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Robinswood #2
Return to Robinswood
One Irish house, two very different families, and a war that changed everything.
Robinswood Estate, County Waterford, Ireland. 1946.
Years of neglect and abandonment have left the family seat of the Keneficks almost derelict, but the new Lord Kenefick and his charming young wife Kate, are determined to breathe life into the old house once more.
The war is over and they have survived, so now they must set about making a bright future for themselves and their family. But the shadows of the past are ever lurking, and there are many who are not willing to see the new Lady Kenefick as anything more than the housekeeper's daughter.
Kate’s family, the Murphys, find themselves once more, inextricably entwined with both the Keneficks and Robinswood, but this time everything is different. Or at least they hope it is.
The legacy of the war cannot be erased, and the events of those fateful years will not be forgotten. Can Robinswood provide a haven for those who need it, or are the scars of the past too deep?
Return to Robinswood is the second book in The Robinswood Story.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2019
5254 people are currently reading
1145 people want to read
About the author
Jean Grainger
90 books1,590 followersJean Grainger was born in Cork, Ireland. She has been a tour guide of her beloved home country, a teacher, a university lecturer and a playwright. She began writing fiction at the suggestion of her clients on tours, many of whom were sure all the stories she told them would make for a great book. Her first book, The Tour, has become a Number 1 bestseller on Amazon. It tells the story of a disparate group of American visitors to Ireland, who, along with their Irish tour guide have a life changing experience in the magical Emerald Isle.
Her second book, So Much Owed, is a family saga set during the Second World War. The story centres on the Buckley family of West Cork and how their lives are pulled in different directions as they become embroiled in the war. It is a sweeping family saga of intrigue and romance against the background of occupied Europe.
In her third novel, Shadow of a Century, she tells a tale of a battered old flag found in New York in 2016, a century after it was used during the Easter Rising, when Ireland made her final bid for freedom from Great Britain. This tells the story of a journalist who uncovers a story, one with much more to it than a flag.
Her fourth novel, due out in Spring 2016, Under Heaven’s Shining Stars, is set in the 1970s in Cork, Ireland and is a novel about friendship. Three boys, Liam, Patrick and Hugo, though from very different backgrounds are united in a deep but often times challenging friendship. As their lives progress, only by staying strong, can they prevail. Or fail.
Her novella, Letters of Freedom, tells the story of Carmel, stuck in a pointless marriage, when a figure from her past emerges and changes everything with a ‘like’ on Facebook. This quick read will touch your heart.
She lives in Cork with her husband and her two youngest children. The older two come home occasionally with laundry and to raid the fridge.
Her second book, So Much Owed, is a family saga set during the Second World War. The story centres on the Buckley family of West Cork and how their lives are pulled in different directions as they become embroiled in the war. It is a sweeping family saga of intrigue and romance against the background of occupied Europe.
In her third novel, Shadow of a Century, she tells a tale of a battered old flag found in New York in 2016, a century after it was used during the Easter Rising, when Ireland made her final bid for freedom from Great Britain. This tells the story of a journalist who uncovers a story, one with much more to it than a flag.
Her fourth novel, due out in Spring 2016, Under Heaven’s Shining Stars, is set in the 1970s in Cork, Ireland and is a novel about friendship. Three boys, Liam, Patrick and Hugo, though from very different backgrounds are united in a deep but often times challenging friendship. As their lives progress, only by staying strong, can they prevail. Or fail.
Her novella, Letters of Freedom, tells the story of Carmel, stuck in a pointless marriage, when a figure from her past emerges and changes everything with a ‘like’ on Facebook. This quick read will touch your heart.
She lives in Cork with her husband and her two youngest children. The older two come home occasionally with laundry and to raid the fridge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
March 20, 2020
Another excellent read in the saga that is the Murphy and Kenefick families trials and tribulations.
It's 1946 and even though the war is over, times are still tough. Things are no more straight forward than they ever were and complications a plenty arise.
