What do you think?
Rate this book
Tressa
Escaping an abusive husband and the tragic loss of her newborn child, Tressa O'Daire leaves her home of Dublin, Ireland, for the unknown shores of New York City. There, she finds work in the powerful Langley family as a nurse-maid to a baby girl. The Langleys allow Tressa, a master baker by trade, to use their baking oven and she starts a business and a new life.
Ethan Langley, crippled in a riding accident that left him bound to a wheel chair, has spent the last eight years in his room escaping the embarrassment to his family and the hatred of his brother, Heaton. The only bright spot in his life is his sister, Sarah; until a certain Irish baker arrives and turns his life upside down.
Their very lives are threatened when the head of the Langley household dies unexpectedly leaving the business and family fortune to Heaton. As Heaton and his wife, Victoria, bring the family to the brink of ruination, Tressa and Ethan must save whatever they can, including the budding love between them.
Ethan Langley, crippled in a riding accident that left him bound to a wheel chair, has spent the last eight years in his room escaping the embarrassment to his family and the hatred of his brother, Heaton. The only bright spot in his life is his sister, Sarah; until a certain Irish baker arrives and turns his life upside down.
Their very lives are threatened when the head of the Langley household dies unexpectedly leaving the business and family fortune to Heaton. As Heaton and his wife, Victoria, bring the family to the brink of ruination, Tressa and Ethan must save whatever they can, including the budding love between them.
- GenresHistorical Romance
294 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2011
3 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Barbara T. Cerny
9 books10 followersBarbara T. Cerny grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado. She served twenty-two years in the US Army Reserves, retiring a Lieutenant Colonel in 2007. She is an information technology specialist and supervisor. Barb writes historical romances, fantasies, and paranomals good for late teen and adults. She puts a lot of history and adventure into her work. Words are her passion, they do matter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 15, 2013
Ok but a weak 3 stars. The characters were too ordinary. They needed something odd or different about them.
It’s a pleasant story. It’s about a woman who escapes her abusive husband and works for a family. It’s about members in that family. My biggest problem was one-dimensional characters. Tressa and others were good, honest and hard-working. Obstacles and problems occurred and they overcame them with intelligence, caring, and hard work.
Experts say don’t write about ordinary everyday people. And that’s what kept coming to my mind. Tressa and others were like me and people I know. There were no personality twists or quirks or oddities. I want to be surprised and you can’t do that with this type of person. Another expert says it’s not interesting to read about a character who embodies qualities associated with greatness (vision, insight, high intelligence, leadership, accomplishment). Tressa embodied those qualities. There was no internal struggle.
Two characters were evil. But everything about them was evil which made them too one-dimensional.
I like stories where a character changes, becomes stronger, or becomes something different. Or for an evil character to change, to suffer something weird, or maybe some redemption. But here no one changes.
In the beginning Tressa’s husband is hitting her and she doesn’t tell anyone. I wanted to know why she wouldn’t tell. I kept thinking of the beginning of Stephen King’s book Rose Madder. I was blown away with the abuse scenes and how the wife escaped in Rose Madder. In Tressa, I wasn’t pulled in. It felt like things I hear about in the media.
I had trouble with one scene. Heaton had sold the furniture and china and left no money for food. Yet he expected the servants to prepare a meal for a guest. I wanted to see them do it with the guest sitting on a servant’s chair and eating servants’ food - as a “throw it in your face” Heaton. But what they did was go get furniture and other things that they had hidden from Heaton. Heaton could easily have grabbed those items to sell. It was not good thinking on Tressa’s part. But Heaton didn’t grab the stuff to sell - which seemed out of character. It hit me wrong.
In one scene someone has a job interview and gets the job. I wanted to see the interview and hear what was said, but it wasn’t shown. That could have been neat.
Sex scenes include one rape briefly described, other rapes referred to, plus one romantic and loving sex scene.
DISCLOSURE:
I received a complimentary copy from the author for review.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 7,339 (478 KB) 297 pages. Swearing language: mild including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: about 2. Setting: 1801 to 1804 Dublin, Ireland and New York City, NY. Copyright: 2011. Genre: historical romance.
