Song of the Silent Harp (The Emerald Ballad)

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He is actually quite a strong and believable character - the kind of man you'd actually marry rather than the kind of man the romance novels want you to think you'd want to marry. That was a mouthful. I also found Nora's character really annoying and pessimistic throughout most of the first book, something I don't recall noticing before, either.

All in all, a grand story. View all 3 comments. May 19, Laura rated it did not like it Shelves: I couldn't finish it, I really tried hard but definetily christian historical fiction is not my cup of tea. The story of The Hunger, the Irish famine of the 's. The author has accomplished an amazing and detailed research of the famine in Ireland. The book is laden with the visual horrors of the famine, the hopelessness, the slow dying from starvation, the indifference of the landowners, and the entitled belief of some of the English that the Irish were simply of no account and less than human.

The story is of 3 friends from a poor village in Western Ireland, 2 boys and a girl. Michael leaves for The story of The Hunger, the Irish famine of the 's. Michael leaves for America before the troubles, Morgan the poet becomes an outlaw, and Nora marries a good man and has a family but never gets over her love for Morgan. The story is of the Kavanaugh family, an old family with a special harp. The first chapter starts out with a little background when in the 's Eoin Kavanaugh took the family harp and escaped the Cromwell massacre at Drogheda; then it jumps to Killala in January Who will survive the famine, who will stay behind, who will marry Nora, will she make it alive to America aboard the ship that isn't what it seems.

The first in The Emerald Ballad series drops one right into the middle of the Kavenaugh family tragedy of starvation, love, hate, hopelessness, and an enduring though often broken faith. The Song of the Silent Harp by B. Hoff Emerald Ballad Series 1 My rating: In particular, I had never read any fiction set around the potato famine so I decided to give this series a try Hoff does an excellent job of incorporating history. I learned much about the era from reading this book. I would love to see more CBA books set in Ireland.

Song of the Silent Harp is also a story of the glory and strength of the immigrants travelling to the United States in the 19th century. Between the potato famine, plagues, poverty, racism, swindlers taking advantage of new immigrants and thwarted relationships…there is not much happiness between these pages. I found this read to be slightly draining because there was very little positive that happened in the entire book.

I found the pace of this story to be slow and the sentences wordy. The last hundred pages picked up and I was desperate to find out if the emigrants would arrive safely in New York Harbor. Oct 10, Fenixbird SandS rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Faith Fiction Irish history. Perhaps this is set later--not sure yet. Amongst a "find" of wonderful paperbacks brought into work this week. Wonderful, wonderful quotations begin each chapter, from Yeats to Samuel B.

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Jan 22, Joanne rated it it was amazing. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was just amazing. The description of every character and the scenes around them was just incredible. Absolutely loved the depth of the description of the Irish Famine too as I have always found that part of history so fascinating. It really makes you grateful for what we have now after reading of the horrendous conditions based on historic accounts. You also fall in love with the main characters, and the plot takes so many turns you can't stop reading; I was desperate to learn the fate This book was just amazing.

You also fall in love with the main characters, and the plot takes so many turns you can't stop reading; I was desperate to learn the fates of the well loved characters. A beautiful, addictive read also beautifully showing the faithfulness of a God fearing people who reap the benefit of faithfully serving a God who rewards and loves on his people faithfully despite horrific conditions. I basically absolutely loved this read.

Editorial Reviews

One of the best in a long time! I found this book hard to get into at first. All the sorrow and injustice was hard to take. Then I found myself wanting to know what happens to Nora Kavanagh and her family and friends. The plight of the Irish during the famine was so much rougher that I had imagined, if the things that happened in this book is to be believed, which I do believe. After so much loss and pain, Nora Kavanagh sets out for America with her family and and friends to escape the famine and the abuse of the Lord who owne I found this book hard to get into at first.

After so much loss and pain, Nora Kavanagh sets out for America with her family and and friends to escape the famine and the abuse of the Lord who owned so much of the country. I don't think I could have endured all that Nora endured and kept my sanity or my faith in God. The ending was very nice and heartwarming. Restored my faith in humanity and Nora found her faith in God again.

If you enjoy lengthy historical fiction, this is the book for you. I hope you find it as good as I did. Oct 13, Mary rated it really liked it. I was sooo excited to find a new author to me. Hoff is a great writer of this Christian Historical Fiction story and I am looking forward to reading the rest of this saga soon. You may already know how the Irish suffered under the English reign and many starved to death or froze to death.

