The Irish Boarding House: Completely heart-warming Irish historical fiction

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Sandy Taylor grew up on a council estate near Brighton. There were no books in the house, so Sandy’s love of the written word was nurtured in the little local library. Leaving school at fifteen, Sandy worked in a series of factories before landing a job at Butlins in Minehead. This career change led her to becoming a singer, a stand up comic and eventually a playwright and novelist. Author Social Media Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandyTaylorAuthor/ The boarding house brings Mary Kate love and friendships she never dreamed of, but just as her heart is about to burst with joy, a new guest arrives. The stern older woman won't speak about her past, but when Mary Kate uncovers her story, it reveals a devastating secret about her mother. With her life in turmoil once more, can Mary Kate draw on the strength of the women in the house to help her face her past, or will the tragedy she uncovers spell disaster for them all...? Heartwarming, but also extremely heartbreaking … I don’t think it really matters who you are, almost anyone would find something they enjoy about THE GIRLS FROM SEESAW LANE.” The Reading Head

This novel was heart-warming and filled with delightful, likeable characters. Set in Dublin in the 1950s, it was peopled with mostly Catholic women – women who had faced adversity of one kind or another. I really enjoyed the surprising complexity of this book. There is mystery, history, extensive character development, surprises…and much more. The basic questions that arrise in regards to how much our past and our family define who we are, our place in life, and who we are to become are fundamental in this narrative. How much the misgivings of those within our lives we should allow to affect our present and future is something that we all can identify with. It was so easy to slip into this uplifting story and get carried away by the drama that surrounds the life of Mary Kate. She is such an admirable person and I found myself constantly cheering her on and smiling when things turned around for her. Life, at the start, was not easy for this woman. She grew up in poverty after being abandoned by her mother as a baby. But she was not without love. Her special grandparents raised and taught her the things of most importance in life. And although she missed a mother-daughter relationship, she blossomed into a wonderful nurturing person who went on to help many hardship persons who came her way. One might say her previous suffering shaped her heart in ways that proved immensely useful when she inherited a large sum of money. Dublin 1952. When Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby, she’s stunned. All her life, she has longed to know why her mother disappeared, and now she’s devastated to realise that every lonely night she spent without a home or family of her own, her mother knew exactly where she was.Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby and finds herself a wealthy woman. Unsure of how to spend her inheritance, she elects to use the money to give people a helping hand, just as she has been helped. She remembers a large old house she has walked past and decides to turn the run-down place into a boarding house. It brings Mary Kate love and friendships beyond anything she had ever imagined. Brought me to tears numerous times with its emotive words and insightful views on life and love. The writing was simply breathtaking, it was witty and beautiful in the same measure and it has quite frankly stolen my heart.’ Stacy is Reading, 5 stars Dublin 1952. When Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby, she's stunned. All her life, she has longed to know why her mother disappeared, and now she's devastated to realise that every lonely night she spent without a home or family of her own, her mother knew exactly where she was. Set in 1950s Dublin, The Irish Boarding House is a wonderful exploration of second chances and kindness.

Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life” by Helen Fisher – Book Review @RandomTTours #BlogTour #BookReview @simonschusterUK #JoeNuthinsGuideToLife @HFisherAuthor November 20, 2023 Top Five Tuesday: 5 books that I’m thankful for in 2023 #Top5Tuesday #TuesdayBookBlog @MeeghanReads#TopFiveTuesday November 21, 2023 Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of The Irish Boarding house by Sandy Taylor. This is another beautifully written and heart-warming tale set in Dublin in 1952. I have all the authors books and she never disappoint. Oh my word what a story, I loved this book; witty, enchanting, that will definitely pull at your heartstrings as you read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars The Irish Boarding House is another exceptional read by Sandy Taylor which I enjoyed very much. I've read 6 books by this author so far, all 5 stars - this one will be no exception. Mary Kate is a kind, gentle and caring character, and those who surround her feel happy in her presence. The Irish Boarding House is a lovely read, and one I recommend highly.When her circumstances changed due to an unexpected inheritance, Mary Kate could have chosen to keep it all to herself. Instead, she reaches out to the less fortunate. Living in abhorrent conditions herself, Mary Kate knows all about the horrors of low-income living. Using the inheritance she buys a beautiful Georgian home and extends a hand up to those in similar situations she herself experienced. A large portion of the book is devoted to those who come to stay at 24 Merrion Square ~ The Irish Boarding House. Your heart will be warmed and you’ll be inspired to pay it forward ~ share a little kindness. If the past 2 years have taught us anything, it’s that we all need each other’s support to survive. A beautifully written tale of friendship, family, loyalty and betrayal. It is in turn both heart-warming and tragic.” The Welsh Librarian

Mrs. Mooney looks forward to her confrontation, which she intends to “win” by defending her daughter’s honor and convincing Mr. Doran to offer his hand in marriage. Waiting for the time to pass, Mrs. Mooney figures the odds are in her favor, considering that Mr. Doran, who has worked for a wine merchant for thirteen years and garnered much respect, will choose the option that least harms his career. First things first - a year and a half ago I read another by this author, The Irish Nanny. And I LOVED IT. It was in my Top Ten of the year, y'all. See below: Our main female character, Mary Kate Ryan, has to wrestle with all of this and more when she is confronted by the secrets, mysteries, and questions involving her own past, the mother which she did not get to grow up with, and her own hopes and goals with purchasing the home and trying to help others that also need a helping hand.

Brought me to tears numerous times with its emotive words and insightful views on life and love. The writing was simply breathtaking, it was witty and beautiful in the same measure and it has quite frankly stolen my heart.' Stacy is Reading, 5 stars Emma @damppebbles is honoring #bookbloggers with her annual #R3COMM3ND3D2023 – and today is myday! November 18, 2023

Now here's the thing about The Irish Boarding House - it had that same feeling of the world around me being erased, and I genuinely loved the characters and I didn't want to stop reading ... but it was also occasionally repetitive and simple? Plus even the *high stakes* moments never actually *felt* high stakes. I don't know that I've ever read a book that had this many plotlines wrapped up in such beautiful, tiny, lovely bows before. Writing this through tears, the funniest, most tearful book I've ever read. Fantastic.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars Oh my word what a story, I loved this book; witty, enchanting, that will definitely pull at your heartstrings as you read.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 star A heart-wrenching story full of family secrets. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.I absolutely adore this author. She has a way of transporting you to the world of her stories and the lives of her characters – books like hers are why I read. This was a beautiful book – I was invested in the lives of the characters, I lived out their dramas and came away changed… Loved it!” Renita D’Silva, 5 stars Poor Mary Kate was so down on herself and to be honest within these first few introductory chapters there really wasn’t much that would endear you to her as a character. But when she receives a letter in the box her fortunes are changed and this came at just the right point as things really were at a bad crossroads for Mary Kate. A solicitor writes to tell her that she is now a wealthy woman having inherited her mother’s fortune and several properties in London. From here on in there is a remarkable transformation in Mary Kate. It was like the burdens were shed from her shoulders and she was determined to do good in her life both for herself and so many others. I loved that yes there was still a slight bitterness towards her mother abandoning her but that she took the money and was determined to do good with it. New clothes, a new hairstyle and wearing makeup for the first time see a new Mary Kate for the first time and I loved seeing her confidence and ambition just grow and grow throughout the book. She was determined that every day was going to be a red letter day and that she would spread her good fortune to others in the hopes of improving other people’s lives too. Sandy’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.