What Divides Us

The Kilteegan Bridge Story #2

by Jean Grainger

Kilteegan Bridge, Ireland 1963.

On the face of it, life is idyllic for Eli and Lena Kogan. Living in their beautiful house in the Irish countryside, their children are growing up happy and safe surrounded by a loving community. So when a letter arrives one day threatening to shatter their peaceful and prosperous world, Lena and Eli have no option but face the dark reality of their situation. How best to do that, is something that drives a wedge between them.
As a Jewish child, escaped from Germany in 1939, Eli is all for letting those dark days where they belong, for him, there’s no future in the past.
But for Lena, it’s different. She knows that the only way she can move her family forward in peace is to first go back, and there is only one man who knows the whole truth.
From rural Ireland to wartime France, What Divides us, tells a tale of loyalty and love, resentment and revenge, that has far reaching consequences for the Kogan family, the unravelling of which might just destroy their future.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Ireland, Audiobook, Historical

438 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2022

About the author

Jean Grainger was born in Cork, Ireland. She has been a tour guide of her beloved home country, a teacher, a university lecturer and a playwright. She began writing fiction at the suggestion of her clients on tours, many of whom were sure all the stories she told them would make for a great book. Her first book, The Tour, has become a Number 1 bestseller on Amazon. It tells the story of a disparate group of American visitors to Ireland, who, along with their Irish tour guide have a life changing experience in the magical Emerald Isle.
Her second book, So Much Owed, is a family saga set during the Second World War. The story centres on the Buckley family of West Cork and how their lives are pulled in different directions as they become embroiled in the war. It is a sweeping family saga of intrigue and romance against the background of occupied Europe.
In her third novel, Shadow of a Century, she tells a tale of a battered old flag found in New York in 2016, a century after it was used during the Easter Rising, when Ireland made her final bid for freedom from Great Britain. This tells the story of a journalist who uncovers a story, one with much more to it than a flag.
Her fourth novel, due out in Spring 2016, Under Heaven’s Shining Stars, is set in the 1970s in Cork, Ireland and is a novel about friendship. Three boys, Liam, Patrick and Hugo, though from very different backgrounds are united in a deep but often times challenging friendship. As their lives progress, only by staying strong, can they prevail. Or fail.
Her novella, Letters of Freedom, tells the story of Carmel, stuck in a pointless marriage, when a figure from her past emerges and changes everything with a ‘like’ on Facebook. This quick read will touch your heart.
She lives in Cork with her husband and her two youngest children. The older two come home occasionally with laundry and to raid the fridge.

Reviews

[Dan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like Ireland is my home away from home although I have yet to go there in person. Jean Grainger takes us there in such a way that one feels like they would be welcomed to drop in at any time and enjoy an afternoon just soaking in the sights and sounds. Lena, Eli, and the entire O'Sullivan clan are back once again. This time Lena and Eli face new challenges brought on by the likes of August Burger and Philippe Decker. In the journey they learn a lot about themselves and their relationship with each other. So, pull up a chair, turn off the alarms, and settle in for a cozy journey back to Kilteegan Bridge.

[Carol Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book! An in depth account of fascinating information about the troubles in Ireland and the evil presence in that Country of the Black & Tans… a band of cut throats and criminals sent to Ireland by the British in an attempt to bring the Irish to heel.
Meanwhile a group of Soldier friends fresh home from World War 1.. combine their various talents and join together to form The Celtic Cabaret.. With Love, loss, horror .. and a fair bit of hilarity in the mix it makes for a very enjoyable read.

There are many ways to learn facts and reading this was way more enjoyable than listening to cold hard facts.. in reading this book I learned a whole lot more about Ireland than I did at school… I’m a dyed in the wool Aussie farm girl, now living happily in a big city… but my DNA says I hail mainly from Irish stock. ☘️

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting with a disturbing letter that Lena receives a few years after The Trouble With Secrets, the novel moves fairly fast between Ireland and France.

While I liked it and definitely want to read the next, I found the conflict in this one a bit contrived so there was a reason for Malachi to reappear as a sort of good guy this time, though while he respects Lena's choice, he still resents it to some extent and definitely has an interest in Emmett.

Overall, quite good and fast-moving with lots of energy, but not quite reaching the heights of the series debut

[Dianne Charnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Jean Grainger. Even though this is book two of the series, it can be read alone as Jean reflects back to the first book as events unfold. I loved stepping back into the lives of Lena Eli Maria and families. I get so engrossed in the stories of this family and the curve balls they are thrown and how they deal with each one. Mental illness, adoption, inheritance and murder are all addressed in the lives of the family, yet the love and commitment for each other is evident. Clever writing from this Irish author who writes in such a way that you feel like you are Ireland and are walking in the shoes of each character. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to book three.

