A Secret Daughter from Ireland by Ann O'Loughlin

A Secret Daughter from Ireland

Book Summary

The young woman gazes at the Irish sea for the final time, a careful hand on her stomach. She will do anything to keep her unborn daughter safe, even if it means leaving this gorgeous house forever...

Becky gazes at the name of the village in her mother’s will: Orchid Bay, Ireland. It sounds like a magical place, so why did she never mention she owned a house there? Desperate to feel close to her mother again, Becky decides to escape her life in New York and travel to the wild Irish coast with her teenage daughter, Jen.

When she arrives, she finds peeling paint and a garden overgrown with wildflowers. Becky knows her mother would have wanted her to breathe new life into this house by the sea. And when local chef Ben, with his warm grey eyes, lilting Irish accent and kind smile, volunteers to help, they begin to renovate the house. And as they work together, Becky feels her heart slowly mending…

But before she can imagine a new life in the place that has captured her heart, Becky finds an old envelope lodged behind a painting. In the crinkled pages, she learns about doomed romances by the Irish sea and a pregnant daughter who was driven from the town in shame. Becky’s heart breaks as she thinks of her own daughter. But could this tragic love story explain why her mother kept this house a secret?

When Becky finally uncovers the connection between the letter and her family, it devastates her. Will the truth tear apart the happiness she has found? Or will she and her daughter finally be able to make a home with a new community here in this beautiful place?

An utterly emotional and page-turning read bursting with Irish magic, perfect for fans of Susanne O’Leary, Cathy Kelly and Mary Alice Monroe.

About the Author

Ann is the Irish author of five novels and has been translated into eleven languages. Her first novel The Ballroom Cafe was also an ebook bestseller and in the top 20 bestselling books of 2015 on Amazon UK. Ann loves to write and often gets up at 5am to get the words down, before starting her other job of writing as a news reporter. A leading journalist in Ireland, Ann has covered all major news events in a long career with Independent Newspapers, Ireland. She is now a senior journalist with the Irish Examiner specialising in legal issues. Ann has also lived in India. Originally from the west of Ireland she now lives on the east coast with her husband and family.

Author Links

https://www.facebook.com/annoloughlinbooks/

https://www.instagram.com/authorannoloughlin/

https://x.com/annolwriter

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Ann O'Loughlin here: https://www.bookouture.com/ann-oloughlin.

My Thoughts

A Secret Daughter from Ireland by Ann O’Loughlin took me to Orchid Bay, County Wicklow, Ireland along with Becky and her teenage daughter, Jen.  I felt for Becky who was taking one hit after another.  I cannot imagine arriving in Ireland with hopes for new start and finding your new home in a state of disrepair. Jen, being an angsty teenager, was little help in the beginning. She does love her mother and supports her.  The townspeople were a quirky bunch.  They added humor to the story.  I find the characters to be relatable, and they drive the story.  Becky is curious as to why her mother owned Coolnamona House and she hopes that the house holds the answers.  A Secret Daughter from Ireland is a story about secrets, new beginnings, family drama, unexpected revelations, romance, reconciliations, and forgiveness.  I wanted more local color in the story, so that I would feel transported to Ireland.   I enjoyed the uplifting ending that left me smiling.  A Secret Daughter from Ireland is the first heartwarming tale in Orchid Bay series, and  I am curious to see what will happen next in Orchid Bay.  

A Secret Daughter from Ireland is available from Amazon* (you can read it for free if you belong to Kindle Unlimited).  You can find Ann O'Loughlin's other novels here.  If you follow Ann O'Loughlin on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for joining me today.  

Here is one of the inflatable trees that I have in my yard for Halloween.  I also have a tree that a witch ran into while flying on her broom.  The witch's cat is hanging onto a branch and her broom is stuck at the top of the tree.  I love incorporating humor into my displays.  I will continue working on my display this weekend.  I have not had much time this week to work on it.  I will return on Tuesday, October 7 with A Hidden Hope by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Changing Seasons for the Country Nurse by Kate Eastham

 Changing Seasons for the 

Country Nurse

Book Summary

In the quiet Lancashire countryside of 1936, city-trained nurse Lara Flynn must contend with far more than muddy lanes and boisterous farm dogs. Still recovering from a past trauma and an ill-fated love affair, she’s determined to prove herself as a capable district nurse and midwife to a community that doesn’t easily welcome outsiders.

As autumn sets in, Lara becomes a trusted presence at Ingleside Surgery - soothing frightened patients, forming a close bond with her spirited colleague Marion and earning the grudging respect of the erratic but brilliant senior doctor. But behind the laughter and team spirit, shadows loom. There’s loss, secrets buried deep in the hearts of her new friends and a face from her past that threatens everything Lara's tried to leave behind.

When tragedy strikes a patient - a younger mother with four small children - Lara’s personal strength is tested like never before. Can she dig deep to find hope and healing, not just for those she cares for, but also for herself?

Changing Seasons for the Country Nurse is a brand-new, heartfelt and nostalgic read that describes the quiet heroism of a woman making a difference in her community, one visit at a time.

