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Cinders to Satin
From the bestselling historical romance writer Fern Michaels, author of TEXAS RICH and TEXAS HEAT, comes this exciting saga of Callie James, a brave immigrant girl from squalid Dublin, who battles her way through the hard world of late nineteenth century New York on a passion-filled, bittersweet journey to make her dreams of passion and success come true.
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
1286 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
423 books6,456 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 2, 2017
I guess I would give this melodramatic potboiler of a historical romance one star. One because, it was actually pretty well written with some interesting historical detail, first of Ireland during the potato famine and then as the much too perfectly strong, proud and defiant against the evils of the world, heroine emigrates to America....some detail of how the immigrants fared during passage and may have been treated once on our shores. That is the only good about this unending tale of woe. It is so long and with mostly unrelieved tragedy by the end of the second "book" and the beginning of third "book" still three hours plus from the end according to my Kindle tally, I decided I had wasted way too much time already with Callie James and her so called life. I always hate it when I realize I will never be able to get back the hours I wasted on stuff like this. Too bad I paid $1.99 for it, too, it was so bad I am deleting it from my Kindle.
May 1, 2008
This book was really good. I could never put it down. Although I must say the beginning was really depressing. The character Callie endured so much. I almost stopped reading it but then I was like this book has got to get better. Of course it did. I really enjoyed reading it.
November 9, 2013
I found myself experiencing all emotions I had to look around laughing in the house alone. This is a great book.
All I can say about this book is that I wish I could give it 10 stars .....
All I can say about this book is that I wish I could give it 10 stars .....
October 21, 2018
This could have been a good story, but Michael's carried it about 200 pages too long. Then bam, fast ending.
August 9, 2018
This book almost got five stars, but it didn't quite make the mark. The reason it fell short is because of the contrived tension at the end. There is no way on the planet that two people are really that stupid for that long and actually marry each other.
It would have been better if she had simply let the heroine take a long time to recover, while the hero fights to keep his declaration of love held back. Instead, they both act like complete jerks. I ended up disliking them both thoroughly.
It would have been better if she had simply let the heroine take a long time to recover, while the hero fights to keep his declaration of love held back. Instead, they both act like complete jerks. I ended up disliking them both thoroughly.
June 26, 2010
This book was both heartbreaking and uplifting. It is the first book that I had read by Fern Michaels. This story is a must read for anyone who loves romance, history and a realistic look into the life of an amazing female character. <3
October 29, 2016
I enjoyed this book. I found it to hold my interest. I laughed, I cried, I was even surprised in parts. I thought I had figured out exactly what was going to happen, but I was wrong. Not my favorite by Fern Michaels, but still worth the read.
February 19, 2017
Cinders to Satin
Wow, what a great story. Only you can make a story so real exciting that you can't put the book down. Your characters so real that that you feel you are right there. I appreciate every book that I have read. You are special.
Wow, what a great story. Only you can make a story so real exciting that you can't put the book down. Your characters so real that that you feel you are right there. I appreciate every book that I have read. You are special.
May 4, 2010
The book starts out strong, but is too long and is resolved too quickly at the end. And could it be more depressing?
March 27, 2014
Started out really good, but lost steam. :(
May 9, 2024
this book could have been 5 stars but she carried it on too long. Made the characters seem like 2 jerks not seeing what they really wanted, which was each other. By repeating their sexual encounters too much it made me lose interest. In fact I found myself skipping pages of their sexual encounters. Enough is enough. There was so much "hurt" going on between them that they never could have stayed together since they both seemed to be intelligent people. I wanted to hurry and get to the enc where they were going to become one or split up. It took too long and had too many pages of lust that couldn't been shortened. We got the message!!
February 2, 2018
Right from the start this book had me engrossed. Found it hard to put down to do other things. First the details regarding the poverty of Ireland and their survival and then the trip across to New York and the devastating arrival back to poverty again but across the ocean to a better life and the everlasting hopes for something better. Then comes the knight in shining armor and the fear of a life far from poverty and how she handled it. This was engrossing all the way. I was sad when it ended. Highly recommended.
April 10, 2023
Wish I could give this 5 stars...but it just wasn't quite there. The author had so many very interesting historical facts. Unfortunately, she dragged the story down, as so many romance authors do, by repeating herself thru-out the book. How many "lustily's" can we put up with? Why did the Callie/Brych loves me/hates me BS have to go on for so long? That back & forth drama could have been shortened up immensely. Overall though, I thought the storyline was very good...
