herself but also on being useful by volunteering at the local Soldier's Home and starting a local chapter for women's suffrage, growing as a woman. My only complaint is that it felt like the very end, the last chapter or so, were rushed and the various story lines ended just a little too neatly. Other than that, a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2023
such a nice and pleasant read! (except for the anxiety it briefly gave me) I love novels taking place in Ireland, even more so with fantastic romances in them.
for the first half of the book I came back more for the characters than the plot and then things took a turn and I was HOOKED.
it's amazing how much tension one can create without any type of smut, the love story was so endearing I'm obsessed. I need a Thomas in my life
Emma is a feminist legend and I loved how she took an interest in soldiers and their mental health, she was such a layered character!
this achieved to interest me in the titanic's story, I'll be watching documentaries on it very soon🫡
for the first half of the book I came back more for the characters than the plot and then things took a turn and I was HOOKED.
it's amazing how much tension one can create without any type of smut, the love story was so endearing I'm obsessed. I need a Thomas in my life
Emma is a feminist legend and I loved how she took an interest in soldiers and their mental health, she was such a layered character!
this achieved to interest me in the titanic's story, I'll be watching documentaries on it very soon🫡
March 6, 2023
Emma and Martina are inseparable young women living in the heart of New York in 1911. When tragedy strikes, Emma has little choice but to accept the kindness of others far from home in Queenstown, Ireland. Emma retraces her family heritage, immersing her time in researching her grandmother’s intriguing tales and treasured possessions.
The writing contains some lovely lines, ‘It was the fact that neither of you judged me’ pg. 68 – isn’t that what we all want in life! ‘They wouldn’t have cared if you’d been at the front wielding a machete, or at the back reading a novel’ pg. 225 - so fitting for that particular scene.
I loved the range of characters and their traits – you know straight away who you’re cheering for and who you’d avoid. Though love or loathe, the author has shown a rounded nature for each character. The descriptions and setting pinpoints the historical context, the fight for women’s rights, the community/relationships and the personal values upheld in the early 20th century. Plus, a beautiful love story under difficult circumstances.
A fabulous debut by Kate Baker - definitely a new author to add to my reading list.
The writing contains some lovely lines, ‘It was the fact that neither of you judged me’ pg. 68 – isn’t that what we all want in life! ‘They wouldn’t have cared if you’d been at the front wielding a machete, or at the back reading a novel’ pg. 225 - so fitting for that particular scene.
I loved the range of characters and their traits – you know straight away who you’re cheering for and who you’d avoid. Though love or loathe, the author has shown a rounded nature for each character. The descriptions and setting pinpoints the historical context, the fight for women’s rights, the community/relationships and the personal values upheld in the early 20th century. Plus, a beautiful love story under difficult circumstances.
A fabulous debut by Kate Baker - definitely a new author to add to my reading list.
February 13, 2023
Hugely enjoyed this debut novel from Kate Baker - well paced writing and plot and it was interesting to read about the Irish women's fight for the vote - this completely different setting fully drew me in.
March 2, 2023
If I had to choose just one thing that I really admired about this book, it would be how well the author has captured and portrayed the time period. She has clearly conducted extensive research and it has really paid off in this novel.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
May 31, 2023
Emma is a young suffragette who tragically loses her best friend in a factory fire that leaves herself scarred and burned forever. Her parents send their stubborn “unladylike” daughter to Ireland to recover, not realizing the scandals in store. Emma meets Thomas, the hotel owner of The Admiral, and doesn’t realize her life is going to change forever.
Thomas is a quiet hotel owner in Queenstown, Ireland who is a ghost in his own life. Eight years ago, Victor, a wealthy hotel owner, bought out his ailing mother’s boarding house and promised his daughter’s hand in marriage. Victor promised that love would come in time, but eight years later, Thomas is less sure of that than ever before. He will do whatever it takes to fulfill his catholic beliefs, to be a husband to Alice (even if she resents him for it), and to look over any discretions she may act upon. Thomas is at a crossroads: accept the fate he knows and despises, or go against everything he believes in for a chance at true love?