This writer takes these circumstances and weaves mighty characters and circumstances that make it not only interesting and engaging, but heart-wrenching as well. Nora, a hardworking widow, Morgan, an Irish I was sooo excited to find a new author to me. Nora, a hardworking widow, Morgan, an Irish rebel running from God, an Englishman whose love for God moves him to help the Irish, and many more make this story intriguing. I am thankful to find such wonderful writing and more to look forward to from this author! Jun 11, Jenny-jacques Holl rated it it was amazing.

Compelling, heartbreaking, uplifting unforgettable. A great story of the trails and tribulations of Ireland under English rule and of God's love visible in all circumstances. Jun 20, Pam rated it really liked it. Historically speaking, Hoff captures the horrendous conditions during the "the Hunger". It was painful, slow and gruesome as some of the lives of the characters were strung out to nothingness and hopelessness.

You could feel the strength of Nora's son, Tahg, ebb away, the grand father, Old Dan as well as her husband, shot and killed to save Morgan, moments before boarding their "saving ship". The mother's determination and love ebbed and flowed throughout the story. I wondered if she were to be a Historically speaking, Hoff captures the horrendous conditions during the "the Hunger".

I wondered if she were to be a survivor. Morgan remained a strong hero-type, showing up at wits last bit. It was frustrating to watch Nora's pride resist his love and affection, but at the same time, I wanted to kick his butt because he was so allusive and disconnected. When I was able to step back from the relationship and see the big picture, that Morgan was the Robin Hood of the Irish, stealing from the scoundrel the English landlords, I could appreciate him more as a man with a Cause and a Purpose.

It was her son, Daniel John that was to take up the lore and the gift of tale and live out the song of the harp.

Daniel proved to be very strong especially on the nightmarish voyage of the Green Flag. So many died in passage, already weak from the famine and then to endure another 4 weeks of starvation, disease, horrendous conditions aboard. I thought the small children were doomed yet Katie and Johanna, her nieces survived.

They were going on and living in America. The Interesting twist to the story was the interjection of Mr. Whittaker, appearing to be a weak-willed, run of the mill Englishman, out to take what he could from the ill-fated Irish. Yet he assisted the Kavanaugh family by detaining the corrupt Cotter's men and getting them on board. Even with this gangrenous arm cut of by the Alcoholic Surgeon, Dr. Leary, Whittaker stayed strong for Nora and children.

Another interwoven plot was the illegal transport of Asian young girls locked up and enslavened to opium and the sex industry all stored by the criminal Captain Schell. Daniel unmasked this tragedy. This was the last voyage for Dr. An finally the sub plot of Nora's future was turned into the hands of a long lost childhood friend, Michael Burker now a NY policeman, widowed with a teenage son, needing a life companion for his later years.

Our unselfish hero, Morgan Fitzgerald, had arranged for their school mate, Michael, to take the hunger-stricken, Nora Kavanaugh and her family into his home and his life. This was her happy fate awaiting for her after years of heart-ache and near death. Their by now dear English friend Mr.

Whittaker came upon a Feb 20, Sallee rated it liked it Shelves: First in a series this starts with the Irish potato famine and follows a family as they struggle to survive. The story has an underlying theme about faith in God. It was a good read and covered the history of this era. This book was a rather hard book to rate. It tended to be very wordy - The first 50 pages was lengthy background information about four of the main characters in the book, which took some time getting through before the story plot really began to unfold.

But even though the book was a wordy and had a lot of information that was often unnecessary , I still enjoyed reading about Nora and her life. So, I'm going to give this book 3 stars for a good story. My favorite character to read about was Dan This book was a rather hard book to rate.

My favorite character to read about was Daniel John — his protective and caring character instantly drew me to him and his troubles as he tried to support his mother and sick older brother. His attachment and devotion to Morgan was a neat touch to the story that I enjoyed. Personally, depending on how the author handles it, I often enjoy a book where the viewpoint of the story is shifted between several different characters: Song of the Silent Harp is one of them. Hoff did a great job in giving the different viewpoints, without confusion or tiring the reader.

Reading about the suffering that the Irish went through during the potato famine was depressing. The thought of people starving to death in their own homes or dying of the fever that ran rampant through their towns, makes me realize how awful it must have been to live during that time. I was glad when Evan came into the picture to take a stand for the starving Irish! Song of the Silent Harp by B. Hoff is the first book in the Emerald Ballard series.

