The Defiant Heart

The place is Ireland in 1812. Diarmaid committed himself to the cause of Irish freedom from England as a child when his patriot father was killed. He's trying to put together cells of Irishmen ready to rise when they've gained enough strength to challenge the English. What he did not expect was to discover Muirne, a girl as committed as he was. When a suspected English agent is hunting him, he has to leave. Muirne, who's been injured, cannot be left behind. The long walk--300 miles to Galway--gives time for major changes and discoveries. Both of them find themselves in a place they never expected, having to make choices that could tear them apart, and to need support from the English landowning aristocracy, and facing the challenge of coming to care for those who represent everything they are fighting against.

Formerly released in print as The Abiding Heart.