Ireland, 1848.. Fourteen year old Rosaleen, has just watched her mother die from the absolute worst death, starvation. She is all alone and she couldn’t help her mother one bit. Ireland is going through the potato famine and there isn’t much hope for anyone. Times are awful and Rosaleen has to find her way out of this mess. She leaves her small coastal town and blessing by blessing makes the right connections, that help her move herself forward. Alway a step away from tragedy she works hard and keeps herself healthy. She has one goal in mind, to get to America. Eventually, she gets there. She is his surprisingly resilient and yet she misses her home so badly. More tragedy and more victories, she works to gain her place in the new world. One where she isn’t jaded and miserable but one where she excels. This story was so beautifully written. I enjoyed every moment of it. The author told this story with such compassion. Being of Irish descent, this one book really made me think back about my ancestors. I want to thank Netgalley and the author Lisa Boyle, for my copy of Signed, A Paddy for an honest review. It was an absolute pleasure e reading and reviewing this book. It was a 5 star read for me and I haven’t read many 5 star books this year. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.

Time for a new originally curated Showcase Series! Introducing…..
#SeriesSpotlight Showcase Series:
Our first selection is: THE PADDY SERIES by Lisa Boyle

SIGNED, A PADDY (released in June 2021), is Lisa’s 1st book in the series, which we will cover here first, but stay tuned for upcoming features on the next two books in this special series: DEAR INMATE (released in March 2022) and the soon to be released WITH GREAT SORROW coming to readers on MARCH 7, 2023! Her upcoming release is timed perfectly, close to St. Patrick’s Day. However, first let’s dive into the book that not only started it all but earned multiple awards — Lisa does recommend reading the books in series order (they are not stand alones).

For any reader who is a big fan of Heather Webb, Author’s THE NEXT SHIP HOME, featured right here previously on The Erudite Bibliophile with Wanderlust, then you may need to move SIGNED, A PADDY to the top of your TBR stack. Lisa does an amazing job portraying an Irish immigrant’s journey through young protagonist, Rosaleen, from her life circumstances, losses, and the harsh conditions in Ireland in the mid-1800s that lead to her staggeringly strenuous ocean voyage to the US, to her struggles upon arrival in this new land and finding her own voice, path, and footing. She arrives in America during a time of unrest with fights for labor reform and the right to vote for women as well as abolitionist crusades for freedom from slavery, for social justice, and for equality for all people. Rosaleen as a poor Irish immigrant woman herself, also experiences discrimination, but in Boston and then in Lowell she finds an Irish community and realizes how much she misses being with her Irish kin and starts building her own chosen family in Massachusetts. She is soon involved in anti-slavery society meetings as well as labor association meetings and petitions.

Being only 15 years old, Rosaleen also experiences many firsts in her adopted country of America: her first friendship in best friend Marie, her first relationship and love in Emmett, and her first love of reading nurtured by Marie. She even gets to experience her first bookstore! Do you as a reader remember your first bookstore trip? In this novel, the reader is submersed into a world of survival and struggle inside the dismal and harsh workhouses, ships, and cotton mills. Boyle also gives the reader a peek of what daily life is like for Irish immmigrants as she guides the reader through neighborhoods like Boston’s North End and Lowell’s Paddy’s Corner and the Acre.

I am again struck with awe that this was a debut novel, in addition to the fact it was self-published , but on top of everything else it is one of many historical fiction novels that just epitomize this genre and who shine bright with everything that I love about my favorite genre: historical fiction. Lisa also brilliantly captures the powerful ability of one person using their unique voice to make a difference as well as a reminder of the commonalities between groups regardless of race, religion, nationality, and gender - especially when a common oppressor exists between them.

The stage has been set now for the reader to continue to follow along Rosaleen’s journey as she uses her voice to unite and rally the Irish to join the fight against slavery as well as working conditions of the cotton mills. Stay tuned for continued features of the next novels in The Paddy Series! #theeruditebibliophilewithwanderlust #signedapaddy #lisaboylewrites

In the meantime, if you would like Lisa to join your book club meeting to discuss SIGNED, A PADDY, click the link below to contact Lisa for this wonderful opportunity:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSca8UCSTouWJMEq2SSvMvpTiyKtrk0IFaNQWD2-uTLS6Qr7JQ/viewform

The book is well written with very interesting and detailed descriptions of life as a girl going through both the potato famine and her life in America.