Alice is a devoted actress. She seemingly gets what she wants by any means and by any person it takes. She was devastated when her father prearranged a groom her her, ruining her girlhood dreams of wedding for love. She resents Thomas and his quiet ways, mistaking his quiet self depreciating acts of service as a weakness of character. She freely sleeps with whomever will further her career, but her heart is back at the hotel where her true love, her secret lover awaits. Can she have the career AND the love she desires?
****SPOILERS BELOW****
I’ll start by saying I absolutely love that the historical fiction of the suffragette movement and in the end she includes the titanic.
I wanted to like this book a lot but I STRUGGLED with the drearily slow pace for the first 70% of this book. In a literal sense, I’m glad she included that Emma got pregnant from losing her virginity, but in a literary sense it was very “purity pushing” for me. There were multiple chapters that ended on a tenuous note and the next chapter doesn’t address what happened, it just skips over it entirely and goes to days or weeks later.
For example, when Thomas and Emma have sex for the first (and only recorded in this book) time, the description of it was blindingly vague and coy and disjointed. I honestly thought they just made out and got hands until I read that she was pregnant 4 months later. He then says he thought he was careful because he didn’t completely have sex, but she knew they did because she felt him? Helloooo??? I desperately need more explanation than that!!
Little ticks like that littered in this book removed me from the story completely. In the last 30%, things pick up and there is genuine tension to turn the page, but it again ends in anticlimactic disappointment when Thomas won’t leave his wife who is with another woman but he will raise his daughter with an unwed woman and that’s not going to cause more shame and disappointment in the catholic community? Repentance is to turn away from sin, so he couldn’t repent for his affair when he’s living and acting out in it still. There’s a reason why annulments exist and Alice’s affairs their entire relationship gave him just enough reason time over again to have an annulment.
Finally, the preemie baby issue. 32 weekers have just developed the suck swallow reflex and with her being underweight it is unlikely she would’ve been able to avoid failure to thrive. The incubator issue, while I love it was included, frustrated me also. At the time in New York, incubators were used almost exclusively in Couney Island, New York, by Dr.Couney who sold tickets to raise money to keep them operating because hospitals (like the dr in the story) refused. It would’ve been an awesome extra historical nugget to include in the story to make it all the more believable. I am grateful the baby lived in the story though!
For all of those reasons, I wanted to give this book four stars but I just could not. It is a beautiful historical fiction, and with more practice and editing, I cannot wait to see future publications from this author as she continues to grow and hone her genuine talents of storytelling.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this copy for an unbiased review of this intriguing breakthrough novel!
Thomas is a quiet hotel owner in Queenstown, Ireland who is a ghost in his own life. Eight years ago, Victor, a wealthy hotel owner, bought out his ailing mother’s boarding house and promised his daughter’s hand in marriage. Victor promised that love would come in time, but eight years later, Thomas is less sure of that than ever before. He will do whatever it takes to fulfill his catholic beliefs, to be a husband to Alice (even if she resents him for it), and to look over any discretions she may act upon. Thomas is at a crossroads: accept the fate he knows and despises, or go against everything he believes in for a chance at true love?
Alice is a devoted actress. She seemingly gets what she wants by any means and by any person it takes. She was devastated when her father prearranged a groom her her, ruining her girlhood dreams of wedding for love. She resents Thomas and his quiet ways, mistaking his quiet self depreciating acts of service as a weakness of character. She freely sleeps with whomever will further her career, but her heart is back at the hotel where her true love, her secret lover awaits. Can she have the career AND the love she desires?
****SPOILERS BELOW****
I’ll start by saying I absolutely love that the historical fiction of the suffragette movement and in the end she includes the titanic.
I wanted to like this book a lot but I STRUGGLED with the drearily slow pace for the first 70% of this book. In a literal sense, I’m glad she included that Emma got pregnant from losing her virginity, but in a literary sense it was very “purity pushing” for me. There were multiple chapters that ended on a tenuous note and the next chapter doesn’t address what happened, it just skips over it entirely and goes to days or weeks later.
For example, when Thomas and Emma have sex for the first (and only recorded in this book) time, the description of it was blindingly vague and coy and disjointed. I honestly thought they just made out and got hands until I read that she was pregnant 4 months later. He then says he thought he was careful because he didn’t completely have sex, but she knew they did because she felt him? Helloooo??? I desperately need more explanation than that!!
