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A Matter of Class #1-3
A Matter of Class Series: Books 1-3
'I am completely blown away by this series...Simply outstanding.' Book Reviews for U, book reviewer
This digital box set contains the first, second and third books in Susie Murphy's historical fiction series A Matter of Class.
Society said they shouldn't fall in love...
A Class Apart: It’s 1828, and Ireland is in turmoil as Irish tenants protest against their upper-class English landlords. Spirited Bridget Muldowney, a landowner’s daughter, and loyal Cormac McGovern, a stable hand’s son, once ran wild around the country estate as childhood friends. But now that they're adults, Bridget’s overbearing mother is determined to enforce the employer-servant boundaries between them and plots to keep them apart. With the odds stacked against them, can Bridget and Cormac’s childhood attachment blossom into something more?
They never thought they'd see each other again...
A Class Entwined: Trapped in distressing circumstances, Bridget and Cormac must each seek courage within themselves to do what they can to survive. In the face of unspeakable struggles, they discover that fate can act in the most unexpected of ways.
His past could destroy their future...
A Class Forsaken: As they confront the consequences of Bridget's embittered mother's actions, Bridget and Cormac must also come to terms with an agonising choice between family and duty. And when their loved ones are endangered, will the threat be great enough to crush the hopeful future they have envisioned together?
The story continues in the fourth book in the series, A Class Coveted.
Praise for A Matter of Class:
'A beautifully written historical novel with characters who linger long after the last page is turned.' Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home
'Not only are Murphy’s characters well developed, interesting, and genuine, but their love story is epic…These books have been wonderful reads and capture the essence of sweeping saga.' The Lit Bitch, book reviewer
'This series keeps getting better…Once I started reading this book, it was so hard to stop…Such evocative writing.' Elizabeth Bell, author of the Lazare Family Saga
'Murphy must own a time machine, or else she couldn’t possibly do such a good job of sucking a modern-day reader completely back into 1800s Ireland. The story of Bridget and Cormac comes vividly to life in this sweeping tale of romance.' Ashley O'Melia, author and freelance writer
'An Irish historical saga full of romance and betrayal across the class divide…My heart broke repeatedly for the characters…Highly recommend!' Kelsey Gietl, author of Across Oceans
'With adventure and drama and romance, this is a series I’ll continue to recommend left, right and centre.' Between My Lines, book reviewer
'Susie Murphy is an exceptional writer, with a keen ability for creating memorable characters and sweeping settings...Settle in for your new favorite book series.' Pursuing Stacie, book reviewer
What readers are saying:
★★★★★ 'The Irish Downton Abbey! Fabulous.'
★★★★★ 'If it was possible to give 100 stars to this book, I would!'
★★★★★ 'An absolute page turner.'
★★★★★ 'This is a fantastic saga! I am completely hooked!'
★★★★★ 'A brilliant love story.'
★★★★★ 'A hugely satisfying read.'
★★★★★ 'If you love romance and historical regency then this series is for you.'
★★★★★ 'Don't contemplate whether or not to read it, just read it!'
★★★★★ 'Superbly written.'
★★★★★ 'I just couldn’t put it down.'
★★★★★ 'Highly recommended for any lover of Irish history and romance novels.'
★★★★★ 'I am already itching to read the next book in the series!'
This digital box set contains the first, second and third books in Susie Murphy's historical fiction series A Matter of Class.
Society said they shouldn't fall in love...
A Class Apart: It’s 1828, and Ireland is in turmoil as Irish tenants protest against their upper-class English landlords. Spirited Bridget Muldowney, a landowner’s daughter, and loyal Cormac McGovern, a stable hand’s son, once ran wild around the country estate as childhood friends. But now that they're adults, Bridget’s overbearing mother is determined to enforce the employer-servant boundaries between them and plots to keep them apart. With the odds stacked against them, can Bridget and Cormac’s childhood attachment blossom into something more?
They never thought they'd see each other again...
A Class Entwined: Trapped in distressing circumstances, Bridget and Cormac must each seek courage within themselves to do what they can to survive. In the face of unspeakable struggles, they discover that fate can act in the most unexpected of ways.
His past could destroy their future...
