Reviews
The Curse of the Strawberry Moon
5 STARS AMAZON In the Shadows of the Onion Domes Kathleen: Just spent the past 2 days doing nothing but reading MaryPat's new novel. It was truly "you cannot put this down until you finish it" kind of book. I absolutely LOVED it. Cannot wait for the next one. 5 STARS AMAZON Sandy: This was a fun read. Being from the Binghamton area I recognized a lot of the "characters" so it was a real trip down memory lane. 4 STARS AMAZON Lindsay: If you want a change from stories about people with superpowers who save the world, this book by Mary Pat Hyland might be the ticket. It is set in a part of New York about which stories are not often written: the Southern Tier. A strong ribbon of grace weaves through these tales. One story, "The Rush Hour Angels," is about an elderly widow who takes a physical risk to help a friend and finds herself coming back to life. Another, "The Driveway Ladies Chorus," is about neighbors who sit on lawn chairs at the top of a driveway, drinking a lethal concoction called Chocolate Orgasm and spying on a new neighbor. This is a young woman from Manhattan, who at first doesn't want to know them and then finds they are the key to understanding something about her marriage. The characters deal with aging and growing up, parenthood and marriage, love and betrayal, faith and families -- and life in a part of the country acquainted with hard times and trying to adapt to new realities. They lack superpowers, but not stories. The House With the Wraparound Porch 5 STARS AMAZON Beatrice: I was hooked from the first door slam. I had to know what will happen next when I got to the end of each chapter. At the end, I closed the book and cried. My tears were from sadness that the story ended and from the tension in the story. You Have TO READ THIS BOOK! Cinda: This is a lovingly written family saga spanning nine decades, and a joyous tribute to the Finger Lakes region of New York and the families that have been there for generations. The characters are real and familiar, and so are the issues and choices the various members of the family face. I now want to dance by the light of the blue moon, and enjoy a glass of wine and a chat on the wraparound porch with the McNamara sisters…. Penelope: This book captured my heart from the very first chapter! Not only does it convey the spirit and beauty of New York’s Keuka Lake, it filled me with genuine caring for its characters. The generational tale introduces us to a family bound by love, secrets and tragedy. MaryPat Hyland does an extraordinary job of bringing the family and its history to life and makes it easy to see a bit of ourselves in her fierce, strong, tenuous, and adoring family. Gary: I love MaryPat Hyland’s books. This one is the best by far!!! I hope there are sequels to this book! Eileen: This is a wonderful book about family. I really enjoyed the local references, and how Mary Pat Hyland captured the era….”fried cakes”, the Sinclair gas station with the giant dinosaur, men smoking “Lucky Strikes”. I remember all of those things from when I was growing up. The characters stay with you, even after you have finished the book. (I would like to know what’s happening in their lives now!) After I read it, I recommended it to my aunt, who also loved it. I have suggested it to my “teacher friends” and to my cousin for her book club. Even though it is 500 pages, it is a quick read. Crispy: I very much enjoyed reading another book by Mary Pat Hyland. This book talks alot about families over generations, and what stays the same and what changes. The author did a great job in tracing the characters through the four generations and in developing the different personalities. The family members have to deal with many issues and they often have varying viewpoints and disagree very much, but each viewpoint is treated with respect by the author. I appreciated that. Her descriptions of scenery and people help to put you right on that porch with the family members. Having lived in Binghamton, NY, for a while, I recognized many of the localities described. Definitely a good read! Suzy Q: I truly do love this book! Chapter after chapter after chapter just keeps you wanting more! Mary Pat is such a good writer! The characters in the book are so well described. Each situation/scene is described in detail. It really puts you right there! There is drama in the book, there is comedy in the book. There is everything in the book. I highly recommend the book to anyone. I not only bought it for my Kindle, but I bought the paperback too! Connie: Ms. Hyland did a great job of keeping my interest and getting me involved with the character’s lives. I highly recommend you read all her books. Becky: I have read “The House With the Wraparound Porch, because Mary Pat is my online friend, and I wanted to support her writing. She is such a great author & friend. I really enjoyed the story and didn’t want it to end. I will definitely share the book with my friends and let them know about Mary Pat’s other books. 4 STARS AMAZON Kate: Great book about a family through several generations. Loved the setting of Keuka and the surrounding area, brought back lots of great memories. 4.5 STARS GOODREADS Steve: A thoroughly enjoyable and heartfelt story of a family through 4 generations in the Finger Lakes region of NY. The characters were very "real" and well-defined and connected. The author's style of writing is very down-to-earth,and at times I felt like I was right there taking part in the family's conversations. The author captures a very real sense of time and place, revealing both the joys and sorrows of life, and the ties that bind. I finished the novel wishing the McNamara sisters all the best in my mind, as I felt I really got to know them and the wonderful wraparound porch that is such a integral part of their inner fabric and heritage. Highly recommended! The Terminal Diner ***** FIVE STAR REVIEWS Smashwords: Caitlin Tompkins As soon as I got the book put onto my Kobo and started reading, I couldn't put the book down! I was completely drawn into the story. I love the characters, they're very well developed and I can relate to them easily. Their reactions to situations are believable, I've found some authors whose characters are too ready to accept weird things happening, but I never saw that in The Terminal Diner. Having grown up in the area where the story takes place makes this book have a deeper meaning to me. I know the places she describes well, especially the airport having just come home from Florida two days ago. Seeing the name of the area where I've grown was thoroughly exciting and added an extra sense of attachment to the story. Mary Pat Hyland is an AMAZING writer, her characters come alive and interact well with each other. If you want to read a book, I would highly recommend this one. Amazon: Cheryl Owen Terminal Diner Just finished reading this on Kindle - absolutely loved it! Had a bit of everything in it - bit of drama, bit of mystery and intrigue, bit of romance and a bit of humour. It kept me up till the early hours of the morning as I couldn't put it down! Fabulous plot and an interesting twist on how peoples lives were affected after 9/11, if you want a straightforward fun and exciting read then this is for you. Amazon: Common Barn Owl Fan My First Mary Pat Hyland Book This is the first time I have read a book by Mary Pat Hyland. I found the cover intriguing and the theme of "men like pie" intersting. Don't own a Kindle (own a Sony Reader) so I purchased the paperback. I love to read books but just don't take enough time to do so. Once I picked this book up and started reading it, I was immediately drawn into the story. This book held my interest to the very end. I finished it in record time (for me) even staying up very late at night because I just wanted to keep reading. I loved how Mary Pat Hyland laid this story out and just when I thought I may have some things figured out or thought I knew what was going to happen next, I was surprised by the turn of events in the story. For me, a good or great book is one that I hate when the end comes and I have finished reading the book. I found myself not wanting the book to end. As I was finishing this book, I had several interruptions so I waited until quiet time so I could devour that one last slice of pie... Hated to see the story end, but all books have to have an ending and I would even read this book again which says a lot for me. This book will remain in my library and again I will one day re-visit The Terminal Diner. Amazon: By TByrd The Terminal Diner; Holds The Reader's Interest Mary Pat Hyland has done it again. From start to finish The Terminal Diner kept my interest while at the same time feeling a plethora of emotions. I found myself relating to the emotions of the main character. I didn't want to put it down until I finished reading it. Thank you for providing such an entertaining read. Making it available on Kindle is a big plus. Ms. Hyland is a gifted author and I'm looking forward to her next book. Amazon: By Merritt Delicious Prepare to gorge yourself on the witty, thoughtful, and intriguing words of Mary Pat Hyland. The Terminal Diner is a delicious read that will leave you wanting more. Amazon: By XSkater1014 Diner's Delight The Terminal Diner is the latest effort by talented writer Mary Pat Hyland. She does a wonderful job of creating interesting characters whom you feel right at home with. Her descriptions and attention to everyday nuances allow you to step right into the upstate NY setting. The book is a quick, easy read and one you'll have trouble putting down. So grab a cup of coffee, a slice of pie and enjoy The Terminal Diner! Amazon: annecollie48 A Slice of Mystery With Your Pie... As an avid fan of Mary Pat Hyland's works, I was eagerly awaiting the release of her newest book, The Terminal Diner. I was not disappointed! Ms. Hyland has already proven to me that she is a master of believable characters, situations and humor in her 1st 3 books, The Cyber Miracles, A Sudden Gift of Fate (its sequel) and 3/17. Each of those books has something that appeals to me...the Finger Lakes in NY, my Irish heritage, and Keuka Lake in particular. I couldn't wait to see what she would do with one of my favorite genres, suspense! This book is absolutely brilliant! With a new set of characters placed in a setting of one of our nation's worst tragedies, it was interesting to see how she wove her story and built suspense. Her treatment of 9/11 was neither overstated nor maudlin as she told the story as seen by characters