Little ticks like that littered in this book removed me from the story completely. In the last 30%, things pick up and there is genuine tension to turn the page, but it again ends in anticlimactic disappointment when Thomas won’t leave his wife who is with another woman but he will raise his daughter with an unwed woman and that’s not going to cause more shame and disappointment in the catholic community? Repentance is to turn away from sin, so he couldn’t repent for his affair when he’s living and acting out in it still. There’s a reason why annulments exist and Alice’s affairs their entire relationship gave him just enough reason time over again to have an annulment.
Finally, the preemie baby issue. 32 weekers have just developed the suck swallow reflex and with her being underweight it is unlikely she would’ve been able to avoid failure to thrive. The incubator issue, while I love it was included, frustrated me also. At the time in New York, incubators were used almost exclusively in Couney Island, New York, by Dr.Couney who sold tickets to raise money to keep them operating because hospitals (like the dr in the story) refused. It would’ve been an awesome extra historical nugget to include in the story to make it all the more believable. I am grateful the baby lived in the story though!
For all of those reasons, I wanted to give this book four stars but I just could not. It is a beautiful historical fiction, and with more practice and editing, I cannot wait to see future publications from this author as she continues to grow and hone her genuine talents of storytelling.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this copy for an unbiased review of this intriguing breakthrough novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2023
Maid of Steel is a pretty run-of-the-mill historical fiction. Not overly enthralling, but not super boring either, it kind of hovers the line. The writing itself is very good, and the character development is very easy to visualize.
Emma is a young woman from New York City who after undergoing an intense event retreats to Ireland to find herself again. While she's there, she meets a hotelier named Thomas and finds out who she is really meant to be.
The story of the book is really compelling, and I enjoyed the setting and seeing the characters interact with one another. Although I did like the story itself, the book was a little underbaked. The plot sped along too fast, and the initial event at the beginning's characters lacked the depth necessary to invest us all the way. The love story in the book felt very forced, and I wasn't able to see why it was worth it. The main characters all feel a little bit contrived and one-dimensional; like they're all stereotypes meant to further the story without finding more depth in the individuals. Some of Emma's core values fade in and out when it's convenient, such as her suffragette beliefs. She acts on them and believes them when it's convenient, but when it's not they tend to get forgotten.
The closing act of the book is very rushed,
Thank you for coming to my ted talk rant. Overall the negatives don't outweigh the positives, and I think that this book would be the perfect show/movie adaptation.
Big thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for letting me have an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Ideal Casting:
⭐️Emma: Olivia Cook
⭐️Thomas: Dan Stevens
⭐️Alice: Eve Hewson
⭐️Aoife: Sophie McShera
Emma is a young woman from New York City who after undergoing an intense event retreats to Ireland to find herself again. While she's there, she meets a hotelier named Thomas and finds out who she is really meant to be.
The story of the book is really compelling, and I enjoyed the setting and seeing the characters interact with one another. Although I did like the story itself, the book was a little underbaked. The plot sped along too fast, and the initial event at the beginning's characters lacked the depth necessary to invest us all the way. The love story in the book felt very forced, and I wasn't able to see why it was worth it. The main characters all feel a little bit contrived and one-dimensional; like they're all stereotypes meant to further the story without finding more depth in the individuals. Some of Emma's core values fade in and out when it's convenient, such as her suffragette beliefs. She acts on them and believes them when it's convenient, but when it's not they tend to get forgotten.
The closing act of the book is very rushed,
Thank you for coming to my ted talk rant. Overall the negatives don't outweigh the positives, and I think that this book would be the perfect show/movie adaptation.
Big thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for letting me have an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Ideal Casting:
⭐️Emma: Olivia Cook
⭐️Thomas: Dan Stevens
⭐️Alice: Eve Hewson
⭐️Aoife: Sophie McShera
February 28, 2023
Coming across this book with the Brooklyn Bridge and the Titanic ship on its beautiful cover is what made me pick this book up, but reading the first few paragraphs drew me in and kept me turning the pages. A beautiful heart breaking story about love, the suffragette movement and about how you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
This is a debut novel and the writing is impeccable!
