"Having escaped the famine that ravages their beloved Ireland. Nora Kavanagh and her son Daniel begin the difficult process of building a new life for themselves in America. Befriended by the wealthy Famingtons and supported by the constant friendship of the injured Englishman, Evan Whitaker, Nora nevertheless finds herself caught in a conflict of the heart. Michael Burke, the strong, competent Irish policeman, desperately wants to keep his promise to his best friend Morgan Fitzgerald that he will marry Nora and take care of her. But something in Nora resists his proposal, and she must decide whether to give in to Michael's urgings or find a different direction. Can she trust her heart? In the midst of Nora's personal struggle, the heartaches from the old country continue to plague her. Will she ever overcome her grief and find peace? Heart of the Lonely Exile continues the saga of the Kavanagh pilgrimage--a journey of the soul in a strange new land, where all those who are exiles and aliens must find their true home." (from back of case cover)
BJ Hoff's writing is known for her historical settings, her unforgettable characters, and her lyrical prose. She is the bestselling author of numerous historical fiction series, including the Riverhaven Years, the Mountain Song Legacy, the Song of Erin saga, the American Anthem series, and An Emerald Ballad series.
Her five-volume Emerald Ballad series was the first major work of fiction to bring the Irish immigration experience to the CBA marketplace-and the work that first brought BJ an international reading audience.
Her readers know they can expect to meet some memorable people in her novels and also know that many of those people will be immigrants-Irish immigrants particularly but not exclusively.
BJ admits to a passion for "building worlds." Whether her characters move about in small country towns or metropolitan areas, reside in Amish settlements, secluded mansions, or coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
She's intent on making her historical novels relevant to the present by developing characters and settings that, while staying true to the history and culture of their times, reflect many of the spiritual trials and social problems faced by contemporary readers. Her novels are meant to be "stories that build a bridge from the past to the present."
Her literary awards include the Christianity Today's Critics Choice Book Award for fiction; a Gold Medallion Award finalist; and a number of Excellence in Media Silver Angel awards. Her books have been translated into many foreign languages, and she frequently hears from her international readers in countries such as Ireland, England, Norway, and Germany.
A former church music director and music teacher, BJ is a member of the Authors Guild, the Irish American Cultural Institute, and the Appalachian Writers Association.
She writes from her home in a small town in east central Ohio. She and her husband share a love of music, books, and time spent with their family: two married daughters, three lively young grandsons, a loopy Golden Retriever, and a cunning, incorrigible but lovable cat.
