Henry Brubaker's only concern is his granddaughter, Megan. This makes him vulnerable to a man who will go to any length exacting revenge on the elderly doctor. Finding himself among people he once found despicable, Henry tries to turn back the clock. Is it too late? Will doing so cause even more suffering? Sometimes the past can be changed but at a high price.

Even with the years of famine behind them, tragedy and hardship does not stop for James and Mary McGrother. Promises made in good faith are broken, along with the hearts of those who made them. A solicitor, a constable and a secretive organization, all play a part in determining the fate of a young couple whose only desire is to provide for their family and live a simple life.

As the past catches up with Catherine one of her sisters becomes a thorn in her side. To make life even more stressful, the young woman finds herself torn between two men she dearly loves. As her husband does his best to provide for his young family Catherine fears he is keeping secrets from her, possibly even more hurtful than the one she has concealed in her heart. While Patrick yearns for social change and a better future for his children, his wife is more concerned about the past and the damage it might cause.

It's the 1880's and the McGrother family of Blackrock has been divided by emigration. James and Mary, the couple who survived the Great Hunger, have watched more than half their offspring emigrate, taking their grandchildren with them. In New York, the responsibility to care for others reaches far beyond blood or marriage ties, as two members of the family try to find a young Irishman who has gone missing.