It didn't grab me quite as much as the first book and the ending was all a little too neat. Everything falling into place a little too pat.
However, I'm looking forward to the third and final part to this series.
It's 1946 and even though the war is over, times are still tough. Things are no more straight forward than they ever were and complications a plenty arise.
It didn't grab me quite as much as the first book and the ending was all a little too neat. Everything falling into place a little too pat.
However, I'm looking forward to the third and final part to this series.
August 11, 2023
5 Stars
Book one introduced the families and connected characters, while this book brought them all back to Robinswood. I enjoyed the first book, but this one was even better. I loved how restorations of relationships and individual characters were a central theme and paralleled the restoration of the Robinswood Estate. Each of the intersecting storylines was poignant and heartwarming. The author did an excellent job representing interracial relationships and the American South during that time. While it was a lighter touch on the subject matter and the events were easily fixed in comparison to what might have occurred in real life, it was well-written and entertaining.
September 23, 2019
Return To Robinswood: An Irish Family Saga is by Jean Grainger. As usual, Jean Grainger turns out a page turner deluxe. Her continuation of the story of the Murphy and Kenefick families was one that was eagerly awaited. The wait was well worth it. The story takes place in Ireland in 1946. The war is over and families all over are trying to put their lives back into some kind of normality. The food shortage is s till a major concern as is the lack of manpower to run the farms and other industries. Unfortunately, a generation of young men has been decimated or they are injured and trying to recover. Sometimes, the injuries are ones that cannot be seen.
Dermont Murphy and his wife Isabella have been living with their daughter Eve and her friend Elena in England. Elena’s husband, Thomas, is still among the missing and Eve’s husband Jack had died in an accident. Eve is just beginning to come out of her deep grief after six years. She had moved in with Elena to help take care of her children while Elena awaited the return of Thomas. Dermont and Isabella had moved in to try to help Eve recover from Jack’s death. Their other daughter, Katie, had finally married her childhood playmate, Sam Kenefick. Before the war that would not have been possible as Sam was Lord Kenefick and Katie’s parents and Katie had worked for Lord and Lady Kenefick. Now Sam is being discharged from the Army and he and Katie want to head back home to Ireland and claim Sam’s inheritance once more. However, the house is in terrible condition and the farm, which provides the needed income, is rented out. Sam wants to get the farm running again and then turn the house into a hotel. However, he knows nothing about farming or running a hotel. He needs Dermont and Isabella to move back to Ireland and help him.
Meanwhile, Sam’s sister has decided to move home as well. She had an affair during the war with an American, Beau. He would not be given permission to marry her while in England. Now he was back in the US and from his letters, is in some kind of trouble. He does not know of the birth of his daughter. Lillian wants him to return for her not for his daughter. However, she is facing problems of her own. Although most British are fine with her, some are not. They cannot abide the idea of a white woman and a Black man producing a dark baby. However, she has to get him back to England first.
The third Murphy daughter is having problems with her husband, Mark. Mark has returned home with no apparent injuries, yet he is different and has violent mood swings. He can’t work and is drinking a lot. His own parents are not able to help him. Finally, he is sent to jail for six months after a fight earlier. Mark had hit rock bottom and although he has finally talked to Ainsling about what happened in the war, he is no where near to recovery. Ainsling decides to head for Ireland while he is in prison and tr to decide what to do.
Thus, the Kenefick and Murphy families are all accounted for and are all back home. How will things work out with them all under the same roof after the war.
The book is fantastic and fun to read. It is hard to wait for another Jean Grainger book to come out.
