Customer Reviews

The Nightingale's Song

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New author Kathleen Eschenburg has penned a novel that is proof positive that her work is a superb addition to the romance genre. Ripe with emotion, complex characters, and a poignant love story, Ms. Eschenburg `s debut is a read to be savored.

In 1874 Baltimore, Maggie Quinn is a twenty-six-year-old teacher at St Columba's Orphanage. Orphaned at the age of twelve, when her mother died on board a ship from Ireland to America, Maggie found shelter with Father Fitzhugh at the Orphanage. Gordon Kincaid, a Virginia southern gentleman, visits St. Columba's to claim the child he never knew that he had. Five-year-old Clara is a special favorite with Maggie, who has nurtured the young girl since she was an infant. And Maggie is an enigma to Gordon, a man hardened by the brutalities of war, who sees a unique combination of naiveté and Irish backbone in Maggie.

When Gordon asks Maggie to marry him and accompany him and his daughter to his Virginia estate, Maggie is completely unprepared for what she must face. There is Gordon's difficult twelve-year-old son from his first marriage, bigoted neighboring landowners, and their prejudiced society wives.

While adjusting to her new life, Maggie is forced to face her past . Remembering that her real father never married her mother, ostensibly because of class differences, Maggie wonders if she can ever fit into Gordon's world without hurting him in the process.

The complex pasts of the hero and heroine add depth to their many-layered personalities. And the vitality of supporting characters such as Sister Bernadette and Father Fitz add the finishing touches to this incredible read. For an emotional read that is certain to keep the reader glued to the pages into the wee hours of the morning, this novel is a sure-fire winner.

Baltimore, Maryland - 1874

Orphaned at twelve while immigrating to America with her mother, Maggie Quinn is whisked away to St. Columba's orphanage in Baltimore, Maryland. Fourteen years later, Maggie is mentor and teacher to the orphans there, contemplating becoming a nun -- until the day Dr. Gordon Kincaid comes to St. Columba's and turns Maggie's world upside down. One look at the debonair Dr. Kincaid confirms the parentage of Maggie's favorite orphan, five year-old Clara.

Gordon Kincaid arrives at St. Columba's with a bequest from his late father only to find out that he fathered a child five years previously while involved in a brief affair. Gordon has been in limbo for ten years since losing his wife and receiving a severe injury in the Civil War. His body has healed, but not his soul. Then, he meets Maggie Quinn. Her gentle spirit, deep and abiding faith, angelic singing voice, and innocent sensuality call to him. As Gordon acquaints himself with his daughter, so, too, does he re-acquaint himself with his heart and soul.

Maggie and Gordon are two melancholy people as different in class as any two people can be in that trying time of restoration after the Civil War. How they meet may be by chance, but the reader feels that fate definitely has a strong hand in bringing these two together. Clara is a delightful five year-old sprite who somehow knows she belongs with Gordon, but is not willing to give up "her" Maggie. Due to the evil gossip of a jealous suitor for Gordon's attentions, Gordon and Maggie marry and move to his estate in Virginia, where a whole new set of problems arises. However, these characters weather the storms, and their relationship develops to a whole new level. Secondary characters, from Father Fitzhugh, Maggie's rescuer all those years ago, to Gordon's twelve-year-old son from his previous marriage, all come together to enhance this intense love story. Dialogue and interactions between all of the characters quite simply sing, as do the narrative and descriptive prose.

THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG is perfection from first page to last. Debut author Kathleen Eschenburg delivers a heart-warming, tender, enthralling story rich in flawless characterization and the history of THE post-Civil War ERA.

Tantalizing all of the senses and engaging your every emotion, THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG will leave you eagerly anticipating Ms. Eschenburg's next book!

If you're looking for a beautifully written story with characters who pull you in from the start and make you care about them, this is the book for you. Tasteful, sensual, and not the typical Romance. This is the kind of book that makes you want to remember the author's name so you can start a collection of her work.

This book kept me up all night. What a delicious read. It's so much more than a love story. The characters are so real that they moved me from my bedroom to their world and kept me there. Gordon and Maggie's triumph over the horrors of the recent Civil War and its aftermath left me with a deep sense of satisfaction.
It was, indeed, a book well read and a night well spent.

If you want to read a lovestory with breathtaking description, dead-on characterization and heart-tugging emotion, then look no further. THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG is the book for you.

Gordon Kincaid and Maggie Quinn practically leap off the pages. And Ms. Eschenburg skillfully weaves several timeless themes throughout this wonderful story: redemption and hope in spite of adversity as well as love conquering all.

You WILL fall in love with this story and these characters. I highly recommend this book.

what a wonderful storyline - believable and heartwarming.The characters come alive on the page and you become part of their lives. I'm giving this one as gifts for Christmas to special friends who will appreciate a really good "read". Keep them coming Kathleen Eschenburg!!!

I hope that you enjoy a trip back through time. I enjoyed reading this book and have recomended it to all my friends. Enjoy this book yourself.

In 1860, her mom died from the wasting disease two weeks ago in Limerick and now twelve years old Mary Margaret Quinn knows her world is over even as she is presently in Baltimore. However, a guardian angel arrives in the form of Father Hugh Fitzhugh, who gently takes the lass with him so she can live at St. Columbia's orphanage. Hugh promises to teach Mary how to play the harp if she provides him lessons on her fiddle.

Fourteen years later, Maggie still lives in the orphanage, but now helps with the children. She especially feels an affinity to a frightened Clare. Civil War veteran Gordon Kincaid arrives at the orphanage looking for his lost daughter. He only recently learned that he had a child. The girl turns out to be Clare, who he wants to bring home with him. He pleads with Maggie to accompany them because she is the only person to connect with Clare. She agrees and soon Maggie's compassion reaches inside Gordon, who once disavowed love, but now struggles to tell her all that he feels for her.

Using a powerfully vivid backdrop of the Reconstruction Era, THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG is a wonderful historical romance starring three incredibly developed individuals who each steal apart of the reader's heart. The story line sings as the audience finds they want this couple to make it and for Clare to obtain happiness. Because the cast is so human, sub-genre fans will want to see Clare's tale told too from Kathleen Eschenburg.

Harriet Klausner

This is a lovely story, very well written, with depth and great characters. It has been reviewed thorougly previously and I couldn't agree more with the accolades. It proves that a good author can write a touching story without graphic sex, dirty language and pages of violence!

This book is great. The author makes you feel as if you are the heroine of this book. You live and breathe what she goes through. I love when an author sticks to the actually history of the era and does not make things up. Anyway this book was a great read if you like history and love real romance.