Hope — Mary Ryan

In 1869, Tom Walsh and his young sister are forced to emigrate from Ireland to America. Tom vows to make his fortune before ever returning to his homeland. He sets his sights on Colorado---and gold. Eventually, after much struggle and suffering, Tom strikes one of the biggest lodes of gold in American mining history. His mine produces $5,000 of gold bullion a day, and thirty years after emigrating, Tom is one of the world's richest men. A friend of presidents and royalty, the American commissioner to the 1900 World Fair, and a lavish host in one of Washington D.C.'s most stunning mansions, he still returns to visit Ireland in homage to his past.

Fortune, however, has her price. Tom's strong-willed, beloved daughter, Evalyn's life is as marred by tragedy as it was by riches. Wife of the heir to the Washington Post, Evalyn persuades her father to buy her the notorious Hope Diamond---rumored to be cursed by the Indian goddess, Sita. It is then that Tom and Evalyn learn that tragedy and sorrow serve a master far greater than money or stature.

In this extraordinary novel, Irish bestselling author Mary Ryan has brought to life the lives of these two remarkable people, and the bygone worlds that surround them, with stunning detail. A captivating story of the American dream, from the Western prairies to the high society of the capitol, Hope is filled with misfortune and heartache, great love and financial ruin. Based on a true story, Hope is a haunting, extraordinary saga of impressive intensity.