Irish Eyes

Welcome to my spot on the Irish Eyes by Hope C. Tara Book Tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours.

About Irish Eyes

Title: Irish Eyes

Author: Hope C. Tarr

Publisher: Lume Books

Release Date: December 7, 2023

Pages: 441

Find it: Amazon

December 1898. In the aftermath of America’s war with Spain over Cuba, eighteen-year-old Rose O’Neill leaves her beloved Inis Mór and boards a steamer for New York City in search of the Yank soldier who swore to marry her. Herded through the temporary emigrant landing depot at The Battery, abandoned and alone, she discovers the New York streets are no more paved in gold than those of Galway. To survive, she must ford through Lower East Side tenements and sweatshops, Fifth Avenue mansions and tony hotels, tangling with Tammany Hall for the soul of the husband with whom her fate is inextricably linked while fighting her feelings for the first love who still holds her heart. Just as she begins to make peace with the past, the Great War erupts in Europe, threatening to topple the dynasty for which she has sacrificed so much.

About the Author

Hope C. Tarr is the award-winning author of more than 20 romances and has been featured in numerous entertainment news outlets, including NBC’s Today Show, Time Out New York, and The New York Post. She is a founder and curator of the popular Manhattan-based Lady Jane’s Salon® reading series (2009 – 2021), which donated its proceeds to Women in Need (Win, Inc). IRISH EYES (12.7.23), set in Gilded and Jazz Age New York City, is her historical fiction debut and the launch of her American Songbook series for Lume/Joffe Books.

Prior to launching her writing career, Hope earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Education, both from The Catholic University of America. She and her husband, Raj divide their time between Manhattan and the Jersey Shore.

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Reviews for Irish Eyes

“With Irish Eyes, Tarr delivers an expansive, breathtaking tale centered around Rose O’Neill, a fierce Irish immigrant who’s determined to succeed. Rose’s voice is eloquent and lyrical, the writing glorious, and the historical detail superb.” — Fiona Davis, NYT Bestselling Author of The Spectacular.

My Thoughts

Rose’s brother’s best friend, Adam, shows up at her family’s pub in Ireland after the war. Love at first sight will prove to change the course of their lives. While the story covers decades, love and loss are timeless. Told from Rose’s point of view, there are times when Adam chimes in. During their lifetime, so many historical events take place – and while we know the outcome, the characters do not. It’s actually a quite exquisite way to tell a story – while the reader cringes at what’s to come, Rose and Adam carry on.

While Rose recalls her past (which happens throughout), she is hell bent on moving forward while Adam tries to do what’s expected of him. All in all, it’s a good read that I enjoyed. I would have liked to spend a little more time exploring their emotions instead of seeing the story unfold from the rear view mirror. I do recommend this book nonetheless.