The author introduces you to the characters and sets the stage for a beautiful yet tragic time in the lives of Emma and Alice. The development of her characters drew you in and the triumphs and tragedies that laid in the pages that followed were brilliantly written.
It is not often you find a debut author who writes such a fantastic novel but bravo to Ms. Baker, I can only hope she has more stories coming to print in the future!
Highly recommend this novel.
This is a debut novel and the writing is impeccable!
The author introduces you to the characters and sets the stage for a beautiful yet tragic time in the lives of Emma and Alice. The development of her characters drew you in and the triumphs and tragedies that laid in the pages that followed were brilliantly written.
It is not often you find a debut author who writes such a fantastic novel but bravo to Ms. Baker, I can only hope she has more stories coming to print in the future!
Highly recommend this novel.
March 9, 2025
The beautiful cover alone piqued my interest in this book, and reading the synopsis I just knew that I was going to love it and I really did!
Such an exciting start to the story, I was completely drawn into the going’s on and it did not let up at all throughout the book!
Such wonderful characters and an amazing storyline, a great combination of historical fiction and a heartwarming romance.
I found the details well written and very informative and I loved the unexpected moments too!
A brilliant first novel, I’m already looking forward to reading more from this fantastic author.
Such an exciting start to the story, I was completely drawn into the going’s on and it did not let up at all throughout the book!
Such wonderful characters and an amazing storyline, a great combination of historical fiction and a heartwarming romance.
I found the details well written and very informative and I loved the unexpected moments too!
A brilliant first novel, I’m already looking forward to reading more from this fantastic author.
August 16, 2023
Good
I enjoyed this book and found the descriptions of the time period with the right to vote and the Titanic.
I enjoyed this book and found the descriptions of the time period with the right to vote and the Titanic.
March 7, 2023
Already mourning the death of her twin brother under particularly tragic circumstances, Emma herself becomes involved in an escape from a life-threatening situation at her workplace in New York’s garment district – a dramatic start, and a strong introduction to our heroine and her friendships, and their shared interest in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. To help her recovery, she travels to Queenstown in southern Ireland – her grandmother’s former home, and an opportunity to explore her own roots and the dark history of workhouses and female oppression. Her passion for universal suffrage certainly hasn’t dimmed as her parents might have hoped, as she becomes involved with the Women’s Suffrage Society in Cork, rallying the women of Queenstown to join the fight. But this is her more personal story too – her new friendships, and a sense of purpose and belonging. It’s also the story of her developing close relationship with Thomas who runs the hotel where she’s staying, his wife Alice largely absent while pursuing her career on the stage – and that forbidden relationship certainly has its consequences.
I won’t tell more of the story – the author does it far better, and its many twists and turns are for the reader to discover. The romance at its centre was entirely convincing, heart-wrenching and particularly poignant – the book’s characters are really well-drawn, and I felt deeply for them through their trials and tribulations and desperately wanted them to have their unlikely happy ending. The historical aspects are excellent too – the depth of the author’s research very evident, and particularly well utilised to breathe life into the story. And then there’s the drama – and there’s considerably more to come as the story unfolds, along with a few real surprises, and I found the pages turning ever faster.
The author’s acknowledgements are almost as compelling a read as the story itself – her long struggle to bring this book into being, and a testament to both her own tenacity and the support of the wider writing community. And this is a book of which she should be justifiably proud – I’ll be very much looking forward to seeing where her journey takes her next.
I won’t tell more of the story – the author does it far better, and its many twists and turns are for the reader to discover. The romance at its centre was entirely convincing, heart-wrenching and particularly poignant – the book’s characters are really well-drawn, and I felt deeply for them through their trials and tribulations and desperately wanted them to have their unlikely happy ending. The historical aspects are excellent too – the depth of the author’s research very evident, and particularly well utilised to breathe life into the story. And then there’s the drama – and there’s considerably more to come as the story unfolds, along with a few real surprises, and I found the pages turning ever faster.
The author’s acknowledgements are almost as compelling a read as the story itself – her long struggle to bring this book into being, and a testament to both her own tenacity and the support of the wider writing community. And this is a book of which she should be justifiably proud – I’ll be very much looking forward to seeing where her journey takes her next.