Dermont Murphy and his wife Isabella have been living with their daughter Eve and her friend Elena in England. Elena’s husband, Thomas, is still among the missing and Eve’s husband Jack had died in an accident. Eve is just beginning to come out of her deep grief after six years. She had moved in with Elena to help take care of her children while Elena awaited the return of Thomas. Dermont and Isabella had moved in to try to help Eve recover from Jack’s death. Their other daughter, Katie, had finally married her childhood playmate, Sam Kenefick. Before the war that would not have been possible as Sam was Lord Kenefick and Katie’s parents and Katie had worked for Lord and Lady Kenefick. Now Sam is being discharged from the Army and he and Katie want to head back home to Ireland and claim Sam’s inheritance once more. However, the house is in terrible condition and the farm, which provides the needed income, is rented out. Sam wants to get the farm running again and then turn the house into a hotel. However, he knows nothing about farming or running a hotel. He needs Dermont and Isabella to move back to Ireland and help him.
Meanwhile, Sam’s sister has decided to move home as well. She had an affair during the war with an American, Beau. He would not be given permission to marry her while in England. Now he was back in the US and from his letters, is in some kind of trouble. He does not know of the birth of his daughter. Lillian wants him to return for her not for his daughter. However, she is facing problems of her own. Although most British are fine with her, some are not. They cannot abide the idea of a white woman and a Black man producing a dark baby. However, she has to get him back to England first.
The third Murphy daughter is having problems with her husband, Mark. Mark has returned home with no apparent injuries, yet he is different and has violent mood swings. He can’t work and is drinking a lot. His own parents are not able to help him. Finally, he is sent to jail for six months after a fight earlier. Mark had hit rock bottom and although he has finally talked to Ainsling about what happened in the war, he is no where near to recovery. Ainsling decides to head for Ireland while he is in prison and tr to decide what to do.
Thus, the Kenefick and Murphy families are all accounted for and are all back home. How will things work out with them all under the same roof after the war.
The book is fantastic and fun to read. It is hard to wait for another Jean Grainger book to come out.
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March 23, 2023Perfect cozy, rainy day read!
April 20, 2021
This is the second in the Robinswood Family saga and another interesting light read with historical interest. It touched on the Irish Civil War and its aftermath and the role of the IRA, Britain and Ireland in World War 2; and all this against the background of class: British aristocrats and the Irish servant class and American racism. Star crossed lovers and family feuds! An interesting complex tale.
September 26, 2019
A wonderful Irish family saga.
World War II is finally over, but lots of people are still coming to terms with the after effects. Gradually family and friends return to resurrect Robinswood after it stood empty during the war.
I love the characters in this saga, and the way they all blend in and support each other.
Well written and entertaining from beginning to end; now looking forward to the third book in this wonderful Irish family saga.
World War II is finally over, but lots of people are still coming to terms with the after effects. Gradually family and friends return to resurrect Robinswood after it stood empty during the war.
I love the characters in this saga, and the way they all blend in and support each other.
Well written and entertaining from beginning to end; now looking forward to the third book in this wonderful Irish family saga.
June 4, 2019
A wonderful story about family, forgiveness and love after WWII. The story included an IRA fighter, a past Nazi, an RAF pilot, a wanderer, and a English Lord and their women. With family and a lot of love, nothing is impossible.
February 11, 2019
The sequel to "What Once Was True". Wonderful continuation of story line and characters I have come to love. Highly recommend.
August 11, 2020
a fun and heartwarming tale
Not always sure about the grammar and vernacular used for the period, but it is a sweet story. I like the way she puts her characters together.
Not always sure about the grammar and vernacular used for the period, but it is a sweet story. I like the way she puts her characters together.
March 12, 2019
It is 1946 and these are the Murphy and Kenefick families, an intricate story of two families connected by a house but by very different social levels. It's the upheaval of war, the inevitable changes, and the search for a sense of normality that reunite them post. There may be no clear specific protagonist in Return to Robinswood as several of the characters share main level status. The storyline alternately moves from one to the next, creating a convergent timeline. Between the two families, the cast of characters is huge. There is Dermont Murphy and his wife Isabella with their daughters. The Murphy's daughter, Katie, had married Sam Kenefick. Actually, Lord Kenefick, for whom the Murphy's had worked prior to the war. Katie and Sam want to return to Robinswood and have ideas on farming as well as turning it into a hotel, but they will need lots of help.
