A historical fiction piece that tries to tackle just a few too many things!

Emma is a young woman working at a factory in New York. Her best friend, Martina, has gotten her passionate about the women's suffrage movement and she begins to take an interest in participating in local events. But when she is involved in a tragic factory fire and narrowly escapes with her life, her family decides to send her to Ireland to recover (and hopefully grow out of her political interest). Returning to the country where her grandmother emigrated from, Emma also hopes to reconnect with her family history while in Ireland. She also has no plans to give up her suffragette ways, hoping to start a local chapter with the women she has met in Ireland.

The book did a great job touching on many important historical events for such a short time frame. I loved the Irish angle as well. But it felt like TOO many things were happening off page and glossed over to feel a real connection to these characters. I couldn't see Emma's relationship with lonely hotelier Thomas beyond companionship because so much of it was closed book. And major historical events like -- the sinking of the Titanic -- also felt too rushed. Without spoilers it felt like Thomas' wife, Alice, had a personality transplant for the last 25% of the book -- which felt even more surprising because we got a few glimpses of her POV throughout the book and no real indication where these feelings were coming from.

Overall, a solid effort with a lot of good stuff here -- but it was a quick read where I felt like a little more detail in the key moments could have made it more powerful.

I was drawn to the cover of the book and the subject matter sounded so interesting.
It's 1911 in New York and the adventure starts at the very beginning of the book and continues throughout.
The women involved in the suffrage movement during this time period show such strength. No one's words or opinions are going to stop them.
Being sent away to Ireland in the early twentieth century is meant to make Emma forget about women's suffrage, but she becomes more involved than ever with it. I was swept away in the beautiful description of Cork which just enforces my wish to visit Ireland someday to trace my ancestors.
You're going to experience a lot of emotions while reading this, this story is so beautifully written.
A gripping story of self-discovery, family secrets revealed and a shocking scandalous love affair.
Glimmering with elegance this page turner will take you by surprise.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Set between 1911/1912 and moving between New York and Ireland, Maid of Steel is a wonderfully engrossing read that pulled me in from the start. From its dramatic beginning when a tragic event in New York drives Emma to Queenstown in southern Ireland, the birth country of her late grandmother, the reader is treated to a vividly described and poignant story with characters that I could really take to my heart (well mostly, there were one or two exceptions!)

Emma’s ongoing passion with suffrage and getting the vote for women hasn’t diminished upon her arrival in Queenstown. Indeed she is inspired by meeting likeminded women to take an active part and campaign harder, at times with the most unexpected repercussions. Her own family is never far from her mind though and the sadness there drives her on to improve life for others, in particular her volunteering work with the Soldier’s Home.

Emma is not the only character at the heart of this story. Hotelier Thomas and his awful actress wife Alice have pivotal roles in Emma’s life and Emma has to face the consequences.

There was so much to enjoy about this story. The detailed research undertaken is clear and the background themes of social injustice, religion and its prejudices, mental health and the fight for women’s rights give Emma plenty to consider whilst she delves into her own family history and the little that was known about her grandmother’s early life. The main characters have their flaws, Emma is brave but stubborn and at times reckless whilst Thomas’ considerate and compassionate nature was a joy but I willed him to show a bit more backbone where his wife was concerned. Strong supporting characters such as hotel maid Aoife deserve their place whilst the romance element and forbidden love add another dimension. As a Titanic obsessive, the inclusion of its tragic maiden voyage meant that I was desperately hoping that there would be a happy ending, however unlikely that seemed.

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed this well written novel from Kate Baker I may have been a little sceptical as to how events ultimately unfolded. I can’t say any more because I’d be going into spoiler territory. Nevertheless this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment. Maid of Steel is a book I would recommend and I would certainly love to read more by this author.

I'm taking part in the Birthday Blitz for this book with Rachel's Random Resources.

When reading historical fiction, I expect the writing to be tasteful and sophisticated. The writing here was what I hoped for, but I felt it also haf a kind of cosiness and simplicity and about it. The author did a lovely job of bringing the story and its backdrop to life without over describing.

I felt this book had a few strong female characters, who seemed willing to stand up up for themselves and what they believed in. The character I felt the strongest connection with was Emma. I had some concern about the situation she found herself to be in, but admired the way she handled it. The story played with my emotions a little bit towards the end, but I was pleased with the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

So much is packed into this book. It’s set in 1911 and there is reference to so many of the big events from that time - the suffragette movement, soldiers returning from the war, the Titanic setting sail from its last port in Ireland and the spire being added to complete the Queenstown cathedral.
There is something for everyone in this book, love, family secrets, a fight for equality and so much more. I really enjoyed this and will be looking out for more from this author. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, go grab this one.

"Maid of Steel" just wasn't for me: the characters were two-dimensional, there were inconsistencies in the text, and occasionally the author referred to conversations that never happened. The romantic relationships also weren't well developed and the protagonist was interested in a lot of things, but none of them were fully explored in this novel.

I was glad when it was finally over.

What a debut this is from Kate Baker. Meticulously researched, characters to love and to hate, red herrings and twists and a delightful denouement.