affected by the awful tragedy, but well removed from its origin. As usual, her characters were superb, each with his/her own lovable (or despicable!)intrigue. I did not see the ending, which was unbelievably clever, coming! Also as usual, I could not put her book down and truly missed the characters when I was done with the book (in less than 24 hours, I might add!). Hollywood agents would do well to snap up the rights to this masterpiece before it is gone!!! My advice to potential readers? Buy the book, make yourself comfy, and cut yourself a nice slice of pie as you read this outstanding novel...you never know who might join you for pie!!! Amazon: Sheila Forsyth A Slice of Life The Terminal Diner is a well written, enthralling book. Mary Pat Hyland has written something totally different from her Maeve Kenny series. This is about the people who own and work in their diner and how their lives changed as a result of 9/11. The characters grow as the plot deepens. The book held my attention from start to finish. I highly recommend this book! **** FOUR STAR REVIEWS Amazon: By Writing On The Wall The Terminal Diner gives reader "life support" "Men like pie". Simple, intriguing and mysterious, with a touch of melancholy and a host of memories attached - the key phrase of "The Terminal Diner" sets the tone for this read-in-one-sitting novel by Mary Pat Hyland. At times tense, at times wistful, and always engaging, Hyland has returned to Upstate New York to bring us a world filled with unanswerable questions and questionable answers. A book lovingly written by a woman who knows her characters, "The Terminal Diner" catches you and carries you along to it's all too soon conclusion. There is always a quirky sense of hopefulness in Hyland's writing. Even when taking you into a world of confusion and mistrust, ultimately, a sense of optimism resides just under the surface. Hyland gets better and better with each novel - expanding her reach while honoring her unique voice. "The Terminal Diner" is her best work yet. Amazon: Diana Schleicher "LBT Lover" My first, but not last, of Mary Pat Hyland! This is my first adventure with author M.P. Hyland. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style from first to last page. Her characters are well rounded, displaying a wide range of emotions that only a well versed author could attain. Although there is mystery and intrigue, there is a surprising lack of bloody details, making it all the more enjoyable for the reader. Ms. Hyland left the reader wanting the book to continue, and not come to a close. I'm looking forward to her next novel, and will read her other already published ones in the meantime. Amazon: By Cinda Mary Pat Hyland does it again! This is the third book of Mary Pat Hyland's I have read. She really has the knack of totally immersing the reader in the characters and the story with her prose and writing style. It's so hard to put down her books! The characters are so well-rounded that they feel like old friends by the end of the story. The elements of mysticism and karma woven in leave the reader with a hopeful ending that's never schmaltzy. The Terminal Diner takes you on Elaina's journey to live life outside of the diner in post 9/11 upstate New York. You'll be hooked on it and rooting for her from the first chapter! 3/17 * Just finished reading Mary Pat Hyland’s semi autobiographical novel, “3/17” and loved it! I laughed so hard my daughters almost called 999 (the Irish equivalent of 911). If this book doesn’t make you laugh out loud, then you’re already dead. The novel is a razor sharp witted, psycho social, mystical and musical evisceration of some of the excessive over indulgencies of Hiberno Americana. “3/17” should be required reading for anyone even contemplating visiting the eastern seaboard of America during the madness of the Irish marching season of March. So, if you’re Irish, or think that you might be, or simply just find Irish people to be very amusing - then you need to read this book. Warning: you will never look at corned beef and cabbage the same way again! http://marypathyland.com/ * Hilarious! * It's not fiction ... I've LIVED it! All nine levels of that hell! Damn! You nailed it! * Amazing! Spot on and Deadly! YOU have a very special gift and the grá for capturing the whole savage Irish trad. scene! * By the end of the book, you had me roaring with laughter. I know these people, and lordamercy so do you! * As usual, Hyland's mastery of believable conversations and endearing characters make it very hard to put the book down. You will laugh, you will wince, and you will be unable to wait to hear what happens next...all the makings of a GREAT book! * Absolutely loved it! Well done! * * * * * I absolutely devoured this book. The voice is so entertaining -- very Irish, and very real. I loved the smattering of the Irish language throughout, plus of course the hilarity of making fun of the way Americans celebrate St Patrick's Day. I highly recommend it for a good laugh and a well-written read! * From Powell's Books: Mollie, January 12, 2011 * * * * * One of the funniest books I ever read in my life--and I am hard to please. It's right up there with "Lucky Jim" and "Whisky Galore." Mary Pat certainly knows her way around Irish music and Irish musicians, and she can