March 11, 2023
It’s 1911, the suffrage movement is now making waves in New York and Emma wants to be part of this very important group. But after a horrific incident at her workplace she is sent to Queenstown in Ireland by her parents under the disguise of recuperating and learning about her grandparents in the hope that it will distance her thoughts about being part of the suffrage movement. In Queenstown Emma stays at a hotel owned by Thomas who is trapped in a loveless marriage to Alice. Emma finds herself bringing the suffrage movement to Queenstown and becomes involves in the Irish Women’s Suffrage Society in Cork. As Thomas and Emma spend time together something develops between them that is more than friendship and while researching Emma uncovers family secrets that have been left dormant for many years.
I have always enjoyed reading books in the historical fiction genre, but I haven’t read a book that deals with the suffrage movement so this was such an interesting read. Although this is a fictional book, it really did bring home the sacrifices and braveness of the women who took part in the suffrage movement and changed history. They proved that women could do anything and were not limited to being a wife, cook and mother.
I found myself reading this book quite quickly. The chapters were short and the story was engaging and intriguing. I really liked Emma’s character as soon as she was introduced. She is strong minded and we learn early on that she wants to be part of the suffrage movement because she wants to make a difference. Emma also carries a lot of guilt around with her regarding the death of her twin brother who was a soldier that committed suicide and the death of her best friend during a fire at the factory where they worked. It’s partly these events that drive her and make her very determined to bring about change. When Emma arrives in Queenstown she is focused on learning more about her grandparent’s journey to America but she also realised that the suffrage movement isn’t quite in full flow as it is in New York. So she decides to kick start it by learning more about the residents of Queenstown and rallying the women to start speaking up. Thomas seemed very different from the other men of the time. He entered into what I can only describe as an arranged manage and manages a hotel that belonged to Alice’s father. His marriage to Alice is non-existent and he isn’t appreciated by Alice. He supports Alice’s aspirations of becoming an actress but is essentially being left behind. Alice treats Thomas more like an employee of the hotel rather than as her husband. She doesn’t seem very connected to him but does show signs of jealousy when he starts getting close to Emma. Alice isn’t particularly nice to Emma as she sees her as a threat but she does redeem herself in the end.
This is the author’s debut novel and the author has done a fantastic job in bringing to life the story, historical background and the characters.
I have always enjoyed reading books in the historical fiction genre, but I haven’t read a book that deals with the suffrage movement so this was such an interesting read. Although this is a fictional book, it really did bring home the sacrifices and braveness of the women who took part in the suffrage movement and changed history. They proved that women could do anything and were not limited to being a wife, cook and mother.
I found myself reading this book quite quickly. The chapters were short and the story was engaging and intriguing. I really liked Emma’s character as soon as she was introduced. She is strong minded and we learn early on that she wants to be part of the suffrage movement because she wants to make a difference. Emma also carries a lot of guilt around with her regarding the death of her twin brother who was a soldier that committed suicide and the death of her best friend during a fire at the factory where they worked. It’s partly these events that drive her and make her very determined to bring about change. When Emma arrives in Queenstown she is focused on learning more about her grandparent’s journey to America but she also realised that the suffrage movement isn’t quite in full flow as it is in New York. So she decides to kick start it by learning more about the residents of Queenstown and rallying the women to start speaking up. Thomas seemed very different from the other men of the time. He entered into what I can only describe as an arranged manage and manages a hotel that belonged to Alice’s father. His marriage to Alice is non-existent and he isn’t appreciated by Alice. He supports Alice’s aspirations of becoming an actress but is essentially being left behind. Alice treats Thomas more like an employee of the hotel rather than as her husband. She doesn’t seem very connected to him but does show signs of jealousy when he starts getting close to Emma. Alice isn’t particularly nice to Emma as she sees her as a threat but she does redeem herself in the end.
This is the author’s debut novel and the author has done a fantastic job in bringing to life the story, historical background and the characters.
August 22, 2024
A historical fiction piece that tries to tackle just a few too many things!
Emma is a young woman working at a factory in New York. Her best friend, Martina, has gotten her passionate about the women's suffrage movement and she begins to take an interest in participating in local events. But when she is involved in a tragic factory fire and narrowly escapes with her life, her family decides to send her to Ireland to recover (and hopefully grow out of her political interest). Returning to the country where her grandmother emigrated from, Emma also hopes to reconnect with her family history while in Ireland. She also has no plans to give up her suffragette ways, hoping to start a local chapter with the women she has met in Ireland.
The book did a great job touching on many important historical events for such a short time frame. I loved the Irish angle as well. But it felt like TOO many things were happening off page and glossed over to feel a real connection to these characters. I couldn't see Emma's relationship with lonely hotelier Thomas beyond companionship because so much of it was closed book. And major historical events like -- the sinking of the Titanic -- also felt too rushed. Without spoilers it felt like Thomas' wife, Alice, had a personality transplant for the last 25% of the book -- which felt even more surprising because we got a few glimpses of her POV throughout the book and no real indication where these feelings were coming from.
Overall, a solid effort with a lot of good stuff here -- but it was a quick read where I felt like a little more detail in the key moments could have made it more powerful.
Emma is a young woman working at a factory in New York. Her best friend, Martina, has gotten her passionate about the women's suffrage movement and she begins to take an interest in participating in local events. But when she is involved in a tragic factory fire and narrowly escapes with her life, her family decides to send her to Ireland to recover (and hopefully grow out of her political interest). Returning to the country where her grandmother emigrated from, Emma also hopes to reconnect with her family history while in Ireland. She also has no plans to give up her suffragette ways, hoping to start a local chapter with the women she has met in Ireland.
The book did a great job touching on many important historical events for such a short time frame. I loved the Irish angle as well. But it felt like TOO many things were happening off page and glossed over to feel a real connection to these characters. I couldn't see Emma's relationship with lonely hotelier Thomas beyond companionship because so much of it was closed book. And major historical events like -- the sinking of the Titanic -- also felt too rushed. Without spoilers it felt like Thomas' wife, Alice, had a personality transplant for the last 25% of the book -- which felt even more surprising because we got a few glimpses of her POV throughout the book and no real indication where these feelings were coming from.
Overall, a solid effort with a lot of good stuff here -- but it was a quick read where I felt like a little more detail in the key moments could have made it more powerful.
February 28, 2023
Maid Of Steel by Kate Baker is a fabulous historical novel that I just could not put down.
The action is set in 1911 moving from New York to Queensland in Ireland. Immediately my heart was in my mouth as I read that the maiden voyage of a brand new ship was planned for April 1912. I read with ever increasing heart-rate as the dreaded date approached. Which way would the action go? You will have to read it to find out!
The main theme was women’s suffrage. We witness the strength needed by the women in order to pursue this course. They were treated abominably by the forces of law and order.
Another theme is that of survivor’s guilt. A character is wracked by guilt of actions done and not done. We can never change the past, all we can do is to learn from it. “Life is about what’s coming, not what’s been.”
PTSD in soldiers and sailors is also addressed. Homes are set up to offer comfort and care for those damaged by the forces.
People are living a lie, hiding who they really are. Near tragedies open eyes in order to be the person they were created to be.
Unmarried mothers were viewed with shame in 1911. It takes strength and courage to stand up and declare that all babies are a gift.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and easy to empathise with.
I absolutely adored Maid Of Steel. It consumed me as I read. I cannot wait for more from Kate Baker.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The action is set in 1911 moving from New York to Queensland in Ireland. Immediately my heart was in my mouth as I read that the maiden voyage of a brand new ship was planned for April 1912. I read with ever increasing heart-rate as the dreaded date approached. Which way would the action go? You will have to read it to find out!
The main theme was women’s suffrage. We witness the strength needed by the women in order to pursue this course. They were treated abominably by the forces of law and order.
Another theme is that of survivor’s guilt. A character is wracked by guilt of actions done and not done. We can never change the past, all we can do is to learn from it. “Life is about what’s coming, not what’s been.”
PTSD in soldiers and sailors is also addressed. Homes are set up to offer comfort and care for those damaged by the forces.
