"Collins' ... debut novel ... is an extraordinary achievement in historical fiction that will transport readers through time while touching their hearts." —K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite ★★★★★ "This is a history book, and a family saga wrapped in a novel and is an excellent read."—Lucinda E. Clarke, Readers' Favorite ★★★★★ "Collins’ descriptions of his ancestors’ sufferings and the horrendous ‘coffin ships’ are harrowing." —Susie Helme, best-selling author of The Lost Wisdom of the Magi -Goodreads ★★★★ This gripping, emotional multi-generational heritage novel—told through three personal journals—brings to life the true story of 19th-century Massachusetts and the enduring legacy of New England immigrant families. Spanning nearly two centuries, this family saga weaves intimate, firsthand accounts of survival, resilience, and old-world craftsmanship as two Boston Irish and Italian families forge new lives in America, echoing the rich tradition of immigrant family memoirs and recollections. THE REMEMBERING: Of Leather & Stone is perfect for readers of multi-generational heritage novels, New England immigrant sagas, and those drawn to authentic immigrant family settlement stories rooted in real journals. Forgotten by Time, Rediscovered by Fate A century after her birth, Jessie (Ambrosini) Collins is laid to rest beside her husband, Joseph Cornelius Collins, in St. Mary's Cemetery in Milford, Massachusetts. Weeks later, her descendants uncover an old hope chest brimming with keepsakes, boots, hats, and dresses, and a tied bundle containing three handwritten journals. Within the pages lie vivid memories passed down through generations—tales of hardship and hope that shaped their family's future. The Odyssey of Cornelius Collins In 1852, amid the Great Famine, fourteen-year-old Cornelius Collins embarks on a harrowing coffin ship journey to New England. Alone and determined, he battles sickness and fear to become a respected bootmaker in Milford, Massachusetts, embodying the spirit of so many immigrant settlement stories. Of Leather & Stone Drawn by the granite rush, master stonecutter Giuseppe Ambrosini leaves Lombardy, Italy, for Boston. Side by side with a community of Italian stoneworkers, he shapes both monuments and memories—each strike of his hammer forging a new chapter in his family's history. His descendants carry forward that legacy of craftsmanship and community in this Italian heritage novel of resilience. The Remembering In these pages, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. From surviving a coffin ship voyage to the busy boot workshops and granite quarries of Milford, Massachusetts, the Collins and Ambrosini families remind us that heritage is kept alive through remembering stories—and that every journal is a testament to the strength of those who came before. 4 Stars ★★★★ "The Remembering: Of Leather & Stone" is a compelling read for fans of historical fiction, ancestral exploration, and those interested in the early days of settlement in America. It seamlessly ties together two immigrant families, brought together to America by different relatable extremes to find the American dream." —Chrissy Very, Reader Views Midwest Book Review " The Remembering: Of Leather & Stone a powerful work of historical fiction. It reflects genealogy's translation into not just the tapestry of Charles Paul Collins's relatives, but its influence on modern America." —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer 5 Stars ★★★★★ "A richly imagined family legacy, The Remembering blends fact and fiction into a compelling American saga. Remarkable in scope, emotion, and timeliness, this generations-long portrait of the immigrant experience is layered with emotional and historical detail. Sensitive, creative, and transportive, this is a must-read for avid readers of historical fiction, as well as anyone who wants to implicitly understand the American immigrant experience." — SPR Review 5 Stars ★★★★★ "...a compelling insight into the history of the Irish-American experience that is as deep as it is wide. ...an attention to detail and insight that often feels like pure poetry, turning words on the page into something I could see, hear, and smell in my mind's eye." —ANDY HUTCHINGS, Readers' Favorite 5 Stars ★★★★★ "Overall, THE REMEMBERING: Of Leather & Stone is an extraordinary achievement in historical fiction that will transport readers through time while touching their hearts." —K.C. FINN, USA Today best-selling author 5 Stars ★★★★★ "The author takes the reader into the minds of his family as their characters leap off the pages. I cared about them and enjoyed their triumphs and sorrows. ... the description of Cornelius' journey on the coffin ship across the Atlantic is so realistic that I was there, experiencing the conditions he suffered, the seasickness, lice, and open sores." —LUCINDA E. CLARKE, Readers' Favorite Loved It! 4 Stars ★★★★ "The 'poor, tired, huddled masses' who braved