On New Year’s Day 1925 Ivy Rose Murphy awakes to find her world changed forever. Her irresponsible Da is dead. She is grief-stricken and alone – but for the first time in her life free to please herself. After her mother deserted the family, Ivy became the sole provider for her da and three brothers. Pushing a pram around the well-to-do areas of Dublin every day, she begged for the discards of … discards of the wealthy which she then turned into items she could sell around Dublin’s markets.
As she visits the morgue to pay her respects to her Da, a chance meeting introduces Ivy to a new world of money and privilege, her mother’s world. Ivy is suddenly a woman on a mission to improve herself and her lot in life.
Jem Ryan is the owner of a livery near Ivy’s tenement. When an accident occurs in one of his carriages, leaving a young girl homeless, it is Ivy he turns to. With Jem and the people she meets in her travels around Dublin, Ivy begins to break out of the poverty-ridden world that is all she has ever known.
Through Streets Broad and Narrow is a story of strength and determination in the unrelenting world that was Dublin tenement life.
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Loved this book and then discovered that it is the first in a series of 4…immediately ordered the other three and they are just as good.
Loved this book and the three that follow.
I have read the entire series. I really enjoyed seeing the way people may have lived in the poorer areas of London in the 1800s. The heroine is brave and industrious. Loved her ideas for making a better life for herself and those around her.
What a woman, Ivy Rose! I wish I had her grit.
Good historical fiction
I enjoyed the glimpse into this time period.
I am 82 and only buy $1.99 books, the rest of the series are more expensive. I might be tempted though,
Best of all the books I’ve read that were recommended by BookBub!
I was transported to Ivy’s world in Dublin during the 1920’s. I love any book that celebrates the spirit of women and their journeys of empowerment.
I love reading stories from this era – early 1900’s Ireland and how a young girl survives extreme poverty with her alcoholic father.
Charming and enthralling. After reading this I bought the rest of the series. Easy to read and held my interest all the way through. I would love for the series to continue!
I read it in two sittings. Great characters and great historical fiction.
This is the first bok of a series. After reading this one, I got the other 3 and read them all one after another.
Loved all the books in this series
Enjoyed the characters and seeing them develop
Original – wonderful, colorful characters one can really root for. Strong, inventive, honorable and sympathetic female. a glimpse of another time, place and way of life.
A period setting in early 1900 Ireland. The lead character doesn’t let anything stop her from helping others and bettering herself. A real feminist hero.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters are easy to relate to, and once you slip into the accented speech, it is fun to envision the whole scene.
This beautifully written book grabbed me from the start. It was compelling. The historical aspect is incredible. I became so wrapped up in the characters and story that I cannot stop until I’ve read the series. What a fabulous writer!
Great insight on how less fortunate people had to live during that period.