Of Men and of Angels (The Galway Chronicles) 
The story follows the hopes of these Irish country dwellers through betrayal, brokenheartedness, awakening love, and despair. Supporting the Repeal Movement, a nonviolent approach embraced by Irish Catholics and Protestants alike, Joseph Connor Burke and his countrymen and -women prepare to stand firmly against England's power. Their goal is self-rule, and they want to attain it without bloodshed. The reader is further drawn into this world by a story of romance in the face of heartbreaking realities. No home's hearth fire burns more brightly than that of Kate Donovan. But will Joseph's work for the Repeal Movement cost him his chance to put the past to rights with her? Are all of his dreams ill-fated?
Of Men and Angels is a story of a united Ireland, a people rising in hope that their dreams can be realized. Readers will find their hearts joining in the cause as well. --Ann Weinheimer
Reviews
I must admit I was a little disappointed with this book. The relationship between Kate and Joseph took on a soap operatic quality, the first half was very slow, and I saw the last page coming from the prologue, especially since they'd used that exact same plot device before in a previous book. However, as I got past the first half, the pace really started to pick up. The political struggle became very interesting to me, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.
While not their best book, it's certainly worth reading. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book and continuing the story.
Written as a religious fiction, it doesn't come off as over moralizing, though the delightful village priest isn't above calling a spade a spade when the main characters act out of jealousy or self-pity.
Because it was a time period I am expecially interested in, the book held my interest even though at times the characters were mildly irrating. Not a great fan of O'Connell, I was left with a sense of wonder of what he almost pulled off in 1843 before traitors and spies were his undoing.
From the intrigue of British spies, to murder, to spreading of smallpox, to amnesia, you will not be able to put this book down.
You have to love Mad Molly Fahey. What a neat character to portray if this series would ever be made into a film.
The characters remain basically the same as in the first book with a few notable additions. The most interesting being the Tinker.
The ending of this book will quickly compell you to begin reading the next book in the series.
My only criticisms would be that the evil characters are occasionally rather one-dimensional and flat. Moreover, the authors downplay the fundamental divide between Protestants and Catholics. Although it is true that much of the divide can be attributed to politics rather than religion, yet one must be cautious not to express too much optimism about unity between Catholics and evangelicals. Unless they come to agreement on the fundamentals of the Christian faith such a vision will always remain a dream. Any theologian who digs beneath the surface will have to affirm that Catholics and Protestants today remain sharply divided on key points of doctrine. But those weaknesses aside, the Thoenes deserve high commendation for this excellent work in at least four respects.
Firstly, they have created a successful and suspenseful story-line. Unlike many Christian writers, they are not guilty of creating sub-standard fiction. This is fiction of the highest calibre, with a skilfully portrayed setting, realistic characters, and captivating plot.
Secondly, the novel is not marked by an overly optimistic view of life which characterizes much popular Christian fiction. Many writers plunge their characters through a multitude of dangers, but leave them unscathed and alive at the end. Such novels may be enjoyable, but they can not avoid the criticism that they are escapist. The Thoenes, however, are not afraid to portray life as it really is, even though it is often a harsh reality. They are not afraid to let their protagonists be afflicted by diseases, or even to have them die. Let's face it, that's real life. This realism may be harsh, but by facing up to reality, the Thoenes make it possible to convey important truths about how to endure the harsh realities of real life and impart important lessons for today's readers.
Thirdly, the historical context is not merely incidental, but is thoroughly at the heart of the novel. It is a completely convincing fabric on which the Thoenes paint the events of "Of Men and Angels". It enables readers to gain an awareness and appreciation for the struggles underlying Irish history, struggles that still leave their unmistakable mark on present day Irish politics.
Finally, this series conveys important and enduring truths about living the Christian faith in today's world. The Thoenes make it clear how God helps his people even in the face of horrendous evil. Only in fairy tales do people live happily ever after, but the Galway Chronicles make it clear that even where people don't live happily ever after, God uses pain and adversity as a refining fire to make them stronger in their faith. The authors also make no bones about drawing connections to contemporary politics. Their condemnation of the evil methods employed by the Ribbonmen has an unmistakable relevance for today: using violence for a good cause cannot be justified. The lesson for the struggle in Ireland today, and the condemnation of typical IRA methods does not miss the mark. The contemporary struggle in Ireland has its roots in the history that the Thoenes describe, and their endorsement of a lawful repeal movement as an alternative to revolutionary rebellion is as applicable today as it was then.
It's not hard to see that this novel - like its prequel - is a remarkable success. By the end of the novel, Repeal is not accomplished, and there are many unfinished loose ends that make the reading of volumes 3 and 4 of the series necessary. But if volumes 1 and 2 are anything to go by, reading the rest of this series will be a most rewarding pleasure!