It had enough historical key points to make it feel as if you were reading something from a true view point

What a remarkable read. I loved every word. Lisa Boyle writes engaging prose. Her characters are ‘real’. I could hear the slight in Irish accents and see the living and working conditions and the robust comradery of the Irish through a devastating time in their history. Rosaleen, Emmett, Marie, Miss Susan, Henry, Nancy and Ronan all took me to a place of love, courage, tragedy and empowerment. I highly recommend this book. The 2nd book ‘Dear Inmate’ is out March 2022.

The story (or memoir, more precisely) takes place in the 19th century, in the backdrop of the Irish famine that shook Ireland severely, killed a million and forced millions others to flee.

The start was promising indeed and the details of Rosaleen's mother's death and how she was left to her own devices at such a young age were truly gruesome and I was, naturally, sympathetic to her plight. I expected the tone to be maintained but somehow the book began to feel less and less realistic as it proceeded. The narrative read like a children's book and the problems the protagonist faced became more and more trifling.

By the time I was into the middle of the book, I'd nearly forgotten Rosaleen was actually fleeing for her life due to starvation and disease. She was more into boys, first one being William (whom the writer probably forgot she'd even introduced) and the second one being Emmett (at this point, I felt like I was reading Twilight, lol) whom she even shared a kiss with (in the middle of the ocean where people were dying!)

To be honest, I was forced to leave this book as my life got busier. And though I did want to finish it, meaning to get back to it each day I didn't get the chance ​and I don't even regret the fact that I couldn't, before my 50 days were over.

Although the narrative flowed very well, I think the writer very lightly handled the sufferings of a people in famine or any sort of crisis, whatsoever. Also, the perspective just didn't read like it would belong to a girl living in the 1800s... it was too progressive and assuming for that.

Summing up, I would recommend it only if one isn't in the habit of frequently reading classics or other, more true to history, historical fictions because the language might feel cringey; also recommending it especially since I never reached its end. For hopefully, it is better than what I expect it to be- a soggy sort of a romantic finish that has entirely missed its point.

I enjoyed this a lot more than anticipated, and finished it within a day. It felt realistic, and engaging.

For the first time, Ireland. This book was wonderfully written and was in fact both educational and swoon worthy. Loved the protagonist and the setting. Can't wait to see what the author has next in store

“Signed, A Paddy” is a beautiful historical novel about a woman’s journey as she settles in America in the 1800s, and I loved reading it.

The strength of the story lies in the characters. Rosaleen is terrific in the lead, and I loved reading her journey as she travels to America and settles in the new land. She makes friends along the way and experiences various moments that change her perspective of life. The author also writes the romance nicely. I liked Rosaleen’s relationship with both Emmett and Henry and wondered who Rosaleen would choose. I could see a contrast difference in the strength of the character when I compared Rosaleen to the version she was in the beginning.

However, more than Rosaleen, I loved Marie. In my opinion. Marie was the highlight of the story, and I loved how she teaches and helps Rosaleen and tells her about the Abolitionist Movement. I also adored the small moments where Marie exposes Rosaleen to the world of literature. On a side note, I loved some of the recommendations the author mentions in the novel, like “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” “Oliver Twist,” and “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.”

Moreover, the author covers critical issues prevalent during the time, notably The Abolitionist Movement. I thought the author conveyed the message realistically on how people focused on the movement, but many opposed it. Some of my favorite moments in the story were Rosaleen’s initial adventures in the ship, her moments with Marie, and towards the end, revolving around “The Paddy.”

Overall, I thought “Signed, A Paddy” is a terrific debut by the author, and I cannot wait to read her future novels.

2 stars. I've got to admit that I had high hopes for this book and they were completely dashed like an egg on a field of jagged rocks. The writing (especially the dialogue) was both formal and simplistic at the same time, and after ten chapters I began yelling "People don't talk like that!" at my Kindle (my husband was both frightened and intrigued...). While I did learn some interesting things about the Great Famine, this book was overall a difficult to believe narrative starring a protagonist who sees the world through the biggest set of rose-coloured glasses possible.

This book was double billed as both "Women's Fiction" and "YA Fiction" but it is definitely completely in the "YA" category.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review. My opinions are my own and not influenced by anyone. Ever.

