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The Heirloom
What if your dreams were memories of another life?
Living in a medieval city on the west coast of Ireland, Amanda Morrison has always questioned her birth family's past. When a long lost aunt bequeaths an unusual gift, it unlocks a doorway to the past and a timeless love story.
Xavier de la Cruz is a man sailing away from his problems and setting course Ireland. There, he will find a woman he has never met, but knows by heart. With a cast of characters that will both warm the heart and challenge beliefs, The Heirloom is perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.
Living in a medieval city on the west coast of Ireland, Amanda Morrison has always questioned her birth family's past. When a long lost aunt bequeaths an unusual gift, it unlocks a doorway to the past and a timeless love story.
Xavier de la Cruz is a man sailing away from his problems and setting course Ireland. There, he will find a woman he has never met, but knows by heart. With a cast of characters that will both warm the heart and challenge beliefs, The Heirloom is perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2013
852 people are currently reading
1752 people want to read
About the author
Evie Gaughan
7 books1,473 followersEvie Gaughan is a writer and artist living in Galway City, beside the sea. Her books are a mix of genres, incorporating her love of history and a penchant for magic in the everyday.
Evie also writes under the pseudonym Evie Woods and her fourth novel, The Lost Bookshop, has become a Sunday Times Bestseller and was shortlisted for a British Book Award.
One More Chapter (Harper Collins) will publish all of Evie's backlist, beginning with The Story Collector which will be published in July 2024.
Evie also writes under the pseudonym Evie Woods and her fourth novel, The Lost Bookshop, has become a Sunday Times Bestseller and was shortlisted for a British Book Award.
One More Chapter (Harper Collins) will publish all of Evie's backlist, beginning with The Story Collector which will be published in July 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 10, 2014
When I started my Green Giants (Irish Author Spotlight) feature, my hope was that I would help other readers find Irish Authors to enjoy. I didn’t realise that it would also introduce me to great writers that I might never have come across. Such as Evie Gaughan, who approached me to read and review The Cross of Santiago. She only had to mention the magic words, Galway and Time Travel, and I was in!
First Line of The Cross of Santiago:
“Wake up Amanda, wake up!”
My Thoughts on The Cross of Santiago:
This book has two settings and I loved both. The first is contemporary Galway – a small, vibrant city in the West of Ireland; a city that is full of fun and art, one I always love to visit. I feel the book really captured the tone of modern Galway really well. The second setting is the failed voyage of The Spanish Armanda fleet in 1588. This setting has won this book a place in my heart forever.
If you know nothing about the Spanish Armada and how so many of the ships were shipwrecked on the coast of Ireland and Scotland; then worry not, this book will fill you in. I had forgotten so much of this part of history that it was fantastic to revisit it and I ended up having great discussions about the battle and their mission with my husband who is a history fiend.
I kept imagining this part of the book as a film. The vision of the ships taking 2 days just to leave the port of Lisbon due to sheer numbers is such a spectacular image. I love books that engage your brain and make you want to research more which is exactly what this book did to me.
However this book is not just a book about history (as amazing as the historical setting was); it is also full of intriguing characters. The main characters are Amanda and Xavier. And I have to say both of them have made some very dubious decisions in their lives and I find it hard to say which of their wrong turns I despise more. Despite that I can see how lost both of them are and how both are willing to grow and learn with a little guidance and inspiration from the past.
Their ancestors from the sixteenth century are a different matter. A knight and a peasant girl; their morals and sacrifices shine through the centuries. Annora and Miguel seem to encompass everything that Amanda and Xavier should be but they also hint at the potential that they will blossom into.
Overall, this book has a little bit of everything; an epic romance, adventure, great locations, well researched historical fiction and some dream interpretation. The mixture of the two stories leads to a snappy, well paced story that kept me excited and invested in the plot. And when I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book and talking about book; always a good sign!
Who should read The Cross of Santiago?
I’d strongly recommend this book to all who enjoy historical fiction, especially those who love romantic historical fiction. Also to anyone interested in Irish history or contemporary Ireland; you will find lots of facts here but they are wrapped up neatly in a well told story so it never becomes over-whelming.
First Line of The Cross of Santiago:
“Wake up Amanda, wake up!”
My Thoughts on The Cross of Santiago:
This book has two settings and I loved both. The first is contemporary Galway – a small, vibrant city in the West of Ireland; a city that is full of fun and art, one I always love to visit. I feel the book really captured the tone of modern Galway really well. The second setting is the failed voyage of The Spanish Armanda fleet in 1588. This setting has won this book a place in my heart forever.
If you know nothing about the Spanish Armada and how so many of the ships were shipwrecked on the coast of Ireland and Scotland; then worry not, this book will fill you in. I had forgotten so much of this part of history that it was fantastic to revisit it and I ended up having great discussions about the battle and their mission with my husband who is a history fiend.
I kept imagining this part of the book as a film. The vision of the ships taking 2 days just to leave the port of Lisbon due to sheer numbers is such a spectacular image. I love books that engage your brain and make you want to research more which is exactly what this book did to me.
However this book is not just a book about history (as amazing as the historical setting was); it is also full of intriguing characters. The main characters are Amanda and Xavier. And I have to say both of them have made some very dubious decisions in their lives and I find it hard to say which of their wrong turns I despise more. Despite that I can see how lost both of them are and how both are willing to grow and learn with a little guidance and inspiration from the past.
Their ancestors from the sixteenth century are a different matter. A knight and a peasant girl; their morals and sacrifices shine through the centuries. Annora and Miguel seem to encompass everything that Amanda and Xavier should be but they also hint at the potential that they will blossom into.
Overall, this book has a little bit of everything; an epic romance, adventure, great locations, well researched historical fiction and some dream interpretation. The mixture of the two stories leads to a snappy, well paced story that kept me excited and invested in the plot. And when I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book and talking about book; always a good sign!
Who should read The Cross of Santiago?
I’d strongly recommend this book to all who enjoy historical fiction, especially those who love romantic historical fiction. Also to anyone interested in Irish history or contemporary Ireland; you will find lots of facts here but they are wrapped up neatly in a well told story so it never becomes over-whelming.
April 30, 2017
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed reading this book! I like the idea of jumping between different centuries and stories, and I think Evie Gaughan does a good job building the characters and revealing their stories, past, connections, etc.
It also make me very curious about Galway and all the surroundings; I recently moved to Ireland, so having the opportunity to read about new places and finding out more about their history is always interesting to me.
The only thing I felt would have make this book a little better is the pace at which the events happen. At the beginning it takes too long to get the connection between characters, and it feels like they will never meet each other, and then suddenly everything develops too quickly.
Also, there are quite a few spelling mistakes, and would recommend the autor to get some Spanish native to review the spanish sentences, being spanish myself I noticed some of them didn´t make sense, or wouldn´t have been said by a native from Spain.
But anyway in general it was a nice read :)
I enjoyed reading this book! I like the idea of jumping between different centuries and stories, and I think Evie Gaughan does a good job building the characters and revealing their stories, past, connections, etc.
It also make me very curious about Galway and all the surroundings; I recently moved to Ireland, so having the opportunity to read about new places and finding out more about their history is always interesting to me.
The only thing I felt would have make this book a little better is the pace at which the events happen. At the beginning it takes too long to get the connection between characters, and it feels like they will never meet each other, and then suddenly everything develops too quickly.
Also, there are quite a few spelling mistakes, and would recommend the autor to get some Spanish native to review the spanish sentences, being spanish myself I noticed some of them didn´t make sense, or wouldn´t have been said by a native from Spain.
But anyway in general it was a nice read :)
September 23, 2013
Book review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
The Cross of Santiago is a heart-warming, astonishing novel of love and destiny. Even though it’s more than 350 pages, I finished it in just a few hours. The writing really pulls you in from the start, and it doesn’t take long before you start to care about the characters and the adventures they find themselves in.
Amanda Morrison longs for something more than her current life. After a series of failed relationships, she’s long lost her belief in true love. She’s dating a man named Connor, but he’s egotistical and full of self-importance. Xavier is an adventurer and traveller, the kind of guy who can’t commit to anything else and does what he wants whenever he wants to. At first, it seems like the two of them are miles apart, both in view on life, and in position on the planet.