October 10, 2023
I remember reading this as a teenager and loving it. It called to the dramatic in me. As an adult, I’m not as engaged with misunderstandings and egos causing drama/conflict. It’s a well written story although for all its peaks and valleys, the ending seemed a bit abrupt. Maybe that was the writing style at the time. I would’ve liked if the ending had been them returning to Ireland. Ending the story where it began.
December 4, 2018
One of the very first romance novels I ever snuck from my mom's bucket of books. Very fond memories of it. Callie had such a rough life but I admired how hard she worked and her strong character. Loss of innocence story at its finest. Hard lesson in the difference between lust and truly being loved.
July 25, 2018
Call Masterpiece Theatre!
This story is awesome!!!! I actually rated it 4 stars because I felt there was too much there there! Beautifully written but a tad long, this could easily be another Downton Abbey or Poldark!
This story is awesome!!!! I actually rated it 4 stars because I felt there was too much there there! Beautifully written but a tad long, this could easily be another Downton Abbey or Poldark!
August 5, 2018
The trials of early immigrants.
Me Michael's also has the best books. From an immigrant arriving into a city with the street paved in gold. She has help to work in a home where she is a companion to the small daughter. The periodical son takes a lighting to.
Me Michael's also has the best books. From an immigrant arriving into a city with the street paved in gold. She has help to work in a home where she is a companion to the small daughter. The periodical son takes a lighting to.
August 14, 2022
A must read!
I love all of Ms. Michaels books, she a an amazing talent. This is one of those books you can’t put down. One you will make excuses just so you can go back to reading! You will laugh, cry and have your heartstrings pulled taunt!
I love all of Ms. Michaels books, she a an amazing talent. This is one of those books you can’t put down. One you will make excuses just so you can go back to reading! You will laugh, cry and have your heartstrings pulled taunt!
November 25, 2022
The Best of Ms Michaels Books
OMG - someone needs to take this book and make it in not a miniseries! An enchanting novel with heartwarming characters, especially the heroine, Callie. Didn't want the story to end!
OMG - someone needs to take this book and make it in not a miniseries! An enchanting novel with heartwarming characters, especially the heroine, Callie. Didn't want the story to end!
February 18, 2025
Awesome book about Callie and Burke , from Ireland to Staten Island a beautiful story which took place in my home town . When StatenIsland was a dot on the map. Love laughs sadness and perseverance. Hate and anger.
July 11, 2017
Good read
Great book. Expect nothing less from Fern Michael's great stories. I have read about half of her books and enjoyed each one . Will continue to. Read her books
Great book. Expect nothing less from Fern Michael's great stories. I have read about half of her books and enjoyed each one . Will continue to. Read her books
November 11, 2017
What a lovely book
I could not put this book down. It was so exciting and a fast read. Recommended to lovers of fern Michaels romances.
I could not put this book down. It was so exciting and a fast read. Recommended to lovers of fern Michaels romances.
December 13, 2017
Typical fern Michaels book.
July 31, 2018
Great reading! Enjoyed the book. Lots of twists and turns but sure kept my interest!
October 13, 2018
Good book, it took the two main characters forever to get together, but it ended the way I wanted it to, just wish it could have continued a little more at the end
May 9, 2019
Great book
I really enjoyed the story. The book is rather long. Bryce I felt was a little harsh at times. Can’t help but to fall in love with Callie and Edward.
I really enjoyed the story. The book is rather long. Bryce I felt was a little harsh at times. Can’t help but to fall in love with Callie and Edward.
April 15, 2020
I'd have given this 4 stars if there was more , so much more, between the main characters. Good story.
April 15, 2020
This book was great!!! Its historical which I love and I learned some new things along the way as far as what Irish immigrants faced when emigrating and first coming to America
October 17, 2022
great book
This is one of the best novels I have read by Fern Michaels. Once I started I barely was able to put it down.
This is one of the best novels I have read by Fern Michaels. Once I started I barely was able to put it down.
May 12, 2023
Cinders to Satin
I felt like this was a hard book to read. I wish at the end when there was a happy it would have gone on longer.
I felt like this was a hard book to read. I wish at the end when there was a happy it would have gone on longer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews