The Unkillable Kitty O'Kane was an intriguing historical fiction. The lead character was brave and inspiring, overcoming many obstacles and near death experiences. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the e-reader for review. All opinions are my own.

I tried hard to like this book. There was good points but I had a hard time finishing it. It was sad the way Kitty was treated growing up. She was a bit of a fighter but I just could not connect. I’m very sorry. I did give it 3 stars though meant it to be 2.5. I just could not get into this one.

I am a big fan of this writer and have read many novel written by him. This one did not do it for me.

When you are not familiar with history between say 1900 and 1925 the book might be an interesting read as Colin sends his heroine to all mayor events in that timeframe: the poverty in Ireland and the resulting emigration, the sinking of the Titanic, the suffragettes, another sinking, the Russian revolution, gangster and bootleggers in the US etc. Thing is I know my history and that caused the feeling of impending doom and gloom while reading the book.

I had also problems identifying with Kitty. I am not a socialist so her enthusiasm for her causes was lost to me. Also as a result of the episode style of the book it reads more like a history book than a novel that sucks you into a situation.

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

I'm so disappointed by this book. I picked it up for the women's fiction that it claimed to be but ended up preferring the historical fiction references more. No doubt, it's a women's fiction, but not a progressive one; the female protagonist remains wherever she was at the beginning of the book. While her ideologies and concepts about the world, especially since she survives through Titanic, Lusitania and others that are in now way important to the story, are strong and ranted for the length of the book, she never practically tries to implement those on her own. She swears to be independent when she leaves her old life behind to start afresh but nothing of that sort happens when men find her for innocent girl she is. There are stereotypes everywhere and I've cringed for most of the book. I hate to say it but I felt sad for not DNFing the book, I kept a change in Kitty the entire time only to have it end with another expected but unrealistically frustrating conclusion. Anyway, I would not recommend this to anyone but if you're looking for more of a doormat than a strong female lead, you might want to pick this up.

I tend to love books about scrappy heroines who make their own way in the world and this book was supposed to be that. Instead...Kitty is kind of dependant on men.

I don't want to blame this on being from a male writer, but I worry that male writer can't understand the pain and joy of being a woman and being an independant person.

Also, there's a lot of sex scenes and language that was really unnecessary bad.

Still, the premise was good, the execution less so.

"Kitty O'Kane dreamed of a kind husband and a just life; what she had was haddock water for supper and a dribble of her own blood, seen at close quarters, on the toe of her father's scuffed boot"

Heartbreaking stuff am I right? It pulled me in and had such high hopes for Kitty, but somewhere around the halfway point it all fell apart for me. From a bright, poverty stricken Irish girl with a simple dream that she could have easily achieved Kitty changed into someone I just didn't like very much. After surviving the sinking of the Titanic it seemed as if Kitty more let herself be manipulated into wanting to become a journalist than actually following her own dreams. Somehow even though she was the girl who wanted to fight for women's rights she let herself be dependent upon and manipulated by men.
I did enjoy the historical references but I had different expectations of this book.

Falconer packs a lot of history into a fairly short novel about a determined Irish woman who makes her own way in the world. Kitty manages to be present at an arguably unrealistic number of world events. That said, it's an entertaining read, with a good character in Kitty and in her sweetie Tom. Some of the other make characters are stock villains. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

The Unkillable Kitty O'Kane is a book that almost makes its point. it almost makes you feel bad, almost sad, almost angry. But never makes you feel anything. 

The book follows the life of Kitty O'Kane, an abused child who swears to leave her old life behind to start a new life. Her future foretold to her once, warns her of misgivings and mishappenings - all of which come true. The protagonist, none the less survives, jaded and unsure. Kitty, conveniently falls in the lap of rich and powerful men, because she's beautiful and naive. Her childhood lover also finds his way to her. The characters too are underdeveloped and stereotypical. Sad, strong girl. Rich mean guy. One perfect handsome love of her life. Also for a book set in the early 19'th century, the characters talk a bit too much like the people of today. 

I give the book 2 stars. Pick it up if you want a quick, easy, sort-of-historical but more romantic book.

Okay, I admit, I thought this was going to be a somewhat blatant attempt to retell the Unsinkable Molly Brown story, and while there are similarities, Falconer has put a fresh spin on the story of a gutsy woman from the wrong side of the tracks making it big. Kitty leaves Dublin for a fresh start on a luxury liner that turns out to be the Titanic. After that she becomes a suffragist in New York and a journalist covering the story of the Russian Revolution before returning home to Ireland to nurse soldiers during the Irish Civil War. Falconer has done his research well and his insertion of Kitty into some of the most newsworthy moments of the early twentieth century makes for a compelling read