To Catch a Dream — Mary Wood

This is a story of passion, betrayal and love set in 1877-1900. Bridie a beautiful Irish girl is brought to England by her father, an Irish Freedom Fighter turned traitor. His violation of her sees her enclosed in a correction convent as his sin is brought down to bear on her. Her escape takes her into the arms of the dashing gypsy, Seamus Finney. But, his betrayal of her leaves her destitute. Rescued from prostitution by Will, a gentle, kind, hard-working miner, and finding friendship with Issy, a salt of the earth country girl, brings happiness to her, but Bridie has a demon inside her she cannot deny. A fateful affair with the rich and powerful Andrew Harvey seals her fate and she once more descends in to degradation. Issy has many heartaches of her own, but a strong young woman, she triumphs over these and comes through. But, her quest to save Bridie from herself and Bridie's daughter from suffering from her mother's actions proves a step too far. Bridie is sinned against rather than a sinner, but the sins don't stop with her, they reverberate down the generations setting the seal on all those who descend from her.