People are living a lie, hiding who they really are. Near tragedies open eyes in order to be the person they were created to be.
Unmarried mothers were viewed with shame in 1911. It takes strength and courage to stand up and declare that all babies are a gift.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and easy to empathise with.
I absolutely adored Maid Of Steel. It consumed me as I read. I cannot wait for more from Kate Baker.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
July 1, 2023
Kate Baker crafts a love story amid the societal upheaval of the early 20th Century, when women were fighting (sometimes literally) for the right to vote. "Maid of Steel" is a compelling blend of fact and fiction. This is true historical fiction, with actual events and people making appearances. The tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is vividly described, although for some reason it's called something different. This opening event propels heroine Emma Quinn to travel to Ireland, where she meets the married Thomas Murphy.
For the most part, the characters here are well-drawn, but I remained unclear as to what Thomas and Emma actually looked like. Aoife is a sweet secondary character; her name is pronounced EE-fa, not EE-fee. I digress. The beautiful and haughty Alice Murphy is a detestable character, yet she undergoes a shocking transformation near the end. An unexpected twist definitely surprised me. A character's one exclamation alludes to this, but it definitely eluded ME. The Titanic serves as a backdrop near the end, yet the reader is spared much of the grisly detail.
I really enjoyed this book. Kate Baker's prose is evocative. Some violence is described, and the factory fire is grimly detailed. This book can perhaps be classified as clean. However, there is adultery, and it is central to the plot. "Maid of Steel" is a strong debut novel. I look forward to reading more of Kate Baker's works.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this intriguing tale.
For the most part, the characters here are well-drawn, but I remained unclear as to what Thomas and Emma actually looked like. Aoife is a sweet secondary character; her name is pronounced EE-fa, not EE-fee. I digress. The beautiful and haughty Alice Murphy is a detestable character, yet she undergoes a shocking transformation near the end. An unexpected twist definitely surprised me. A character's one exclamation alludes to this, but it definitely eluded ME. The Titanic serves as a backdrop near the end, yet the reader is spared much of the grisly detail.
I really enjoyed this book. Kate Baker's prose is evocative. Some violence is described, and the factory fire is grimly detailed. This book can perhaps be classified as clean. However, there is adultery, and it is central to the plot. "Maid of Steel" is a strong debut novel. I look forward to reading more of Kate Baker's works.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this intriguing tale.
March 17, 2023
We meet Emma Quinn and her friend Martina who are both supporters of the American Women’s Suffrage Association. They work at the Joseph Cobb factory, making clothes. Joseph Cobb is an unpleasant man and Emma hates her job. But then there’s a tragedy which changes things forever.
In another story, in Southern Ireland Alice Murphy is an actress, married to Thomas who runs a hotel on the coast. The marriage was arranged by her father ten years ago and isn’t a very happy one, so she has found lovers over the years and her life is full of secrets. Emma leaves America and travels to Queenstown in Ireland, where her grandparents were from. She has booked The Admiral hotel, which is run by Thomas.
Emma has faced a lot of really hard times and you hope she gets the happy ending she deserves. But Alice treats everyone badly, unless she’s trying to win an acting part she wants and then she is incredibly selfish, ruthless and rude. She treats Thomas very badly. Thomas however is a really sweet and kind man who deserves a much better life than being with Alice.
The book starts in a very exciting way, drawing the readers into the story immediately. we also meet other people in Queenstown and there are many interesting ones here. I really enjoyed the historical setting and The theme of women’s suffrage is also interesting to me.The combination of history and romance is beautifully done, everything felt very authentic and the characters are just wonderful.
In another story, in Southern Ireland Alice Murphy is an actress, married to Thomas who runs a hotel on the coast. The marriage was arranged by her father ten years ago and isn’t a very happy one, so she has found lovers over the years and her life is full of secrets. Emma leaves America and travels to Queenstown in Ireland, where her grandparents were from. She has booked The Admiral hotel, which is run by Thomas.
Emma has faced a lot of really hard times and you hope she gets the happy ending she deserves. But Alice treats everyone badly, unless she’s trying to win an acting part she wants and then she is incredibly selfish, ruthless and rude. She treats Thomas very badly. Thomas however is a really sweet and kind man who deserves a much better life than being with Alice.
