cover image Her Name is Rose

Her Name is Rose

Christine Breen. St. Martin's, $25.99 hardcover (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-05421-0

In this emotional debut, Breen creates a poignant tale of love and loss between an adoptive mother and daughter as secrets come to light. After Irish widow Iris Bowen's mammogram reveals potentially concerning results, she's reminded of a promise she made to her late husband: to find their adopted daughter Rose's birth parents, so that Rose won't be alone in the world once both of them are gone. With nothing except an old envelope bearing Rose's birth mother's address, Iris begins a journey that takes her from Dublin to Boston and then to the west of Ireland, running up against barrier after barrier in her quest for the truth. Meanwhile, in London, talented violinist Rose is experiencing her own challenges in music school, questioning whether she has the talent to go the distance. When Iris's quest leads to a shocking discovery, she's faced with a choice%E2%80%94reveal what she's found, or remain silent. Breen's characters immediately invite the reader to go on a heartwrenching journey that's enhanced by her skillful plotting and authentic, lyrical descriptions of the Emerald Isle. A moving first novel. (Apr.)