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The Irish Boarding House #2
Return to the Irish Boarding House
Mary Kate takes a deep breath as she stands outside 24 Merrion Square with its red front door and pretty rose garden. Grieving from her recent heartbreak, will returning to the Irish boarding house be the second chance she so desperately needs?
Dublin, 1956: When Mary Kate Ryan loses the love of her life, she’s not sure how she can keep going. Feeling completely lost, she allows her friend Moira Kent to persuade her to re-open the Boarding House for Single Ladies where she made so many memories and created a safe place for women who needed it. Now it’s Mary Kate who needs to start over…
As Mary Kate sits by the large bay window, with her little dog Guinness by her feet, she watches the residents of the house coming and going and realises there are others who need her help. Can Mary Kate and Moira uncover the mystery surrounding their new guest? And can they provide a home for two orphan sisters with nowhere to go?
Soon Mary Kate breathes new life into the boarding house and learns that family can be formed in all sorts of ways. Clever, kind Moira is like the sister she never had and Moira’s sweet, adopted ten-year-old daughter Abby means the world to both of them. And being back in Merrion Square brings Mary Kate the kind of laughter and joy that she never dreamed she’d experience again.
But when a devastating secret about Abby’s birth mother begins to unravel, it threatens to destroy the happiness of her patchwork family. Mary Kate must gather her strength to protect the future of the boarding house – and to stop darling Abby being taken from them.
Can Mary Kate keep the friends who have become her family safe? Or will her new-found happiness be torn apart?
An emotional, page-turning story of learning to live with grief, second chances, and the power of friendship. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.
Dublin, 1956: When Mary Kate Ryan loses the love of her life, she’s not sure how she can keep going. Feeling completely lost, she allows her friend Moira Kent to persuade her to re-open the Boarding House for Single Ladies where she made so many memories and created a safe place for women who needed it. Now it’s Mary Kate who needs to start over…
As Mary Kate sits by the large bay window, with her little dog Guinness by her feet, she watches the residents of the house coming and going and realises there are others who need her help. Can Mary Kate and Moira uncover the mystery surrounding their new guest? And can they provide a home for two orphan sisters with nowhere to go?
Soon Mary Kate breathes new life into the boarding house and learns that family can be formed in all sorts of ways. Clever, kind Moira is like the sister she never had and Moira’s sweet, adopted ten-year-old daughter Abby means the world to both of them. And being back in Merrion Square brings Mary Kate the kind of laughter and joy that she never dreamed she’d experience again.
But when a devastating secret about Abby’s birth mother begins to unravel, it threatens to destroy the happiness of her patchwork family. Mary Kate must gather her strength to protect the future of the boarding house – and to stop darling Abby being taken from them.
Can Mary Kate keep the friends who have become her family safe? Or will her new-found happiness be torn apart?
An emotional, page-turning story of learning to live with grief, second chances, and the power of friendship. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2024
2528 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Sandy Taylor
36 books263 followersSandy’s eighth novel, THE IRISH BOARDING HOUSE, was published by Bookouture on 1 September 2022 reaching #1 in the British and Irish Historical Literature category within six days of publication.
Sandy Taylor grew up in 1950s and 1960s Brighton, and now lives in Somerset. She is the author of THE IRISH NANNY (Bookouture 30 July 2021), a Kindle #1 bestseller in three categories simultaneously and #24 in the Kindle Top 100, THE ORPHAN’S DAUGHTER (Bookouture 5 February 2020), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s 2021 Romantic Saga category awards, THE LITTLE ORPHAN GIRL (Bookouture, 24 September 2018), a Kindle Top 100 bestseller and a #1 Kindle Saga Bestseller, THE RUNAWAY CHILDREN (Bookouture 8 December 2017), which spent almost two weeks at the #1 Kindle Saga Bestseller position in December 2017, WHEN WE DANCED AT THE END OF THE PIER (Bookouture March 2017), COUNTING CHIMNEYS (Bookouture June 2016) and THE GIRLS FROM SEE SAW LANE (Bookouture December 2015). Sandy Taylor is published in three languages.
Sandy Taylor grew up in 1950s and 1960s Brighton, and now lives in Somerset. She is the author of THE IRISH NANNY (Bookouture 30 July 2021), a Kindle #1 bestseller in three categories simultaneously and #24 in the Kindle Top 100, THE ORPHAN’S DAUGHTER (Bookouture 5 February 2020), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s 2021 Romantic Saga category awards, THE LITTLE ORPHAN GIRL (Bookouture, 24 September 2018), a Kindle Top 100 bestseller and a #1 Kindle Saga Bestseller, THE RUNAWAY CHILDREN (Bookouture 8 December 2017), which spent almost two weeks at the #1 Kindle Saga Bestseller position in December 2017, WHEN WE DANCED AT THE END OF THE PIER (Bookouture March 2017), COUNTING CHIMNEYS (Bookouture June 2016) and THE GIRLS FROM SEE SAW LANE (Bookouture December 2015). Sandy Taylor is published in three languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
May 9, 2024
Dublin in 1956 saw Mary Kate lose her beloved husband Sean, and her grief was shattering. She didn't think she could go on, until her best friend Moira persuaded Mary Kate to reopen the boarding house; the one with the red door on Merrion Square. Gradually, the boarding house began to take shape once again, laughter filled the walls. Mary Kate and her dog Gideon; Moira and her daughter Abby; their cook and her daughter Eliza - and new people, people who needed help and caring, love and laughter. Mary Kate saw her future looking brighter.
But it was when the nuns told Moira and Mary Kate some news they didn't want to hear that things went awry. Abby was in danger and it was up to the mixed family to keep her safe. Would they be able to? Or would a horrific past come back to haunt them all?
Return to the Irish Boarding House is #2 in The Irish Boarding series by Sandy Taylor and once again I loved the story. The author has a way with words, and I always enjoy her books. Filled with emotion, laughter, happiness, love and caring, Return to the Irish Boarding House is a powerful read. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
But it was when the nuns told Moira and Mary Kate some news they didn't want to hear that things went awry. Abby was in danger and it was up to the mixed family to keep her safe. Would they be able to? Or would a horrific past come back to haunt them all?
Return to the Irish Boarding House is #2 in The Irish Boarding series by Sandy Taylor and once again I loved the story. The author has a way with words, and I always enjoy her books. Filled with emotion, laughter, happiness, love and caring, Return to the Irish Boarding House is a powerful read. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2024
Dublin, 1956
After two years of married bliss closely followed by heartbreak, Mary Kate leaves her little cottage in the Wicklow Hills and returns to 24 Merrion Square. Her little boarding house with it's bright red door painted so to remind her of her red letter days, as her grandfather had always told her. Kind, compassionate and generous to a fault, Mary Kate and her best friend Moira re-open the doors of the old boarding house, taking in the waifs and strays...and those who need a little help, a little love and a little kindness.
Mrs Lamb returns to her kitchens bringing with her Eliza, a child-like young woman, who runs the halls with young Abby, Moira's adopted daughter once a babe left on the doorstep one frozen morning. Together, they welcome all those that enter the bright red door. The first being "Banana", as Eliza took to calling her, a young woman searching for something or someone. Then came Emma, who was searching for her younger sister Nell who the sisters had shipped off to the Magdelene Laundries. Then came Cathy, a young woman hiding a secret she dare not tell and then Megan, a young Welsh woman on the run from something or someone. And then finally came Isobel, who stayed only for a short time but made wonderful friends and gained lifelong skills before moving into the house she inherited. And then of course there is Guinness who has been there from the beginning, found as a stray as the dilapidated old Georgian building was being renovated into the boarding house it became.
All of these women make he boarding house a home. Their love, their kindness, their laughter. Each of them brings something to the house unique to them. Just like those who have come and gone before them, but are never far away.
I loved this book as much as the first one and aside from the Epilogue at the end, I felt this could have continued as a series because I think the heartfelt warmth of this book and the first one would have made a wonderful series. But The Epilogue kind of ties everything up and life comes full circle by its end.
I laughed and cried along with everyone in these pages but none moreso than with the passing of dear Guinness, my own staffy statue named as such after reading of him in the first book. His passing is reflected on with sensitivity and love, and mentioned only with the passing of time and with them dear Guinness. Naturally, I was bawling as I always am at the passing of a beloved dog. He was much loved and a very dear addition to the boarding house. I miss him already.
A delightful read that I devoured in one sitting. I shall miss everyone from Merrion Square.
I would like to thank #SandyTaylor, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ReturnToTheIrishBoardingHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
After two years of married bliss closely followed by heartbreak, Mary Kate leaves her little cottage in the Wicklow Hills and returns to 24 Merrion Square. Her little boarding house with it's bright red door painted so to remind her of her red letter days, as her grandfather had always told her. Kind, compassionate and generous to a fault, Mary Kate and her best friend Moira re-open the doors of the old boarding house, taking in the waifs and strays...and those who need a little help, a little love and a little kindness.
Mrs Lamb returns to her kitchens bringing with her Eliza, a child-like young woman, who runs the halls with young Abby, Moira's adopted daughter once a babe left on the doorstep one frozen morning. Together, they welcome all those that enter the bright red door. The first being "Banana", as Eliza took to calling her, a young woman searching for something or someone. Then came Emma, who was searching for her younger sister Nell who the sisters had shipped off to the Magdelene Laundries. Then came Cathy, a young woman hiding a secret she dare not tell and then Megan, a young Welsh woman on the run from something or someone. And then finally came Isobel, who stayed only for a short time but made wonderful friends and gained lifelong skills before moving into the house she inherited. And then of course there is Guinness who has been there from the beginning, found as a stray as the dilapidated old Georgian building was being renovated into the boarding house it became.
All of these women make he boarding house a home. Their love, their kindness, their laughter. Each of them brings something to the house unique to them. Just like those who have come and gone before them, but are never far away.
I loved this book as much as the first one and aside from the Epilogue at the end, I felt this could have continued as a series because I think the heartfelt warmth of this book and the first one would have made a wonderful series. But The Epilogue kind of ties everything up and life comes full circle by its end.
I laughed and cried along with everyone in these pages but none moreso than with the passing of dear Guinness, my own staffy statue named as such after reading of him in the first book. His passing is reflected on with sensitivity and love, and mentioned only with the passing of time and with them dear Guinness. Naturally, I was bawling as I always am at the passing of a beloved dog. He was much loved and a very dear addition to the boarding house. I miss him already.
A delightful read that I devoured in one sitting. I shall miss everyone from Merrion Square.
I would like to thank #SandyTaylor, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ReturnToTheIrishBoardingHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 9, 2024
Oh my, what a wonderful heart-warming return to the Irish Boarding House! It was so uplifting to pick up where the original story left off; to learn what has developed and to become reacquainted with old faces and to meet new ones. This story blossoms with hope and healing. For this residence built by hands of love, attracts the wayward, wounded and disadvantaged and gives them a second chance. All thanks to the noble vision of one woman: Mary Kate.
This second and final instalment is quite soul stirring and made my heart ache on more than one occasion. It covers a number of circumstances of visitors in need who land at the red door of Mary Kate’s rescue home. I call it that because many of the girls and women who end up on her doorstep are coming from some horrific traumas and are met with love and acceptance from the moment they step across the threshold of this residence. It is truly a beacon of hope for the lost, anguished and afraid who need food, shelter, a tender hand and a non-judgemental listening ear.
Mary Kate, the owner, who inherited a fair sum of money in the past from a wealthy mother she never knew growing up (until towards the end of the woman’s life) put the funds to good use when she came across this dilapidated building. Many thought her mad taking on such a project. But the old building captured her heart and represented in many ways the souls of those who would find their way to her door one day. And like the building are transformed. Once she purchased it, with the help of many hands, she turned it into a magnificent boarding house for the less privileged. It was both visually and spiritually captivating. The red door is significant for two reasons: it stands out and can be seen easily but it also represents her grandfather’s red-letter days. Significant days of special memories or opportunities— of rainbows and miracles fuelled by hope when good things come after a soul perseveres and does not give up.
Mary Kate had a heart of gold and she changed so many lives with her kindness. She even found love in the first novel, marrying the builder Sean who restored the boarding house with her. They had two happy married years together before the unimaginable happened. Now, alone, she is dealing with the grief of her loss, until her friend Moira encourages her to reopen the boarding house. Which she does and in doing so, reopens her heart and gives her life purpose again. What better way to soften your own suffering but by helping others who are in even greater distress?
What follows is an update on those we met in the previous novel but also a stream of new faces and stories—each one quite heart breaking but uplifting when they meet Mary Kate and she puts her gifts to work again helping them. But she does not do it alone as she has amassed a blessed team of supporters who understand pain and what it is like to be lost and abandoned. They are a magnificent and real support group for each other. I won’t list names of favourites as there are too many to mention but anyone who has read the first book, to read this one—it won’t disappoint. And for those who have never read Sandy’s books, get these two and her previous ones and read them! They are beautiful Irish tales that will put a smile on your face and a new spring in your step! As for Return to the Irish Boarding House, it will restore your faith in human kindness and remind you there are still caring people in this world like Mary Kate and her friends. I loved this novel with its bold beliefs and Good Samaritan theme and was sad to read the last chapter (or Epilogue in this case) which brought many tears to my eyes. But it is a triumphant and fitting conclusion in many ways: at least, in a spiritual sense. 5 Heart filled stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.
This second and final instalment is quite soul stirring and made my heart ache on more than one occasion. It covers a number of circumstances of visitors in need who land at the red door of Mary Kate’s rescue home. I call it that because many of the girls and women who end up on her doorstep are coming from some horrific traumas and are met with love and acceptance from the moment they step across the threshold of this residence. It is truly a beacon of hope for the lost, anguished and afraid who need food, shelter, a tender hand and a non-judgemental listening ear.
Mary Kate, the owner, who inherited a fair sum of money in the past from a wealthy mother she never knew growing up (until towards the end of the woman’s life) put the funds to good use when she came across this dilapidated building. Many thought her mad taking on such a project. But the old building captured her heart and represented in many ways the souls of those who would find their way to her door one day. And like the building are transformed. Once she purchased it, with the help of many hands, she turned it into a magnificent boarding house for the less privileged. It was both visually and spiritually captivating. The red door is significant for two reasons: it stands out and can be seen easily but it also represents her grandfather’s red-letter days. Significant days of special memories or opportunities— of rainbows and miracles fuelled by hope when good things come after a soul perseveres and does not give up.
Mary Kate had a heart of gold and she changed so many lives with her kindness. She even found love in the first novel, marrying the builder Sean who restored the boarding house with her. They had two happy married years together before the unimaginable happened. Now, alone, she is dealing with the grief of her loss, until her friend Moira encourages her to reopen the boarding house. Which she does and in doing so, reopens her heart and gives her life purpose again. What better way to soften your own suffering but by helping others who are in even greater distress?
What follows is an update on those we met in the previous novel but also a stream of new faces and stories—each one quite heart breaking but uplifting when they meet Mary Kate and she puts her gifts to work again helping them. But she does not do it alone as she has amassed a blessed team of supporters who understand pain and what it is like to be lost and abandoned. They are a magnificent and real support group for each other. I won’t list names of favourites as there are too many to mention but anyone who has read the first book, to read this one—it won’t disappoint. And for those who have never read Sandy’s books, get these two and her previous ones and read them! They are beautiful Irish tales that will put a smile on your face and a new spring in your step! As for Return to the Irish Boarding House, it will restore your faith in human kindness and remind you there are still caring people in this world like Mary Kate and her friends. I loved this novel with its bold beliefs and Good Samaritan theme and was sad to read the last chapter (or Epilogue in this case) which brought many tears to my eyes. But it is a triumphant and fitting conclusion in many ways: at least, in a spiritual sense. 5 Heart filled stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.
February 7, 2025
I unfortunately didn't like this as much as the first. This story was similar with the found family plot line and it was nice to see characters return. The main issue for me as it felt like there were too many new characters this time around . It made it so things I thought were going to be a major plot point ended quickly and there were so many characters that their stories were only described at surface level and it seems like there was more potential there.
May 14, 2024
Dublin, 1956 it’s been years since World War II ended, but the scars of the war will remain forever. Mary Kate Ryan is grieving from recent heartbreak and she feels as if her life has no purpose. When her friend Moira Kent, persuades Mary to reopen the Irish Boarding House. Mary Kate was once in need of what the boarding house offered as a safe place for single ladies during the war and now years later she needs it again. Mary Kate, Moira and Abby, Moira’s ten year old adopted daughter, restore and reopen the boarding house. Moira and Abby have been family to Mary Kate and she desperately needs them in her life. So, when information surface’s about Abby’s birth mother, Mary Kate and Moira must do everything possible to keep Abby from being taken from Moira. They band together, including others working and living at the boarding house, to keep Abby with Moira while at the same time keeping the boarding house running to protect those that seek refuge.
Return to the Irish Boarding House written by Sandy Taylor is a wonderful and heart-warming story. Taylor does an amazing job of reminding us that it’s never too late to return to your roots and still make a difference in someone’s life. This story had me tearing up as I flipped through the pages. I had to keep the Kleenex box near by as I read faster and faster. The characters in this story were so beautiful and I felt as if they were family members. I loved this installment to The Irish Boarding House series and the author left no stone unturned. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful series. This story is inspiring, powerful and filled my heart with love. I highly recommend it.
Return to the Irish Boarding House written by Sandy Taylor is a wonderful and heart-warming story. Taylor does an amazing job of reminding us that it’s never too late to return to your roots and still make a difference in someone’s life. This story had me tearing up as I flipped through the pages. I had to keep the Kleenex box near by as I read faster and faster. The characters in this story were so beautiful and I felt as if they were family members. I loved this installment to The Irish Boarding House series and the author left no stone unturned. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful series. This story is inspiring, powerful and filled my heart with love. I highly recommend it.
May 18, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
very excited to be able to read this book... again a plethora of characters but each add a bit of charm to the fact that the boarding house is being opened again as a boarding house and stops being a school that was being led by moira....
mary kate is back and as the first boarders arrive the magic is there but its a sad start as we find out the reason she is back and though its thanks to moira a bit more context here would have been nice
on the whole i enjoyed catching up with the two main characters, but was puzzled about one character and was looking forward to reading about their experience in the boarding house and we didnt get to enjoy the ride it was over before it began... we had the history and backstory of that character and i was hoping to read how they intergrated with the rest of the household and experience what they felt about their time there but it was glossed over and i felt cheated....
but it was the poignant ending that caused a few tears to run down my cheeks and though i had enjoyed my visit to this boarding house i was just a little bit disappointed...
very excited to be able to read this book... again a plethora of characters but each add a bit of charm to the fact that the boarding house is being opened again as a boarding house and stops being a school that was being led by moira....
mary kate is back and as the first boarders arrive the magic is there but its a sad start as we find out the reason she is back and though its thanks to moira a bit more context here would have been nice
on the whole i enjoyed catching up with the two main characters, but was puzzled about one character and was looking forward to reading about their experience in the boarding house and we didnt get to enjoy the ride it was over before it began... we had the history and backstory of that character and i was hoping to read how they intergrated with the rest of the household and experience what they felt about their time there but it was glossed over and i felt cheated....
but it was the poignant ending that caused a few tears to run down my cheeks and though i had enjoyed my visit to this boarding house i was just a little bit disappointed...
April 8, 2025
Oh how I wish life was as simple and people as kind as the lovely ladies of The Irish Boarding House! This is a wonderful follow up to the first Boarding House book and I thoroughly enjoyed both of them. Even if you haven’t read the first one, this is still a good choice as it succinctly catches you up as the story moves forward. It’s a story of women helping other women that have not been treated well by the world. It does have its sad moments, but overall it is an uplifting read.
June 13, 2025
Book was just okay, not as good as first book. I only kept reading because I paid for the ebook.
May 18, 2024
It’s been a number of years since Sandy Taylor published The Irish Boarding House and it is a book that has always stayed with me. So I was thrilled to discover that she had written a follow up book, Return to the Irish Boarding House, and I had high hopes that it would be just as good as the first book. There is absolutely no need to have read the previous book as the reader is brought up to speed in a conversational/storytelling style from the main character as to who featured before and what their stories were. That’s not to say great detail is gone into which would result in ruining said book for readers who haven’t read the first story surrounding Mary Kate. Not at all but it also served as a handy refresher for me as it had been over two years since I had read that book. But things started coming back to me pretty quickly and the story is very easy to follow along with. I always remember the Maeve Binchy vibes/tones that I experience whilst reading book one and I’ve been searching for books and authors like that ever since we lost such a wonderful writer. Again these elements are present and what follows is a series of interconnected stories and an assortment of characters which all centre around the boarding house with the red door in Merrion Square, Dublin.
Mary Kate had been the stalwart/matriarch of book one but when we first encounter her again she is in a place of great pain and loneliness ever since the death of her beloved husband Sean. He was the one who helped her renovate the boarding house which became like one big family with all the people that came and went and those that stayed and became firm friends. Her beautiful cottage and garden in the Wicklow Hills is not the same place it was since Sean went from her life and she questions how can she go on without the love of her life? Her future is filled with sadness and she is angry that she was given a precious love only for it to be taken away from her so cruelly. The history surrounding Mary Kate is detailed in the first chapter which I won’t go into as it forms a big part of book one but her background and the circumstances she found herself in have always inspired her and ever since she was fortunate enough to be able to buy the boarding house she has never taken this for granted and always done her best to help those in need. But now she has stayed away from all her friends and shut herself off from the world but when her great friend Moira comes calling at the door with a proposal there is a slight awakening in Mary Kate.
Moira is solid and wise and having spent several years running the house as a school since Mary Kate moved to her cottage she feels now is the time to finish up with the school and return the house to its former use. Really Moira had an ulterior plan in mind and knew that it was the turn of Mary Kate to receive the help, love, support and guidance that she had offered to so many others of the years. Through reopening the boarding house Mary Kate comes back to life and the sparkle returns to her eyes as she navigates a whole new set of adventures with friends old and new. Mary Kate is a deep and soulful person whose mantra is, the love you give always comes back in so many ways. The themes of the church and love are two very strong elements to the story as they had been with book one. The role of the church affects several characters here and it’s quite impossible to comprehend that these events were ongoing until recently. The shadows of which are still being felt across Ireland to this day.
Familiar characters make a reappearance and all add to the story as a whole. Mrs Lamb is the cook and her daughter Eliza, a child in the body of a woman, was so sensitively written. There was the absolutely perfect balance between seriousness and humour with her. I felt as if I was laughing with her not at her and the way she took everything so literally and spoke literally also was brilliant. The bond she had with ten year old Abby was fantastic and would go on to play a crucial role within the story. Moira features too as she is the adoptive mother of Abby but her story had more or less been previously told so although there are a few bits that she is essential to I wouldn’t have called her a dominant force throughout the book. James Renson, the lawyer friend of Mary Kate, is on hand once again when needed and it is almost like he has stepped into the role vacated by Sean (even though he is married) that he will protect and guide the women when they need it. He was definitely someone that Mary Kate could rely on when she had ideas that needed some help with their execution.
I have to admit that there was a flurry of new characters introduced that at some points it did become overwhelming. Simply because their stories were introduced and then some detail was given. Mary Kate would solve their problem quite easily and then bang it was on to the next new person. It felt too rushed and it became a bit formulaic and expected and I wanted a few twists and turns. I think shortening the number of new characters by one or two would have been beneficial and would have allowed space for the other new people to breathe and share their stories in greater depth. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed reading of each new character but I felt I was just getting to know them and then with a turn of a page to a new chapter someone else was introduced that I had to get to know and I hadn’t the previous new character quite sorted in my head yet. Also, I felt with Mary Kate there was a lot of repetition she constantly referred back to her grandparents and the advice they gave her and whilst valid it was said over and over again in different paragraphs with just some words changed. Sometimes, I thought I had gone back a page whilst tapping my kindle rather than forward as I was thinking hold on haven’t I already read this? It did become slightly annoying at some junctures but I learned to push past this and seek the stories of the new characters.
Perhaps Emma and Nell Gavin, sisters from Cork, are the two newest characters that caught my attention. Theirs is a story, elements of which would ring true for a lot of people from the Ireland of the past. But Emma was loyal and devoted to Nell and I loved how Mary Kate could see that but also that Emma needed to seek independence at the same time without feeling guilty that she wasn’t doing a disservice to her sister. Alana Kennedy’s story was heart-breaking and inspirational in equal measure and I only wish that people at the time had the courage to do what she did. For I believe there must have been lot of people individually and as a pair who experienced something similar to this and wish they could have been as brave as she was. Norah Clancy was a very divisive character who I didn’t think I could see any redeeming features in. She is the key to an already familiar character but I know I wanted things to go a certain way and feared it could have gone in the opposite direction. Both Isobel and Megan were the two characters I felt could have been left out or in Megan’s case more detail could have been given or her story could have been fleshed out more once she arrive at the boarding house. Although it was clever how the author had me thinking one thing when in fact it was the complete opposite. Isobel’s connection to the house was tenuous at best and it came too late in the story for me being truthful. I’ve been purposefully vague with details of each new character because I feel it best for readers to discover them for themselves.
All in all, Return to the Irish Boarding House was a good read and a worthy successor to book one even if there were a few points that niggled at me as mentioned above.That ending well all I can is it was apt but heart-breaking and will bring a tear to many a readers eye. Forgiveness, kindness, acceptance, breaking down barriers and love are all what matter in life and Mary Kate and all her friends that she has come to call family show this in abundance in this charming and heart-warming read.
Mary Kate had been the stalwart/matriarch of book one but when we first encounter her again she is in a place of great pain and loneliness ever since the death of her beloved husband Sean. He was the one who helped her renovate the boarding house which became like one big family with all the people that came and went and those that stayed and became firm friends. Her beautiful cottage and garden in the Wicklow Hills is not the same place it was since Sean went from her life and she questions how can she go on without the love of her life? Her future is filled with sadness and she is angry that she was given a precious love only for it to be taken away from her so cruelly. The history surrounding Mary Kate is detailed in the first chapter which I won’t go into as it forms a big part of book one but her background and the circumstances she found herself in have always inspired her and ever since she was fortunate enough to be able to buy the boarding house she has never taken this for granted and always done her best to help those in need. But now she has stayed away from all her friends and shut herself off from the world but when her great friend Moira comes calling at the door with a proposal there is a slight awakening in Mary Kate.
Moira is solid and wise and having spent several years running the house as a school since Mary Kate moved to her cottage she feels now is the time to finish up with the school and return the house to its former use. Really Moira had an ulterior plan in mind and knew that it was the turn of Mary Kate to receive the help, love, support and guidance that she had offered to so many others of the years. Through reopening the boarding house Mary Kate comes back to life and the sparkle returns to her eyes as she navigates a whole new set of adventures with friends old and new. Mary Kate is a deep and soulful person whose mantra is, the love you give always comes back in so many ways. The themes of the church and love are two very strong elements to the story as they had been with book one. The role of the church affects several characters here and it’s quite impossible to comprehend that these events were ongoing until recently. The shadows of which are still being felt across Ireland to this day.
Familiar characters make a reappearance and all add to the story as a whole. Mrs Lamb is the cook and her daughter Eliza, a child in the body of a woman, was so sensitively written. There was the absolutely perfect balance between seriousness and humour with her. I felt as if I was laughing with her not at her and the way she took everything so literally and spoke literally also was brilliant. The bond she had with ten year old Abby was fantastic and would go on to play a crucial role within the story. Moira features too as she is the adoptive mother of Abby but her story had more or less been previously told so although there are a few bits that she is essential to I wouldn’t have called her a dominant force throughout the book. James Renson, the lawyer friend of Mary Kate, is on hand once again when needed and it is almost like he has stepped into the role vacated by Sean (even though he is married) that he will protect and guide the women when they need it. He was definitely someone that Mary Kate could rely on when she had ideas that needed some help with their execution.
I have to admit that there was a flurry of new characters introduced that at some points it did become overwhelming. Simply because their stories were introduced and then some detail was given. Mary Kate would solve their problem quite easily and then bang it was on to the next new person. It felt too rushed and it became a bit formulaic and expected and I wanted a few twists and turns. I think shortening the number of new characters by one or two would have been beneficial and would have allowed space for the other new people to breathe and share their stories in greater depth. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed reading of each new character but I felt I was just getting to know them and then with a turn of a page to a new chapter someone else was introduced that I had to get to know and I hadn’t the previous new character quite sorted in my head yet. Also, I felt with Mary Kate there was a lot of repetition she constantly referred back to her grandparents and the advice they gave her and whilst valid it was said over and over again in different paragraphs with just some words changed. Sometimes, I thought I had gone back a page whilst tapping my kindle rather than forward as I was thinking hold on haven’t I already read this? It did become slightly annoying at some junctures but I learned to push past this and seek the stories of the new characters.
Perhaps Emma and Nell Gavin, sisters from Cork, are the two newest characters that caught my attention. Theirs is a story, elements of which would ring true for a lot of people from the Ireland of the past. But Emma was loyal and devoted to Nell and I loved how Mary Kate could see that but also that Emma needed to seek independence at the same time without feeling guilty that she wasn’t doing a disservice to her sister. Alana Kennedy’s story was heart-breaking and inspirational in equal measure and I only wish that people at the time had the courage to do what she did. For I believe there must have been lot of people individually and as a pair who experienced something similar to this and wish they could have been as brave as she was. Norah Clancy was a very divisive character who I didn’t think I could see any redeeming features in. She is the key to an already familiar character but I know I wanted things to go a certain way and feared it could have gone in the opposite direction. Both Isobel and Megan were the two characters I felt could have been left out or in Megan’s case more detail could have been given or her story could have been fleshed out more once she arrive at the boarding house. Although it was clever how the author had me thinking one thing when in fact it was the complete opposite. Isobel’s connection to the house was tenuous at best and it came too late in the story for me being truthful. I’ve been purposefully vague with details of each new character because I feel it best for readers to discover them for themselves.
All in all, Return to the Irish Boarding House was a good read and a worthy successor to book one even if there were a few points that niggled at me as mentioned above.That ending well all I can is it was apt but heart-breaking and will bring a tear to many a readers eye. Forgiveness, kindness, acceptance, breaking down barriers and love are all what matter in life and Mary Kate and all her friends that she has come to call family show this in abundance in this charming and heart-warming read.
May 7, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I'm going to be honest, I couldn't finish this one. I wanted to but I just couldn't. It could just be because this is an advanced copy but there were a lot of writing mistakes in this story. There were pov changes from first person to third person all in the same sentence, sometimes multiple times during a paragraph. There were a lot of typos too. And the story felt as if I had been dropped into the middle rather than the beginning. I really did want to like this story but I did not enjoy it.
May 30, 2024
Nice to visit the same characters but, it wasn’t as interesting as the first book. The first one was wholesome and heartwarming. This one was just …. Rushed. Too sweet and felt forced. Things were disjointed.
August 4, 2024
An emotional tale about the ties that bind, the power of friendship and finding somewhere to belong, Return to the Irish Boarding House is a superb 1950s historical novel by Sandy Taylor.
Mary Kate Ryan has just lost the love of her life and is completely devastated. She is not sure how she will manage to keep on going, but her friend Moira persuades her to re-open her Boarding House for Single Ladies, which had helped so many women in the past. Now that Mary Kate is the one in need of some compassion and understanding, she decides to heed her friend’s advice and open her house up again. As Mary Kate begins to get into the swing of things, she begins to find a sense of purpose and renewal and nothing gives her more pleasure than being there for those who need her. Mary Kate starts to feel lighter and more engaged with the world than she has felt in a long time – thanks to her friendship with Moira and her adorable adopted daughter, Abby.
