The name of the book series....?

what is the name of that book series where a mother and daughter are living in the city, and the father (who i think was irish) either died in a mining or construction accident, and the mother meets another guy and the mother and daughter end up moving to be with him and his family out in the country...I believe there were two boys and a really little girl. The girl ends up falling in love with the eldest boys friend, Erik? It is never actually stated that she does, but it is alluded too throughout the series. It's about ten books. I know that it was like "The N......." i just don't know the 'N' word.