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The Good Deed
Edward O'Brien has loved Lydia Delaney since he was ten years old, when he proved it by pushing her into a mud puddle. When he leaves for America in 1924 to make his fortune for their future, Lydia is heartbroken, and her ruthless younger sister Myra, is still determined to have Edward at any cost. Edward finds life in America difficult. Immigrants, especially Irish Catholics, are shunned, and the influence of the Ku Klux Klan has spread like an epidemic throughout America. When Edward is critically injured in a logging accident, Lydia immediately leaves Ireland for America. Her voyage in steerage is arduous, and an incident aboard ship, changes her and Edward’s life forever. A mentally unbalanced Myra follows Lydia to America. When her plan of revenge is derailed by her own greed, she finds herself in danger, and in need of Lydia’s help to survive. Bringing life to the struggles of Irish immigrants in the 1920’s, “The Good Deed” will captivate readers who enjoyed Andriana Trigiani's, “The Shoemaker's Wife”. "An intriguing book, and an enjoyable read." -S.J.S. Stanton for Chanticleer Book
457 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 26, 2015
I am shocked at the ending
This was a great book. I really enjoyed the characters The Brookstones where crazy! Myra was a insane! I felt so bad for Edward and Lyida all they wanted we the American dream. I wish the book ended with more clarity. I left you hanging and wanting to know more about the characters. Tragic ending.
This was a great book. I really enjoyed the characters The Brookstones where crazy! Myra was a insane! I felt so bad for Edward and Lyida all they wanted we the American dream. I wish the book ended with more clarity. I left you hanging and wanting to know more about the characters. Tragic ending.
August 24, 2017
What a plot!
This certainly didn't have a predictable story line. When you think you have it figured out, you find you are wrong. And then there's the ending!!!!
This certainly didn't have a predictable story line. When you think you have it figured out, you find you are wrong. And then there's the ending!!!!
July 14, 2019
The Good Deed
Wow! What a story you have to read it. It may be a little disturbing but it is a great story. Read about it frist.
Wow! What a story you have to read it. It may be a little disturbing but it is a great story. Read about it frist.
February 25, 2014
This is a wonderful tale of young Irish immigrants forging a new life in a small Oregon town in the 1920s. The characters are fairly well developed and the writing style is casually informal. I enjoyed the book, as a whole.
Unfortunately, as is common with many self-published and indie titles, this novel would have done better with another round of vigorous editing. Much of the dialogue is expositional and unnatural, and portions of the story are repeated unnececessarily, for the benefits of the characters, and not the reader. A few words are misused, there is an abundance of misused apostrophes, and an occasional typo. Not too bad, compared to other indie-published books I've read, but enough to take me out of the story.
This is a favorite era of mine, and I liked the attention to detail that the author brought to it. Interesting historical facts and events are presented alongside the lives of the characters, in a pleasing way.
I wish the novel had been more thoroughly edited and even redrafted, but I also understand the nature of the process; authors are eager to put their work out there, and it is easy to overlook many things. Otherwise, an enjoyable read.
Unfortunately, as is common with many self-published and indie titles, this novel would have done better with another round of vigorous editing. Much of the dialogue is expositional and unnatural, and portions of the story are repeated unnececessarily, for the benefits of the characters, and not the reader. A few words are misused, there is an abundance of misused apostrophes, and an occasional typo. Not too bad, compared to other indie-published books I've read, but enough to take me out of the story.
This is a favorite era of mine, and I liked the attention to detail that the author brought to it. Interesting historical facts and events are presented alongside the lives of the characters, in a pleasing way.
I wish the novel had been more thoroughly edited and even redrafted, but I also understand the nature of the process; authors are eager to put their work out there, and it is easy to overlook many things. Otherwise, an enjoyable read.
March 26, 2015
Pros: this was a well-told story with good character development.
Cons:
- There was obviously no professional editing done to this book. There are multiple instances of missing or randomly added words, and the author is sadly unaware of standard grammar rules when it comes to when and where to use commas and semi-colons (I even used these as an example for my students in my HS English class).
- the ending was sudden and overly abrupt. I realized when there were only a few pages left that no real resolution was to be had. Even realizing that there was a sequel did not lessen the blow of the ending.
- Things like poor fact checking and poor editing cause me to be pulled out of the story.
I will read the sequel because I enjoyed the character and want to finish the story. My only hope is that more time was spent on editing the second story.
Cons:
- There was obviously no professional editing done to this book. There are multiple instances of missing or randomly added words, and the author is sadly unaware of standard grammar rules when it comes to when and where to use commas and semi-colons (I even used these as an example for my students in my HS English class).
- the ending was sudden and overly abrupt. I realized when there were only a few pages left that no real resolution was to be had. Even realizing that there was a sequel did not lessen the blow of the ending.
- Things like poor fact checking and poor editing cause me to be pulled out of the story.
I will read the sequel because I enjoyed the character and want to finish the story. My only hope is that more time was spent on editing the second story.
January 16, 2015
Loved this book
I think this was one of the best books I have read in a long time cannot wait to read the next book in this series this is a book worth reading it had lots of joyful k moments and the very end it was quite sad about Lydia..
I think this was one of the best books I have read in a long time cannot wait to read the next book in this series this is a book worth reading it had lots of joyful k moments and the very end it was quite sad about Lydia..
January 20, 2015
Great read
I was hooked the minute I started reading the book. The characters were established fast and you wanted to read on to find out what would happen next. Thank you for such a good book.
I was hooked the minute I started reading the book. The characters were established fast and you wanted to read on to find out what would happen next. Thank you for such a good book.
February 6, 2015
Good read!
A tale of Irish immigrants in the 1820's and some of the perils and adventures they faced while trying to create new lives for themselves in the U.S. Add a sister "whose smile didn't reach her eyes", then be ready to get lost in this book. I sure did!
A tale of Irish immigrants in the 1820's and some of the perils and adventures they faced while trying to create new lives for themselves in the U.S. Add a sister "whose smile didn't reach her eyes", then be ready to get lost in this book. I sure did!
February 19, 2015
Page turner
First book that I have read about this generation,I found so intriguing. twist and turns about these two sisters lives, and how one event can change one person's life. Excellent book!!!
First book that I have read about this generation,I found so intriguing. twist and turns about these two sisters lives, and how one event can change one person's life. Excellent book!!!
March 7, 2015
Good story, but overall the writing was clunky and had a rushed feeling. I think the author might have done better to have dealt with a smaller segment of time and then taken more time to develop the characters, who here are basic black and white.
September 30, 2015
Wish for more. This book is so good I did not want it to end. In fact, I was like,'what?' when i finished. I wanted the characters to continue. The cleverly written story left several cliffhangers that I would like to find out about. So is there another book?
January 8, 2015
WOW
A very captivating book. One I could hardly put down. I will be recommending this book to my reading friends and book club!
A very captivating book. One I could hardly put down. I will be recommending this book to my reading friends and book club!
January 12, 2015
I truly enjoyed the book. Keeps your interest with a little twist in each chapter. Knew something big was going to happen but didn't expect it would end the way it did!
April 7, 2015
This was a nice love story about Irish immigrants and family tragedy, it kept my interest right to the end, but the ending definitely fell short and ended too abruptly.
March 25, 2016
The Good Deed
Will definitely be purchasing book 2, to see how this page Turner ends. I will also be looking for more to read from this author. Great read, wonderful characters!
Will definitely be purchasing book 2, to see how this page Turner ends. I will also be looking for more to read from this author. Great read, wonderful characters!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews