Catherine Tessone is a young woman of incomparable beauty who is forced to leave her family in Italy after the near-catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Her father believes she can make a better living in America and send money back while living with extended family in New York. Michael McMahon is inconsolable after the loss of his firefighter father. His family is the FDNY, and he hopes to serve with distinction as his father did. Isaac Harris and Max Blanck are entrepreneurs looking to extend their clothing manufacturing business into a new location. Their new location provides ample space and the possibility of cramming in as many machines and labor to turn a quick buck. In March 1911, a tragedy will ensue that will unite these four people in infamy.

This touching story begins with a countdown to calamity. A course has been set, and the destination may be known, but the countless lives that will be affected are what provide the emotional edge to this narrative. Catherine is a woman who leaves Italy anxious about her future once she arrives in America. As the story develops, she emerges as a strong and independent young woman who knows what she wants in life and love. Catherine and Michael’s impressions of each other are based on bold acts, and their relationship is based on passion and respect. The immigration boom in early twentieth-century New York provides opportunities for broad characters to be introduced in this story and to leave a memorable impression. This is a book that honors reality with transfixing fiction.

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