The Irish Child

‘Oh my aching heart!… I was moved to wordless wonder… Heartbreaking… In tears… I was holding my breath. Tears were streaming from my eyes… I had a rush of tears when I said goodbye as this beautiful island… Fiercely pulled at my heart… I loved this immensely… Wonderful… I also had some happy tears!… Be prepared with tissues… Will capture your imagination and soften your soul.’ Cindy L Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A salty breeze whips the tears from my eyes as I stare out at the emerald Irish Sea. Everything I’ve lost, the child my great grandmother Nellie lost, all feels so present here, in the land my family left years ago. How will I ever move on? Will I ever uncover the truth about the little girl who went missing all those years ago?

When Boston-born Erin arrives in wind-tossed Roone Bay, she’s heart-sore, tired and lonely. Her marriage is over: she’s come to build a new life for herself on Ireland’s rugged southern coast. And to unravel the story behind the mysterious note in her family’s ancient Bible that has haunted her since childhood. But hazel-eyed former lifeboat volunteer Finn, the only local historian around, quietly refuses her pleas to help.

So Erin settles in to the town, with its whitewashed cottages and ruddy-cheeked fishermen, and begins her quest alone. Who was her ancestor, Nellie, and why did she leave Ireland for America? What happened to her missing child, Annie, and did Nellie ever see her again?

Just as Erin despairs ever uncovering the truth, one rain-soaked night she is rescued by Finn, who finally agrees to help. And by firelight and candlelight each evening, just as it would have been in her great-grandmother’s time, Finn and Erin grow closer as they share their stories.

But just as Erin wonders if Roone Bay could be her forever home, she makes a devastating discovery. Will she be able to face the truth, which changes everything she thought she knew about herself, her past, and her family’s Irish legacy? Or will she run, just as Nellie did all those years ago, and lose the best chance at happiness she’s ever had…?

This gorgeous, heart-breaking, totally immersive story of an Irish family’s legacy is perfect for fans of Susanne O’Leary, Kathleen McGurl and Tricia O’Malley.

What readers are saying about The Irish Child:

‘Wonderful… I loved it… My heart broke… Phenomenal… Had me flying through the pages… An unputdownable treasure.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful… gorgeous, heart-breaking, totally immersive… From the very first page of this book, I was stunned, mesmerised… Will knock the wind out of you!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘This was incredible… Heartbreaking, uplifting, romantic… Superb.’ Captivated Reading

‘Heartbreaking… Really brought out the tissues… Will stay with you long after it’s finished.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beautiful… I was drawn in from the first page to the last page… Heartbreaking.’ Shortbookthyme, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Captivating… I was unable to set it aside! Have some tissues handy.’ karen_loves_reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautiful… I was totally immersed… Just perfect.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Love love love… Beautiful… I loved this!’ Beth’s Book Nook Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