Victoria Goulding resides at the esteemed estate of the Kilbride House on Dingle Peninsula, Ireland. In 1955, a strict divide between the Protestants like the Goulding's and the Catholics existed with the two groups rarely intermingling. When Victoria meets Canice Meager, a Roman Catholic who was recently evacuated from the Blasket Islands, sparks fly. Victoria and Canice meet in secret since Victoria's mother would never accept their relationship. In 2018, Edith Goulding, Victoria's sister has died and left specific instructions for her daughter, Catherine and granddaughter Lainey to return to Ireland and Kilbride House in order to uncover the past that she left behind.
Kilbride House is a story of love, heartache, secrets and redemption. With many elements that I love- dual timelines, family mysteries and numerous secrets to reveal- I devoured this book. I loved Victoria and Canice's story. Their romance reflected the best and worst of Ireland in the 1950's. The descriptions of the landscapes, islands and Kilbride house were detailed and majestic, making me feel as if I were there. I could easy imagine Victoria riding along the beach and the rooms of Kilbride house. The religious tensions between the Protestants and Catholics were palpable. The fact that Victoria was Protestant and Canice was Catholic led Victoria's mother to make decisions that would affect three generations of lives. Catherine and Lainey's journeys were heartwarming and revealing of how choices in the past that they were unaware of have affected them to this day. I liked that they were respectful of the past and the people still alive who could still be traumatized by the decisions that were made.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Kilbride House is a story of love, heartache, secrets and redemption. With many elements that I love- dual timelines, family mysteries and numerous secrets to reveal- I devoured this book. I loved Victoria and Canice's story. Their romance reflected the best and worst of Ireland in the 1950's. The descriptions of the landscapes, islands and Kilbride house were detailed and majestic, making me feel as if I were there. I could easy imagine Victoria riding along the beach and the rooms of Kilbride house. The religious tensions between the Protestants and Catholics were palpable. The fact that Victoria was Protestant and Canice was Catholic led Victoria's mother to make decisions that would affect three generations of lives. Catherine and Lainey's journeys were heartwarming and revealing of how choices in the past that they were unaware of have affected them to this day. I liked that they were respectful of the past and the people still alive who could still be traumatized by the decisions that were made.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