But when Amanda’s aunt, who she didn’t really know, leaves her a mysterious golden cross in her will, Amanda’s life is turned upside down. She crosses paths with Xavier, and it’s like a piece of destiny unfolds. Amanda goes on a journey to discover the truth about her family’s past, and Xavier decides to tag along, but no journey is without strange adventures. The kind of things Amanda and Xavier encounter are as amazing and creative as the Odyssey. Really. Half of those things, I hadn’t seen coming at all.
The book is a bit complicated because of the time jumps at the start, from summer 2010 to autumn 2009 to spring 2010, etc. I wish the start of the book would’ve been told in a chronological order. It would’ve made more sense, and it wouldn’t have slowed down the pace that much. Now I had to pause, rewind, and then rematch the pieces of the story.
Amanda was an interesting character. She didn’t show a lot of spine at first, and she put up with Connor’s crap, which was a stupid idea to begin with, since he was an arrogant prick. But as the story progressed and she discovered more about her family’s past, it was like she discovered herself as well, and she was a lot stronger than she gave herself credit for.
I also liked the time slip, and the historical setting. All settings were well-described, and I got the sense I was really there.
The book starts out a bit slow, but really picks up the pace after the opening chapters. It’s well-written, with a complicated, mesmerizing plot and characters you’ll root for. If you’re in the mood for something a little out of the box, then The Cross of Santiago is a good option.
The Cross of Santiago is a heart-warming, astonishing novel of love and destiny. Even though it’s more than 350 pages, I finished it in just a few hours. The writing really pulls you in from the start, and it doesn’t take long before you start to care about the characters and the adventures they find themselves in.
Amanda Morrison longs for something more than her current life. After a series of failed relationships, she’s long lost her belief in true love. She’s dating a man named Connor, but he’s egotistical and full of self-importance. Xavier is an adventurer and traveller, the kind of guy who can’t commit to anything else and does what he wants whenever he wants to. At first, it seems like the two of them are miles apart, both in view on life, and in position on the planet.
But when Amanda’s aunt, who she didn’t really know, leaves her a mysterious golden cross in her will, Amanda’s life is turned upside down. She crosses paths with Xavier, and it’s like a piece of destiny unfolds. Amanda goes on a journey to discover the truth about her family’s past, and Xavier decides to tag along, but no journey is without strange adventures. The kind of things Amanda and Xavier encounter are as amazing and creative as the Odyssey. Really. Half of those things, I hadn’t seen coming at all.
The book is a bit complicated because of the time jumps at the start, from summer 2010 to autumn 2009 to spring 2010, etc. I wish the start of the book would’ve been told in a chronological order. It would’ve made more sense, and it wouldn’t have slowed down the pace that much. Now I had to pause, rewind, and then rematch the pieces of the story.
Amanda was an interesting character. She didn’t show a lot of spine at first, and she put up with Connor’s crap, which was a stupid idea to begin with, since he was an arrogant prick. But as the story progressed and she discovered more about her family’s past, it was like she discovered herself as well, and she was a lot stronger than she gave herself credit for.
I also liked the time slip, and the historical setting. All settings were well-described, and I got the sense I was really there.
The book starts out a bit slow, but really picks up the pace after the opening chapters. It’s well-written, with a complicated, mesmerizing plot and characters you’ll root for. If you’re in the mood for something a little out of the box, then The Cross of Santiago is a good option.
October 20, 2023
I have really enjoyed her other books but this one wasn't my cuppa tea
December 22, 2023
Absolutely love this author's writing. I enjoyed the flow of the intertwining stories and thought the ending was great. I can't wait to read more of her books!
May 12, 2020
I loved this book! Unusually for me I didn't read much of the info about it from the start, just that most of it was set in Ireland.
It had everything I like in a book, factual information, tudor history and reincarnation. I really enjoyed reading every part of it, the history and the story set in 2010. The historical information was well researched and written and showed up more of another part of history for me, something else I've always been interested in.
I have now downloaded another of Evie Gaughan's books to read.
Thank you Evie Gaughan for a wonderful read on all parts.