I was absolutely entrenched in the life of this strong, survivor! Rosaleen was relatable, endearing, and inspirational. I appreciated the vivid descriptions of the mills and Lowell proper. I learned a great deal about the plight of Irish immigrants, and the comparison to the concurrent plight of African Americans was helpful to explain the events of the time period. The one thing I wished was more information at the end. I am hoping for a sequel!I wanted to follow the story further. Thank you, Lisa Boyle, for opening my eyes to a part of history I didn't know much about. I couldn't put this book down! The flow was great!! A must read! As a previous middle school teacher, I would have recommended this to all of my students!

Whilst I did feel the author had thoroughly researched both the Irish potato famine and the various American slave and workers issues the main character Rosaleen seemed to sail through them all with such remarkable ease they lost the feeling of sheer awfulness which must have been actually existed.

My perception of the Irish immigrants in the United States was very biased; it came from the pages of Gone With The Wind. So nothing prepared me for the harsh reality of the Potato Famine; or the roughness of the crossing from Ireland to the US. Even more harrowing was to understand the trials an Irish immigrant faced upon landing there.

The book opened my eyes to the abolitionist movement, and the plight of the Irish immigrants in the late 1840s. It has been a lesson in history.

In Rosaleen, the author has created a character even more tough than Scarlett O'Hara. I am in awe of Rosaleen and her resilience... and the thousands of Bridgets and Paddys, (I hope you know I say this with the same pride Rosaleen feels) who persevered, and made their homes in a land so biased.

This is a book for all readers who like Historical Fiction, and a strong woman protagonist.

Debut historical/YA novel by Lisa Boyle.

Any conflict in the book was easily resolved. The 15 year old female protagonist pursues her sweetheart. They had a connection during the voyage, but he didn't even bother to visit her (and the train journey wasn't that distant). Young women out there, please don't throw yourself at a man. It may sound all "rosy" and romantic, but you are likely to not be respected.

There were at least 130 times where the word "Rosaleen" (the protagonist) was repeated. This literally drove me crazy by the end of the book.

I feel like I'm being a downer, there are MANY 5 star reviews out there. But I'm not seeing this as a 5 star book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Boyle/author and the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Signed, A Paddy is a work of young adult historical fiction that traces fifteen-year-old Rosaleen’s quest to make a life for herself after her mother dies and the Irish Potato Famine strips her of the only home she has ever known. Orphaned, impoverished, and completely alone, Rosaleen makes the brave decision to go to a workhouse, and from there, she gets the opportunity to immigrate to America. Each person she meets gives her insight, support, or knowledge that she uses to make her choices, and while her hardships are great, her luck is too, and opportunities open for her that many did not have. As she navigates her new life, she has to face weighty questions like the value of her Irish heritage, the life she wants for herself, and the risks she is willing to take for causes that matter.

Lisa Boyle’s story provides a good picture of the mid-1800’s in Ireland and America. Her research is woven throughout the story and gives a full, rounded picture of conditions in Ireland and in a USA that teeters on the brink of civil war. From women’s suffrage to abolition, workers’ rights to industrialization, xenophobia to ethnic neighborhoods, Boyle’s story is accurate and well-researched.

At times, Boyle tells, rather than shows, the story, describing things as “amazing,” or “terrible,” and these instances make the story less real and vivid. Some readers may lose interest in these passages with their lack of imagery. At other times, however, her description paints clear, sensory images that draw the reader in.

The resilience of Rosaleen, Emmett, Marie, and others is exemplary, and young readers can benefit from these characters who battle hard challenges with grit and resolve. Other characters show kindness, like Miss Susan, Ruth, and the minister in Lowell, and courage appears in many forms throughout the story. While the story lags at times through Boyle’s explanations, overall, it is a story of strength and perseverance and a detailed look at a historical period that churned with growth and change.

It was an amazing book ranging from the Great Famine to Pre Civil War Massachusetts, be it the main character struggle in the Coffin boats or her revival in Boston or the cry of Revolution she does in Lowell we see a development from a girl surviving to a girl leading her community against exploitation.
The book will be reviewed on Amazon when it's published

It is 1848 and Ireland is facing the worst tragedy it's ever known...the Great Potato famine. The British are taking everything the Irish are growing, leaving them with nothing...just potatoes...and they are rotting in the ground. Fourteen year old Rosaleen has watched as her mother dies, her father long dead. She is the only one left in her family. After burying her mother, there is nothing to do but leave her small home and somehow travel to Cork. With no family there either, and not wanting to burden the priest who offers her shelter, she seeks the workhouse, the last hope of many. Through an edict of Queen Victoria she is among the young that are offered an escape, on a ship bound to Australia. However, through some luck from a stranger she once served on a soup line, she has found her way to a ship heading for America instead. While many passengers have died on that voyage, Rosaleen and a young man she met, Emmett, both make it to the shores of America in Boston.

