Book excerpt: "What story might this ring tell, if only it could talk?" When thirteen-year-old Molly McCormick, who has recently moved from the Midwest to Dover, New Hampshire, finds an old Irish Claddagh ring poking up out of the dirt in a garden outside her local parish church, she is immediately intrigued. The ring's inscription, "To Erin--Love, Michael," fills her head with romantic possibilities. She teams up with her new friend, Theresa Grant, to uncover the story behind the lost ring. With the help of the head librarian at the public library, the two girls become immersed in the rich history of the Irish immigrants who came to Dover in droves during the 19th century, to escape famine and poverty in their homeland and make better lives for their children and grandchildren. Molly and Theresa learn about the courage, tenacity, and deep faith that were the hallmarks of the Irish immigrants--people with names like Ann and Seamus, Cara and Finn, and of course, Erin and Michael. The young girls eagerly delve into old records tucked away in the dark corners of the library and learn how instrumental Dover's Irish-Catholics were in getting the first Catholic church built in their New England town. Molly and Theresa set out to discover the origins of the mysterious ring, but they unearth a story that is far stranger and infinitely more touching than anything they could have ever imagined. About the Author: Laura H. Pearl is happily married to her high school sweetheart, with whom she has raised five sons who are now grown men. She and her husband reside in Dover, New Hampshire, which is the hometown of her sons as well as the setting for this book. A longtime stay-at-home mother, Laura is now ecstatic to be playing the role of "Grammy" to four beloved grandchildren--and counting! When she set out to finally fulfill her girlhood dream of becoming a writer, Laura was inspired by her deep love of her family to tell stories that would entertain them; but more importantly, to tell stories that would give glory to God, by Whom she has been so abundantly blessed. In 2012, Laura's first novel, "Finding Grace," was published by Bezalel Books and earned the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval. "Erin's Ring" is her second novel.