A bestseller in the UK, this moving debut novel is a modern Philomena story of love, both lost and found.Secrets can’t last forever. . . . In a crumbling mansion in a small Irish village in County Wicklow, two elderly sisters, Ella and Roberta O’Callaghan, live alone in Roscarbury Hall with their secrets, memories, and mutual hatred. Long estranged, the two communicate only by terse notes. But … estranged, the two communicate only by terse notes. But when the sisters are threatened with bankruptcy, Ella defies Roberta’s wishes and converts the mansion’s old ballroom into a café.
Much to Roberta’s displeasure, the café is a hit and the sisters are reluctantly drawn back into the village life they abandoned decades ago. But gossip has a long life. As the local convent comes under scrutiny, the O’Callaghan sisters find themselves caught up in an adoption scandal that dates back to the 1960s and spreads all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.
Only by overcoming their enmity and facing up to the past can they face the future together—but can they finally put their differences behind them?
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I recommend this book, I really enjoyed it and I wasn’t sure that I would. This book is very relevant to current news stories. In the news recently, we have heard about babies buried in the septic at a former home for unwed mothers in Ireland. I questioned the mind frame of the mothers of these poor babies and how could they not know what happened to their children. As a mother it is hard fathom. I read this book expecting to think the worst of these women. I have come away with a better understanding of how this could have taken place, and a deep sense of empathy for the mothers and children alike.
I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and kept me turning pages well into the night. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something new was added to the plot that changed everything.
Wow! I loved the way the secrets were slowly, and logically revealed as the story progressed. The setting and the characters were charming. People and places with whom I enjoyed “spending my time” as I read the book. This book will be my next choice for my book club.
I just loved it. I loved all the characters. And I thought the story line very interesting.I have sisters. I can understand the relationship. But I would have run that one off.
A fun book for passing the time.
I loved this book. I’m a big fan of British murder mysteries and this was a nice change from the murder part. The characters were well developed and I fell in love with most of them.
Had a hard time getting into… Characters introduced out of nowhere… Really wanted to like this
Sad but good life lesson in this story. A bit far fetched that two siblings could be so divided and stubborn yet still live under the same roof.
A very sad story which happened to many young women in Ireland.
Absolutely heartbreaking. I felt such anger at what happened to so many young women at the hands of their families and the nuns. This story was well written and kept me guessing.
This book deals with the harshness of poor families reality at one time in Ireland. Great characters. Some spots hard to read or fathom.
It was somewhat jumbled. I had to go back a couple of times to see if I had missed something. It was interesting.
I loved this book and every one of Kate Morton’s books. I started out with The Forgotten Garden and that did it for me. I just can’t wait for another one.
Liked the atmosphere and characters of the story.
great escapism reading! Thoroughly enjoyable!
I enjoyed reading this book; there was enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages and wondering about the conclusion and well-developed characters – I wanted them to find resolution.
different. not always realistic, but a good read
Good read
A Different Type of Story,and perspective!
This book told of a time in England when young single pregnant women had their babies taken from them and given for adoption without their permission, and some of the people involved. Most were told their babies had died. Although this was a fictional account, it has made me wish to read non-fiction about the same topic.
We need to learn more of history so that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.
Nicely drawn characters, but predictable