The Kissing Gate (by Pamela Haines)

This book is a lengthy family saga by Pamela Haines. I didn't know anything about her, but the cover looked interesting when I saw it second-hand.

The novel shows the less pleasant sides of village life, though, thankfully, it's free from gratuitous violence. There are some sympathetic characters, but rather complex plots.

Kate, an adopted foundling from Ireland, dominates the second half of the book and eventually finds happiness after a lot of tragedy and confusion.

It was an interesting read, but not one I'm likely to read a second time.