Misercordias - Book 1
Misercordias - Book 1
**AUTHOR SIGNED COPY** Welcome to Kentucky, where bourbon is king and old rivalries die hard. Misercordias is a millennial Romeo-Juliet story. It tells the tale of the Foleys and Walshes, two bourbon families who have famously been fighting for 50 years. The Foleys call themselves the first—“and best”—name in bourbon: their tony estate has been around since 1788, and their bourbon is the most expensive on the trail. They watch the Kentucky Derby from a private suite every May, and have vacation houses on every continent. The Walshes are party hardy, proudly bottling their bourbon in plastic jugs, and thumbing their noses at the Foley airs. Walsh is the official sponsor of frat parties and bachelor parties down south and beyond. The Foley heiress, Blaise, has been taught to hate the family next door, just like she’s been taught to parse out every note in her father’s oaky six-year bourbon. Then Blaise meets Patrick Walsh on her 21st birthday. The two begin an illicit relationship that threatens Blaise’s status as the heiress to Foley Bourbon. A power struggle breaks out between Blaise and her father that has her plotting to overthrow him. Meanwhile, a crypt of secrets is cracked open that will change the structure of Foley and Walsh forever. Grab your flask and saddle up your race horse: you’re in for a wild ride. **Please specify who you would like the author to make the signing out to.**
Misercordias Reviews (from Amazon)
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, very addictive! Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2019 I used to love doing book reports. I love reading. I love writing. And, when I was in school, a book report embraced both. When I was in college, I majored in English Literature, where I could read books and write reports to my heart's desire. While I've not stopped reading or writing, I haven't written a book report in three decades. I'm not even sure that I remember how to do it, so I'll do it like I do everything else: my way. About a month ago I was in Louisville taking a tour of the Old Forester distillery. As I was wandering around the gift shop, a buddy of mine, James Knudsen, told me he just met an author in the store and that I should talk to her. I wandered over, introduced myself, and we started chatting. Her name is Carson McKenna and she recently finished a book called Misercordias. I asked her what it was about, and she explained it was Bourbon fiction and sort of a Hatfields v. McCoys story. Bourbon fiction? Okay. I had no idea what that really meant. While there are certainly enough Bourbon fiction printed on the backside of many bottles, I knew this wasn't what Carson was talking about. I was certainly curious, and she offered to send me a copy of her book if, in exchange, I promised to write about it. She followed through on her promise, I read it, and now I'm fulfilling mine. First of all, let me get this out of the way: This book was addicting as hell and I loved it. It is set up just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, and the two feuding distilling families. The Foleys are the absolute kings of fine Bourbon, and the Walshes with their own unique brand of Bourbon, are forced on neighboring properties, with the patriarch of the Foley family threatening to shoot any Walsh that crosses the property line. Forgetting a series of twists and turns in the plot (some of which will leave you scratching your head trying to keep up), there are two main characters: Blaise Foley and Pat Walsh. Blaise is the face of Foley Bourbon and based upon Carson's description of her, she is just stunning - and I don't mean just physically. Far from perfect, she is playful, a definite tease but also smart as a whip. Pat is a happy-go-lucky, good looking Irish lad, but he also comes across as a frat boy. What we do know very early on is that Blaise and Pat are engaged, and Pat is running away just before the wedding and doesn't want to be followed. But, we don't know why... and the why is what Misercordias is all about. Before you wave this off as some romance novel, it is really anything but. It also isn't a chick book. There are a lot of adventures that involve cunning and scheming, plus some downright hilarious parts that will have you laughing out loud. You spend much of the time wondering if Blaise is a femme fatale or just a mischevious tomboy. One word of warning: If you want stories to have a nice, neat and tidy ending, Misercordias is not the book for you. I won't ruin it except to tell you it ends on a cliff-hanger. Carson informed me that her second book, Domini, should be ready in about six months and will continue the story. Carson's storytelling is very enjoyable. It is captivating, the words flow easily and there's nothing written that a layperson can't easily understand. She goes into enough character depth and has you think-speaking Irish brogue whenever the Walshes are speaking together even though only some of the elders speak with it. I did find minor editorial and technical errors in this 400-page book, but they're few and far between. The English major in me wasn't turned off, and neither was the whiskey reviewer. I know that no matter how many times you read and re-read your own stuff, it is impossible to be perfect every time. Go buy this book. I promise you'll love it. I'm anxiously awaiting the next chapter myself. Cheers
Brilliant - now who owns the film rights??
Modern classic! Read me now! Who owns the film rights? Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2019 Brilliant and approachable, McKenna somehow manages to put a sophisticated, modern familiarity on topics as varied as prohibition, irish immigration to the US south, contemporary socialite culture, and love across enemy lines. McKenna’s research for this fresh, new work is extraordinary. Her characters are complex and relatable; they make the reader feel like he or she’s in Kentucky watching it all unfold. I only wish I could watch the movie now that it’s fresh in my mind. I hope there’s another book where this one leaves off!
Laura G. 5.0 out of 5 stars Honest to goodness real page turner
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2019 Verified Purchase I received this book at the end of March and devoted every free second I had to reading this book. I couldn’t put it down! When I wasn’t reading it, I was constantly thinking about it or dreaming about the Walshes and Foleys and wondering where the story would take me next. It was beautifully written and the author’s descriptions made you feel like you were in the throws of bourbon country living the story. Well worth the read and I’m looking forward to the next book!