[Anne Whiting · Rating 5 out of 5]

We return to Kilteegan Bridge to find Lena, Eli and their family settled into a comfortable life. Eli is a well liked doctor and Lena is happy with her life until one dreadful day, she receives a letter bringing her world crashing round her ears.

Her journey takes her to Dublin and France in order to meet the man who destroyed her life years ago.

Lena is a strong woman like lots of Jean's characters and I was with her every step of the way as she fought for what she believed in.

I never cease to marvel at the incredible accurate research that goes into Jean's books. She is a genius!
I cannot wait for Book 3 which I believe is imminent.
Thank you.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series by Jean Grainger. Like other series by this author, it is a very satisfying combination of beautiful Ireland scenery, relatable characters, interesting storylines, plot twists and cliffhangers. Perfect!

[Robert Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Jean Grainger writes an engaging story with great and believable characters with may qualities and flaws. In other words people you can relate to and some you will admire and others will despise, rightfully so.

This story has many twists and surprises which will keep you turning the pages.

Don't miss this book or any of Jean's stories. I have read them all and look forward to many more.

Robert Woods
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from beginning to end. I loved the way Lena learned to stand up for herself. Very interesting history revealed in this story. Most of it I was aware of but not the particulars mentioned in this story.

Jean, when is the next one coming? I can hardly wait!
Sally
Nanaimo, Canada

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this series.
Loved the History.
Then she made a Huge mistake, and now I feel like I need to fact check everything she’s writing!
I’m done.

[Judy Granit · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absoluty brilliant sequel! Even better than the first. Couldn't put it down! I really enjoyed getting to know Lena and Eli more deeply in a surprising storyline. Alongside a wonderfully human story, Jean deals with an aspect of post war, holocaust wounds in such a sensitive and heart opening way. Thank you again Jean! Highly recommended.

[Nanette Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even as late as 1963, issues and damage, both physical and emotional, from WWII still interfere with people's lives. Irish family saga.

[Lisa Crowe smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I really enjoyenjoyed reading this book. Great start to another fantastic novel. Looking forward to number 3 in the series.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

compelling

As usual once I started reading I couldn’t put this book down. Loved the characters and plot. Of course the location being Ireland was another draw.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jean Grainger, but the storyline of Lena running off to France on her own to confront the Nazi was ridiculous. There is no way that was a good idea. She made it seem like a feminist thing like Lena just had to stand up and take care of this situation herself, but confronting a murderer on one’s own would not be smart for anyone, male or female. Lena was not as likeable in this book.

Also, I have no idea why Doc wouldn’t have told Lena about his close friends in Dublin and his godson. That whole side story was odd. The fact that they knew everything about her and she’d never even known the godson existed was so very odd and unlike Doc. And the son’s terrible accident occurred 6 years ago, while Doc only died 5 years ago, so wouldn’t that have had a big impact on Doc? That felt like a big gaping hole.

Not the best - and the ending makes it clear there is another story coming with these characters. I hope the plot is better in the next one!

[Michele Heileman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging

Both books in this series have been engaging ones to read. Stories of love lost and found; of secrets finally told and resolved.

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

Book 2 now in 1963, some five years after The Trouble with Secrets introduced us to Lena and Eli, they have Sarah, Pádraig, and Emmet—the baby that began the storyline.

The family is living in a beautiful home in a small community surrounded by family, support, and prosperity. When Lena receives a letter addressed specifically to her, it’s bad news. Eli, a Jewish child of Germany, wants nothing to do with the past. He and Lena have vastly different ideas on how to handle it but for her there is only one way.

It’s not just about the house or the land, however, it goes much deeper. In the first book, I wasn’t sure about the character of Eli. This time, Lena has matured with three children but I had a bit of a problem with her very immediate, severe overreaction to the situation. She does, of course, have a valid point and is prepared to fight.

The author crafts a well-plotted and fast-paced storyline that grips from the beginning. Lena gathers people with info to dip into a dark background that stuns the soul as it reveals brutal and shocking truths.

