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The Nightingale's Song
Maggie Quinn thinks she has room in her head for only the helpless orphans in her care -- until Gordon Kincaid walks into St. Columba's. A proud Southern gentleman damaged by the Civil War, he has come to Baltimore to find the daughter he never knew -- a beautiful child who is one of Maggie's favorites -- and bring her home to Virginia. And when he asks Maggie to accompany them, all she can say is "yes."
Widowed and wounded inside, Gordon turns to the emerald-eyed Irish beauty to help him pick up the pieces. Though he senses her distrust he is drawn to Maggie's angelic voice, her sensuality and passion...and to a tenderness that compels him to share with her his soul. But the scars of war go deep. And it will take uncommon strength for two people who stood on opposite sides to find redemption and a new life in love.
Widowed and wounded inside, Gordon turns to the emerald-eyed Irish beauty to help him pick up the pieces. Though he senses her distrust he is drawn to Maggie's angelic voice, her sensuality and passion...and to a tenderness that compels him to share with her his soul. But the scars of war go deep. And it will take uncommon strength for two people who stood on opposite sides to find redemption and a new life in love.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 11, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 9, 2017
Not the kind of story I normally pick up, but I found it for virtually free at a library book sale where little else was appealing, so I decided to be flexible and give it a shot. After all, the cover wasn't super slutty! And the synopsis on the back didn't indicate the usual plot containing nothing but silly romance and over-the-top sensuality.
At first I was pleasantly surprised to find myself liking Eschenburg's writing style. She's a good, clear writer on the whole, and uses dialogue well. And the characters did have individual, interesting lives rather than being completely wrapped up in each other, at least at first. But I was a little disappointed that Maggie wasn't a more clearly defined character. Others in the story thought of her as having some real gumption, but she spends most of the story afraid of actually wanting a man who isn't Catholic, while brimming with tears. There are only a few instances when she actually speaks up and shows the strength she's credited for having, and those times don't seem to match her otherwise rather pitiful character.
Then there's Gordon--I admire how taken he is with Maggie as a person, but the sexual tension between them is a little silly and over the top, especially in the beginning. (How does a dress "rustle seductively"??) On that note, the story would have been a lot sweeter had we been able to use a little more of our own imagination at a certain point in their relationship! I also feel that Gordon is not so much the wounded war veteran the book implied he'd be; Maggie is much more pitiful and broken than him by the end.
I did enjoy seeing what happened to them throughout the story, though, and I was glad they figured out how to share their love with each other rather than just wondering how the other felt and making silly assumptions, though the reason for that understanding wasn't explained super well. But a good ending, with characters to ultimately admire. Worth the read; just could have been more carefully crafted.
At first I was pleasantly surprised to find myself liking Eschenburg's writing style. She's a good, clear writer on the whole, and uses dialogue well. And the characters did have individual, interesting lives rather than being completely wrapped up in each other, at least at first. But I was a little disappointed that Maggie wasn't a more clearly defined character. Others in the story thought of her as having some real gumption, but she spends most of the story afraid of actually wanting a man who isn't Catholic, while brimming with tears. There are only a few instances when she actually speaks up and shows the strength she's credited for having, and those times don't seem to match her otherwise rather pitiful character.
Then there's Gordon--I admire how taken he is with Maggie as a person, but the sexual tension between them is a little silly and over the top, especially in the beginning. (How does a dress "rustle seductively"??) On that note, the story would have been a lot sweeter had we been able to use a little more of our own imagination at a certain point in their relationship! I also feel that Gordon is not so much the wounded war veteran the book implied he'd be; Maggie is much more pitiful and broken than him by the end.
I did enjoy seeing what happened to them throughout the story, though, and I was glad they figured out how to share their love with each other rather than just wondering how the other felt and making silly assumptions, though the reason for that understanding wasn't explained super well. But a good ending, with characters to ultimately admire. Worth the read; just could have been more carefully crafted.
March 21, 2017
Irish immigrant Maggie Quinn is working an an orphanage in Baltimore when Civil War doctor Gordan Kincaid arrives at the orphange with a bequest and discovers he has a 5 year old daughter living there. He asks Maggie to return to Virginia with them. Once there they have to combat the post Civil War prejudices of the neighbors including the Klan. They also have to persuade each other, Gordon's son from his first marriage, his illegitimate daughter, and others, that they can be a family.
Interesting aspect of the post Civil War - medium believable. A little choppy with lots of issues thrown in. Relatively clean.
Interesting aspect of the post Civil War - medium believable. A little choppy with lots of issues thrown in. Relatively clean.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews