A Class Apart (A Matter of Class Book 1) Paperback – June 27, 2018

If you love Historical Fiction, this series is for you.The best books are always about the characters; Bridget and Cormac are well-rounded, likable characters. I came to really care what happened to them. The villains of the story are less believable, especially Bridget's mother -- perhaps if we knew more about her childhood, we'd understand why she behaves as she does. Thinking of the time period, I can understand why a woman in her position would make some of the choices she makes, but her cruelty goes a step beyond wanting to see her daughter well-married. I kept wondering, "Who hurt you, woman, and how?"The storyline is well-paced and intriguing, though at the end of Book 1 I wondered WHY some characters were even included; for example, the fat uncle and the impulsive, rather lazy younger sister. Trust that the author will "catch up to them" and use them in later books. They aren't throw-aways, as they appear in the first book.With "class" in the name and the story taking place in the early 1800s, you know you're going to see two groups: those who are born into wealth and priviledge and those who are born into servitude -- middle class didn't really exist just yet. The aristocratic group is shown to be quite cruel, but it shows just how much power they wielded and how they could twist the law to their liking. It makes me very appreciative of living in modern society, where things may not be perfect, but we have so much more protection than these people did.The writing is generally good, though the author does omit a good number of commas (only when joining two independent clauses), and that throws me off while I'm reading.The ending is not what the reader hopes, but it's realistic, and I do want to keep reading to know what happens to our characters.

Somehow I missed the fact that this story is continued in a series of books. I was very disappointed when I got to the end - it is not a happy ending. The book is well-written and edited, the characters well-defined and the story is engaging. I doubt I will purchase the other books in the series. I can recommend it to anyone who doesn’t mind needing to buy more books to finish the story.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking. I NEED a sequel. This book was a joy. A lovely read. It makes you yearn for more.

What a beautiful, sad love story. Women were treated so unfairly during this time period. This promises to be a wonderful series! The characters are strong individuals caught in the caste system of that era, and they have a strong sense of justice.

This is a love story of Bridget a lady and Cormac A Irish stable hand They loved each other but her mother was against it and he and his family was sent away She was married to an Englishman as planed and is not happy A good read

I have purchased the whole set. Books 1 and 2 were very good and were a very quick read - in my opinion. However book 3 TOOK FOREVER...... 3/4 of the way though I just started skimming for dialogue because I was so borred. UHG... I started book 4 but at this point I think I need a break because I am kinda over it. My advise is to purchase 1 and 2 see how you do, before you purchase the whole set.

A Class Apart by Susie Murphy is a beautifully written historical romance that transports you to a world of forbidden love, class struggles, and undeniable passion. Murphy masterfully builds the tension between her characters, weaving a story rich with emotion, drama, and historical detail. The romance feels authentic, the stakes are high, and the journey is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful. If you love historical fiction with strong characters and a love story that stays with you, A Class Apart is a must-read.

This is a thoroughly unusual story. I could hardly put the book down. Susie Murphy is a wonderful storyteller! I look forward to reading more books by this author!