However, Mary Kate’s newfound happiness is threatened when a devastating secret about Abby’s birth mother begins to unravel. With the well-being of her found family in jeopardy, Mary Kate must fight to protect her friends, the reputation of her boarding house and the well-being of a young girl who is about to be cruelly snatched from the people who love her more than anything else in the world. Will Mary Kate’s world be turned upside down again? Or will she manage to keep her family together and her boarding house?
Sandy Taylor’s Return to the Irish Boarding House is the kind of book you will love losing yourself in. A beautifully written tale about women’s indomitable strength, second chances and finding the courage to fight for the ones you love, Return to the Irish Boarding House will make you laugh and cry as you find yourself completely engrossed in Sandy Taylor’s hugely enjoyable page-turner.
Readers who still miss the late great Maeve Binchy will fall in love with Sandy Taylor’s Return to the Irish Boarding House.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mary Kate Ryan has just lost the love of her life and is completely devastated. She is not sure how she will manage to keep on going, but her friend Moira persuades her to re-open her Boarding House for Single Ladies, which had helped so many women in the past. Now that Mary Kate is the one in need of some compassion and understanding, she decides to heed her friend’s advice and open her house up again. As Mary Kate begins to get into the swing of things, she begins to find a sense of purpose and renewal and nothing gives her more pleasure than being there for those who need her. Mary Kate starts to feel lighter and more engaged with the world than she has felt in a long time – thanks to her friendship with Moira and her adorable adopted daughter, Abby.
However, Mary Kate’s newfound happiness is threatened when a devastating secret about Abby’s birth mother begins to unravel. With the well-being of her found family in jeopardy, Mary Kate must fight to protect her friends, the reputation of her boarding house and the well-being of a young girl who is about to be cruelly snatched from the people who love her more than anything else in the world. Will Mary Kate’s world be turned upside down again? Or will she manage to keep her family together and her boarding house?
Sandy Taylor’s Return to the Irish Boarding House is the kind of book you will love losing yourself in. A beautifully written tale about women’s indomitable strength, second chances and finding the courage to fight for the ones you love, Return to the Irish Boarding House will make you laugh and cry as you find yourself completely engrossed in Sandy Taylor’s hugely enjoyable page-turner.
Readers who still miss the late great Maeve Binchy will fall in love with Sandy Taylor’s Return to the Irish Boarding House.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 21, 2024
Mary Kate owns an Irish boarding house with its trademark red door. Along with her friend Moira, Mary Kate is kind and generous, taking in boarders who are down on their luck and just need a helping hand getting back on their feet. Situated in Merrion Square, it’s a house which is full of love and compassion where all residents are a real mix of characters but have all become close friends, offering support to each other when needed. Mary Kate has not had an easy past herself and has recently lost the great love of her life, leaving her devastated.
In the second book in the series, we meet some new characters who have all come with their own story and previously had harrowing experiences. Mary Kate’s heartbreak doesn’t stop her offering each of them a roof over their heads or friendship of this assorted group of women. Most of the women have their own traumatic tales but they all pull together and create a bond that will last a lifetime.
I have been eagerly anticipating this book and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Mary Kate’s world. The new characters Sandy Taylor has introduced make for a hard read with their horrific back stories. I really enjoyed being reacquainted with characters from the first book, seeing them grow and in some cases move on to their own homes with independence encouraged by their friends at the boarding house.
Another great book not to be missed. Sandy is an amazing author with a talent to write such empathetic and enjoyable tales which fully engross you right through to the final page.
In the second book in the series, we meet some new characters who have all come with their own story and previously had harrowing experiences. Mary Kate’s heartbreak doesn’t stop her offering each of them a roof over their heads or friendship of this assorted group of women. Most of the women have their own traumatic tales but they all pull together and create a bond that will last a lifetime.
I have been eagerly anticipating this book and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Mary Kate’s world. The new characters Sandy Taylor has introduced make for a hard read with their horrific back stories. I really enjoyed being reacquainted with characters from the first book, seeing them grow and in some cases move on to their own homes with independence encouraged by their friends at the boarding house.
Another great book not to be missed. Sandy is an amazing author with a talent to write such empathetic and enjoyable tales which fully engross you right through to the final page.
May 13, 2024
Return to the Irish Boarding House by Sandy Taylor is one of those stories in which you want to curl up all snug and comfy. True, it will shred your heart and soul, but it stitches it up again all nicely and even knits it a nice bobble hat. I am so very glad that I have been introducd to this series (nd writer) with this book, what a way to begin!
It is 1956, Mary Kate Ryan is bereft, her heart broken. She returns to 24 Merrion Square, her Irish boarding house where her loyal friend, the adorable Moira Kent, convinces her to re-open it just for single ladies to stay in (and of course, we need to give a little nod to Mary's dog Guinness)
Mary Late, Moira and Moira's adopted daughter happily live together, running the boarding house in a tight little unit, a found family. Sandy Taylors narrative just sparkles off the pages in these little interludes of daily life. But what Sandy Taylor really excels at, is the depth of human emotion, the highs, the lows, the all-arounds. However, their peaceful life is rocked by a discovery that could potentially fracture the family unit by Abby being removed from their home. Can Mary and Moira prevent this from happening and how can the friends move forward and protect their livelihood?
A wonderful read, truly a delight for lovers of historical fiction and an author I will be putting on my TBR list
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and the fantastic author Sandy Taylor for this heartwarming ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
It is 1956, Mary Kate Ryan is bereft, her heart broken. She returns to 24 Merrion Square, her Irish boarding house where her loyal friend, the adorable Moira Kent, convinces her to re-open it just for single ladies to stay in (and of course, we need to give a little nod to Mary's dog Guinness)
Mary Late, Moira and Moira's adopted daughter happily live together, running the boarding house in a tight little unit, a found family. Sandy Taylors narrative just sparkles off the pages in these little interludes of daily life. But what Sandy Taylor really excels at, is the depth of human emotion, the highs, the lows, the all-arounds. However, their peaceful life is rocked by a discovery that could potentially fracture the family unit by Abby being removed from their home. Can Mary and Moira prevent this from happening and how can the friends move forward and protect their livelihood?
A wonderful read, truly a delight for lovers of historical fiction and an author I will be putting on my TBR list
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and the fantastic author Sandy Taylor for this heartwarming ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
July 29, 2024
All sorts of interesting women and young girls find comfort behind the red door of the Irish Boarding House. This is book two in the series.
"Dublin, 1956. When Mary Kate Ryan loses the love of her life, she’s not sure how she can keep going. Feeling completely lost, she allows her friend Moira Kent to persuade her to re-open the Boarding House for Single Ladies where she made so many memories and created a safe place for women who needed it. Now it’s Mary Kate who needs to start over…
As Mary Kate sits by the large bay window, with her little dog Guinness by her feet, she watches the residents of the house coming and going and realises there are others who need her help. Can Mary Kate and Moira uncover the mystery surrounding their new guest? And can they provide a home for two orphan sisters with nowhere to go?
Soon Mary Kate breathes new life into the boarding house and learns that family can be formed in all sorts of ways. Clever, kind Moira is like the sister she never had and Moira’s sweet, adopted ten-year-old daughter Abby means the world to both of them. And being back in Merrion Square brings Mary Kate the kind of laughter and joy that she never dreamed she’d experience again.
But when a devastating secret about Abby’s birth mother begins to unravel, it threatens to destroy the happiness of her patchwork family. Mary Kate must gather her strength to protect the future of the boarding house." synopsis copied
"Dublin, 1956. When Mary Kate Ryan loses the love of her life, she’s not sure how she can keep going. Feeling completely lost, she allows her friend Moira Kent to persuade her to re-open the Boarding House for Single Ladies where she made so many memories and created a safe place for women who needed it. Now it’s Mary Kate who needs to start over…
As Mary Kate sits by the large bay window, with her little dog Guinness by her feet, she watches the residents of the house coming and going and realises there are others who need her help. Can Mary Kate and Moira uncover the mystery surrounding their new guest? And can they provide a home for two orphan sisters with nowhere to go?
Soon Mary Kate breathes new life into the boarding house and learns that family can be formed in all sorts of ways. Clever, kind Moira is like the sister she never had and Moira’s sweet, adopted ten-year-old daughter Abby means the world to both of them. And being back in Merrion Square brings Mary Kate the kind of laughter and joy that she never dreamed she’d experience again.
But when a devastating secret about Abby’s birth mother begins to unravel, it threatens to destroy the happiness of her patchwork family. Mary Kate must gather her strength to protect the future of the boarding house." synopsis copied
August 23, 2024
Review: I’m an utter mess right now. This book is so beautifully written. I thought I was going to make it out of this book without bawling my eyes out…but I was wrong. This book is absolutely lovely. I cannot say enough about it.
I have read some people have gotten confused by the different points of view but this is one of the wonderful things about audiobooks that, if you have a very talented audio narrator, they can use different voices for different characters & it is much easier to keep track…at least in my mind.
If I had any complaint, I would have liked to have read more about each character’s life after their time at the boarding house. There were one or two characters I would have loved for her to spend a bit more time on because they were already so lovely.
Synopsis: This continues the life of Mary Kate & her boarding house that began in the first book, “The Irish Boarding House.” We catch up on the lives of a few returning characters & then meet several more as they come to the boarding house & find acceptance, love, kindness, & a family they each desperately need.
Content warnings: kidnapping, pregnancy, abortion, infidelity, pregnancy out of wedlock, sexual assault/rape, death, death of a spouse, grief, child abuse, child neglect, alcoholism, abandonment, disability, abandonment, abortion, bullying/emotional abuse, car accident, mental illness, panic attacks/anxiety.
I have read some people have gotten confused by the different points of view but this is one of the wonderful things about audiobooks that, if you have a very talented audio narrator, they can use different voices for different characters & it is much easier to keep track…at least in my mind.
If I had any complaint, I would have liked to have read more about each character’s life after their time at the boarding house. There were one or two characters I would have loved for her to spend a bit more time on because they were already so lovely.
Synopsis: This continues the life of Mary Kate & her boarding house that began in the first book, “The Irish Boarding House.” We catch up on the lives of a few returning characters & then meet several more as they come to the boarding house & find acceptance, love, kindness, & a family they each desperately need.
Content warnings: kidnapping, pregnancy, abortion, infidelity, pregnancy out of wedlock, sexual assault/rape, death, death of a spouse, grief, child abuse, child neglect, alcoholism, abandonment, disability, abandonment, abortion, bullying/emotional abuse, car accident, mental illness, panic attacks/anxiety.
June 11, 2024
In this multiple perspective fiction novel, readers travel to a small Irish town and focus on the lives of those interacting through the same boarding house in Dublin in 1956. With a host of charming and complex female protagonists, readers have many narrative threads to follow as the novel progresses. Mary Kate Ryan and her longtime friend Moira Kent run the boarding house, and both of them are restarting their lives after a big change in each of their lives. The other major characters are the guests at the boarding house and Moira’s adopted daughter Abby, and all of their stories are connected in some way. As the novel progresses and secrets threaten to upset the peaceful balance at the boarding house, Mary Kate, Moira, and the rest of the lodgers must band together to keep their found family safe. With incredible characters and a complex plot, the lives of those at the Merrion Square boarding house are fascinating, charming, and mysterious, and readers will enjoy seeing the plot of this novel unfold. The complex backstories of the characters are gradually revealed, and Taylor does an excellent job bringing them to life and keeping the storylines from overwhelming each other.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.
May 15, 2024
Sandy Taylor is one of my absolute favourite authors, so I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was going to be a wonderful read . And yes that’s even before I started reading it ! It’s the second book in the ‘Irish Boarding House’ series but can be easily read as a standalone . Reading this book I was immediately brought back to 1950’s Dublin and Merrion Square. The author has such a fantastic way of writing you are literally transported back in time as you read this book . This is one of those books that I was hooked on right from the prologue . A story of friendships and helping others in times of difficulties. I loved all the characters with one or two being particular favourites . An uplifting but at times emotional read . I had a smile on my face at times reading this book but also I did shed a tear or two with one very tear jerking moment . I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future .
September 1, 2024
I did read the first book in the series and I have to admit that I liked this one a little bit better.
Mary Kate and Moira are back - opening up their boarding house to various waifs and strays in Dublin and not before time, as there were several young women who really benefitted from the love and care that these two ladies gave to all of their boarders. I really love that the residents in this boarding house become family :)
Naturally enough, there are some bumps along the way, but all in all, it was a very positive book and I think I really would have liked every one of the main characters. Obviously, I didn't like James one little bit, but that shouldn't have come as any big surprise to anyone! Norah, I had mixed feelings about.
A really solid read and I hope there is a book 3 coming up.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Mary Kate and Moira are back - opening up their boarding house to various waifs and strays in Dublin and not before time, as there were several young women who really benefitted from the love and care that these two ladies gave to all of their boarders. I really love that the residents in this boarding house become family :)
Naturally enough, there are some bumps along the way, but all in all, it was a very positive book and I think I really would have liked every one of the main characters. Obviously, I didn't like James one little bit, but that shouldn't have come as any big surprise to anyone! Norah, I had mixed feelings about.
A really solid read and I hope there is a book 3 coming up.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
May 5, 2024
A enthralling and joyful tale that I quickly became in engrossed in and read in one sitting. We are reunited with the much loved characters as Mary Kate continues life at the boarding house and I was thrilled to be introduced to a few new characters with a lot of baggage in their respective backgrounds. I have to say that my favourite character is Eliza as she made everything seem to be such a joy. Eliza is a kind hearted soul who lights up a room like a shining beacon. There are a few heartbreaking twists and one in particular had me bawling my eyes out. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil the story but it hit me really hard. On a happier note I loved rejoicing with the characters as they found there happiness. The plot is full of love, sadness and surprising twists!
June 13, 2024
While this book was entertaining, I don't understand the 5-star ratings. I do enjoy Ms. Taylor's ability to make her characters fit in with the other residents and become a family but life in the Irish boarding house is not always realistic. The joys are over the top but the sorrows and tragedies are softer (not sure I'd want them to be terrible or graphic!). The only complaint I have about this book (and it's petty) is that the author consistently uses the pronoun "her" when she should be using "she." As I said, it's petty but the pet peeve of an old woman who reads. Enjoy the book. I think those who haven't read the Irish Boarding House #1 can still read this book since much of book 1 is repeated as memories of the characters in book 2.
May 6, 2024
Return to the Irish Boarding House by Sandy Taylor is the second book in this Boarding House Series. Mary Kate has suffered a loss that has down her down so friend Moira encourages her to reopen 24 Merrion Square as a boarding house once again. These friends have a history apart and together that gives them a strong bond.
The life back at the house with the red door brings laughter and a renewed interest in life around Mary Kate. However, it is not without some issues such as ones with Moira’s adopted daughter. Other include new women who come to the boarding house. They come for a place to stay but find a created family over time. Such a lovely resilient look at life.
The life back at the house with the red door brings laughter and a renewed interest in life around Mary Kate. However, it is not without some issues such as ones with Moira’s adopted daughter. Other include new women who come to the boarding house. They come for a place to stay but find a created family over time. Such a lovely resilient look at life.
May 21, 2024
Return to the Irish Boarding House is the second in the Irish Boarding House series by Sandy Taylor and what an emotional, gripping story it is.
Mary Kate is devastated by the death of her one true love when Mora persuaded her to reopen the boarding house. She soon realises that by helping others, she's also helping herself. But soon, a secret threatens their whole existence. Can Mary Kate save them and the boarding house?
I was captivated from the beginning - I loved being back in Ireland with Sandsend of the area - I felt like a friendly neighbour! I loved it but be warned : tissues may be needed!!
Mary Kate is devastated by the death of her one true love when Mora persuaded her to reopen the boarding house. She soon realises that by helping others, she's also helping herself. But soon, a secret threatens their whole existence. Can Mary Kate save them and the boarding house?
I was captivated from the beginning - I loved being back in Ireland with Sandsend of the area - I felt like a friendly neighbour! I loved it but be warned : tissues may be needed!!
June 6, 2024
I have read the first book called The Irish Boarding House”. I loved it and the characters came alive. I stumbled upon a sequel to this first one and was greatly surprised at how the story picks up again but not the same characters but flows easily from the first without constant repeating. I truly enjoyed it and very sad that this is the last of the Irish Boarding House Books. I am now exploring other books Sandy Taylor has written. I have been to Ireland, a favorite place of mine. You will enjoy both books, I promise.
May 17, 2024
I loved this book about Mary Kate and Moira reopening the Irish boarding house. This happened after Moira closed down the school and Mary Kate, who left several years ago to get married is now a widow. All of the borders that come to the house are there for a reason and they get along as a family. You will love them. Abby, who Moira adopted the baby that her mother left there years ago. There is a mystery in the mother coming back. Also, the ending is great. THIS IS A Great READ.
May 22, 2024
This was a cozy comfortable read. I really liked the first book in the series much more, as I got to know Mary Kate and then all the "misfits" that came to live in her boarding house with the red door. This one picked up where the other one left off, but for some reason I didn't connect with the new batch of characters a much. The subtle preachiness was a bit of a turnoff as well. Read The Irish Boarding House, and if you like it, this one is not a bad way to wile away a couple hours.
June 4, 2024
Book Two. A beautiful historical fiction. Dublin 1956.
Sean Barry such a shot marriage to Mary Kate he just went to sleep and never woke up, the love of her life. This is Mary Kate Barrys story.
Her friend Moira Kent wants to reopen the Irish boarding house and she wants Mary Kate with her.
The house needs bringing back to life and they would do it together.
Such another inspirational book to read from this author, that I so enjoyed from start to finish.
Wonderful just wonderful.
Sean Barry such a shot marriage to Mary Kate he just went to sleep and never woke up, the love of her life. This is Mary Kate Barrys story.
Her friend Moira Kent wants to reopen the Irish boarding house and she wants Mary Kate with her.
The house needs bringing back to life and they would do it together.
Such another inspirational book to read from this author, that I so enjoyed from start to finish.
Wonderful just wonderful.
September 6, 2024
En smuk og fin fortælling. Del to i en lille fin serie med blot to bøger.
Romanen er fyldt med følelser, der går lige i hjertet. Sorg, savn, kærlighed, angst, glæde. Bogen rummer det hele og lidt til.
Endnu engang åbner Mary Kate dørene til pensionatet og ind kommer en række fortabte sjæle. Med Mary Kates hjælp, finder de vej til hver deres lykke.
Jeg skal helt sikkert læse mere af denne dejlige forfatter.
Romanen er fyldt med følelser, der går lige i hjertet. Sorg, savn, kærlighed, angst, glæde. Bogen rummer det hele og lidt til.
Endnu engang åbner Mary Kate dørene til pensionatet og ind kommer en række fortabte sjæle. Med Mary Kates hjælp, finder de vej til hver deres lykke.
Jeg skal helt sikkert læse mere af denne dejlige forfatter.
October 28, 2024
4.5 Stars. You need to read the first book before you dive into this one. This is the second book in "The Irish Boarding House," and I'm glad I decided to read it. The booked started out feeling like a continuation of the first book, and I wasn't sure I wanted to read the "same story" again, but I stuck with it and loved how the characters' journeys evolved. I had tears welling up at the end. Enjoy!
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