A Class Forsaken: As they confront the consequences of Bridget's embittered mother's actions, Bridget and Cormac must also come to terms with an agonising choice between family and duty. And when their loved ones are endangered, will the threat be great enough to crush the hopeful future they have envisioned together?
The story continues in the fourth book in the series, A Class Coveted.
Praise for A Matter of Class:
'A beautifully written historical novel with characters who linger long after the last page is turned.' Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home
'Not only are Murphy’s characters well developed, interesting, and genuine, but their love story is epic…These books have been wonderful reads and capture the essence of sweeping saga.' The Lit Bitch, book reviewer
'This series keeps getting better…Once I started reading this book, it was so hard to stop…Such evocative writing.' Elizabeth Bell, author of the Lazare Family Saga
'Murphy must own a time machine, or else she couldn’t possibly do such a good job of sucking a modern-day reader completely back into 1800s Ireland. The story of Bridget and Cormac comes vividly to life in this sweeping tale of romance.' Ashley O'Melia, author and freelance writer
'An Irish historical saga full of romance and betrayal across the class divide…My heart broke repeatedly for the characters…Highly recommend!' Kelsey Gietl, author of Across Oceans
'With adventure and drama and romance, this is a series I’ll continue to recommend left, right and centre.' Between My Lines, book reviewer
'Susie Murphy is an exceptional writer, with a keen ability for creating memorable characters and sweeping settings...Settle in for your new favorite book series.' Pursuing Stacie, book reviewer
What readers are saying:
★★★★★ 'The Irish Downton Abbey! Fabulous.'
★★★★★ 'If it was possible to give 100 stars to this book, I would!'
★★★★★ 'An absolute page turner.'
★★★★★ 'This is a fantastic saga! I am completely hooked!'
★★★★★ 'A brilliant love story.'
★★★★★ 'A hugely satisfying read.'
★★★★★ 'If you love romance and historical regency then this series is for you.'
★★★★★ 'Don't contemplate whether or not to read it, just read it!'
★★★★★ 'Superbly written.'
★★★★★ 'I just couldn’t put it down.'
★★★★★ 'Highly recommended for any lover of Irish history and romance novels.'
★★★★★ 'I am already itching to read the next book in the series!'
1338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
405 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Susie Murphy
9 books110 followersSusie Murphy is an Irish historical fiction author. She loves historical fiction so much that she often wishes she had been born two hundred years ago. Still, she remains grateful for many aspects of the modern age, including women's suffrage, electric showers and pizza. Her ongoing A Matter of Class series is a sweeping romance saga that begins in Ireland in 1828 and explores the complexities of love, class and family over the decades that follow.
To find out more, visit www.susiemurphywrites.com, where you can join the Susie Murphy Readers’ Club and receive a collection of six free short stories which tie in with A Matter of Class.
To find out more, visit www.susiemurphywrites.com, where you can join the Susie Murphy Readers’ Club and receive a collection of six free short stories which tie in with A Matter of Class.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 5, 2020
I have read all three of the books in the saga so far and have loved every single one!
Over the last few years I have gotten to know Susie Murphy and her characters in the “Matter of Class” series and not only is she a wonderful person and author, but her saga has only gotten better.
More about that in a minute but first I wanted to take a couple of minutes and gush over the beauty of this cover. It is absolutely stunning. Each cover design has been eye catching, memorable, and interesting but this one is my favorite cover design. I think it’s elegant and captures the essence of the saga.
Now that I have raved about the cover a bit, let’s talk about how great this book was and how excited I am that there are going to be more books in the saga!
When I read the first book in this series, I was completely drawn in by the characters and the story unexpectedly and when the second book came out, I couldn’t wait to return to their story and see where things went next. But I seem to recall when I read the first book that at that time it was only meant to be one book or maybe three, but I believe there are going to be many more books to come in this saga and I couldn’t be more excited to hear that. Not only are Murphy’s characters well developed, interesting, and genuine, but their love story is epic and isn’t just something that can be confined to just one book. According to Murphy’s website, it sounds like there are going to be seven books in this saga and I think that’s fantastic news because I am not ready to be done with these characters and their stories yet.
I have never been to Ireland, but reading Murphy’s books makes me feel like I am right there. I love how she describes the setting, it almost takes on a life of its own in each of her books. After reading one of her books I always find myself casually searching for Ireland vacations—one day friends, one day!