Maid of Steel by Kate Baker is a beautifully written historical romance that explores the themes of suffrage and forbidden love. Set in 1911, the story follows Emma, a young woman from New York who dreams of winning the right to vote. Against her mother's wishes, Emma is sent away to Ireland to learn about her family's history and hopefully forget about her desire to be involved in the suffrage movement.

While in Ireland, Emma becomes involved with the Irish Women's Suffrage Society in Cork and discovers family secrets that change her life forever. Along the way, she meets Thomas, a hotelier who dreams of being loved by his actress wife, Alice. However, Alice has plans of her own that don't include Thomas or the fight for equality.

The story is engaging and beautifully written, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you hooked until the very end. The author does an excellent job of weaving together the themes of suffrage and love, creating a story that is both inspiring and heartwarming.

Overall, Maid of Steel is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance. It is a powerful reminder of the struggles women faced in the fight for suffrage and the importance of standing up for what you believe in. Kate Baker's writing is captivating, and her characters will stay with you long after you've finished reading the book.

I really enjoyed this story with a historical background around suffrage. A really interesting story which has clearly been researched so well.
I did think the ending was a little rushed, but other than that it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

"Maid of Steel" by Kate Baker is a beautifully crafted historical fiction novel that skillfully blends the suffrage movement, personal discovery, and forbidden love into a captivating and emotionally resonant narrative. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy historical fiction with strong, relatable characters and a richly detailed backdrop of a bygone era. Baker's storytelling prowess shines in this tale of love and empowerment.

I loved everything about this book, from the writing which was engaging, to the compelling story and the well developed characters. A pure triumph

I really enjoyed this book and read it in a couple of days - its set in 1911 and is about a girl called Emma who has ideas of working in the new suffragette movement . In a turn of events that she wasn't expecting she ends up going to Southern Ireland where her grandparents came from to rest and heal. Here she meets hotelier Thomas and discover they have feelings for each other. This is an emotional book about friendships and love .

The year is 1911 New York Emma dreams of winning the right to vote for women. After a fire at the factory, she finds herself in Queenstown, Ireland to recuperate from her injuries, she uses this time to look into her grandmother’s history and to get involved in the Irish Suffragette Movement. In Ireland, Emma meets hotelier Thomas, and soon they find themselves falling for each other only problem is Thomas is married to Alice an actress who doesn’t love him or appreciate him.

I was pleasantly surprised about this book; the story was wonderfully written. The story was set in the time of the women's suffrage movement around the world. What happens when you lose everything in one quick moment, and you become the only survivor among your friends in a factory warehouse fire in New York. How do you move on from the nightmares? This is a story of one women's courage to heal and discover her family history in Ireland. But what she does not realize she will find so much more in her time in Ireland including love.

You have to add this book to your fall reading list, it will not disappoint, I am looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for copy of this book for my honest review.

I have always been fascinated with the Titanic and the stories of the passengers. This book has so much. Tragedy, grief, love, perseverance and strength. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. A great historical romance.

Two of my go-to genres are historical fiction and romance so this was a match made in heaven for me. I also went through my Titanic phase like I think many millennials did (thanks James Cameron) except I never outgrew that and I teach a course today on the Titanic so I am always on the lookout for mentions of the Titanic in any sort of media; whether it's a documentary or a fictionalized version. I was very pleased with how well-researched this novel was and how well-characterized Emma, Alice, and Thomas were. I find that usually there is a trade-off between well-researched books that read like dry textbooks and novels that are paced and have well-written dialogue but are lacking in the fact department but that was not the case here.

Thank you to The Book Guild and NetGalley for the ARC.

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I mean look how beautiful it is! The story really kept me hooked and made me want to do more research on the subject. I thought the romance was beautiful.

Thank you #NetGalley and The Book Guild for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All above opinions are my own.

This was a quick enjoyable read with two central enticing characters. I loved the historical touchstones weaves into this story.

This wss a 5 star book for me. I was lucky enough to recieve it as an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review. I have read a lot of books this year and this one stands out for me. I absolutely loved the artwork on the front of the cover and how it kept the style through the pages. It kept me deep into the story and I really enjoy the little touches in a book like the title fonts etc.

Kate Baker crafts a love story amid the societal upheaval of the early 20th Century, when women were fighting (sometimes literally) for the right to vote. "Maid of Steel" is a compelling blend of fact and fiction. This is true historical fiction, with actual events and people making appearances. The tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is vividly described, although for some reason it's called something different. This opening event propels heroine Emma Quinn to travel to Ireland, where she meets the married Thomas Murphy.

For the most part, the characters here are well-drawn, but I remained unclear as to what Thomas and Emma actually looked like. Aoife is a sweet secondary character; her name is pronounced EE-fa, not EE-fee. I digress. The beautiful and haughty Alice Murphy is a detestable character, yet she undergoes a shocking transformation near the end. An unexpected twist definitely surprised me. A character's one exclamation alludes to this, but it definitely eluded ME. The Titanic serves as a backdrop near the end, yet the reader is spared much of the grisly detail.

I really enjoyed this book. Kate Baker's prose is evocative. Some violence is described, and the factory fire is grimly detailed. This book can perhaps be classified as clean. However, there is adultery, and it is central to the plot. "Maid of Steel" is a strong debut novel. I look forward to reading more of Kate Baker's works.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this intriguing tale.