During the late seventeen hundreds, Tessa O’Donnell’s husband is attacked and killed by thieves in their small Irish village. Tessa, relieved to be rid of her abusive husband, sorts through his meager belongings finds a small, concealed box containing a boarding ticket and a small amount of cash.
Tessa is frightened to leave her familiar surroundings in Ireland but bravely uses the ticket and boards the huge ship to journey to America.
Upon her arrival in America, a twist of fate and a conversation with a ghost draws Tessa deep into a daring adventure.
The widow unravels a series of puzzling clues in the months following her arrival to discover a Hidden Legacy, unsure if it will bring her happiness or more heartbreak.
Sample Chapter can be read at http://www.margarethodappbooks.com
Professional Reviews
Almost like a Fairy Tale . . .
Hidden Legacy is almost a fairy tale. . .
Margaret Hodapp has written a fascinating story - almost a fairy tale about a poor Irish lass who travels to America on someone else’s passage and becomes another person who inherits a farm and a new son.
She places the reader right into that era – right down to the clothing worn and the food grown and prepared during that period in history. I could almost smell the rye bread baking and the barley soup simmering in the fireplace. There is not a boring moment throughout the book – filled with intrigue, romance and riddles. With a satisfying end to this "rags to riches" tale- we surely hope there will be more of the same from this new writer.
Adventures of a Plucky Irishwoman
In Hidden Legacy, author Margaret Hodapp has chosen the plot variation of a heroine who emigrates from Europe to America during the 19th Century, and assumes the identity of her shipmate who expires soon after arrival to the U.S. What follows is the life and adventures of a plucky Irish woman determined to make good and find happiness.
Tessa, as the heroine, is different from many main characters written about, in that she is a woman in midlife, rather than late teens or twenties. She was widowed from an abusive, alcoholic husband while yet in Ireland, and her marriage had been barren.
As she assumes the identity of Melissa, her shipmate and a woman to whom she bears a strong physical resemblance, Tessa is drawn into intrigue. Melissa had come to America to care for her ailing uncle, which Tessa determines to do once Melissa draws her last breath. However, the uncle expires before Tessa arrives, and she finds herself mistress of the manor. Her identity, and right of ownership, is soon challenged and Tessa finds herself fighting for her happiness.
A Perfect Book - you won't be able to put it down.
I discovered that from the start that Margaret Hodapp had captured the imagination of this reader with a desire to read on to find the answers to the intriguing mystery plot she had created. I found myself guessing what would be the solution as each new event took place.
Involving the reader in the mystery, and sometimes making it even a bit more challenging,
we follow the adventures of Tessie, a recent widow, as she explores her unexpected surprise journey from tragedy and disappointment in Ireland to America and a new life.
Hidden Legacy is well conceived and written, replete with excellent descriptive writing to enable one to enter into the heart and mind of Tessie, with artistic perception of the manners, dress, and times in which she lives.
This is a perfect book and one that you won't be able to put down until you discover the "Hidden Legacy."
Reviewed by:
Joyce Ann Edmondson
The Listening Tree
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