The Irish Boarding House by Sandy Taylor

The Irish Boarding House Reviews

• 
  Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Rampling

  What a wonderful book.
  This book was lovely.
  The writing was in such an easy reading style, it was the perfect way to spend a couple of evenings before bed.
  Sandy Taylor created such warm characters, that you instantly liked and rooted for immediately.
  The setting of 1950s Dublin was so interesting, and really made me want to revisit the vibrant city and learn more about it's history.
  Then comes the drama. The family secrets thread that unfolds is shocking and dramatic and utterly compelling.
  A terrific book and now another new author to look out for!
• 
  Brenda

  Mary Kate Ryan had lived with her grandparents on Tanner's Row in Dublin since her mother had abandoned them all when she was a baby, and when first her grandmother, then grandfather died and she no longer had a home, she felt lost and alone. The boarding houses she went to were dingy and dirty, nothing felt right anymore. The day she received a letter from a solicitor, her life changed - the money that was now hers saw Mary Kate buy a beautiful old home that had been left to ruin. Mary Kate had it renovated and turned into the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies.
  
  First Jessie and Abby arrived from the convent to help Mary Kate. Gradually the boarding house filled up with the young and not so young and it wasn't long before the peace and tranquility of the beautiful home seemed to them all like family. Polly and Orla now worked at the exclusive department store in the city, while Mrs Lamb and Eliza did the cooking. Colleen and Rosa couldn't have been happier - but there were secrets behind each person's closed doors. And would the new guest - one that puzzled Mary Kate - uncover more secrets or just be passing through?
  
  The Irish Boarding House is another exceptional read by Sandy Taylor which I enjoyed very much. I've read 6 books by this author so far, all 5 stars - this one will be no exception. Mary Kate is a kind, gentle and caring character, and those who surround her feel happy in her presence. The Irish Boarding House is a lovely read, and one I recommend highly.
  
  With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Elisabeth Plimpton

  3.5 stars
• 
  Michelle

  Mary Kate Ryan was abandoned by her mother as a baby and was brought up by her grandparents. But when they died, she was on her own and ended up going from one boarding house to another. With no money and her future looking glum she decides that she wants to end her life in the local river. But someone must be looking down on her. She is contacted by a solicitor Mr Renson, telling her that the mother who abandoned her all of them years ago has died and left her an inheritance. She first doesn’t believe in it. But decides to take the money. But instead of squandering the money she opens a boarding house to help women less fortunate than herself. Helping women in need and doing good. In a way thanking God for the gift that she has been given.
  Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of The Irish Boarding house by Sandy Taylor. This is another beautifully written and heart-warming tale set in Dublin in 1952. I have all the authors books and she never disappoint.
  I really enjoyed each description of each character and the ups and down of the lives and how they come to be at the boarding house and Mary Kate’s kindness to them, asking nothing in return. This made me laugh at times and I had tears at the end when some of Mary Kate’s dreams came true. Yet again this is another 5-star read from the author. Everyone needs to read one book by Sandy Taylor. You won’t regret it.
  
  
  
  
• 
  theliterateleprechaun

  I’ve often found that people who grow up with very little are the very ones who have gained the most from what life has to offer. Mary Kate Ryan is a perfect example of someone who had empty pockets but not an empty mind.
  
  When her circumstances changed due to an unexpected inheritance, Mary Kate could have chosen to keep it all to herself. Instead, she reaches out to the less fortunate. Living in abhorrent conditions herself, Mary Kate knows all about the horrors of low-income living. Using the inheritance she buys a beautiful Georgian home and extends a hand up to those in similar situations she herself experienced. A large portion of the book is devoted to those who come to stay at 24 Merrion Square ~ The Irish Boarding House. Your heart will be warmed and you’ll be inspired to pay it forward ~ share a little kindness. If the past 2 years have taught us anything, it’s that we all need each other’s support to survive.
  
  Set in 1950s Dublin, The Irish Boarding House is a wonderful exploration of second chances and kindness.
  
  I was gifted this advance copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
  
• 
  Valleri

  Many thanks to Bookouture, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Irish Boarding House.
  
  Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby and finds herself a wealthy woman. Unsure of how to spend her inheritance, she elects to use the money to give people a helping hand, just as she has been helped. She remembers a large old house she has walked past and decides to turn the run-down place into a boarding house. It brings Mary Kate love and friendships beyond anything she had ever imagined.
  
  The Irish Boarding House was a very sweet, somewhat religious, and slightly romantic book to read. After a while, it started feeling too sweet to me. It seemed as though every renter was troubled, had a secret to hide, or a past they were running from. Mary Kate, with her empathy, kindness, and her inheritance, did her level best to give each one a helping hand.
  
  Readers looking for a feel-good, happily ever after book to read will absolutely love The Irish Boarding House.
• 
  Booklover BEV

  1952 Dublin, Mary Kate Ryan left as a baby by her mother with her grandparents living in a small cottage in Tanners Row. When they both died she is turfed out of the cottage and for the next fifteen years lives in boarding houses, her grandpa always told her to wait for a letter in a box number at the post office, and after checking one day a solicitors letter brings her wealth, her mother is dead she has left property in London, Mary Kate has always wanted the boarding house in Merrion Square, her wishes are coming true, a house for women that are alone, pregnant, on the run a safe house filled with love and friendship. this is the beginning.
  I loved this book, enchanting tales, with some sad and happy moments that will touch you as we see Mary Kate as she gives so much love. Page after page you will be engrossed into this amazing story.
  so much enjoyment right to the end.
• 
  Jonelle

  This book is the sweet, easy going love child
  Of later Maeve Binchy books and a Hallmark movie special. Everyone gets a happy ending, all the priests and nuns are wise and kind, everyone slighted is forgiving, and nothing too complex is dwelled on to ruin the taste of Happily Ever After.
  
  52book challenge : Dublin
• 
  Cindy Spear

  What a beautiful story of kindness, hope and second chances! I simply adored The Irish Boarding House set in 1950s Dublin. This is the first novel of Sandy Taylor’s I have read but it won’t be my last. She captured my attention from the first page. I absolutely love her writing style. There is a real warmth in the tone and care for her characters.
  
  It was so easy to slip into this uplifting story and get carried away by the drama that surrounds the life of Mary Kate. She is such an admirable person and I found myself constantly cheering her on and smiling when things turned around for her. Life, at the start, was not easy for this woman. She grew up in poverty after being abandoned by her mother as a baby. But she was not without love. Her special grandparents raised and taught her the things of most importance in life. And although she missed a mother-daughter relationship, she blossomed into a wonderful nurturing person who went on to help many hardship persons who came her way. One might say her previous suffering shaped her heart in ways that proved immensely useful when she inherited a large sum of money.
  
  At first, Mary Kate feels compelled to walk away from this surprise inheritance but then an idea sparks in her heart when a lowly deserted house captures her attention. In many ways this house is a character, a symbol of hardship at the start that becomes a vehicle of transformation. Mary Kate decides it is the perfect place to turn into a magnificent boarding house for single women. Her desire is to share her good fortune with others who need decent shelter and unconditional love and to escape the darkness of loneliness and despair. Even a dog, Guinness, becomes one of her rescues. She has lived in some terrible boarding houses with nasty caretakers after her grandparents died, and does not want that kind of life for others. So, she makes it her mission to offer the very opposite. The vision she has for this house leads her to friendships and relationships she would never have imagined. Plus, her desire to make the home into something grand, safe and beautiful with all the modern conveniences for those less fortunate comes to fruition. And what an intriguing journey it is through the lives of those she meets and works with. When the project is complete, many wayward and wronged souls find their way to her bright red door where hope and healing awaits.
  
  This is a well written novel with exceptional unforgettable characters who tell their stories of how they are led to this woman who offers nothing but kindness, hope and a better future. We get various points of views, yes, but will not lose track for each story is so memorable and moving you will sail along on their sometimes turbulent and other times peaceful waves. To see how Mary Kate makes such a difference in their lives is frankly beautiful. It leaves us with memories, challenges and victories that will never fade. And there is one surprise you won’t be expecting.
  
  There is so much to love about this novel and I highly recommend it to all who crave heartfelt, touching stories that sweep you away to a gentler, kinder place. A story where loving and helping your neighbour is number one. How many would do the wonderful things this woman has done with what she was given? Are her motives pure? Yes, the only satisfaction she seeks is to see another person happy. The Irish Boarding House is truly a refreshing reading experience. Without question, a 5 Star inspirational story.
  
  Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
• 
  Sheila

  Such a good read. Mary Kate Ryan is an amazing women, and so are her friends.
• 
  Zermeena

  This is a sweet story of Mary Kate Ryan who has grown up in Dublin without much except her grandparents love. Mary Kate gets an unexpected inheritance from the mother who abandoned her as a baby. She uses her inheritance to buy an abandoned house and create the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies.
  
  From there multiple stories of women down on their luck intertwine. What unfolds is quite predictable and leaves the reader feeling uplifted with hope. Mary Kate teaches us that with kindness everything is possible. There are some unexpected twists along the way, but ultimately everything works out. I enjoyed this light read.
• 
  Lindsey (Bring My Books)

  Should you read this? ABSOLUTELY. But also ... maybe not? It's complicated.
  
  B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
  
  First things first - a year and a half ago I read another by this author, The Irish Nanny. And I LOVED IT. It was in my Top Ten of the year, y'all. See below:
  
  From my review in August of 2021: I'm new to Sandy Taylor as an author but I will definitely be looking up her backlist because I just genuinely LOVED reading this book. Her writing erased the world around me and had me totally invested - even as she took me over the course of someone's life over 10 years in 330 pages (easy to lose a reader there).
  
  Now here's the thing about The Irish Boarding House - it had that same feeling of the world around me being erased, and I genuinely loved the characters and I didn't want to stop reading ... but it was also occasionally repetitive and simple? Plus even the *high stakes* moments never actually *felt* high stakes. I don't know that I've ever read a book that had this many plotlines wrapped up in such beautiful, tiny, lovely bows before.
  
  That being said - I still liked it? It's weird, I don't know what to tell you. If you're looking for something that is super low stakes and just fills your heart with gooey hope and joy, this is that book. Truly. And there were times that I LOVED that. But also there were times that I was like "Yes, yes, I know, you've mentioned this before!" and wanted a bit more *oomph*.
  
  So yeah, that's it. That's the review.
  
  And here's some quotes for you (the first one being in response to the MC's question to her grandfather - "Why should I keep a diary?"):
  
  "To keep account of your life, Mary Kate, to mark your red-letter days, to gain wisdom from your failures and take pride in your successes. Never throw them away, but read them now and again, for they will remind you of how far you've come."
  
  "Shouldn't everyone be judged on their kindness? Shouldn't everyone be judged by the qualities that made them good honest people?"
• 
  threepmreads

  This would make a great Downton Abbey style show. One where there are a lot of characters but nothing of great importance ever really happens. But you are watching because the sets and costuming is lovely.
  
  It's fine if this is your thing, but its a hard pass for me.
  
  
• 
  Fictionophile

  This novel was heart-warming and filled with delightful, likeable characters. Set in Dublin in the 1950s, it was peopled with mostly Catholic women - women who had faced adversity of one kind or another.
  
  Mary Kate Ryan was a wonderful character, though to be honest I found her a little to good to be true. She was a woman who having had very little, then inheriting a fortune, decided to 'pay it forward' by assisting others who were alone, or down on their luck.
  The boarding house was a warm refuge, filled with caring people. People who, though not related by blood were indeed a sort of 'family'. It was the sort of place you would want to live yourself.
  
  If I had one bone to pick about this novel, it is that it is a little too saccharine. If you like your fiction to have a rosy hue shed by rose coloured glasses, then you'll love this. Lovable characters, a nice setting, and a satisfying and happy ending.
• 
  Krista-Marie Linegar

  It was ok. There were parts I likes but it was just ok.
• 
  Rhoda

  Very easy story to follow. I would watch this in a mini series if it were made into one.
• 
  Reneè Scott

  It was a sweet read.
• 
  Emma Crowley

  It’s been a very long time since I read anything by Sandy Taylor but when I first saw the cover and read the blurb for The Irish Boarding House it sounded very interesting and as it was set in Ireland it made me want to read it even more. Well, what can I say it was just such a lovely read from start to finish and I found myself nearing the end before I knew it which is a good sign and shows that I didn’t find the plot dull or that it was a trial to get through as there wasn’t much happening. In fact, it was the total opposite and I was pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in everything. Anytime, I had to put the book down for whatever reason I found myself wanting to get back to Mary Kate and the residents of her boarding house as I was eager to see how their individual stories would pan out and how they fed into the story as a whole. Perhaps, the highest compliment I can pay The Irish Boarding House is that the further I read the more I felt this was so reminiscent of the late great Maeve Binchy. The setting, the varied cast of characters all with their own problems and then coming together as a family, the warmth and human understanding and just the overall tone and feel of the book reminded me of so many books written by Maeve. I never thought I would experience that again but through reading this gorgeous book from Sandy Taylor it evoked many happy reading memories for me.
  
  Mary Kate Ryan is our main female character and from the outset she knows what it feels like to be abandoned as her mother Agnes gave her up and fled as soon as she was born. Her grandparents raised her and she was happy and they gave her a good childhood and upbringing but still she feels the loss of her mother and questions why she gave her up and why she never made any efforts to contact her. But now Mary Kate is alone once again as her grandparents are dead and she is left on her own. The landlord throws her out of the cottage on Tanners Row and she spends 15 years going from one horrible boarding house to another. Her despair grows ever deeper and she questions why her grandfather as one of his last dying wishes urged her to buy a new diary every year and write in it, saying she should gain wisdom from her failures and take pride in her success. As far as she can see nothing good has happened to her for years so despite buying the diaries the pages remain empty. Also why was she asked to set up a box number having been told you never know you may send you a letter.
  
  Poor Mary Kate was so down on herself and to be honest within these first few introductory chapters there really wasn’t much that would endear you to her as a character. But when she receives a letter in the box her fortunes are changed and this came at just the right point as things really were at a bad crossroads for Mary Kate. A solicitor writes to tell her that she is now a wealthy woman having inherited her mother’s fortune and several properties in London. From here on in there is a remarkable transformation in Mary Kate. It was like the burdens were shed from her shoulders and she was determined to do good in her life both for herself and so many others. I loved that yes there was still a slight bitterness towards her mother abandoning her but that she took the money and was determined to do good with it. New clothes, a new hairstyle and wearing makeup for the first time see a new Mary Kate for the first time and I loved seeing her confidence and ambition just grow and grow throughout the book. She was determined that every day was going to be a red letter day and that she would spread her good fortune to others in the hopes of improving other people’s lives too.
  
  A very run down house is purchased in the centre of Dublin on Merrion Square and with the help of builder Sean and some designers the house becomes the best boarding house in Dublin and it throws opens it doors to welcome a varied cast of characters. All women it must be said but from different walks of life, both young and old but all with very interesting stories which are revealed piece by piece overtime in a relaxed and measured way. There were a few twists and turns and surprising connections which emerge and the major one although I could see it coming I felt was resolved all too quickly given the past history and I would have loved just a little bit more fleshing out of it with perhaps a chapter or two more to allow for some exploration and further discussion. But aside from that I just loved this wonderful read from beginning to end and in fact I would have loved for it to have continued on.
  
  I was initially worried that quite a number of characters were being introduced and I found myself thinking oh I’ll have such trouble keeping track of who is who and what their backstory is and how in turn it feeds into the main plot of the book. Well, I needn’t have worried at all. The way each character was introduced in that they each got their own chapter interspersed throughout the ongoing story worked perfectly. We learn how they come to be residents of the boarding house and a little bit about them but not too much was given away too soon. I just loved the family unit that they all built up and it was all thanks to Mary Kate using the money to do good not only for herself but for so many others. She became like the matriarch to whom they all turned to for advice and it wasn’t just a case that the residents were renting a room and going off to work each day, it was as if they were walking into a new family and whatever troubles or worries that had would be dealt with in a kind, compassionate and loving way no matter how big or small they were.
  
  As mentioned there were lots of characters who featured in this story. Moira has left her teaching job after many years but is very cold and closed off. What has caused her to be this way? Mary Kate takes in Jessie and Abby from the local convent orphanage. Poor Abby doesn’t speak and Jessie is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. Twins Polly and Orla make their way from Cork to the big smoke for the first job in the famous Cleary’s department store. But are they both happy and they tend to get involved in other people’s problems but they do have a good heart and nature about them. Colleen has a very interesting story to tell and I think Mary Kate identified the most with her. I loved how everyone gathered around Collen and was so supportive of her. As for Diane Mason is she the one with the darkest story of all?
  
  Mary Kate was a wonderful character who did a complete 360 from when we first meet her. Her actions change peoples lives and bring peace and secure futures for many. She never made a rash judgement regarding individual women’s situations instead she offered a place of refuge and security and the women she takes her under her wing appreciated her all the more for it. I’d really love a continuation of The Irish Boarding House. Despite the way things ended I feel the characters plus many more could be brought back again and the fact that I am saying this shows how much I really enjoyed the book. If you want a heart-warming story with a few twists and turns to keep you turning the pages than I have no hesitation in recommending The Irish Boarding House.
• 
  Catsalive

  A lovely, feel-good, comforting read - I didn't feel up to any hard concentration today so it was just what I wanted. Mary Kate has had some very difficult times but her life changes for the better when she inherits a large sum of money. She spends a lot of it helping others anonymously.
  
  I couldn't help liking Mary Kate & hoping everything went well for her. She definitely deserved her good fortune. I enjoyed the book & Aoife McMahon's reading was very soothing. I'll definitely be looking for more of Taylor's books.
• 
  Rachel

  The Irish Boarding House by Sandy Taylor is a great post WWII historical fiction set in Ireland that I really enjoyed.
  
  This was such a unique book in that it takes place within the 1950s Ireland and I honestly feel that there are not enough books that better explore this decade within the UK.
  
  I really enjoyed the surprising complexity of this book. There is mystery, history, extensive character development, surprises…and much more. The basic questions that arrise in regards to how much our past and our family define who we are, our place in life, and who we are to become are fundamental in this narrative. How much the misgivings of those within our lives we should allow to affect our present and future is something that we all can identify with.
  
  Our main female character, Mary Kate Ryan, has to wrestle with all of this and more when she is confronted by the secrets, mysteries, and questions involving her own past, the mother which she did not get to grow up with, and her own hopes and goals with purchasing the home and trying to help others that also need a helping hand.
  
  I really enjoyed following along.
  
  4/5 stars
  
  Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
  
  I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/1/22.
  
  From the Publisher:
  
  Description:
   
  24 Merrion Square. The house stands empty, the old stone steps overgrown with thorny rose bushes. But Mary Kate feels a deep connection to the neglected, silent rooms. Could this be the place to help her heal?

Dublin 1952. When Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby, she’s stunned. All her life, she has longed to know why her mother disappeared, and now she’s devastated to realise that every lonely night she spent without a home or family of her own, her mother knew exactly where she was.

Mary Kate is about to refuse the money when she sees a beautiful, deserted house for sale and something sparks in her heart. She will reawaken it, as the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies, and provide a shelter for others as lost and alone as her. Can she help the two young girls left at the local orphanage, desperate for a home of their own? Or the pregnant teenager on the run, who only wants to keep her baby safe?

The boarding house brings Mary Kate love and friendships she never dreamed of, but just as her heart is about to burst with joy, a new guest arrives. The stern older woman won’t speak about her past, but when Mary Kate uncovers her story, it reveals a devastating secret about her mother. With her life in turmoil once more, can Mary Kate draw on the strength of the women in the house to help her face her past, or will the tragedy she uncovers spell disaster for them all…?

A heart-wrenching story full of family secrets. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.
   
  Author Bio:
  Sandy Taylor grew up on a council estate near Brighton. There were no books in the house, so Sandy’s love of the written word was nurtured in the little local library. Leaving school at fifteen, Sandy worked in a series of factories before landing a job at Butlins in Minehead. This career change led her to becoming a singer, a stand up comic and eventually a playwright and novelist.
  
  Author Social Media Links
  
  Facebook:  
  https://www.facebook.com/SandyTaylorA...
  Twitter:  
  https://twitter.com/SandyTaylorAuth
  Bookouture Email Sign Up: 
  https://www.bookouture.com/sandy-taylor
  
  Purchase Link:
  
  Buy link(s)
  
  https://geni.us/B0B63P3T5Lsocial
   
  
  
• 
  Maggie

  Mary Kate Ryan was brought up by her grandparents after her mother left her there as a baby. On their death she was thrown out of the house & went to Dublin. In 1952, after going from one gloomy boarding house to another, struggling to make ends meet she decides that her life is not worth living. But someone is looking out for her & a solicitor finds her & tells her that her mother has died a rich woman & left everything to her. It takes a while for this to sink in but when she sees a run down but beautiful house she decides to open a boarding house, but one where the residents are cared for.
  
