Chicago, 1887: Sixteen-year-old Julia Hanlon sees plenty of opportunity in the land of her birth, an exile returning with no idea why her mother abandoned her as a child of three. Grabbing that opportunity comes with risks to a girl who fears deportation.
She knows what the future holds for her siblings if they don't assimilate, but disobeying their father could see Julia back in Ireland, alone. Her oldest brother must become her ally in a quest to leave the dust of Ireland behind, but Daniel betrayed her once before and his guilt is driving a wedge between them. Until he can find the words of a confession to atone for what he perceives as sins, Julia will find that her carefully considered plans for everyone's future are not under her complete control. Until he can confront their mother, there can be no peace in the Hanlon family.
A sweeping family saga, LACE CURTAIN IRISH follows the path of the first generation of native born children of immigrants who navigate between the Old World and the New. From the sparkling make-believe of the World's Columbian Exposition to the reality of the stinking Union Stockyards, the novel reveals Julia's sacrifices for the sake of her family, and her resilience in the face of declining personal fortune.