The book starts in a very exciting way, drawing the readers into the story immediately. we also meet other people in Queenstown and there are many interesting ones here. I really enjoyed the historical setting and The theme of women’s suffrage is also interesting to me.The combination of history and romance is beautifully done, everything felt very authentic and the characters are just wonderful.
June 19, 2023
I picked up this book completely blind, not bothering to read the blurb as the book came highly recommended to me by a good friend so I started reading not even knowing the genre let alone the storyline.
Instantly I was drawn into the writing style as well as the storyline and I soon became engrossed in a story that was so exquisitely written, it will stay with me for a very long time to come.
Emma has suffered great losses in her young life and travels to Ireland to follow through on a promise to her friend to stand up for women and their rights to vote and have their say. During her time in Ireland, she meets Alice, rising actress chasing her dreams, her husband Thomas who is running Alice’s family’s hotel and Aoife, staff member at the hotel who befriends Emma when she needs someone the most.
I was enamoured to be taken on an intricate journey through prejudice times to witness the strength and determination of a minority of ladies as they fight for equal rights while simultaneously stamping their own authority within their own lives by seeking independence and acceptance from loved ones around them.
I recently learned that this novel was a debut for this author and what an outstanding debut it is. Rarely have I seen such an engaging and emotional read from a debut novel.
If this is the bar the author has set for future books, I’m so eager to read more! I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a book they can’t put down!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Instantly I was drawn into the writing style as well as the storyline and I soon became engrossed in a story that was so exquisitely written, it will stay with me for a very long time to come.
Emma has suffered great losses in her young life and travels to Ireland to follow through on a promise to her friend to stand up for women and their rights to vote and have their say. During her time in Ireland, she meets Alice, rising actress chasing her dreams, her husband Thomas who is running Alice’s family’s hotel and Aoife, staff member at the hotel who befriends Emma when she needs someone the most.
I was enamoured to be taken on an intricate journey through prejudice times to witness the strength and determination of a minority of ladies as they fight for equal rights while simultaneously stamping their own authority within their own lives by seeking independence and acceptance from loved ones around them.
I recently learned that this novel was a debut for this author and what an outstanding debut it is. Rarely have I seen such an engaging and emotional read from a debut novel.
If this is the bar the author has set for future books, I’m so eager to read more! I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a book they can’t put down!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 27, 2024
An enjoyable historical read set in a pivotal time and place in history — Queenstown, Ireland where the infamous Titanic is due to set sail from, and the fight for women to achieve the vote and equal status with men — this is a beautifully written and well-researched novel. New Yorker Emma has always longed for more from life, but it takes a brush with death and a tragic loss to give her the courage to tread in her grandmother’s footsteps and cross the ocean to Ireland.
There is a comforting predictability to the plot in that it is obvious what is going to happen, but there are still enough turns to satisfy and a very surprising twist towards the end which I did not anticipate at all. The characters are well-defined, especially Emma, and I found myself both cheering her on and groaning at some of her questionable decisions — seriously, Emma, what did you think was going to happen? — and I particularly liked her developing friendships with the women of Queenstown. The ending felt slightly rushed and there were a few dubious moral implications that are inconsistent with the character's behaviour during the rest of the book, but overall this is a lovely read.
I have a copy of the paperback, which is beautiful, and I love the attention to detail on the cover and endpapers. This book would be ideal for readers of clean historical romance with a dash of intrigue and strong ties to actual historical events.
There is a comforting predictability to the plot in that it is obvious what is going to happen, but there are still enough turns to satisfy and a very surprising twist towards the end which I did not anticipate at all. The characters are well-defined, especially Emma, and I found myself both cheering her on and groaning at some of her questionable decisions — seriously, Emma, what did you think was going to happen? — and I particularly liked her developing friendships with the women of Queenstown. The ending felt slightly rushed and there were a few dubious moral implications that are inconsistent with the character's behaviour during the rest of the book, but overall this is a lovely read.
I have a copy of the paperback, which is beautiful, and I love the attention to detail on the cover and endpapers. This book would be ideal for readers of clean historical romance with a dash of intrigue and strong ties to actual historical events.
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