223 Orchard Street by Renee Ryan ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Titus comes from an affluent family, and had it all with a career as a gifted surgeon, but after a tragedy affecting a friend of his, he walks away from the operating table. Ty still keeps busy, serving as a general practitioner with his own clinic helping the low income, and working at Ellis Island. He still blames himself for the past, will he be able to forgive himself?

Katie O'Connor has been working hard to bring his sister over from Ireland to join her in New York. Katie dreams of a career as a midwife, but being an immigrant it's hard to find more than low-paying sewing jobs. When her sister, Shannon, is detained in Ellis Island, Katie turns to Ty and ask him to help as she has no one else.

Will Katie and Ty find hope again?

Katie is a kind-hearted and compassionate woman, caring for her sister, aunt, and the children on the street. She puts others before herself, and loves her family.

Ty is haunted by his past, and hides from the world by drinking and helping the poor.

I liked the reality that the author infused into the setting, the hardships that they faced. I didn't really like the romance elements of the book, it just wasn't as believable to me, and the faith elements were vague, when it seemed like there were ample opportunities to show Katie's faith. I felt like there were many missed opportunities that weren't taken advantage of, in regards to the relationship, and the faith. A historical read that shows the hardships faced as new Americans.

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