On the Kenefick side, Sam's father died, but his mother married Perry Goodall. Sam's sister Lillian had an affair with a man of color from the US, Beau, during the war. He was not allowed to marry in the UK and returned home, unaware of the child their affair would produce. So many issues looked at in this book, from PTSD, unwed pregnancy, the Irish conflict, the Travellers, WWI and II ravages, agronomy, and human history with extreme prejudice and discrimination. Descriptions of post-war Ireland and England are well drawn and that of the southern states of the U.S. intensely disturbing, though correctly and unfortunately all too accurately portrayed.
Character-driven, this well-plotted storyline is electrifying, immersing the reader in some amazing, engaging characters whether empathetic or annoying. You might well wish to begin with the first in this series to fully understand where this book begins. The narrative, however, functions fine as a standalone.
I received this ebook download from the author in exchange for a read and review and these are my honest opinions. I've thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Grainger's books and suspect you will as well. Heartily recommended.
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2019/...
On the Kenefick side, Sam's father died, but his mother married Perry Goodall. Sam's sister Lillian had an affair with a man of color from the US, Beau, during the war. He was not allowed to marry in the UK and returned home, unaware of the child their affair would produce. So many issues looked at in this book, from PTSD, unwed pregnancy, the Irish conflict, the Travellers, WWI and II ravages, agronomy, and human history with extreme prejudice and discrimination. Descriptions of post-war Ireland and England are well drawn and that of the southern states of the U.S. intensely disturbing, though correctly and unfortunately all too accurately portrayed.
Character-driven, this well-plotted storyline is electrifying, immersing the reader in some amazing, engaging characters whether empathetic or annoying. You might well wish to begin with the first in this series to fully understand where this book begins. The narrative, however, functions fine as a standalone.
I received this ebook download from the author in exchange for a read and review and these are my honest opinions. I've thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Grainger's books and suspect you will as well. Heartily recommended.
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2019/...
February 17, 2022
I love this continuation of the previous book. You know when you read and you don't want it to end? Well, it didn't. The war is over and it is time for the families to move on with their lives. Back to Robinswood some go and to new adventures others. If you have read Book 1 about this family, you need to read Book 2. This is historical fiction at it's best. There is even a final Book 3. If you love family sagas and get invested in the character's lives, then this series by Jean Grainger is for you.
April 8, 2022
Fabulous story continues, I enjoy every character! On to book 3!
May 13, 2025
Happy tears. So so good.
July 4, 2023
4 1/2 stars
May 5, 2020
Fantastic! Can’t wait to read the next!
February 10, 2021
Somewhat to my surprise, I really liked this novel even more than the first Robinswood one; this is less romance and more family saga following the main characters as now they are settled, have families etc. A great, entertaining, and life-affirming read
November 10, 2021
I just love this family
March 8, 2019
Love in a time of change
This a book which gives such insights into the complex relations between the Irish, the Anglo Irish and the British in the years before, during and after the Second World War that it should be required reading for the citizens of the British Isles today. Through the stories of the Keneficks and the Murphys many issues are explored in a thorough and sympathetic manner. Jean’s grasp of the nuances of history is remarkable. Yet we do not feel we are being educated, because we are being entertained and drawn into the lives of her characters, their lives and loves, trials and tragedies.
This a book which gives such insights into the complex relations between the Irish, the Anglo Irish and the British in the years before, during and after the Second World War that it should be required reading for the citizens of the British Isles today. Through the stories of the Keneficks and the Murphys many issues are explored in a thorough and sympathetic manner. Jean’s grasp of the nuances of history is remarkable. Yet we do not feel we are being educated, because we are being entertained and drawn into the lives of her characters, their lives and loves, trials and tragedies.
January 16, 2021
Love the characters. Good read
May 10, 2022
War changes everything, and so it was with post-WWII in Ireland. Everything and everyone was touched in some measure. Lives were lost or changed irrevocably, as were whole communities, properties and perhaps most noticeably, the changes in societal norms. Isabella and Dermot Murphy were back at Robinswood, as were Eve and Aisling. Kate and Sam Kenefick and baby Jack made up the other contingent and notably, none of them was in-service. However, the ravages of time and neglect were reflected in what was left of Robinswood, the Kenefick family home. Dermot and Sam partnered up to make the farm a paying proposition and to repair and eventually restore the old house. As they go about trying to pick up the pieces of their lives and chart their futures, they realize the old ways and attitudes aren't easily changed. Some of their extended family need more help than the shelter of Robinswood can provide. But it's as good a place as any to start, and better than most.
"Return to Robinswood" is Jean Grainger's second book in The Robinswood Story and as much as I admire her writing style and character development, I didn't find this book as riveting as the first in the series. All the Murphy girls are paired up and Sam's mother, Violet is back to her snobbish ways since she remarried into money and his sister Lillian has scandalized the family name.
There's so much going on that relationships don't have time to fully develop and that's a shame because there's plenty of material to work with. I guess I'm spoiled because character development is a hallmark of Grainger's writing. Another area where the author's talent shines is in breathing life into her stories. They're credible, believable and sometimes gritty in their realism, which is all to the good, but I had difficulty swallowing Lillian's actions. The idea of a nursing mother leaving her unweaned baby as she goes off to America to find the father of her child, smacks of fantasy. (Any woman reading this will immediately understand the reference.) Not to mention her ensuing escapades, which truly stretch one's imagination.
All my kvetching aside, "Return to Robinswood" is a heartwarming story and I do admire Jean Grainger's writing. I'm hopeful about book three, "Trials and Tribulations". Three and a half stars.
"Return to Robinswood" is Jean Grainger's second book in The Robinswood Story and as much as I admire her writing style and character development, I didn't find this book as riveting as the first in the series. All the Murphy girls are paired up and Sam's mother, Violet is back to her snobbish ways since she remarried into money and his sister Lillian has scandalized the family name.
There's so much going on that relationships don't have time to fully develop and that's a shame because there's plenty of material to work with. I guess I'm spoiled because character development is a hallmark of Grainger's writing. Another area where the author's talent shines is in breathing life into her stories. They're credible, believable and sometimes gritty in their realism, which is all to the good, but I had difficulty swallowing Lillian's actions. The idea of a nursing mother leaving her unweaned baby as she goes off to America to find the father of her child, smacks of fantasy. (Any woman reading this will immediately understand the reference.) Not to mention her ensuing escapades, which truly stretch one's imagination.
All my kvetching aside, "Return to Robinswood" is a heartwarming story and I do admire Jean Grainger's writing. I'm hopeful about book three, "Trials and Tribulations". Three and a half stars.
March 1, 2019
Warm, inviting and totally satisfying
Jean Grainger kept me satisfied, again, with this wonderful extended story from Book 1. She has an ability to describe a character, male or female, young or old, in a quick manner with a scarcity of words that is hard to find in many books. While it seems this paucity of verbiage might hurt her characterizations, it, in fact, strengthens them.
Having a strong sense of a persons’ personality, strengths and weaknesses allows the action to continue without feeling interrupted by too many descriptions. I read on and on without the sense of intrusion of too much explanation from the author.
Any reader of any one of Graingers’ books enjoy the story, characters and lives of the characters. I am, in addition, impressed by the amount of research she must delve into as her stories seem to flow so smoothly in times of local, country and worldly affairs. In this book alone the Great Depression, WW I and II, the Irish conflict, segregation, travelers, out-of-wedlock children, PTSD, loyalties, orphanages, farming, the class system, plant lore, farming and great houses had to be researched. These topics are the ones I remember in this moment; there are more.
It gives me a glow of satisfaction to read one of Jeans’ books and I am thrilled to be able to recommend this book without any reservations. Thank you, Jean, for another excellent book!
Jean Grainger kept me satisfied, again, with this wonderful extended story from Book 1. She has an ability to describe a character, male or female, young or old, in a quick manner with a scarcity of words that is hard to find in many books. While it seems this paucity of verbiage might hurt her characterizations, it, in fact, strengthens them.
Having a strong sense of a persons’ personality, strengths and weaknesses allows the action to continue without feeling interrupted by too many descriptions. I read on and on without the sense of intrusion of too much explanation from the author.
Any reader of any one of Graingers’ books enjoy the story, characters and lives of the characters. I am, in addition, impressed by the amount of research she must delve into as her stories seem to flow so smoothly in times of local, country and worldly affairs. In this book alone the Great Depression, WW I and II, the Irish conflict, segregation, travelers, out-of-wedlock children, PTSD, loyalties, orphanages, farming, the class system, plant lore, farming and great houses had to be researched. These topics are the ones I remember in this moment; there are more.
It gives me a glow of satisfaction to read one of Jeans’ books and I am thrilled to be able to recommend this book without any reservations. Thank you, Jean, for another excellent book!
March 25, 2021
Rated 3.0
This book is truly a transition bridge book to the last book of the trilogy. Several things were left hanging in book one and all those loose ends are tied up. The Murphy family gets larger and the new characters are well developed. I love to read about preservation of old homes but when I read about the Robinswood remodel it demonstrates what a big job it is with problems at every step. Certainly don't think I would have the stamina, let alone the money, to tackle such a big job.
Robinswood Estate, County Waterford, Ireland. 1946.
Years of neglect and abandonment have left the family seat of the Keneficks almost derelict, but the new Lord Kenefick and his charming young wife Kate, are determined to breathe life into the old house once more.
The war is over and they have survived, so now they must set about making a bright future for themselves and their family. But the shadows of the past are ever lurking, and there are many who are not willing to see the new Lady Kenefick as anything more than the housekeeper's daughter.
Kate’s family, the Murphys, find themselves once more, inextricably entwined with both the Keneficks and Robinswood, but this time everything is different. Or at least they hope it is.
The legacy of the war cannot be erased, and the events of those fateful years will not be forgotten. Can Robinswood provide a haven for those who need it, or are the scars of the past too deep?
This book is truly a transition bridge book to the last book of the trilogy. Several things were left hanging in book one and all those loose ends are tied up. The Murphy family gets larger and the new characters are well developed. I love to read about preservation of old homes but when I read about the Robinswood remodel it demonstrates what a big job it is with problems at every step. Certainly don't think I would have the stamina, let alone the money, to tackle such a big job.
Robinswood Estate, County Waterford, Ireland. 1946.
Years of neglect and abandonment have left the family seat of the Keneficks almost derelict, but the new Lord Kenefick and his charming young wife Kate, are determined to breathe life into the old house once more.
The war is over and they have survived, so now they must set about making a bright future for themselves and their family. But the shadows of the past are ever lurking, and there are many who are not willing to see the new Lady Kenefick as anything more than the housekeeper's daughter.
Kate’s family, the Murphys, find themselves once more, inextricably entwined with both the Keneficks and Robinswood, but this time everything is different. Or at least they hope it is.
The legacy of the war cannot be erased, and the events of those fateful years will not be forgotten. Can Robinswood provide a haven for those who need it, or are the scars of the past too deep?
April 30, 2020
"One Irish house, two very different families, and a war that changed everything.
Robinswood Estate, County Waterford, Ireland. 1946.
Years of neglect and abandonment have left the family seat of the Keneficks almost derelict, but the new Lord Kenefick and his charming young wife Kate, are determined to breathe life into the old house once more.
The war is over and they have survived, so now they must set about making a bright future for themselves and their family. But the shadows of the past are ever lurking, and there are many who are not willing to see the new Lady Kenefick as anything more than the housekeeper's daughter.
Kate’s family, the Murphys, find themselves once more, inextricably entwined with both the Keneficks and Robinswood, but this time everything is different. Or at least they hope it is.
The legacy of the war cannot be erased, and the events of those fateful years will not be forgotten. Can Robinswood provide a haven for those who need it, or are the scars of the past too deep?"
Can people of different faiths and nationalities coexist, including a former Nazi, and a black soldier from Georgia, USA?
I loved this book, #2 in the series.
(Synopsis is copied)
Robinswood Estate, County Waterford, Ireland. 1946.
Years of neglect and abandonment have left the family seat of the Keneficks almost derelict, but the new Lord Kenefick and his charming young wife Kate, are determined to breathe life into the old house once more.
The war is over and they have survived, so now they must set about making a bright future for themselves and their family. But the shadows of the past are ever lurking, and there are many who are not willing to see the new Lady Kenefick as anything more than the housekeeper's daughter.
Kate’s family, the Murphys, find themselves once more, inextricably entwined with both the Keneficks and Robinswood, but this time everything is different. Or at least they hope it is.
The legacy of the war cannot be erased, and the events of those fateful years will not be forgotten. Can Robinswood provide a haven for those who need it, or are the scars of the past too deep?"
Can people of different faiths and nationalities coexist, including a former Nazi, and a black soldier from Georgia, USA?
I loved this book, #2 in the series.
(Synopsis is copied)
February 19, 2019
Return to Robinswood continues the story of characters introduced in “What Once Was True” as they deal with the aftermath of WWII. While the first book is wonderful in its own right detailing how the characters functioned during the war, new readers will be given the background needed to understand the action in this book. The Irish estate of Robinswood beckons it’s former owners and staff back with a promise that with hard work those who survived the war can recuperate, rebuild and perhaps come to a greater understanding of family. I give no spoilers as to what transpires within the pages of this magnificent book, but Ms. Grainger neatly summed up her story in these words, “It was time to let the old animosities go and move forward together. The ex-IRA man, the peer of the British realm, the former Nazi, the RAF pilots, the black American… In the end, they were family, and that meant so much more than ancient grudges.” I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Most highly recommend.
November 25, 2020
Sam and Kate decide to return to the mansion at Robinswood along with Dermot and Isabella who come now as owners of their own home given to them by Sam as a enticement to help repair and furnish the house so it can be used as a hotel. Along with farming and raising cattle to gain much needed money. Eve is working with Elena to help young girls from an orphanage learn how to bake and clean and wash clothing so they can earn a living. Lillian takes off for America to try and get Beau released from prison so he can come back to England and they can marry. Ausling returns to Robinswood because Mark does not answer any of her letters while he is in prison and she is devasted. Oskar still wants to return to Germany and give himself up for the deeds he did for the Nazis in the war. But he also is working with Dermot helping the family in their work. Jean Grainger knows how to tell a story and when things look really rosy she turns the leaf over and shows the trouble underneath. Book #3 next.
March 1, 2021
5.0/5.0 - I have struggled with what makes a book a 5 star, but today I've decided that it's one where I don't want to put it down (i.e. a page turner) and, if part of a series, I immediately want to read the next book. By this definition, this was a 5 star book. I enjoyed seeing how the Murphys and the Keneficks would work together to rehabilitate Robinswood, what the sisters would be up to, and learn a little more about the post-war situation in the UK. Lillian was a much more likeable character in this book, as she braved a segregated south to rescue her fiancé from a Mississippi prison, her mother overcomes her concerns about what will people think (about her biracial grandchild, for one) and accepts and loves Austina, Beau and Lillian's baby. As I write this review, I wonder whether racism really was so much less rampant in England than it was in the US, as this and the Bridgerton series would imply, or whether it is a case of authors rewriting history.
Pop Sugar #33: A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
Book 63 of 2021
Pop Sugar #33: A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
Book 63 of 2021
April 9, 2019
Touring Ireland
My husband and I are currently touring Ireland for the first time. We have first toured Dublin and Galway. We will visit a few more towns in Ireland before heading home to the U.S. During our down time in the evenings in our hotel room I decided to read "What Once Was True" and "Return to Robinsons". While I am not a fan of history books, I am enjoying reading Jean Grainger's historical fictions. These books are giving me a better understanding of the places I am visiting and I feel by getting to know the characters of her books I am getting a good understanding of the people I am meeting and places I am visiting in my travels throughout Ireland.
Thank you Jean Grainger. I have about another week of touring Ireland. Perhaps I will be able to read a few more of your entertaining books before I have to go home. Either way, I will read your other books after I return home.
My husband and I are currently touring Ireland for the first time. We have first toured Dublin and Galway. We will visit a few more towns in Ireland before heading home to the U.S. During our down time in the evenings in our hotel room I decided to read "What Once Was True" and "Return to Robinsons". While I am not a fan of history books, I am enjoying reading Jean Grainger's historical fictions. These books are giving me a better understanding of the places I am visiting and I feel by getting to know the characters of her books I am getting a good understanding of the people I am meeting and places I am visiting in my travels throughout Ireland.
Thank you Jean Grainger. I have about another week of touring Ireland. Perhaps I will be able to read a few more of your entertaining books before I have to go home. Either way, I will read your other books after I return home.
August 17, 2021
Good series
This is a good series about an increasingly diverse family rebuilding their lives in Ireland after WWII. While the first book in the series might be described as a bit “grittier”
with the history of Irish/English relations and the build-up of the war, this book tended toward strong sentimentality. As a consequence, I found this one a bit less enjoyable than the first.
The patriarchs of the family Dermott and Isabella are almost unbelievable in their humanity and goodness and the issues of American race relations are used to maximum effect to create pathos. There is a new and very unlikely relationship in this book that stretched my credulity and concerns me that the author is veering too hard toward mawkishness.
Despite the flaws, it’s still an enjoyable series so far. I just hope the author doesn’t keep ladling on so much of the Lifetime movie gooey sweetness.
This is a good series about an increasingly diverse family rebuilding their lives in Ireland after WWII. While the first book in the series might be described as a bit “grittier”
with the history of Irish/English relations and the build-up of the war, this book tended toward strong sentimentality. As a consequence, I found this one a bit less enjoyable than the first.
The patriarchs of the family Dermott and Isabella are almost unbelievable in their humanity and goodness and the issues of American race relations are used to maximum effect to create pathos. There is a new and very unlikely relationship in this book that stretched my credulity and concerns me that the author is veering too hard toward mawkishness.
Despite the flaws, it’s still an enjoyable series so far. I just hope the author doesn’t keep ladling on so much of the Lifetime movie gooey sweetness.
October 9, 2019
Return to Robinswood is the second book in this wonderful Irish saga. It follows directly on from What Once Was True and begins after the end of WW2. Both the Murphy and Kenefick families have experienced so much change but they are increasing linked with each other and with the Robinswood estate. This exceptional book has characters that draw the reader into their lives, they have flaws and insecurities and are trying to make the best of post war Ireland. They slowly begin to make their own normal. Jean Grainger is an incredibly talented author and once again she has combined Ireland's rich and varied history with fascinating characters and created something special. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It will keep you reading and touch your heart in many ways. This is a beautiful book.
July 11, 2021
What a wonderful story, even better than Book #1, that follows family/friends/others during and after WWII mostly in Ireland but some scenes take place in England and in America. This book starts with Sam (Lord and heir to Robinswood) and his wife, Kate (former daughter of the servants) as they return to Robinswood with hopes of restoring it and turning it into a successful farm and inn. However, Sam and Kate's story takes a bit of a back seat to others. There is Lillian (Sam's sister) and her search for her black American boyfriend, Eve and her work in Dublin with her employer, Elaina, to train teenage orphans and Ainsling and her husband, who is suffering from PTSD. In this book #2, it was fun to get to know these other characters better and to see how the story developed and ended. No sex or profanity.
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