I love the way the author can weave a historical chronicle into an Irish family drama that touches the heart and takes so many of us with some Irish ties home.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts. Recommended! 4.5 stars

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 2 in a series. It had been awhile since I read book 1, so it took me some time to remember all the characters and their relationships. Too many family secrets!
"Kilteegan Bridge, Ireland 1963.
On the face of it, life is idyllic for Eli and Lena Kogan. Living in their beautiful house in the Irish countryside, their children are growing up happy and safe surrounded by a loving community. So when a letter arrives one day threatening to shatter their peaceful and prosperous world, Lena and Eli have no option but face the dark reality of their situation. How best to do that, is something that drives a wedge between them.
As a Jewish child, escaped from Germany in 1939, Eli is all for letting those dark days where they belong, for him, there’s no future in the past.
But for Lena, it’s different. She knows that the only way she can move her family forward in peace is to first go back, and there is only one man who knows the whole truth.
From rural Ireland to wartime France, What Divides us, tells a tale of loyalty and love, resentment and revenge, that has far reaching consequences for the Kogan family, the unravelling of which might just destroy their future." synopsis copied

[Frieda Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Divides Us

Jean Grainger's books are so great that I almost get tired of writing reviews! 😁 I end up writing the same thing over & over! I've been reading Ms. Grainger's books for a couple of years now & can say none have disappointed me. This one is no different! The characters are realistic. Most have become my friends, others I wouldn't want to be on the same planet with! I love how she describes places & landscapes! I can actually see them in my mind as if *I* were standing right there! At this time of life, I use books as a means of escapism as much as entertainment, & Ireland is among my favorite places to escape to! I'm sad that I never got to see it myself. I also learn from her books! Thanks to the Kindle app, when I read something that either I don't know about, or how to pronounce (being American both happen frequently when I read "foreign" books!), I can pull it up in the dictionary or Wikipedia. Or on the web if what I find isn't enough, or more likely I'll keep reading all I find & eventually come back to the book! So, on to the next in the series!

[Nancy L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had been awhile since the first book in this series had been published, and I had to refresh my memory a bit on the characters; I think the gap diminished my enjoyment a bit. Ms. Grainger writes inventive stories with many interesting twists and turns, yet this one simply did not draw me in as much as some of her other series. I adored her Queenstown series and The Star and the Shamrock series, but this one not as much for some reason, This second entry continues the story of Lena and Eli Kogan, as Lena receives a letter to vacate Kilteegan House immediately per the provisions of a second will by The late August Berger. This sets off a series of initiatives by Lena, some of which her husband Eli disapprove, and hence some marital stress. A man named Philippe Decker, who worked for August Berger, becomes central to the claim, and numerous other characters are involved. An inventive plot to be sure, but I felt it went off in too many directions despite Ms. Grainger’s great talent. I received an advance copy from the author.

[Trick Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series gets better and better as the lives of Eli and Lena's family grows and just lives life. Eli and Lena have hard things to face and Eli with his own family as they try to escape Germany as the war was getting ready to start, the family members who they lost he finally is facing what he has put off for so many years until a surprise comes Eli's way, did they find a lost member. Emmet figures out who his real father is, will they lose him? So many dark secrets come out and the real truth finally, so many lies over all these years. It's 1960's, things are changing especially for women as Lena finds out. Love this series, love Miss Grainger's writing, she has a way of drawing you into the story as in this one she has a way of making you feel that this is your family, and you know the members. I can just imagine if this way an audio series, off to book 3!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Divides Us continues the story that began in The Trouble with Secrets. Lena, husband Eli, and their three children are settled and living in Kilteegan house when Lena learns that a second will has voided her son Emmet’s inheritance from his biological father. To further complicate things the property has been given to a former Nazi whose time in Ireland caused bereavement for two families. Ms. Grainger has many surprises in store for her readers. Her descriptive prose always brings the reader into not only the setting but also the emotions of her characters without drowning one in angst…a huge plus. Can so many secrets remain unrevealed? I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Most highly recommend.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean Grainger never fails in writing accurate, riveting, historical fictions that will keep you turning pages to the end and waiting for the next in the series. The characters in this Book 2 of The Kilteegan Bridge Story are so well developed, and human - not all likable, but all real and memorable. I will be considering this story for some time to come. Because of the subject matter, it was a difficult story for me to read, but it is a subject that we cannot forget.

I read this as an ARC from the author, and all opinions are strictly my own. What Divides us, indeed! Grab Book 1 to prepare yourself for Book 2; however, each story is complete in itself as the author fills in the blanks well.