When I started reading this one, I was immediately drawn back into Cormac and Bridget’s world and lives. It was as if no time had passed at all between books and I was instantly transported in time. I loved the premise of this one and seeing past issues resurfacing in their lives. As the books have progressed so have our characters. They are no longer who they were in the first book, but now they are more mature and Murphy does an excellent job showing that progression in this book and I think drawing on past events and choices really highlights the shift in Cormac and Bridget nicely.
Cormac and Bridget have undeniable chemistry and that hasn’t changed as the books have progressed. As a reader, I feel invested and committed to finding out more about these characters and their lives. I have seen them grown and change throughout the books and can’t wait to see how they change in future books as well. I love sweeping sagas for this reason and these books have been wonderful reads and capture the essence of sweeping saga. This book was probably my favorite in the series so far. I just loved how past and present come together in this one plus the cover is my favorite. I truly enjoyed reading this one and I can’t wait to see where our characters go and experience next.
Over the last few years I have gotten to know Susie Murphy and her characters in the “Matter of Class” series and not only is she a wonderful person and author, but her saga has only gotten better.
More about that in a minute but first I wanted to take a couple of minutes and gush over the beauty of this cover. It is absolutely stunning. Each cover design has been eye catching, memorable, and interesting but this one is my favorite cover design. I think it’s elegant and captures the essence of the saga.
Now that I have raved about the cover a bit, let’s talk about how great this book was and how excited I am that there are going to be more books in the saga!
When I read the first book in this series, I was completely drawn in by the characters and the story unexpectedly and when the second book came out, I couldn’t wait to return to their story and see where things went next. But I seem to recall when I read the first book that at that time it was only meant to be one book or maybe three, but I believe there are going to be many more books to come in this saga and I couldn’t be more excited to hear that. Not only are Murphy’s characters well developed, interesting, and genuine, but their love story is epic and isn’t just something that can be confined to just one book. According to Murphy’s website, it sounds like there are going to be seven books in this saga and I think that’s fantastic news because I am not ready to be done with these characters and their stories yet.
I have never been to Ireland, but reading Murphy’s books makes me feel like I am right there. I love how she describes the setting, it almost takes on a life of its own in each of her books. After reading one of her books I always find myself casually searching for Ireland vacations—one day friends, one day!
When I started reading this one, I was immediately drawn back into Cormac and Bridget’s world and lives. It was as if no time had passed at all between books and I was instantly transported in time. I loved the premise of this one and seeing past issues resurfacing in their lives. As the books have progressed so have our characters. They are no longer who they were in the first book, but now they are more mature and Murphy does an excellent job showing that progression in this book and I think drawing on past events and choices really highlights the shift in Cormac and Bridget nicely.
Cormac and Bridget have undeniable chemistry and that hasn’t changed as the books have progressed. As a reader, I feel invested and committed to finding out more about these characters and their lives. I have seen them grown and change throughout the books and can’t wait to see how they change in future books as well. I love sweeping sagas for this reason and these books have been wonderful reads and capture the essence of sweeping saga. This book was probably my favorite in the series so far. I just loved how past and present come together in this one plus the cover is my favorite. I truly enjoyed reading this one and I can’t wait to see where our characters go and experience next.
February 6, 2021
A Matter of Class Series is an absolute must read!
A Class Apart is the first book in this series and it quite naturally describes the characters, sets the tone and inevitably leaves you as a reader, needing and feeling like you need to read more. This historical romantic story will brighten your day and draw you into the world of Bridget and Cormac.
A Class Entwined is the second book in this series. It could not be more different to A Class Apart. This book shows the mastery of the author and it also broadens the depth of our knowledge of the two main characters while bringing other characters into their story. This book was incredibly raw. It brought me the reader on a roller coaster of emotions as I was allowed to enter more fully into the lives of Bridget and Cormac.
A Class Forsaken is the third book and it is simply stunning. I had a favourite book up until this point but after reading A Class Forsaken, I have a new favourite in this series.
The author is extremely articulate in explaining her characters and their motives. This story though it is set in a time in history that is past, it has a real sense of reality to it. These characters have become real people and I have found myself laughing, crying, smiling and scratching my head on numerous occasions.
