Rose Of Skibbereen Series by John McDonnell

The first book in a family saga about Rose Sullivan, an Irish girl who comes to Philadelphia in 1880 and finds love, heartache, loss, and unexpected joy during the tumultuous years around the turn of the century. She marries an Irish mystery man named Sean McCarthy, who has a violent past and a secret life, and he takes her to new heights and depths of passion... moreThe first book in a family saga about Rose Sullivan, an Irish girl who comes to Philadelphia in 1880 and finds love, heartache, loss, and unexpected joy during the tumultuous years around the turn of the century. She marries an Irish mystery man named Sean McCarthy, who has a violent past and a secret life, and he takes her to new heights and depths of passion. The stories of multiple characters, vividly drawn, come together in this series that examines what happens when the rural Irish of the 19th century encounter the breathtaking pace of change in the America of the 20th century. less

The second installment in the family saga of Rose Sullivan, who immigrates to America in 1880 and falls in love with a mysterious Irishman named Sean, who killed a man in Ireland. It's a story of love lost, bootleg liquor, the birth of the movie industry, a standup man, a secret in a locked steamer trunk, and the tumult of the 1920s in America. Rose has to endure many trials, as her husband leaves her with three small children... moreThe second installment in the family saga of Rose Sullivan, who immigrates to America in 1880 and falls in love with a mysterious Irishman named Sean, who killed a man in Ireland. It's a story of love lost, bootleg liquor, the birth of the movie industry, a standup man, a secret in a locked steamer trunk, and the tumult of the 1920s in America. Rose has to endure many trials, as her husband leaves her with three small children. Sean, who changes his name to Peter and then James, has a restless energy that keeps him always looking for the next big thing, and that often gets him into trouble. Their lives take them in different directions, and they find love in different ways. less

The fourth book in the Rose Of Skibbereen saga, this one follows the family through the turbulent 1960s. The main character is Rosie Morley, granddaughter of Rose Sullivan Morley, who came from Ireland to Philadelphia in 1880 at the start of Book One. Rosie is a mercurial personality, a gifted singer but an impulsive, rash person who makes poor choices. When the story starts she is living in South Philadelphia, and she gets involved with some questionable characters in the music business... moreThe fourth book in the Rose Of Skibbereen saga, this one follows the family through the turbulent 1960s. The main character is Rosie Morley, granddaughter of Rose Sullivan Morley, who came from Ireland to Philadelphia in 1880 at the start of Book One. Rosie is a mercurial personality, a gifted singer but an impulsive, rash person who makes poor choices. When the story starts she is living in South Philadelphia, and she gets involved with some questionable characters in the music business. She has to leave the country for a while, and she ends up in the middle of Swinging London in time for the explosion of rock 'n' roll that started with the Beatles. While Rosie is living a freewheeling life in England, her son Pete is home in Philadelphia getting into trouble. He ends up in combat in Vietnam, while his grandmother Lucy throws herself into the Civil Rights Movement, following a charismatic preacher. And then there is Mercy, the stepsister Rosie has never met, who comes back to Philadelphia on a mission to find an old film of her father, the scoundrel James Francis (also known as Peter Morley). Mercy arrives just as the Cuban Missile Crisis is heating up, and people everywhere are fearful that nuclear war will break out. This book is full of drama in every chapter, as each character faces a crisis that makes him or her confront the big questions of Life. less