[Kathy Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy all of Jean’s books, and this was no exception. This is the second in the Kilteegan Bridge series, and although it is possible to read as a stand alone, it is helpful to have read book 1 first. There is much less rehashing of prior events in book 2, which makes the writing flow better. There were a couple of unexpected plot twists that made the story exciting, and the ending seems to promise another book to continue the story. Jean’s characters and settings draw the reader in. The best part about reading is the ability to be transported to another country, age, and culture. This is a way to return to rural Ireland without the travel expense.

I was gifted an advance copy of this book in return for a review, but the opinions expressed are my own.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of Jean Grainger's book series feature complicated family relationships and lots of angst as seemingly insurmountable problems arise. She exposes the readers to some heartbreaking issues. This time it is the fate of the Jews during WWII and some especially dangerous Nazis. Eli and Lena finally seem to have an happy and seamless life, despite Lena's mother's mental illness. But trouble arises and threatens to completely upend their home and family. This novel is full of drama, family love and tension, but Ms. Grainger is also good at finding that impossible happy ending, at least until the next book in the series upsets the apple cart. Many secrets are revealed and I loved getting more background on the many characters in this well-written book.

[Tracy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt for Lena in the 1st book. Heart tore mama finding ways to mend heart and family. This second instalment I spent a decent portion feeling mentally bitter towards her spoiled and flighty behaviour.
Towards Malachy’s blatant selfishness. He should have just stayed in America.
Towards Phillipe’s outright denial that anything horrendous ever happened to those scooped up and destroyed by the Nazi party.

I was glad Eli knew enough about his wife to predict her moves and thus keep her safe. Looking up the storks; they’ve a wingspan of 7’ ! I’d shriek too if some of them swooped past me in a garden too.

I hope Klaus and Pierre are able to use their collective brains to discover what happened to Eli’s missing family. If only to bring them closure.

[DonnaBeeSparkly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes real life can be tough, and although a book may not fix what is going on in the world, it can be an act of self care to take some time to yourself and do something you enjoy, like reading. There may be comfort in re-reading an old favourite book, but there is also something special about enjoying a new book from a favourite author, especially if her name is Jean Grainger. With a nod to history, continued development of beloved characters, and touching points to ponder that are relevant to both the characters and to the readers, this sequel is a fantastic addition to my library. Of course it is wonderful to reunite with characters like Lena, Eli, and their extended family, friends, and neighbours, but it is also topical to consider that some of what they are experiencing with the fall out of WWII and its effects can also be relevant for anyone who is trying to deal with the fall out of conflict in our present day world. For me, the best books are the ones that you not only enjoy for the story, but also the books that touch your heart and make you think and connect with your own current situation. It seems silly to me to try to write something to explain how fantastic a true author is, so forgive my clumsy attempt, but if you are wanting to read a book by Jean Grainger it will be both money and time well spent.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Divides Us: The Kilteegan Bridge Story, Bood 2 is written by Jean Grainger. Like Part 1 of this series, I found it somewhat lacking in energy. It was still a charming and wonderful story.
Lena and Eli Kogan are happily married and living at Kilteegan Bridge while raising their three children. Then, Lena receives a letter which threatens their story. Patrick Decker threatens their life. He claims the cottage his and wants them out.
When Malachy finds out, his anger is evident and he returns home to straighten thing out. His coming home will bring out some old problems which challenge the Kogan’s marriage.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every series of Jean Grainger's that I've read has been fabulous, but I am especially enjoying this one. Lena and Eli's story has really captured me. They have made a wonderful life for themselves despite a difficult beginning, but a letter she receives could possibly turn everything on its head. Lena has to find the courage to fight an evil from her past that will threaten their future. Her struggles take on her a journey out of her beloved Ireland as she travels to France to protect those she holds dear.

I hope a few more books are planned for this series - I'm not ready to say goodbye yet!

[cynthia Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, you read about a family that has had hardship in the past. It’s a good book to learn a little bit of history with Ireland in the war with England and World War II with the Nazis in Germany what they did to people. I worked for a nursing home facility and we had two survivors of the holocaust. Yes, they had numbers on their wrists , they told us stories we would sit for hours after we clocked out so they could tell us their story.Its wonderful to follow Eli and.Lena and her family and his and what their hardships have been throughout the years. And to this day with her brother being gay.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This second book just does not work for me. The personalities of characters I loved changed. There was a disconnect between how they behaved in first book and how they behaved in second book. It was a jolt to my senses that I did not appreciate. The relationship between Doc and his friend's wife made no sense in my book. Author was trying to insert some intrigue and create a sub-plot that readers would eagerly pursue. That just didn't work for me. I won't continue with series and am so disappointed I am moving on to other Irish writers.