spin a yarn with the best of them--Dante included. A band of traditional Irish musicians gets lost on the way to a St. Patrick's Day gig in upstate New York and spends the next few days trying to get back to reality. On the way, they encounter pukas, little girl step dancers, tyrannical Comhaltas session players, clueless and keyless singers of "Danny Boy," and even Danu herself (maybe...), all the while defending themselves from offerings of corned beef and cabbage by the locals. The structure of the story is frankly, and with tongue-in-cheek apologies, taken from The Inferno, but the style is completely picaresque. The climax is a hallucinatory brawl featuring all the characters the band has encountered, and ending with an epiphanic parody so hilarious that I couldn't catch my breath for several minutes, I was laughing so hard. A novel Flann O'Brien would have been proud to write. From BigAl's Books and Pals, March 24, 2011 * * * * Murphy was Irish. It seems fitting that his law would apply so well to the characters of 3/17. In what is described as a “loose parody of Dante’s Inferno,” Irish Trad Band Slí na Fírinne (which means “path of truth”) go on their first American tour in upstate New York. Before reaching their first gig they slide off the road in a snowstorm – an accident that might have been prevented if they had paid attention to their seemingly possessed GPS. From there, it only gets worse. What follows is a nightmare that gets progressively worse. Missed gigs, cultural clashes – especially with those who think they understand Irish culture, and plenty of gigs from hell (none of which were those originally booked). Although almost anyone capable of laughing at Murphy gone amok should enjoy 3/17, it should especially ring true for musicians, or anyone who has observed artistic types trying to put food on the table. FYI: You’ll find a lot of Gaeilge words (the Irish language) used. For some, like eejit, the meaning might be obvious. Some you’ll figure out from context. For all, the handy lexicon in the back is available to help. The Cyber Miracles * "The plot was wonderful. The characters were engaging. I especially liked the crisp dialog. The pacing and cleverness of the dialog reminded me of the banter in one of my favorite movies – “His Girl Friday.” Your book would make a hell of a movie!" * "Mary Pat Hyland has a wonderful sense of honest and believable dialogue with her characters, and the book flows like a gentle upstate New York waterfall on a warm summer’s day. I absolutely LOVED the characters, all of them! I could not put this book down, and actually MISSED the characters when I was done." * "Sometimes I want a book that challenges, amuses, comforts or recalls fond memories. This book did all of this. The characters are engaging and realistic. I can imagine a conversation with any of them. The experiences of Irish immigrant and Irish-American characters ring true without seeming cutesy. I read it in one sitting, and look forward to reading it again soon. First, I’m going grab a cup of tea and read the sequel." A Sudden Gift of Fate * "Mary Pat Hyland’s sequel to The Cyber Miracles, continues the stories of Maeve, Andy, Fergal and Bridgeen in the beautiful setting of upstate New York. This endearing foursome, that so many readers of the first book fell in love with, face new challenges with Irish wit and a generally upbeat outlook on life. They’re a group of friends that anyone would want to hang out with. Set largely in Binghamton and on Keuka Lake, the novel takes the reader through the trials and tribulations of starting up a winery and an organic bakery with a pro-small-business environmental consciousness and an emphasis on the local agriculture and organic food movements. The dialogue sometimes makes you laugh out loud and often makes you smile. A Sudden Gift of Fate is a fun and fast read. The next step is for both novels to appear on the silver screen where they can give My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Under the Tuscan Sun a run for the money." * "I enjoyed the book so much. After finishing it, I kept thinking of the characters and wondered how they were doing. I had to remind myself they weren't real and had to let them go…." Press Reviews The Cyber Miracles Bill Jaker, WSKG Radio: The Cyber Miracles by Mary Pat Hyland opens with a scene of apprehension and glamorous excitement in New York City, turns from a silly misfortune to a personal tragedy and then whips its protagonist through incidents that are both trying and comical before settling into themes of genuine religious experience. All this happens with an Irish lilt and, for readers in New York’s Southern Tier, a strong sense of local color. A Sudden Gift of Fate Mary Pat Tuxbury, Irish News USA: Pour a glass of wine and sit down by the fire; the scéalaí, (storyteller), is in the house. A Sudden Gift of Fate, by Mary Pat Hyland, is pure dead brilliant. Hyland takes you on a read from the west of Ireland to New York state in this fast-paced novel. Fergal and Brídgeen Griffin are newlyweds planning a quiet life in Ireland, when wealthy cousin Colm, gifts them a failed winery in upstate New York. With only their Irish charm, they arrive at the Finger Lakes to start anew. Maeve Kenny, on the other hand, has a life of uncertainty. Her