Eden is a strong Irish woman who shows the lengths family will go to for each other. After her father and brother are sent to prison for smuggling she will do anything in her power to free them. Set in the 1800's, Eden is a dazzling example of an independent, brave woman daring to defy societal standards.

Cat Dubie is an incredibly talented writer. This book had me doing nothing else for the entire day as I kept reading just to find out what would happen next. Her descriptive language did wonders for setting scenes and putting images in my mind. I was very appreciative to the attention she paid not only to the dialect of characters in their dialogue, but also to the vocabulary and behavior of the time period, as well as the usage of the Irish language (Gaeilge) toward the beginning of the novel. The ending left me eager to see what happens next as Dubie promises a continuation to Eden's story.

This book was a unique mix, it felt like an Irish Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre meets a not-so-trashy romance, but with an unforgiving and unmovable female protagonist who will find her own way if the men around her won't help.

This book was truly a pleasure.