It had everything I like in a book, factual information, tudor history and reincarnation. I really enjoyed reading every part of it, the history and the story set in 2010. The historical information was well researched and written and showed up more of another part of history for me, something else I've always been interested in.
I have now downloaded another of Evie Gaughan's books to read.
Thank you Evie Gaughan for a wonderful read on all parts.
December 22, 2016
Truthfully, I hadn’t heard of this author or book before but this is one of the best debuts I’ve read in years. The story was perfection. An instant favourite.
Being from Ireland myself and this being set on the West Coast of Ireland (which I love) made it all the more real and charming. From the descriptions of the West to the various nods to Irish language and culture, this book appealed to me in a way that many other books just can’t.
As historical fiction goes, I enjoyed the modern day aspect to this read. By a few chapters in I was sold on the contemporary story line, but it wasn't till I was probably past the halfway point that I really started to enjoy and appreciate the historical fiction.
With contemporary romance novels sometimes I feel more stupid after reading them. In contrast, after reading this I felt I had learned a huge amount about Ireland and its history that I’m ashamed to say I didn’t already know.
The writing was eloquent with many well-turned and punchy phrases. At no stage did I find the writing style too wordy. I’d imagine this book would appeal to a multitude of people. It’s contemporary, there’s romance, there’s history. The characters are diverse, likeable, relatable and there are a good few witty lines (I laughed out loud on a few occasions). The chapters were fairly short too which was a bonus as it somehow makes me read quicker.
I would most definitely encourage readers to take a chance on this author. I was pleasantly surprised, as I’m sure you will be. I look forward to reading Evie Gaughan’s other books and this has motivated me to read more books by Irish authors next year.
Being from Ireland myself and this being set on the West Coast of Ireland (which I love) made it all the more real and charming. From the descriptions of the West to the various nods to Irish language and culture, this book appealed to me in a way that many other books just can’t.
As historical fiction goes, I enjoyed the modern day aspect to this read. By a few chapters in I was sold on the contemporary story line, but it wasn't till I was probably past the halfway point that I really started to enjoy and appreciate the historical fiction.
With contemporary romance novels sometimes I feel more stupid after reading them. In contrast, after reading this I felt I had learned a huge amount about Ireland and its history that I’m ashamed to say I didn’t already know.
The writing was eloquent with many well-turned and punchy phrases. At no stage did I find the writing style too wordy. I’d imagine this book would appeal to a multitude of people. It’s contemporary, there’s romance, there’s history. The characters are diverse, likeable, relatable and there are a good few witty lines (I laughed out loud on a few occasions). The chapters were fairly short too which was a bonus as it somehow makes me read quicker.
I would most definitely encourage readers to take a chance on this author. I was pleasantly surprised, as I’m sure you will be. I look forward to reading Evie Gaughan’s other books and this has motivated me to read more books by Irish authors next year.
December 31, 2016
I thought this was a charming romance without being twee. Gaughan interweaves 16th century Spain with 21st century Ireland to bring us two love stories connected by the ill-fated Spanish Armada voyage so there's lots of interesting historical detail too which has been well researched.
October 16, 2019
Not great,not bad!
The story had an interesting plot,but rambled way too much. Amanda was not a likable character at all really just a smartass with a pure pitable me attitude
The story had an interesting plot,but rambled way too much. Amanda was not a likable character at all really just a smartass with a pure pitable me attitude
October 15, 2020
The story is really good, the characters engaging.
February 4, 2024
Timeless bonds
The Heirloom seems a perfect fit for younger readers.
The themes of reincarnation, or at least the continuity of eternal love, interwoven within historical fiction, captured my interest. This was a leisurely, satisfying tale.
Someone should proofread for the sake of eliminating some typographical errors, and refining composition. These prompted my rating.
Evie Gaughan has endeared herself with pure imagination, and a remarkable voice that are at the heart of her work. She knows her characters, and fully develops them and their stories, crafting authentic, complex, and engaging books.
The Heirloom seems a perfect fit for younger readers.
The themes of reincarnation, or at least the continuity of eternal love, interwoven within historical fiction, captured my interest. This was a leisurely, satisfying tale.
