USA Today Bestselling Author Jean Grainger wants to take you to Ireland…As someone raised in an orphanage, Carmel knows she should be grateful for a roof over her head and a respectable family, but she would love nothing more than to escape Birr, Co Offaly and get away from her husband, the monosyllabic Bill and his horrible sister forever.Life as Mrs Sheehan should be bearable, all she had to … bearable, all she had to do was look after the house and cook Bill’s meals. She didn’t even need to speak to him, in fact, he preferred that she didn’t.
But, as her fortieth birthday approaches, Carmel knows the change must be now or never. Her birth mother has offered her a lifeline from beyond the grave in the form of handsome, charming and kind Dr Sharif Khan.
He’s offering her a new life in London, one he assures her that her birth mother Dolly would want her to take, but the decision must be hers. A life filled with joy, friendship and the legacy of her mother’s enduring love for her awaits.
But can Carmel do it and scandalise the parish? Can she finally realise her own worth and live her life on her own terms?
The Future’s Not Ours to See is the next book in the Carmel Sheehan Story.
What reviewers say:
In the style of Maeve Binchy and Frank McCourt, Jean Grainger is destined to become one of the great Irish storytellers.’
Roberta Kagan, Bestselling author of With All My Love, Dietrich
‘Jean Grainger is rapidly becoming my favourite author. These characters feel like friends and I hate to leave them at the end.’
‘I love Ireland and everything Irish, I can’t afford to go there, so this is the next best thing.’
‘Good old-fashioned storytelling at it’s best. No profanity or violence, just a great story well told. I loved it.’
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Letters of Freedom #1 – Heartwarming. A well written, sad but uplifting story about two women and their losses. The short story is mesmerizing and can’t be put down and ends too soon. Although the two don’t meet, they end up sharing the same family. The abandoned child finds she had someone all along and now she’s part of a real family and treasured. I contacted the author to review her books after reading Shadow.
The Future’s Not Ours To See #2 – Starts where Letters of Freedom ends. A well written emotional ride of a story. The plot is fast paced and filled with a gamut of emotions. All the characters have personalities and are realistic, as is their dialog. This author does a wonderful job with descriptions of all sorts; and she carries you from emotion to another as the story unfolds. The agony and growth of the main female character is heart wrenching and uplifting at the same time. The metamorphosis she experiences is awe inspiring; yes, you can say she becomes a beautiful butterfly with all the love and the support. I wish I could say more, but this is a review, not a book report.
Everything I’ve read by this author is well worth the time invested. You walk away with something substantial that actually has meaning. There are so many fun, likable characters that when an evil one appears, it is dramatic. Start with Letters of Freedom and finish the journey with The Future’s Not Ours To See.
What Will Be Will Be #3 – Another wonderful, heartwarming period in Carmel’s story. Carmel has grown so much in the past year and that growth brings great happiness and bigger changes to her life. Ms. Grainger’s talent to tell a story, with vivid descriptions; interesting, caring characters; and realistic dialog and adventures makes this book difficult to put down. Nothing different from the other books of the series. The ending is a perfect way to finalize the series, but it also leaves the future open for another book down the road.
This book is a sequel to Letters of Freedom, but works as a stand alone also. I was delighted to learn where Carmel’s journey took her. These characters draw you into their world. Once started I cannot put Jean Grainger’s books down. Her stories are so wonderful even though parts make me cry! Carmel had been alone so long. It is great to see her run after (and find) love. I highly recommend this book.
I don’t take divorce lightly – but I still enjoyed this book. Glad everything turned out for her but life doesn’t usually work out this way. Characters were very interesting.
I liked the Irish background and details and the hospice issues but felt the characters were at times unbelievable. The protagonist was well-drawn, but her husband: unemotional, non-communicative, not ever consummating a marriage after many years, suddenly does an about-face and calls up his mean sister to help out the protagonist who left him. But an OK read for the most part.
Interesting, somewhat drawn out. Disappointed that decision discussed frequently throughout last half of book never came to fruition.
About 80% done reading this and am really enjoying it. It is one I want to keep reading. Inspiring!
I have read several of Jean’s books, and she is a wonderful storyteller. She weaves a tale with plots and twists that you don’t always see coming. The Future’s Not Ours to See continues a story from a novella, Letters of Freedom. The story of Carmel is heartbreaking and heartwarming. You won’t want to miss it!
Can’t wait for book 3!!