ABL Review At-A-Glance
Ø Title: The Courage Between Love and Death
Ø My Rating: 4
Ø Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Ø Author:
Joseph Pillitteri
Joseph Pillitteri
Ø Format:
Paperback*
Paperback*
Ø Publication Date: March 29th, 2018
Goodreads Synopsis
Elspeth has recently landed a nursing position
at the 1901 Pan American Exposition Hospital in Buffalo, New York. This is a
big boon for her, but things are not going as expected. She has to navigate
mischievous patients, egotistical doctors, rival nurses and prejudices. For an
Irish girl with a temper, this is no easy feat. Now President McKinley is
coming to visit the Expo and everyone is in an uproar. On the home front, her
life is no less hectic as she struggles to put food on the table and look out
for her younger siblings.
at the 1901 Pan American Exposition Hospital in Buffalo, New York. This is a
big boon for her, but things are not going as expected. She has to navigate
mischievous patients, egotistical doctors, rival nurses and prejudices. For an
Irish girl with a temper, this is no easy feat. Now President McKinley is
coming to visit the Expo and everyone is in an uproar. On the home front, her
life is no less hectic as she struggles to put food on the table and look out
for her younger siblings.
When the unthinkable happens, it is a turning
point, not only for the medical industry and our country’s security, but also
for Elspeth personally. With her career and reputation on the line, will she
have the courage to overcome the challenges she faces to clear her name and
continue to be there for the ones she loves?
point, not only for the medical industry and our country’s security, but also
for Elspeth personally. With her career and reputation on the line, will she
have the courage to overcome the challenges she faces to clear her name and
continue to be there for the ones she loves?
My Thoughts…
In all honesty, I am not familiar with the assassination ofPresident McKinley, other than knowing it happened. I am even less familiar with the time period
in Buffalo, New York. So, when I was
offered a chance to read this book, I jumped at the opportunity to read a story
where I can learn about a significant moment in history and be entertained by a
woman’s journey. Little did I know, the book would be so much more.
I loved getting to know Elspeth.
At one point, I found myself frustrated by her inability to make the
obvious choice in her love life, but that’s when the story really hit home for
me. Elspeth and her family are
desperate, and for a woman at that time, marriage was the only guaranteed way
of providing financial security. Then I
thought about how indecisive I was about love in college, where I had way less
at stake, and decided maybe I should give Elspeth a break. Maybe she is trying to make the best decision
for her family, even while her heart is pulling her in a different direction.
At one point, I found myself frustrated by her inability to make the
obvious choice in her love life, but that’s when the story really hit home for
me. Elspeth and her family are
desperate, and for a woman at that time, marriage was the only guaranteed way
of providing financial security. Then I
thought about how indecisive I was about love in college, where I had way less
at stake, and decided maybe I should give Elspeth a break. Maybe she is trying to make the best decision
for her family, even while her heart is pulling her in a different direction.
The way that the events unfold are perfectly paced for me to get a
feeling of the events and atmosphere surrounding the assassination. I was
really surprised by how little I knew about life as an Irish person. Cultural details filled this book,
emphasizing one of the reasons I love well researched historical fiction. How else could I understand the daily life of
someone living in a different time? Elspeth’s responsibilities, the prejudices
she lived with on a daily basis, and her very real fears drew me into her story
and kept me wanting to read more.
feeling of the events and atmosphere surrounding the assassination. I was
really surprised by how little I knew about life as an Irish person. Cultural details filled this book,
emphasizing one of the reasons I love well researched historical fiction. How else could I understand the daily life of
someone living in a different time? Elspeth’s responsibilities, the prejudices
she lived with on a daily basis, and her very real fears drew me into her story
and kept me wanting to read more.
If you like historical fiction, and want to learn more about the
McKinley assassination and the Pan-American Expo, pick up this book.
McKinley assassination and the Pan-American Expo, pick up this book.
* Special thanks to Joseph
Pillitteri, Fireship Press, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of The Courage Between Love and Death in exchange for an honest review.
Pillitteri, Fireship Press, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of The Courage Between Love and Death in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
Thank you so much for being on this tour!
Sara @ TLC Book Tours