Someone should proofread for the sake of eliminating some typographical errors, and refining composition. These prompted my rating.
Evie Gaughan has endeared herself with pure imagination, and a remarkable voice that are at the heart of her work. She knows her characters, and fully develops them and their stories, crafting authentic, complex, and engaging books.
August 22, 2023
So many spelling and punctuation mistakes. Twice the author referred to Xavier when she should have referred to Miguel. And while those things aren’t huge deals, they’re incredibly annoying when coupled with a plot that is a total slough. I was barely invested in the characters and all of a sudden we’re launched back in time to the 1500s. Something was largely missing for me on this one, I wouldn’t compare it to Outlander in the slightest but I understand how the comparison is made. I wouldn’t really consider this a romance either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2018
A story of the past finally completed in the future.
Those that like historical romance will enjoy this book. Beautiful story of of an Irish lass and a Spanish Knight from the Armada which crashed on the shores of Ireland. A devastating hurricane brought the 2 together when the Spanish were trying to defeat England in 1500's. Fast forward to the present day and how an heirloom unites their fate. This book has a great true historical background. Good read.
Those that like historical romance will enjoy this book. Beautiful story of of an Irish lass and a Spanish Knight from the Armada which crashed on the shores of Ireland. A devastating hurricane brought the 2 together when the Spanish were trying to defeat England in 1500's. Fast forward to the present day and how an heirloom unites their fate. This book has a great true historical background. Good read.
February 8, 2018
Loved it
I choose this rating because all together it was a fascinating story combining history within the current day. I admired this aspect of the book entwining the theme through the couples' stories of love, loss and healing. Since I have visited Galway, the book brought familiar sites to mind which made history come alive. I'm glad I found this book and would recommend it to a lover of Ireland, history and romance.
I choose this rating because all together it was a fascinating story combining history within the current day. I admired this aspect of the book entwining the theme through the couples' stories of love, loss and healing. Since I have visited Galway, the book brought familiar sites to mind which made history come alive. I'm glad I found this book and would recommend it to a lover of Ireland, history and romance.
August 16, 2023
Evie Gaughan is a master at weaving fact with fiction and relating the past to the present. This is not "just" fiction. I learned more about religion, war, Ireland, complex relationships, and more. To learn while being entertained with a fascinating story is a bonus when reading fiction. I highly recommend this book and this author as of course I had to explore her other works after reading this one.
January 30, 2024
Was just fine
So many errors in grammar - very distracting. I learned how to edit as I got near the end of the book. As to the novel, it was an interesting read. I could have done without the lengthy descriptions of the Spanish tactical movements and their ships. I felt like I was reading a very DRY history book. I just skipped by a great deal of it. I thought more time could have been spent toward the end tying her dream to his dream.
So many errors in grammar - very distracting. I learned how to edit as I got near the end of the book. As to the novel, it was an interesting read. I could have done without the lengthy descriptions of the Spanish tactical movements and their ships. I felt like I was reading a very DRY history book. I just skipped by a great deal of it. I thought more time could have been spent toward the end tying her dream to his dream.
November 29, 2024
This was a difficult book to read. The crossover between present day and the past coming together reuniting reincarnated loves, was difficult to swallow. The book was very slow to start and the character manifestations seem to have nothing in common. Additionally, my biggest pet peeve is lack of editing: misspelling, improper use of names or switching names and improper use of words was pretty rampant during the latter part of the book and that was only whenever I started to keep track of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2020
Great read!
I loved this book! Following the history of Miguel and Annora was fascinating. Then tying it into present day, was amazing. I'm looking forward to reading more of Evie's books. I'm hoping one of them will give a clue to Aunt Elisa's connection to Xavier's grandfather.
I loved this book! Following the history of Miguel and Annora was fascinating. Then tying it into present day, was amazing. I'm looking forward to reading more of Evie's books. I'm hoping one of them will give a clue to Aunt Elisa's connection to Xavier's grandfather.
September 18, 2023
Heart wrenching and warming
I think this was Eve's first book. I had already read her three later books, the last under her pseudo name, Eve Woods, ten years later. They are all good reads, her talent in telling well researched stories with a touch of magic having matured, with better flow, more well hewn characters, and better copy editing. I hope Eve keeps writing.