It’s a pleasant story. It’s about a woman who escapes her abusive husband and works for a family. It’s about members in that family. My biggest problem was one-dimensional characters. Tressa and others were good, honest and hard-working. Obstacles and problems occurred and they overcame them with intelligence, caring, and hard work.
Experts say don’t write about ordinary everyday people. And that’s what kept coming to my mind. Tressa and others were like me and people I know. There were no personality twists or quirks or oddities. I want to be surprised and you can’t do that with this type of person. Another expert says it’s not interesting to read about a character who embodies qualities associated with greatness (vision, insight, high intelligence, leadership, accomplishment). Tressa embodied those qualities. There was no internal struggle.
Two characters were evil. But everything about them was evil which made them too one-dimensional.
I like stories where a character changes, becomes stronger, or becomes something different. Or for an evil character to change, to suffer something weird, or maybe some redemption. But here no one changes.
In the beginning Tressa’s husband is hitting her and she doesn’t tell anyone. I wanted to know why she wouldn’t tell. I kept thinking of the beginning of Stephen King’s book Rose Madder. I was blown away with the abuse scenes and how the wife escaped in Rose Madder. In Tressa, I wasn’t pulled in. It felt like things I hear about in the media.
I had trouble with one scene. Heaton had sold the furniture and china and left no money for food. Yet he expected the servants to prepare a meal for a guest. I wanted to see them do it with the guest sitting on a servant’s chair and eating servants’ food - as a “throw it in your face” Heaton. But what they did was go get furniture and other things that they had hidden from Heaton. Heaton could easily have grabbed those items to sell. It was not good thinking on Tressa’s part. But Heaton didn’t grab the stuff to sell - which seemed out of character. It hit me wrong.
In one scene someone has a job interview and gets the job. I wanted to see the interview and hear what was said, but it wasn’t shown. That could have been neat.
Sex scenes include one rape briefly described, other rapes referred to, plus one romantic and loving sex scene.
DISCLOSURE:
I received a complimentary copy from the author for review.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 7,339 (478 KB) 297 pages. Swearing language: mild including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: about 2. Setting: 1801 to 1804 Dublin, Ireland and New York City, NY. Copyright: 2011. Genre: historical romance.
September 8, 2017
Life is a journey. It has its ups and downs. For Tressa O’Daire, master baker in Dublin, soon to be wed to the handsome bricklayer, Séamus Bannon, little did she know that life would have so many downs and such a long journey, far from home, before things would start to look up for her. It took a lot of courage and the will to protect her unborn child to force her decision to leave her home and family and cross the Atlantic to start a new life in New York, a life where she hoped that one day she would be able to have her own business, her own bakery.
Barbara T. Gerny’s novel, “Tressa”, is a compassionate tale of love, hardship and both the horrors and the joys of life itself. Set initially in the early years of the nineteenth century in Dublin, Ireland, the story moves across the ocean to New York where the lives of many were just as difficult as they had been in the country they left behind. From a master baker to a nursemaid and then a baker again, Tressa saw the wide extremes of good and evil, not just in the people around her, but also in life itself. Her character glows through the pages of this story, her strong personality and courage growing with each new challenge, each new experience. The reader is pulled directly into the story to follow the plot as it leads this wonderful, passionate woman, an amazing baker and a caring individual, through trials and hardships and so much more. With the clever and accurate insight into the lives of women in this era, the author has created a powerful story about the working class that equals the intensity of many Catherine Cookson novels. A great read and a thrilling plot.
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Barbara T. Gerny’s novel, “Tressa”, is a compassionate tale of love, hardship and both the horrors and the joys of life itself. Set initially in the early years of the nineteenth century in Dublin, Ireland, the story moves across the ocean to New York where the lives of many were just as difficult as they had been in the country they left behind. From a master baker to a nursemaid and then a baker again, Tressa saw the wide extremes of good and evil, not just in the people around her, but also in life itself. Her character glows through the pages of this story, her strong personality and courage growing with each new challenge, each new experience. The reader is pulled directly into the story to follow the plot as it leads this wonderful, passionate woman, an amazing baker and a caring individual, through trials and hardships and so much more. With the clever and accurate insight into the lives of women in this era, the author has created a powerful story about the working class that equals the intensity of many Catherine Cookson novels. A great read and a thrilling plot.