love interest, Andy Krall, is not only younger, but is wheelchair-bound from a spinal cord injury. Brídgeen and Maeve share a long-standing friendship. Their sisterhood keeps them hopeful for tomorrow as they make their way through each day. Maeve’s stormy highs and lows give her cause to cross paths with multifarious characters, who give her insights about life. Each story brings something to her soul which she adds to her knowledge to find the strength and inner peace to carry on. A Sudden Gift of Fate is a sequel to Hyland’s novel, The Cyber Miracles. The author’s fast-paced journalistic style keeps the reader turning pages. The use of Irish language brings the lilt needed to round out the persistent dark humor and pragmatism found in Irish speakers ***** Amazon.com: Feathery CherylI am enjoying reading your book MPH it's been exciting reliving those first feelings I can see those owls along with the characters you created, its been fun. I don't want the book to end but I know that it will... therefore now that I am hooked on your Maeve Kenny series,, I am looking forward to be taken along on your next adventure. ***** Amazon.com: Crispy "Loved this series and this book!!" I have loved the Maeve Kenny series from the very first book and have enjoyed each one. This book brings a satisfying end to the series and is an enjoyable read. The story line is fun and the characters are believable. I was sad to see the series end, but now I can't wait to see what the next series will be like! This book was even more special because I "met" the author originally through a barn owl chat room much like the one described in this book. In addition, I went to college in the very area where the series is set, so I recognize descriptions and place names. However, I would have enjoyed this book and this series even without those connections. PRESS |
Press
Penn Yan Chronicle Express, September 20. 2013
Resident Artist pens novel of Penn Yan Mary Pat Hyland, author of "The House with the Wraparound Porch," is the Arts Center of Yates County's Artist in Residence at Sunny Point Book signing: The House with the Wraparound Porch with author Mary Pat Hyland 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sept. 21 Longs' Cards & Books 115 Main St Penn Yan 315-536-3131 Author Mary Pat Hyland says she’s not really very different from the painters that have been the Arts Center of Yates County’s artists in residence over the last several years – she simply “paint(s) with words.” The former Syracuse University art major is spending a week in residence at the ACYC’s lakeside facility, Sunny Point, beginning work on her eighth novel and taking some time to promote her seventh book, The House with the Wraparound Porch. The eponymous house at 217 East Main Street in Penn Yan, once belonged to Hyland’s grandparents and seemed the ideal setting for her tale of four generations of family growing up on and around Keuka Lake. The book's publication in exceptionally well timed for the 1913 house's centennial. “While this book is not autobiographical,” Hyland, an Endicott native, says “it has definitely been influenced my family’s experiences and personalities. Although we lived all over the country, my family originally came from Penn Yan and we spent every summer on the lake. This area is part of our history and is important to us.” The story incorporates bits and pieces of family and local history – a tragic drowning, barrels of brandy scattered around the village of Hammondsport in the flood of 1935 – as well as Hyland’s sense of family dynamics – the joy of visiting with sisters, sharing a good bottle of local wine. “The House with the Wraparound Porch feels different than anything else I’ve done,” says Hyland. “I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever written and it takes my work to a new dimension.” Hyland notes that the house’s role in her book is rather like that of a mother, welcoming everyone who passes through its doors. She’s been surprised by the nerve the image of that wraparound porch seems to strike with fans. “I think there’s something about the image that evokes a family place, where everyone is embraced.” Stephanie Olsen and John Creamer, the married couple who now call that house their home, feel exactly the same way. The porch is their favorite spot of the house that, according to Hyland and her relations, looks remarkably as it did in their childhood. Creamer, retired reference librarian from Penn Yan's Public Library, finds it ironic that the porch has come to define the house, since it wasn't added until 1920, seven years after the house was built. "It's rather the tail wagging the dog, but the porch is what everybody remembers," says Creamer. Olsen recalls seeing numerous family photographs of that time, many of them taken on the porch. "They all mention how the house had such an affect on their family," adds Olsen, "and how connected they felt to it." Olsen and Creamer are only the 4th owners of the house in its 100 years. The Hyland's family, the Reillys, owned it from 1926 until 1972 when it was bought by Bill and Helen Smith. "They really did the heavy lifting when it came to preserving this house," says Olsen, praising the Smiths for modernizing the utilities of the house with sensitivity and while keeping all