  This was a lovely story full of interesting characters & a good sense of place & time. I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
• 
  Katie

  Really fluffy and saccharine sweet. Writing not great, won’t ready any by this author again.
• 
  Sagan Wilks

  *Possible Spoilers Ahead*
  
  It was a nice change of pace for once to read a book that didn't end exactly how I wanted, thought, or how the author thought people needed - it ended with flaws, secrets, and some things left you wanting more.
  
  This book is written in Ireland post-WWII (some during I believe, by dates), and is a part of history that isn't written about enough I don't believe - at least in that part of the country.
  
  Throughout I was a little bit concerned with how the author was going to introduce new characters so often, but Taylor did an incredible job to me of incorporating them in, making them feel like family, and not missing any beats. That was the main thing I really enjoyed about this read, it felt like one big happy family of misfits.
  
  Mary Kate was a really incredible leading lady, who lived a life of resilience and was blessed beyond measure in the end and used that blessing to bless others in return - as we should all do. You know throughout that she is going to end up with Sean, and you cheer that on from the moment they meet. You fall in love with Abbie, Jessie, and the other characters who end up living in the boarding house as well - they have great stories themselves, and reading about each was a joy.
  
  The only reason this is a 4-star for me and not a 5 is that the mother's story didn't really get written as well as it could have been I don't believe, it was lacking in parts, left out completely in some, and didn't have the growth and development at all as the other characters - but in the end, bam it's thrown in. And it was weird to me that she didn't recognize her mom at all when she moved into the boarding house for months - she had to have seen pictures or something growing up...the grandparents told her about the mother, kept her note, and everything else on display - so it was hard for me to believe that portion of the storyline.
  
  It was an incredible story, but one that had a really rushed ending I felt like - I wanted more and needed more details on the lives of everyone after their time in the boarding house. The epilogue helped a lot, but it being a short few pages, it needed more as well. I will suggest this book though to anyone who loves this era in history! Enjoyed it thoroughly!!
• 
  Meghan Redmile

  *Audiobook version*
  
  4.5 ⭐
  
  I think what made this book even better was the narrator who had the absolute perfect voice and accent to tell the story.
  
  It was nice change to read a book that didn't end absolutely perfect, that characters had major flaws and dark secrets.
  
  I was a bit concerned how new characters were constantly introduced. But the author did a great job and some "left" before the book was nearing the end.
  
  Reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was the mother's story and history. It seemed a bit too much, perhaps to make sense of how she came into all that money. Also how she lived at the boarding house with her estranged daughter and her daughter didn't see any resemblance between herself or grandparents to her mom. There must have been photos she'd seen growing up as well...
  
  It felt like perhaps the book had to be tied up in a nice bow, which I respect and love, but it felt rushed.
  
  The epilogue was perfect though.
• 
  Charmaine

  This is a heartwarming story and just what I needed to listen to while recovering from a broken arm. I enjoyed all of the characters and their backstories - but I especially loved the main protagonist's kind-hearted and generous personality. It was refreshing to read/listen to a story with truly good people in it and a solid and satisfying ending.
  
  The narrator of this audio version was excellent.
  
  Clean Readers: I would have loved to give this book 5 stars because, aside from the language, it is PG clean. However, there is a lot of Irish swearing in the dialogue. It probably is pretty authentic to the way many Irish people talk. But, even with an Irish accent, I do not appreciate hearing God's names used as expletives or the "eff" word used - even with an accent.
• 
  Megan

  This is a wonderful, heart warming book about love and family. There is nothing earth shattering here but the warm Irish lilt of the audiobook reader made it so lovely to listen to that I couldn't stop. Mary Kate grows up in poverty without a mother and dreams of having a large family. When she inherits money from an absent mother, she sets about buying a boarding house and creating the life she always wanted. The book has a wonderful cast of characters and feels like a balm for the soul. I don't know how much of what I liked about this book was the narrator and the fact that I needed something gentle and how much was the quality of the book, but I loved it either way.
• 
  Deborah Ingersoll

  A light-hearted story about family and friendship. Sometimes family are the friends you choose. Easy to read, yet funny. The phrases used in this book sometimes made me laugh out loud! An example of how living with a strong faith makes one’s decisions easier.
  
  Abandoned as a baby, raised in abject poverty by her grandparents, Mary Kate is ready to end her hopeless life….. until she receives a letter that changes her whole life. Read it…. You won’t regret it!!