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
April 27, 2018
I enjoyed reading about Tressa, an Irish immigrant making a new life in NYC in 1801. The time and setting is very different from the other books I've been reading which was refreshing for me. I liked Tressa very much. She is brave and compassionate and a smart business woman. She is a master baker who dreams of owning her own bakery when very few women own their own businesses. I enjoyed the story.
February 28, 2018
It isn't everyday you come across a romance novel that tells a delicate story with such strength, style and grace.
September 17, 2017
I received this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
This was a clean romance with only a brief description of the heroines rape by her husband.
Story: The story starts in Dublin with Tressa (the heroine) working in her Uncle's bakery and at the same time being courted by Seamus. Her ultimate dream is to one day own her own bakery. Before the marriage, Seamus plays along and acts like the attentive suitor. Soon, they are married and everything changes. Seamus is abusive and controlling. He rapes her every night and makes her life a living hell. He makes Tressa give up her job and stay home. Eventually, she becomes pregnant and this is when she starts to plot a way to escape. She will not bring a child into this situation. She starts to bake on the side and horde money. Her plan is to purchase passage on a ship to America. Eventually, she gets enough money and goes to the docks and purchases a ticket. Now, she waits for her baby to be born and the day she boards the ship. Tressa's baby arrives, but her husband kills it because it has downs syndrome. She is devastated.
On the day she is to board the ship, she endeavors to be alone. She makes it and waits for the ship to depart hoping her husband does not find her. On the ship, she meets an indentured servant Nuala and her baby Matty. On the way to America, Nuala dies and gives her baby to Tressa to raise.
The ship docks in New York and she disembarks. She notices a man buying an indentured servant for a maid and then overhears that he also needs a wet nurse. She speaks up and is instantly hired. From there, she and Matty are transported to the Langley's house. It is here that she finds a new family and the man she will marry. There are some interesting secondary characters and the story did keep my attention. The only drawback is that I think the romance between the hero and heroine needed to be drawn out more.
Overall, a good historical romance about two wounded people who help each other heal from the past.
This was a clean romance with only a brief description of the heroines rape by her husband.
Story: The story starts in Dublin with Tressa (the heroine) working in her Uncle's bakery and at the same time being courted by Seamus. Her ultimate dream is to one day own her own bakery. Before the marriage, Seamus plays along and acts like the attentive suitor. Soon, they are married and everything changes. Seamus is abusive and controlling. He rapes her every night and makes her life a living hell. He makes Tressa give up her job and stay home. Eventually, she becomes pregnant and this is when she starts to plot a way to escape. She will not bring a child into this situation. She starts to bake on the side and horde money. Her plan is to purchase passage on a ship to America. Eventually, she gets enough money and goes to the docks and purchases a ticket. Now, she waits for her baby to be born and the day she boards the ship. Tressa's baby arrives, but her husband kills it because it has downs syndrome. She is devastated.
On the day she is to board the ship, she endeavors to be alone. She makes it and waits for the ship to depart hoping her husband does not find her. On the ship, she meets an indentured servant Nuala and her baby Matty. On the way to America, Nuala dies and gives her baby to Tressa to raise.
The ship docks in New York and she disembarks. She notices a man buying an indentured servant for a maid and then overhears that he also needs a wet nurse. She speaks up and is instantly hired. From there, she and Matty are transported to the Langley's house. It is here that she finds a new family and the man she will marry. There are some interesting secondary characters and the story did keep my attention. The only drawback is that I think the romance between the hero and heroine needed to be drawn out more.
Overall, a good historical romance about two wounded people who help each other heal from the past.
November 8, 2014
3.5 stars for me. Its well written and and oh so good book, but I can't help feeling I've read or watched something similar to this before.....that said.....
Tressa is the main character in this book. Its based around Dublin, especially at the start as this is where she works as a master baker in the family business. She has hopes and dreams of opening her own bakery some day. She loves inventing new things and is a master at what she does [which comes out even more later in the story]
Tressa doesn't have any thoughts about marriage and suitors etc, but Seamus has his beady eye on her. Under encouragement from family she courts him. He seems a lovely man, they eventually marry.
Something happens at their wedding reception as she is opening the wedding gifts that carry on into the marital home as they arrive. That is the first time you see another side to Seamus, he also rapes her.
The scenes of the rape aren't too graphic but the abuse is paramount to the essence of the story to show how what eventually happens.
Much more happens whereupon she needs to escape.
Without going and spoiling the rest of the story, she does manage to flee to America with several things happening along the way and where she ends up.
Does Seamus find her? Does she fulfill her dreams?
Its a very touching story, it also [because of the time in history this book is written in] bestows you to throw back your thoughts in time and surrounding how people lived back then.
Tressa is no doubt a heroine and saver of the day in many ways.
This is the first book I have read by Barbara T Cerny and I wouldn't be averse about reading another of hers, It was a good book, solid, well written all rounded story.
I would like to thank the author for allowing to read this book direct from her.
Tressa is the main character in this book. Its based around Dublin, especially at the start as this is where she works as a master baker in the family business. She has hopes and dreams of opening her own bakery some day. She loves inventing new things and is a master at what she does [which comes out even more later in the story]
Tressa doesn't have any thoughts about marriage and suitors etc, but Seamus has his beady eye on her. Under encouragement from family she courts him. He seems a lovely man, they eventually marry.
Something happens at their wedding reception as she is opening the wedding gifts that carry on into the marital home as they arrive. That is the first time you see another side to Seamus, he also rapes her.
The scenes of the rape aren't too graphic but the abuse is paramount to the essence of the story to show how what eventually happens.
Much more happens whereupon she needs to escape.
Without going and spoiling the rest of the story, she does manage to flee to America with several things happening along the way and where she ends up.
Does Seamus find her? Does she fulfill her dreams?
Its a very touching story, it also [because of the time in history this book is written in] bestows you to throw back your thoughts in time and surrounding how people lived back then.
Tressa is no doubt a heroine and saver of the day in many ways.
This is the first book I have read by Barbara T Cerny and I wouldn't be averse about reading another of hers, It was a good book, solid, well written all rounded story.
I would like to thank the author for allowing to read this book direct from her.
October 20, 2015
Reviewed on behalf of Readers' Favorite
Tressa O’Daire loves one thing in this world: baking. In her small hometown in Ireland, she works diligently for her uncle, eventually earning the title of master baker, relatively unheard of for a woman in the late 1700s. Urged by her cousin to settle down, Tressa accepts a young man, Seamus, as her beau. However, once married, their life descends into something she never expected or wanted. Rather than face an abusive life for herself and her unborn child, Tressa makes a courageous decision to travel to New York. There, she finds employ with the Langley family, but her troubles do not cease. The eldest sibling, Heaton, is bent on making the lives of his younger siblings, Sarah and Ethan, a living hell. Will Tressa be able to overcome the new obstacles put in her way?
Tressa by Barbara T. Cerny is a nicely written historical romance, with a great heroine. I loved Tressa’s perseverance to do something different than what was expected of women at the time. Her relationship with the servants and younger Langley siblings was entertaining, and I thought she was quite ingenious in finding solutions to her problems. My one complaint had to do with approximately the final one-third of the novel. I felt things wrapped up a bit too well, and I almost wanted more. I also felt things from the first portion of the book went unresolved. It was frustrating to be left with unanswered questions, especially such pertinent ones. However, I did enjoy Tressa by Barbara T. Cerney, and it kept me reading to the very last page.
Tressa O’Daire loves one thing in this world: baking. In her small hometown in Ireland, she works diligently for her uncle, eventually earning the title of master baker, relatively unheard of for a woman in the late 1700s. Urged by her cousin to settle down, Tressa accepts a young man, Seamus, as her beau. However, once married, their life descends into something she never expected or wanted. Rather than face an abusive life for herself and her unborn child, Tressa makes a courageous decision to travel to New York. There, she finds employ with the Langley family, but her troubles do not cease. The eldest sibling, Heaton, is bent on making the lives of his younger siblings, Sarah and Ethan, a living hell. Will Tressa be able to overcome the new obstacles put in her way?
Tressa by Barbara T. Cerny is a nicely written historical romance, with a great heroine. I loved Tressa’s perseverance to do something different than what was expected of women at the time. Her relationship with the servants and younger Langley siblings was entertaining, and I thought she was quite ingenious in finding solutions to her problems. My one complaint had to do with approximately the final one-third of the novel. I felt things wrapped up a bit too well, and I almost wanted more. I also felt things from the first portion of the book went unresolved. It was frustrating to be left with unanswered questions, especially such pertinent ones. However, I did enjoy Tressa by Barbara T. Cerney, and it kept me reading to the very last page.
January 29, 2015
This is a beautiful story. I really enjoyed it. Set in Dublin a young woman escapes an abusive husband and flees to start a new life in New York. Anyone who enjoys historical romantic novels will enjoy this. It's long and detailed (maybe a little too much is some parts), so the reader feels apart of Tressa's entire journey. What made it even more special to me was while I was reading this book I was actually holidaying in Ireland. I know most of the book takes place in America but it still made it special, especially now that I understand how many Irish did immigrate to America back in day.
The romantic aspect of this book was lovely. I guess after reading so many YA books it's nice to read one where the two main characters don't fall for one another straight away. It's long and gradual, realistic. I think that's what made it exciting, their moments together didn't need to be huge and earth shattering, they were small and meaningful.
Just to explain, my rating is based on the fact is obviously wasn't professionally edited (although there is a update available so maybe it is now), and although I love long books, this one felt a little too long. There were a few parts where it felt like it was being dragged out unnecessary. Having said that, it is defiantly worth a read :)
The romantic aspect of this book was lovely. I guess after reading so many YA books it's nice to read one where the two main characters don't fall for one another straight away. It's long and gradual, realistic. I think that's what made it exciting, their moments together didn't need to be huge and earth shattering, they were small and meaningful.
Just to explain, my rating is based on the fact is obviously wasn't professionally edited (although there is a update available so maybe it is now), and although I love long books, this one felt a little too long. There were a few parts where it felt like it was being dragged out unnecessary. Having said that, it is defiantly worth a read :)
February 15, 2014
I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review.
What a truly beautiful story.
Tressa is a hard-working young woman in Ireland, who marries a man who isn't what she thinks.
After months of rape and the murder of her mongoloid baby baby she escapes to America to make a new life for herself.
Can she make it work???
What will befall her in America?
This really is a truly beautiful story and I look forward to reading more by this author :)
What a truly beautiful story.
Tressa is a hard-working young woman in Ireland, who marries a man who isn't what she thinks.
After months of rape and the murder of her mongoloid baby baby she escapes to America to make a new life for herself.
Can she make it work???
What will befall her in America?
This really is a truly beautiful story and I look forward to reading more by this author :)
September 12, 2013
I just could not put this book down... Something about it just so intrigued me and made me feel so attached to the characters! Although, there are quite a few parts in the story that were not the most original, it was still an awesome read. ;0)
Ending a little abrupt.... Like, "ok, lets wrap this up folks."
Ending a little abrupt.... Like, "ok, lets wrap this up folks."
November 1, 2012
Barbara's 3rd book and my favorite. Like her other 2, the historical detail really brings the book to life and holds the reader's interest throughout. This is a good read for teens to adults. An easy read you won't want to put down.
December 31, 2018
A nice way to end the summer novel reading! Once again, Barb writes a story with strong characters, intelligent story line, and a feel good ending. Her details about 1800's living are very interesting. I really enjoyed this book!
Very good. A great way to end the year.
Very good. A great way to end the year.
February 12, 2017
What really drew me to this novel was the compassion and kindness of Tressa towards other characters. She put aside her own traumatic experiences and instead helped others with their issues. Such a strong and inspiring character.. I just couldn't let go of this book.
September 22, 2013
Great story telling. Great characters.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews