From the green hills of
southern Ireland to the heartland of America, four families are united by
faith, perseverance, and an enduring legacy that spans generations.
As famine and hardship drive Irish immigrants across the
Atlantic in the mid-nineteenth century, the Power and Coughlin families plant
new roots in the American Midwest. Their daughters answer a higher calling,
joining the fledgling Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa.
Through the remarkable leadership of Sister Emily and Sister Samuel, these
women help shape a religious community that will educate thousands and leave an
indelible mark on the nation.
Their story intertwines with those of the Cullen and Hynes families, whose
lives are transformed by the sisters’ influence. Seeking refuge from the unrest
of postwar Chicago, they settle in Dixon, Illinois, where friendship, faith,
and family bind them to another rising family—the Reagans. As Ronald Reagan
grows from a small-town boy into a radio broadcaster, actor, and emerging
public figure, the lives of ordinary and extraordinary Americans intersect in
unexpected ways.
Set against the backdrop of immigration, the Great Depression, two world wars,
and the dawn of the Cold War, The Irish Ties That Bind is a sweeping historical
saga of courage, devotion, and the families whose quiet strength shaped
generations. It is a powerful testament to the bonds of family, faith, and
heritage that endure long after history's tides have turned.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: mybook.to/rKwaAM
A lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Michael J. Hopkins earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Beloit College, subsequently obtaining a degree in history from Arizona State University and the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. He furthered his academic pursuits by completing a Master of Arts in the Humanities at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Mr. Hopkins concluded a distinguished forty-year tenure in secondary education, having served as a social studies instructor at Darlington High School for thirty-nine years.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he dedicated many years to coaching basketball, baseball, and football at the same high school. His contributions to athletics were formally recognized in 2021 with his induction into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Following his retirement from education, he has transitioned into a career as an author. In 2025, he published his autobiographical memoir, Embracing A Competitive Life: Trials, Triumphs, and 150 Life Lessons in Six Decades of Competition, which chronicles his experiences as both an athlete and a coach.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.historiumpress.com/hp-authors/michael-hopkins
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MJ3Hop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjhop44/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mjhop.bsky.social
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3850956452
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michael-J.-Hopkins/author/B0H6P6XRN6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/35913986.Michael_J_Hopkins
If you enjoy powerful historical fiction, you’ll love Forgiving Nero. An award‑winning novel of betrayal, survival, and redemption set in ancient Rome. https://books2read.com/u/3GOMvQ
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