Nora Kavanagh is struggling to survive in the days of the Irish potato famine living in Killala in County Mayo.

She's already faced the death of her husband and young daughter from the Hunger, and now her eldest son. Morgan Fitzgerald, known as the bandit, Red Wolf, has been in love with Nora since they were children, but his love for his beloved Eire has always been stronger. He's been taking care of Nora as best as he can, but when things become even more dire and they face eviction into the cold road, he tries to get her to agree to leave their home for a new life in America.

Michael Burke is a police sergeant in America who grew up with Nora and Morgan.

He had asked Nora to be his wife before he left, but she turned him down. Despite his marriage to the late Eileen, he still has feelings for his Irish sweetheart, and when Morgan asks him to care for her should she come to New York, he has mixed emotions about their life together. But even in Nora leaves Ireland, there is no guarantee that she and her family will arrive safely in America. Hoff easily handles the multitude of characters in various locations, and her characters are fully-fleshed and the dialogue realistic and compelling.

The tension during the chase scene was incredible. As Nora, Morgan, and the rest scramble to escape Cotter and make it to the ship, I could barely breathe. Hoff is a master of writing the epic novel; there is plenty of romantic drama, suspense, faith, tragedy, and unexpected twists. Love is the power that moves us when there is nothing left The famine grew to epic proportions when the potato crops failed again and again. Starving, sick and weak, the people of Ireland faced certain death.

Song of the Silent Harp

The roadside, strewn with bodies of young and old, was a horrid site. When hope of survival is lost, where can you turn? BJ Hope has crated an unforgettable tail entwined around these perilous times. I found the descriptive writing abundant and easy to visualize. The characters are varied Love is the power that moves us when there is nothing left The characters are varied and work well together, creating a vivid contrast amidst the devastating life of the poverty stricken Irish.

Love is the power that moves us when nothing is left. Nora Kavanagh's losses are great, but she pushes forward with a mothers love. Determined, independent, and stubborn, Nora puts her family in danger when she denies assistance from a childhood friend. Can the great Morgan Fitzgerald change her mind? The struggle to survive, against impossible odds, will touch your heart. After reading "The Song of the Silent Harp" you will be forever changed. The Prologue, though it contained interesting information, seemed to confuse instead of enlighten. Her understanding of the Irish people--their history, their struggles, their music, their indomitable spirit--lends to her writing all the passion and power of her own Irish heritage.

BJ and her husband make their home in Ohio. Would you like to tell us about a lower price? If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support? Read more Read less. Customers who bought this item also bought. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. Customers who viewed this item also viewed. Review "All the color and imagery of a film enliven this story as it unfolds against a background of aborted revolution, disappointed love, and the elemental struggle for life fulfillment in a harsh society.

The Emerald Ballad Book 1 Paperback: Harvest House Publishers July 1, Language: Don't have a Kindle? Try the Kindle edition and experience these great reading features: Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Read reviews that mention song of the silent silent harp potato famine new york emerald ballad well written ballad series nora kavanagh morgan fitzgerald michael burke harvest house house publishers looking forward lonely exile years ago husband and daughter heart of the lonely read these books rest of the series read the rest.

Showing of 60 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. The writing is wonderful, but the characters' lives don't develop to suit me.

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Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. The writing is wonderful. The Christian testimony is great. Having a strong strain of the Irish in my ancestry, I was deeply moved by the picture of their suffering through the potato famine and all. I even wondered if my great-grandfather came to America for reasons similar to theirs.

I fell in love with the characters--which was the problem: I felt so let down I haven't finished the book, and probably won't. Maybe you won't have that sort of emotional reaction, and if you are OK with the way the characters' lives are handled, you may love the series. One person found this helpful. B J Hoff is a wonderful story teller weaving intricate details of each of her characters personalities into a tale of hope and adventure in spite of the tragedies and loss each endured.

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A bit of history revealing that others besides the black Americans were brought into this country under bonds of slavery and horrible mistreatment. Looking forward to the next installment of the Emerald Ballad series. Song of the Harp purchased from Amazon, was very interesting and kept me reading almost constantly until I came to the end. Really the Harp wasnt mentioned that much, altho being very much a part of the books heart.

This is only book 1 and have ordered no 2 already. I am 87 yrs old and injoy reading so very much and Amazon makes it so easy to click and order another book. I have liked this book and the whole series for years. The development of characters and the growth each one goes through shows the faithfulness of God and teaches us that we can rely on Him too.

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