its beauty. Reading the book, Olsen became attached to the characters in The House With the Wraparound Porch. "I worried about them when I wasn't reading, and I kept trying to figure out who they were [drawn from] among the Reillys." Hyland claims the biggest influence on her writing style was an art professor’s insistence on detailed and descriptive painting critiques. As in painting, where every brushstroke counts, so in Hyland’s writing every word has meaning. Her descriptions pull in all the senses to create a picture and, as with a painting, each word in her initial draft is done by hand, although she edits subsequent drafts on her computer. While “in residence” for the Arts Center, Hyland will be doing a book talk at the Fred and Harriet Taylor Memorial Library in Hammondsport and signing books at Long’s Cards and Books in Penn. The Arts Center’s three-year-old artist in residence program offers artists in any medium the opportunity to spend a week on Keuka Lake pursuing their art. Two artists a year are chosen for the program from applications received from around the country. Danby Town Talk by Gay Huddle, 12/23/2010 Ithaca Journal
Getting her Irish up My friend Anne Woodard from Ithaca College is a devoted fan of this column, so I am happy to include here information about Anne's sister, Mary Pat Hyland, author of the new book "3/17." Mary Pat is a former graphic artist, designer and art director who spent 15 years as a journalist, including writing for the Press & Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton until leaving in 2007 to become a novelist. She has an interest in the Irish language Gaeilge, which she has taught, and has danced in Irish companies and performs with the traditional Irish band The Hylands, all of which have given her a rich background for her third book. "3/17," a loose parody of Dante's "Inferno," is about four Irish traditional musicians who get lost in the backwoods of upstate New York the week before St. Patrick's Day, after their car slides off the road when an Irish pony darts out in front of them. On the journey, the band descends through nine hellish circles of American-style "3/17 revelry," such as step-dancing princesses, bobbing shamrock headbangers, and shillelagh-waving geezers. An Amazon.com review raves: "You don't have to be Irish to love this book. Grab a corned beef sandwich and a pint and sit back for a wild ride." Mary Pat ... frequently visits Tompkins County, and much of her first two books, "The Cyber Miracles" and "A Sudden Gift of Fate," take place in the Finger Lakes, with a large part transpiring in both the Binghamton and Ithaca areas. BLOG: Molly's Box - The Owls of San Marcos,
Carlos Royal A Wisdom of Owls I just finished reading Mary Pat Hyland’s fictional humorous romance novel based on the experiences that happen in the owl box. What a fun read, especially if you were around during the first clutch when all the drama was happening for the first time. You will recognize many of the events that actually happened. Mary does a wonderful job of weaving them into her romantic story which takes place in upper New York State. I also connected with the owl box lexicons she used such as deet, deet, deet, gag-shag and plotz. The realness of the book brought back many wonderful memories and also some tears. Once I started, I stayed up most the night reading the book. I won’t say I couldn’t put it down, only that I didn’t and at around 6 AM this morning when I was finishing the book, I realized I had forgotten to go to bed. This emotional little romantic book is about people and owls. A Wisdom of Owls, is only 275 pages but it has a little bit of everything, from chat room drama to Internet hope and happiness. As a warning, Hyland’s story telling style may give you watery eyes from time to time, I know I used a box of Kleenex as the story took many unexpected and highly emotional twist and turns. You can get your copy of A Wisdom of Owls on Amazon.com I recommend it. Life in the Finger Lakes magazine,
Winter edition 2010 A Sudden Gift of Fate By Mary Pat Hyland 2009 Publisher: Hyland blog: http://giftoffate.wordpress.com Softcover: $20.00 This is the second book in the Maeve Kenny series and a sequel to Cyber Miracles. It is an engaging novel of two likeable young couples and how they handle the challenges of their lives. Irish newlyweds Fergal and Bridgeen Griffin receive an opportunity to turn around a failing Finger Lakes winery. The budding romance of their friends Maeve and Andy is complicated less by the difference in their ages than by long separations. Andy seeks experimental cell therapy in Belgium for his paraplegia, forcing them apart. The stories of the two couples are interwoven and move the action forward. While set around Keuka Lake and in Binghamton, where Maeve works in a bakery, the Irish connection remains strong. The author’s use of Gaelic gives the story an authentic feel. A lexicon of the Irish language (Gaeilge) and slang dialogue found throughout is included in an appendix. The wine business, christened Loughmare Winery, strengthens the Irish identity, but there are ample references to winemaking in the Finger Lakes. Every chapter begins with a description of a Finger Lakes wine grape, presented in the order each was introduced to the area. |
