Sisters Nora and Delia Sweeney have grown up in Donegal, Ireland. Delia is her mother's favorite while Nora works hard with their father. When the opportunity of a lifetime comes as a first class ticket to America and a chance to be a governess for a widower's young daughter, Ma, of course, chooses Delia to go. But, Da trades the ticket in for TWO steerage tickets so that both girls can go and arranges for faithful Nora to become a maid. And, of course, it is on a huge new ship, The HMS Titanic.
Titanic fanatics will find that only a very short part of the novel is about the ship's sailing and disaster. The sisters lose each other in the hectic rush. Nora thinks Delia has died and seizes the opportunity to take the governess position. Delia has lost her memory, but is very much alive.
From there, it's a story of will they/won't they find each other. Texas is a major setting and its character Mayflower provides a whole new perspective. Neiman Marcus shopping is involved! The movement to get women the vote receives mention. Drilling for oil is an important component to the later story. The chapters switch back and forth, identified by the name of the sister whose story is being told at that point. Finding love, reuniting family and smoothing out differences, and young women finding independence all are themes. If you enjoy romance and historical novels, check out other titles by the author.
