Sandy Taylor Boeken

Ireland, 1924. For thirteen-year-old Nora Doyle every day is a fight for survival in Ballybun, the rural Irish village she calls home. Each night, as she feels the cold wind blowing through the cracks of her family's cramped cottage, Nora longs to escape the poverty surrounding her, and find her place in the world. When she meets Edward, from the grand house that looms over her tiny village, she feels an unlikely kinship that is impossible to explain, and as she grows from an impulsive child into a beautiful woman, Nora spends every moment she can with him. But Edward holds the key to a devastating truth about Nora's own family that will change her life forever, leading Nora away from the village, to the bright, dazzling lights of Dublin, and the charming baker Joe Lynch. But sorrow is never far away for an Irish village girl, and when tragedy strikes, Nora must return to Ballybun and face up to the truth that drove her away. But back amongst the familiar sights and smells of her childhood, Nora feels herself drawn once more to her old life, and love, and she faces an impossible choice. Can she deny her roots, or will she always be the girl from Paradise Alley?A heart-wrenching story of love, loss and the power of friendship during unimaginable hardship. This book is perfect for fans of Orphan Train and Diney Costeloe's The Girl with No Name

Brighton 1930: Maureen O'Connell is a carefree girl, but her family is on the brink of tragedy, war is looming and life will never be the same again. Jack and Nelson have always been dear friends to Maureen. Despite their different backgrounds, they've seen each other through thick and thin. As Maureen blossoms from a little girl into a young woman, the candle she's always held for Jack burns bright. But just as she's found love, war wrenches them apart. The man she cherishes with all her heart is leaving. When the bombs start to fall, Maureen and her family find themselves living in the most dangerous of times. With Jack no longer by her side and Nelson at war, Maureen has never felt more alone. Can she look to a brighter future? And will she find the true happiness she's dreamt of?

Brighton 1963. Mary Pickles and I walked along the street with our arms linked, looking in shop windows. We were best friends and together we were invincible.

Brighton 1969: Dottie Perks steps off the train and breathes in the sea air, the smell of fish and chips, and the precious childhood memories of a friend and place she'll never forget.

Dottie and Mary forged a friendship over a bag of penny sweets when they were eight years old. They've shared everything together since then - the highs and lows of school, family dramas, hopes and dreams and now, at seventeen, they're both shop girls, working at Woolworths. As they go out in the world in pursuit of love and happiness, the simplicity of their childhood dissolves as life becomes more complicated. The heady excitement of first love will consume them both, but the pain of unintentional betrayal will test their friendship in ways neither of them could ever imagine ..

Ireland, 1901: The work house gates clanged shut behind us, as me and the mammy walked down the hill towards the town. I was six years old and leaving the only home I had ever known... When Cissy Ryan's real mother comes to claim her from the workhouse, it's not how she imagined. Her family's tumbledown cottage has ice on the inside of its windows and is in an isolated, poverty-stricken village in the muddy Irish countryside. But when Cissy is allowed to help neighbour Colm Doyle and his horse named Blue on their milk round one morning, Cissy starts to feel as though friendship could get her through anything. It's Colm who looks in on Cissy's grandfather when she starts at the village school, and Colm who tells her to hold her chin high when she interviews for a position at the grand Bretton House. But in the vast mansion with its shining floors and sweeping staircase, it's Master Peter Bretton who captures Cissy's heart with his dark curls and easy laugh. As Cissy blossoms from a skinny orphan into a confident young girl, Colm tells her she's as good as anyone and she begins to believe anything is possible. But not everyone with a kind smile has a kind heart, and Cissy doesn't know that further sorrow lies in store for her. When Cissy finds herself desperate, alone, and faced with a devastating choice, can she find the strength to survive?

The narrative unfolds as a mother arrives in America, clutching her baby amidst a fierce sea wind, symbolizing both the challenges and hopes of her new beginning. The weight of her past lingers, yet she is determined to forge ahead, prioritizing her child's safety above all else. This poignant moment captures the essence of resilience and the emotional turmoil of starting anew in an unfamiliar land.

Set in a neglected house at 24 Merrion Square, Mary Kate discovers a profound connection to its silent, empty rooms. As she grapples with her past, the house becomes a potential refuge for her healing journey, offering a backdrop of both mystery and introspection. The overgrown rose bushes symbolize the untamed emotions she must confront, suggesting that the space holds the key to her recovery and self-discovery.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows two evacuee sisters on a poignant quest to reunite with their family. Their journey is filled with challenges and emotional turmoil, highlighting the resilience of sibling bonds amidst the chaos of war. Through their experiences, the narrative explores themes of loss, hope, and the enduring strength of love, making it a deeply moving tale of survival and the longing for home.