Book Review for The Irish Daughter of New York by Kate Hewitt

 

Maggie O'Halloran #1

The Irish Daughter of New York by Kate Hewitt

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Published:  March 31, 2026 by Bookouture

Taken from Goodreads:  Maggie O’Halloran gazes at the Statue of Liberty, her eyes wide with wonder. “At last,” she breathes softly. “This is where my future begins…”

New York City, 1891: Stepping off the boat she boarded in Ireland, Maggie O’Halloran’s heart is filled with hope for this brave new world. But when her father isn’t waiting at the docks as planned, her excitement vanishes with the terrible realization she and her brother Danny are utterly alone—homeless, penniless and without a friend in the world.

Life on the Lower East Side is hard and grindingly poor, but Maggie is determined to survive. As she gazes longingly into the windows of Manhattan’s famous department stores, she dreams of owning her own millinery shop and becoming independent at last. And when fellow Irishman Brendan O’Donoghue offers her and Danny refuge, Maggie finally feels hope for their future.

Finding work with a wealthy family on the Upper East Side, Maggie’s dreams begin to feel closer than ever before. But just as her fortunes finally change, her brother’s involvement with a notorious New York gang brings terrible danger to both her and Brendan’s doors. Facing a heartbreaking decision, can Maggie save her brother and protect the new life she’s built? Or will the American dream she has held so close to her heart be lost forever?

The first book in the Maggie O’Halloran series, this is a sweeping, epic and heart-wrenching story of one woman’s determination to change her fortunes against all odds. Perfect for fans of moving historical fiction, Kristin Harmel and Jean Grainger.

My Thoughts:  I love a good historical fiction and Kate Hewitt wrote a beautifully good historical fiction.   This one is a little different because it is about a young lady and her brother’s adventure of coming to America, New York City actually.  I enjoyed the strength and determination of Maggie to find housing, a job, and safety for herself and her brother. 

The details of the New York City brought the city to life.   I could picture the brownstones, Central Park, the mansions, and the rest of what Maggie saw as she traveled through the city.   I could hear the accents and sounds of the city as I followed Maggie through her adventure. 

This is book one of the Maggie O’Halloran series and I am so excited for more. 

Thank you Bookouture for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

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Meet the Author (taken from her website):  Kate was born in Pennsylvania, went to college in Vermont, and has spent summers in the Canadian wilderness. After several years as a diehard New Yorker and 13 years in the UK, she now lives in central New Jersey with her husband, the last two of her five children, two affectionate Golden Retrievers and a persnickety cat.

In addition to writing, Kate works as a Core Editor with Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and also offers individual manuscript assessment for creative writers.

 

 

Release Blitz for The Harbor by Terri Jo

 

The Harbor by Terri Jo  is now live!

Izzy Summers' life changes instantly overnight, leaving her homeless and sleeping in her car at a Door County campground. With nothing left to lose, she hides out in the quiet town of Fish Creek with a job and a roof over her head, searching for a way to survive.

That plan unravels when a persistent--and dangerously attractive--sheriff keeps crossing her path. Izzy trusts no one, least of all someone wearing a badge.

Sheriff Tony Fontaine knows Izzy is running from something, and he's determined to uncover the truth. What he doesn't expect is how quickly his curiosity turns personal.

Izzy doesn't want a man.

Too bad the sheriff has other plans.

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Meet Terri Jo 

Terrijo passion for all things books began back in junior high. A dedicated reader from the very beginning, she started writing in her early twenties. She has published six novels under a pen name and co-wrote two anthologies about Deadwood, South Dakota.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Terrijo lives in the Twin Cities her pint size Morkie, Zoey, who loves to make an appearance in her small-town women's fiction.
She writes about genuine issues that many women face today, stories that not only entertain, but give hope, laughter and all the feelings in-between. When Terrijo is not hiding out in her writing cave, you can find her behind the chair of her hair salon in Stillwater, or out on the lakes sailing and dreaming up new plots to help her readers escape reality for an hour or two.

 

Connect with Terri Jo

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Release Blitz for Sleep Sweet by Erica Easton

 

Sleep Sweet by Erica Easton is now live!

Elle

As a first-generation college student, I swore off conventionally hot men and stayed focused on my education. That is, until …

His ocean eyes crash into mine—right after he literally crashed into me.

That’s how Jesse and I meet—on the same day he signs his agreement to join the Navy after graduation.

And then we spend the next two years building our relationship.

Until he has to leave for boot camp, and my mantra becomes:

Keep me calm, keep him safe, keep us together.

But it’s futile … because it’s all ruined in an instant.

Our future.

Our plans.

Our love.

Our trust.

It’s funny how two minutes can unravel two years. Two minutes was all he ever needed anyway.

Austin

Somehow, my dream girl has fallen out of my dreams and landed in my life for the second time.

Half of our story was written by the coincidence that had brought Jesse into my division when he reported for boot camp. His bad decisions and my memory of her forged the other half.

Two years have passed, but I’ve never forgotten her face.

Her striking brown eyes.

Those full, glazed lips.

The innocence.

I begged my memory to erase her.

I didn’t have time for many things because the Navy came first. Always.

But somehow, the tides have drifted Elle back into the safety of my harbor.

Nothing will stop me from making her mine.

And proving to her that I am worthy of being hers.

Before she finds out the truth.

 Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://a.co/d/hlKSnoT   

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Meet Erica Easton

Erica Easton writes steamy romances featuring morally gray heroes and tempting twists. She is the proud wife of a United States Navy veteran, which allows her to bring an authentic perspective to her military storylines. When she isn’t reading or writing, she spends her time making memories with her friends and family and dreaming up her next love story.

She has degrees in psychology and health science, two fields that fuel her love of writing about emotions, desires, and the fictional human experience. 

 

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Release Blitz for Love at First Bloom by Valentina Iania

 

Love at First Bloom by Valentina Iania is now live!

Spring is waking up Elm Hollow—and with it come new secrets, soft emotions, and the kind of small-town chaos that always leads to unexpected sparks.

Love at First Bloom is a cozy—yet deliciously spicy—collection of interconnected spring stories set in the heart of Elm Hollow, where romance blooms in the most tender (and tempting) ways.

As the season unfolds, the town fills with new beginnings—sweet moments of motherhood, an annual festival spiraling beautifully out of control, a cowboy who shows up at exactly the wrong—or right—time, spring weddings… and all the things only spring in Elm Hollow can bring. Each story delivers a fresh dose of charm, heat, and emotion. Familiar faces return, new couples steal the spotlight, and the entire town comes alive with blooming love and irresistible temptation.

It’s tender. It’s funny.

It’s messy in all the best ways.

And it’s spring in Elm Hollow—so anything can happen.

 Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://mybook.to/LoveatFirstBloom   

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/LoveatFirstBloom      

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/48WnuP0 

 

Meet Valentina Iania

Valentina Iania writes steamy contemporary romance and rom-coms rooted in small-town worlds, where heart, heat, and emotional intensity collide. Her stories feature found family, seasonal vibes, and sizzling chemistry, blending cozy settings with unapologetically spicy romance.
She also writes scorching cowboy romances, known for strong heroines, stubborn heroes, and high-heat, emotionally charged love stories.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys connecting with readers and cultivating a supportive, engaged community.

 

Connect with Valentina

Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53931893.Valentina_Iania   

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