I think this was Eve's first book. I had already read her three later books, the last under her pseudo name, Eve Woods, ten years later. They are all good reads, her talent in telling well researched stories with a touch of magic having matured, with better flow, more well hewn characters, and better copy editing. I hope Eve keeps writing.
October 10, 2023
Amazing blending of present and past!
I'm not one to knowingly pick up a book with time travel or reincarnation. This book, however, makes the past a mirror reflection of the present, and is exquisitely depicted in a riveting love story. Evie Gaughan is an amazing author and will steal your heart in each of her novels. Highly recommended!
I'm not one to knowingly pick up a book with time travel or reincarnation. This book, however, makes the past a mirror reflection of the present, and is exquisitely depicted in a riveting love story. Evie Gaughan is an amazing author and will steal your heart in each of her novels. Highly recommended!
December 26, 2023
I got this book because I read The Lost Bookshop by this author and loved it. Well this was obviously her first book and it shows. The writing is nothing in comparison to The Lost Bookshop, the characters are poorly written, she flip flops all over, and the historical stuff is incredibly dry. DNF I gave up around page 150.
January 13, 2024
Meh...
It was one of those stories that you knew what would happen at each turn before it did. I was invested enough to finish it, but I struggled... With all the typos and hokey storyline, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars. I picked this one because I had read another book by Gaughan that I truly enjoyed! But this one...I'm going to find a new author now.
It was one of those stories that you knew what would happen at each turn before it did. I was invested enough to finish it, but I struggled... With all the typos and hokey storyline, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars. I picked this one because I had read another book by Gaughan that I truly enjoyed! But this one...I'm going to find a new author now.
April 3, 2024
A beautiful historical fiction tale set in Galway and the time of the Spanish Armada fleet in 1588. Both settings are mesmerising. A seamless timeslip story with wonderful characters and a wealth of history. There's romance and adventure, heartache and love, loss and dreams. All in all, a gorgeous read.
June 22, 2025
This book felt like sitting by a rainy window with a cup of tea quiet, emotional, and a little haunting. The Heirloom gently tugs at buried memories, weaving past and present in a way that made me ache and hope all at once. Some parts moved slowly, but the heart of it the loss, the healing, the connection across time stayed with me.
October 10, 2017
I liked this book. It was a quick, enjoyable read. I ad a little bit of a hard time getting into the story and liking the main characters, but after awhile, it grew on me. The historical aspects in regards to the Spanish Armada and the attic on England were very interesting and well researched.
February 8, 2018
This could have been a much better story. The first half of the book was slow and then the last half felt very rushed. Some of the characters needed mor development and there was too much time spent on the Spanish Armada.
March 4, 2018
This is a novel where the past life mirrors the present. In the present, the characters were well done and I really wanted to follow their story. In the past, though, the story read like a textbook. Way too much dry information for me to care about the characters.
March 27, 2018
Enjoyable Read
Do you believe in reincarnation? If so, you will love this love story that goes back to Ireland and the wrecked ships of the Spanish Armada. It is the story of modern day Irish woman, Amanda, and Spaniard, Xavier, who seem to know each other even before meeting.
Do you believe in reincarnation? If so, you will love this love story that goes back to Ireland and the wrecked ships of the Spanish Armada. It is the story of modern day Irish woman, Amanda, and Spaniard, Xavier, who seem to know each other even before meeting.
October 2, 2018
I give up, I am never going to finish this....
Interesting premise and decent reviews but I just can't get remotely interested in it. Life is too short to force myself to read something that is supposed to be fun.
Interesting premise and decent reviews but I just can't get remotely interested in it. Life is too short to force myself to read something that is supposed to be fun.
December 27, 2019
Loved it!
Past, present, history, life, all becomes one. Enjoyable, realizing that romance and history can live together. Chivalry, and the love a woman brings a calming peaceful dream to a wonderful completion.
Past, present, history, life, all becomes one. Enjoyable, realizing that romance and history can live together. Chivalry, and the love a woman brings a calming peaceful dream to a wonderful completion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews