Norah

Norah is an evocative, compelling story of survival, intrigue, and love.


"This story is filled with so much intrigue, mystery, and beauty, that

you'll cling to every word while watching Norah grow into a strong,

courageous, and brilliant woman, who ends up truly proud of her Irish

blood." ~ Feathered Quill Book Reviews


"In her exciting historical novel, Norah, Cynthia G. Neale shows us

19th-century New York through the eyes of an Irish-American woman and thus

gives us new insights into this tumultuous time. We see Norah McCabe

making her way against all odds. A memorable journey!" ~ Mary Pat Kely,

author of the best-selling novel Galway Bay

You don't have to be Irish to appreciate Norah McCabe. Hers is an an

American story of self-creation through sheer grit and imagination. This

historical novel paints an authentic and compelling picture of what it

means to be young, poor, and female longing for a better life in 1850s New

York City...You'll root for Norah as {she} embarks on a dramatic journey to

achieve a hard-won identity as a self-sufficient Irish-American woman in a

turbulent time." ~ Nancy Kelley, author of This Whispering Rod

Norah is a story of a young immigrant woman battling hardship, poverty and prejudice in New York in the 1850's. It has obviously been lovingly researched. The portraits of Norah McCabe and her family are beautifully drawn and although at times the language is breathtakingly lyrical, this novel tells it like it was, grit and all. All the hard facts of life for an Irish immigrant are between these pages; poor housing, the bordellos, street fights, and the cut and thrust of the gang underworld. It is certainly not the usual run-of-the-mill historical and I can highly recommend it as a slice of real life for anyone with an interest in this period of New York history, particularly those with family or connections to Ireland.


~ Deborah Swift, Author of The Lady's Slipper and The Gilded Lily Cover Work:  Christine Horner