Through the writing of this author we follow the journey of Rosaleen, but she is only one of thousands who left Ireland to come to America. She represents the tragedy that represents what the Irish went through in the 1800's. It was overwhelmingly sad to see families torn apart by death, to bear witness to what the survivors went through and even with the hope of those who left, to read how these immigrants struggled when arriving.

When I started this book I wasn't sure after reading about 8 chapters, I could read any longer. I persevered as once I start a book, I finish it. I'm glad I did. Through the journey of this young girl and her survival, the story opened up for me. There will be more to read in this series and I know I'll be waiting for them.

My thanks to Victory Editing Net Galley Co-op for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be posted to Goodreads, Amazon and https://bookreviewsbylulu.blogspot.com/

Ireland, 1848. Fourteen-year-old Rosaleen watches her mother die. Her country is reeling from the great potato famine, which will ultimately kill more than one million people. Driven by a promise and her will to survive, Rosaleen flees her small coastal town.

She eventually arrives in America at the birth of the industrial revolution and is filled with hope and a new sense of independence. Yet the more Rosaleen becomes a part of this new world, the more she longs for a community she lost and a young man she can’t forget.

Through a series of both heartwarming and tragic events, Rosaleen learns that she can’t outrun the problems that come along with being Irish. And maybe, she doesn’t want to. A great historic read, very descriptive. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

After losing her mother to starvation brought on by the potato famine, fifteen-year-old Rosaleen is left to work out how to survive on her own. First to a workhouse and then across the ocean, this teen makes friends as she goes and learns more about the issues faced by others in the world. Will she find her own voice to help those she can, or will the prejudice against the Irish crush her spirit?

This was an interesting read, though not an immediate favorite. The author was certainly detailed in the historical aspect of the novel. The atmosphere of the era really shone through in many of the scenes (though this did make for a stomach turning scene in the beginning with Rosaleen’s deceased mother).

However, I did not get this same feeling with the dialogue. Between the at times stilted conversations that seemed like they were meant to impart information and the modern turn of phrases, Rosaleen did not sound like a young woman in 1848. This pulled me out of the story many times.

As a character, Rosaleen comes across as an earnest teen who is eager to right the wrongs in the world. Her habit of making sudden decisions frustrated me, as did her wishy-washy behavior when it came to young men she met. She is very much an inexperienced teenager who looks at the world in a ‘how do I fix this’ kind of way. Depending on how you like characters like this, you will either like this attitude or be annoyed by it.

As a warning, there are a couple instances where four-letter words are used. They come out of nowhere and feel very much out of place. So this caused me to waver between a three and four-star rating, so I am rounding up to be generous.

I would recommend this to older teens and above or readers who are looking for a historical fiction story with plenty of era appropriate details. I received a free copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

After losing her family Rosaleen sneaks onto a ship for America to get away from the great potato famine. America is nothing like she imagined it to be. She finds her way as an outcast but takes steps to make a difference in the civil rights movement and the industrial revolution.

This was a wonderful young adult read. I loved traveling with Rosaleen as she became an independent young woman.

#signedapatty #industrialrevolutionfiction #comingtoamericafiction #irishpotatofamine #historicalfiction #youngadultfiction #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #summerread #netgalley

Thank you Victoria Editing Net Galley Co-op for an electronic advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Historical Fiction and the book description had drawn me to reading this story. The setting in Ireland with the backdrop of the potato famine, and frequent hardships, is brought alive by the poignant prose of author Lisa Boyle. She fleshes out an immensely likeable protagonist in Rosaleen. After her mother’s death, Rosaleen knows her future is not in her small village, and travels on her own to seek help from relatives she’s only heard about. This leads to an adventure through the workhouse, two ship journeys, a difficult crossing of sea, and eventually to America. On the first ship she meets Emmett with whom Rosaleen strikes a beautiful relationship culminating in love.

The book dwells in detail on how the Irish are treated, of the hard work immigrants need to do to survive and the labor and abolitionist movements gaining momentum. Rosaleen develops some good friends at her workplace, and becomes involved in the movement.

The end is stunning and inspite of the atmosphere of despair leaves you hopeful and positive. The book ends on a fascinating note. A courageous, brave young girl shows us the way forward.

I wish the book much success and look forward to reading more from Lisa Boyle’s pen.