This is what a truly gifted author should be able to do and Susie Murphy does this with such ease. In writing this series, she has afforded me the opportunity to become a part of this story in a way that has truly excited and touched me personally.
I would highly recommend to you to read this exciting series. You will not be disappointed.
This series felt like home.
A Class Apart is the first book in this series and it quite naturally describes the characters, sets the tone and inevitably leaves you as a reader, needing and feeling like you need to read more. This historical romantic story will brighten your day and draw you into the world of Bridget and Cormac.
A Class Entwined is the second book in this series. It could not be more different to A Class Apart. This book shows the mastery of the author and it also broadens the depth of our knowledge of the two main characters while bringing other characters into their story. This book was incredibly raw. It brought me the reader on a roller coaster of emotions as I was allowed to enter more fully into the lives of Bridget and Cormac.
A Class Forsaken is the third book and it is simply stunning. I had a favourite book up until this point but after reading A Class Forsaken, I have a new favourite in this series.
The author is extremely articulate in explaining her characters and their motives. This story though it is set in a time in history that is past, it has a real sense of reality to it. These characters have become real people and I have found myself laughing, crying, smiling and scratching my head on numerous occasions.
This is what a truly gifted author should be able to do and Susie Murphy does this with such ease. In writing this series, she has afforded me the opportunity to become a part of this story in a way that has truly excited and touched me personally.
I would highly recommend to you to read this exciting series. You will not be disappointed.
This series felt like home.
November 3, 2020
I started reading the "A Matter Of Class" series because the setting was in Carlow Ireland and that's where most of my Irish relatives live. Once I started reading books 1 and 2 it was hard to stop because I thought they were wonderful, from the characters to the storyline. When I finished the 2nd book I started to anxiously wait for the next book! Fortunately for me I got lucky and was one of the people selected to read an advanced copy before the actual launch of book #3 and believe me when I say it did not disappoint!! The continued storyline is a page turner and the characters, both old and new are great!! Now with the boxed set people will be able to read all 3 books nonstop!!!
Now I anxiously wait for book #4!!!! 😁
Now I anxiously wait for book #4!!!! 😁
November 3, 2020
I can't remember the last time I got so deeply invested in a series like I have this one. Each and every one of the books in A Matter of Class series is absolutely wonderful and I am so eager to read the next one. I 100% recommend the box set to anyone looking for an emotional, page-turning read written by a truly talented writer. Murphy is easily my favorite author of historical fiction and I look forward to many more books from her!!
April 2, 2024
what a plot! so complicated
A good Irish saga, but not very believable, still a great story. God only knows what hardships they’ll encounter In America. They should have gone back to their land and rebuilt their life there.
A good Irish saga, but not very believable, still a great story. God only knows what hardships they’ll encounter In America. They should have gone back to their land and rebuilt their life there.
July 22, 2021
Outstanding
Unable to put Down from Erie’s 1-3!
First time reading this author not the last can’t wait for NP. !!
Unable to put Down from Erie’s 1-3!
First time reading this author not the last can’t wait for NP. !!
August 20, 2023
An Irish Romance
This was a fascinating and riveting series that captures the imagination with mystery, adventure, and romance! I can't wait to continue the saga!
This was a fascinating and riveting series that captures the imagination with mystery, adventure, and romance! I can't wait to continue the saga!
Read
February 9, 2024Excellent ♥️♥️
February 10, 2024
Light reading
Historical romance. Good wins over bad.
Like the stories relating to Irish, their fortitude and courage.Always sorry when story ends.
Historical romance. Good wins over bad.
Like the stories relating to Irish, their fortitude and courage.Always sorry when story ends.
February 10, 2024
Great books. Could not wait till I could read more each day.
May 27, 2025
Couldn’t put it down
I usually I read before falling asleep. This set of books grabbed me and made if I was awake I was reading these books.
I usually I read before falling asleep. This set of books grabbed me and made if I was awake I was reading these books.
August 26, 2025
Excellent series!
September 14, 2025
Irish Love story
Interesting, but so many hardships, almost unbelievable! But I couldn’t put the book down! It makes you awake of how few rights women had once they married!
Interesting, but so many hardships, almost unbelievable! But I couldn’t put the book down! It makes you awake of how few rights women had once they married!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews