The Donaghue Histories Series

There be dangers in old, untouched places. . .  September, 1720: One month ago, Ailee Donaghue married a stranger to save herself from scandal. Now aboard a ship bound for the New World with ninety other Scots-Irish, she has no idea what she'll be able to offer her new husband. She's a horrible knitter, a bad cook, and can barely be trusted with a sewing needle. She is determined to help her new family thrive, but she is completely unprepared and fears she'll only be a burden. Can she face the challenges ahead with a man she barely knows and dangers that threaten her from unexpected enemies? Or will the friendships she makes along the way prove to be her salvation? ~*~ This first book in the Donaghue Histories begins the saga of the Donaghue family. Each book follows the next generation of the family against the backdrop of the developing New World and features strong women, historical detail, the evolution of crochet and a crochet pattern by designer Laurinda Reddig.

That woman will bring shame down upon us . . . The New World is no place for a penniless widow. Elsie MacClayne's choices are few: remain with the other Scots-Irish immigrants to become a burden on her friends or search out her cousin, Connor, who has already made Pennsylvania Colony his home. Elsie longs to make a life for herself and her unborn child, but old prejudices are still alive amongst the colonists, and she is looked upon with either pity or distrust. What I did was inexcusable . . . Niall Donaghue had anticipated his brother's arrival in the New World, but he hadn't expected Grahame to arrive with a new wife. Anger and jealousy drive him to make a mistake that costs him not only Grahame's trust but the chance to pursue his own hopes for the future. He is forced to set aside his ambitions for the sake of his aunt and their livelihood. Can Elsie find the courage to withstand the threats around her and claim her place in a foreign land? Can Niall find the will to ask for the forgiveness he longs for? The Sojourners, set in 1720s Pennsylvania, is the second book in the saga of the Donaghue family. Each book follows the next generation of the family against the backdrop of the developing New World and features historical detail, strong women and their craftiness, and a crochet pattern by designer Laurinda Reddig.

Deirdre, what have you done?  Deirdre Donaghue has led a sheltered life on Donaghue Island, surrounded by family who has no care about what happens on the mainland, even during a time of war. When three soldiers invade her isolated village, she is drawn to their leader by his quiet ways and stormy eyes. Yet their sudden appearance brings dangers to the peaceful village. Shawn McClaren has a secret he's unwilling to reveal, no matter how drawn he is to the spirited Deirdre. He's come too far to lose his resolve, but what he's hiding could be the beginning of uncovering a long-held mystery hiding in the village's past. The Lost Soldier, set in 1782 Virginia, is the third book in the saga of the Donaghue family. Each book follows the next generation of the family against the backdrop of the developing New World and features historical detail, strong women and their craftiness, and a crochet pattern by designer Laurinda Reddig.

I was twelve when I first heard the name Guthrie. Hollis Donaghue has been on the long hunt all his life, and he's thinking maybe he should settle down. Except now he's accused of killing a man. Wanted for murder and pursued by an unknown foe, Hollis sets off on his own along the traces of Kentucky in an attempt to draw out his enemies. He is confident in his skills as a woodsman and in the crafts his parents taught him, but is it enough? He wants to turn to a person he trusts, widow Bea Confer, but no matter how readily she can bring that pistol of hers to bear, Hollis doesn't want to put the woman he's come to care for at risk. Will he put the people he loves in more danger by setting off alone? The Kentuckian, set in 1836 Kentucky, is the fourth book in the saga of the Donaghue family. Each book follows the next generation of the family against the backdrop of the developing United States and features historical detail, strong individuals and their craftiness, and a crochet pattern by designer Laurinda Reddig.

Never trust charity. Ain't nothing ever free.  Nan Prescott, daughter of the local drunk, works odd jobs around Metamora, Indiana, to earn their keep. Her only goal is to keep her and her pa from starving without losing their pride. Bradley Donaghue has taken over his mother's small farm while occasionally leading mules along the Whitewater Canal towing barges. One day he hopes for his own family, but at the moment the farm comes first. Carolina Beauregard, daughter of a prosperous southern gentleman, has moved with her parents to the small town. Her mother wants to find suitable husbands for her three daughters, but Carolina has bigger dreams.  To fulfill them, she needs help. She sets out to win Nan's trust, offering to trade skills that they both are desperate to learn, but when the quiet and handsome Bradley shows Carolina the beauty of small-town life, will she change her plans for the future?  Bradley still lives in the shadow of his parents. Is Carolina the one who will draw him out? Nan yearns for a family, too, but can she find happiness in a town that looks down on her?  The Boatman's Daughter, set in 1859 Indiana, is the fifth book in the saga of the Donaghue family. Each book follows the next generation of the family against the backdrop of the developing United States and features historical detail, strong individuals and their craftiness, and a crochet pattern by designer Laurinda Reddig.

Lucy, you can't trust a man like that. Lucy Donaghue can't get out of Indiana fast enough. The meandering pace of her hometown where everyone knows everybody else is about as exciting as watching the mill stone turn. She wants a crowded city with fascinating strangers and a chance to become someone new. The tiny town where she ends up is nowhere she'd choose. I'd stay clear of that lady. Omer Pierson is done with wandering. Exploring the west holds more discomfort than excitement anymore, and his gun arm is tired. He turns his exhausted mustang toward West Texas with a dream of living a quiet life. Finding conflict and threat in the little town he calls home makes returning to the trail more appealing. When feisty Lucy encounters the stoic Omer in Castanola, Texas, the town, and the two of them, will never be the same. The Lady of Castanola, set in 1880 Texas, is the sixth book in the saga of the Donaghue family. Each book follows the next generation of the family against the backdrop of the developing United States and features historical detail, strong individuals and their craftiness, and a crochet pattern by designer Laurinda Reddig.

"Everything had gone just as I'd planned. Unbeknownst to my family, I caught the train from West Texas to California and found a room at Mrs. Brown's Boarding House for Traveling Ladies. Now, at long last, I have accepted a position as a Lady's Companion for a well-bred elderly lady in a lavishly elegant home the likes of which I've never seen. What more could a forward-thinking young woman in 1902 want? It certainly wasn't attending séances and using spirit boards. Or sharing that lovely house with a ghost, of which I staunchly do not believe. But I am a forward-thinking young woman and my plans always go just as I expect. Surely, none of this will prove any difficulty. No difficulty at all . . ." ~ Miss Isabelle Pierson, Seadale House, San Francisco. The Spellbound House, set in 1902 San Francisco, is the seventh book in the saga of the Donaghue family. Each book follows the next generation of the family against the backdrop of the developing United States and features historical detail, strong individuals and their craftiness, and a crochet pattern by designer Laurinda Reddig.