Review: The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris

The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris

Kensington Publishing Corp., 2015

My Review (5 Stars: Loved it!)

This story begins in Dublin, Ireland – March 1919.  We follow, orphaned, twelve-year old, Shanley Keagan’s journey to America and his life, from the shores of New York City, across the country, to the California shores of Alcatraz.

Author, Kristina McMorris paints an amazing story of how Shan, with the love and support of others, is given a second chance at living the American Dream in New York.

This is a story of second chances and then maybe third and fourth, as Shan has many ups and downs during his journey.  There are multiple twists before reaching the end of the novel.

Being second generation – Irish American, I was intrigued by the beginning of Shan’s story in Ireland, how he got to America, how he lived in New York and what his fate was.

It is unusual for me to read historical fiction, in a day, but that is what I did with The Edge of Lost.  Author, Kristina McMorris does historical fiction during that time period well.  I was introduced to her writing in The Pieces We Keep.  I also read her work in a collection of short stories in Grand Central: Original Stories of Postwar Love and Reunion.  All three of these works are rated five stars in my book.

I would like to thank the author Kristina McMorris, Kensington Publishing Corp. and the SheReads organization for sending me this book, free of charge, for review.

First Paragraph(s)

Prologue

Prologue

Alcatraz Island

October 1937

Fog encircled the island, a strangling grip, as search efforts mounted.  In the moonless sky, dark clouds forged a dome over the icy currents of San Francisco Bay. …

First Chapter

1919

1

The foul haze of whiskey and cigarettes was lighter tonight than usual- a shame the same couldn’t be said of the mood.  Not that this surprised Shanley Keagan.  At nearly twelve, he’d performed in enough pubs to understand the patterns in a calendar.

About the Author (from the author’s website)

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author published by Kensington Books, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, including her grandparents’ WWII courtship letters, her novels have garnered more than twenty national literary awards, as well as a nomination for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction.

The Edge of Lost is Kristina’s fourth novel, following the widely praised Letters from Home, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and The Pieces We Keep. In addition, her novellas have appeared in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central.

Prior to her writing career, Kristina was a PR director and host of weekly TV shows, beginning with an Emmy® Award- winning program at age nine. She also owned a wedding- and event-planning company until she’d had her fill of YMCA routines and drunken chicken dances. Named one of Portland’s “40 Under 40” by The Business Journal, Kristina lives with her husband and two sons in Oregon, where she is working on her next novel.

Website: www.KristinaMcMorris.com

My Other Reviews

The Pieces We Keep by Kristina McMorris

Grand Central: Original Stories of Postwar Love and Reunion

What Others Are Saying

The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris is one of She Reads’ Books of Winter.  Visit SheReads’ page to read more about their winter selections  @ 2016 She Reads’ Books of Winter.

Book Trailer

(UTube: Edge of Lost Book Trailer Link)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwhWVYo0K88]

Disclosure of Material Connection: 

I received this book free from the publisher, Kensington Publishing Corp., 2015, as a member of the She Reads Network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.