My Thoughts

Changing Seasons for the Country Nurse by Kate Eastham takes us to Lancashire in 1936 where Lara Flynn is settling in nicely.  I like the cast of characters in this series.  There are the two doctors, Marion (the other nurse), and the housekeeper, Mrs. Hewitt.  We get to follow Lara as she goes about her daily life as a nurse.  She visits patients and helps the doctors in the surgery (aka office hours).  I do not know how she manages to ride her bicycle on some of those roads in the rain (it always seems to be raining).  It is a good thing there was the cozy Aga stove in the kitchen.  We get to meet a variety of different villagers as Lara goes about her rounds.  I felt for Mrs. Lennox who was having her fourth child. It did not seem right that the oldest child had to stay home from school to take care of the other two kids (he was only a child himself).  Lara and the rest of the household don their finest duds to attend a ball.  We get to see Lara build trust with her patients and make friends. The visiting nurses made a difference in their patients’ lives as we see in this story.  Changing Seasons for the Country Nurse is the second book in Diary of a Country Nurse series.  It can be read as a standalone, but you will better understand Lara if you read A Fresh Start for the Country Nurse first.  I enjoyed reading this heartwarming historical tale.  

Changing Seasons for the Country Nurse is available from Amazon*.  The first book in the Diary of a Country Nurse series is A Fresh Start for the Country Nurse (you can read for free with Kindle Unlimited).  The third book in Diary of a Country Nurse series will be out on May 7, 2026.  If you follow Kate Eastham on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for popping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, August 26 with Danger in the Wilderness by Darlene L. Turner.  

This is 8 of the ducklings (the others are in the side yard outside the porch)

The ducks had a moment yesterday.  Mama Duck must have needed a break.  The duckling were out in my side yard on their own, but one little fellow got seperated from the others after getting a drink of water (I have water bowls out there for them).  You should have heard the squeaking (I heard it in my kitchen).  I had to help the little fellow find his way back to his siblings.  Mama Duck returned about ten minutes later after the duckling took shelter on my screened porch (that is what I get for having a cat door).  I am very glad that I did not put the rug down yet (they would have it a mess).  I hope that you have an entertaining weekend.  Take care, stay cool (I hope fall arrives soon), and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Seeking Evil by Mary Alford

 Seeking Evil

Book Summary

No one knows where she is. . .

When BAU Agent Sierra Parker's car dies in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, she breaks a critical rule by catching a ride with a kind stranger. This decision leads her straight into the lair of a serial killer, where she discovers she isn't the first victim. Barrels containing the remains of those who went before her line a wall proving none of them escaped their captor. Can Sierra outwit the seasoned killer to save her life, or will she become the latest victim buried in a barrel?

The last Agent Zeke London heard from Sierra was when she told him she needed to get away to figure things out between them. That was over a week ago and his calls have been met with radio silence. Can he do the impossible and locate Sierra in the middle of the mountains before it's too late?

My Thoughts

Seeking Evil by Mary Alford is an intriguing story.  The prologue drew me in, and my interest was held as I progressed through the book. The characters are developed and varied. The mystery was full of suspense and action.  There were several suspects, but one stood out to me (I love solving whodunits).  I was happy to see that my guess was correct during the reveal. Sierra is a courageous woman.  She is smart and tenacious.  Sierra used her training to her advantage.  I imagine that it can be hard holding on to hope as time passes.  I enjoyed the epilogue.  Seeking Evil is the third book in the Hallowed Hall series.  It can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series like me (it will, though, have you wanting to go back and read the first two books in the series).  Seeking Evil is a captivating tale with missing climbers, romance woes, a creepy killer, troubled team members, disturbing barrels, and a bothered boyfriend. 

Seeking Evil is available from Amazon.  It can be read for free if you are a Kindle Unlimited member.  The first two books in the Hallowed Hall series are Don't Close Your Eyes and The Last to Know (both are available through Kindle Unlimited).  Mary Alford has Amish Country Killer coming out April 1.  You can follow the author on Amazon, and they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for popping by today.  I will return tomorrow to share my thoughts on Essence of Foul Play by Daryl Wood Gerber.  I hope that you have a peaceful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

The Antique Store Detective by Clare Chase

 The Antique Store Detective

Book Summary

Meet Bella Winter. She loves vintage clothes, antiques and… solving crimes?

Bella Winter moved to charming Hope Eaton for some peace and quiet after quitting her busy city job. She delights in spending time in her little antique store on top of the hill, hunting for bargains at auctions, and getting to know everybody – because if there’s one thing Bella’s good at, it’s solving other people’s problems.

But her peaceful life is overturned when she finds eccentric local historian Professor Oliver Barton dead in the ruins of Raven Hall, a trowel lying near his outstretched hand. At first, Bella is like everyone else: saddened by a tragic accident. But then her colleague John asks her to dig deeper. Because the dead man gave him an ancient coin he should never have had, and John thinks he was murdered.

It turns out the professor was hunting for buried treasure in the middle of the night. But who would have wanted him dead? And who are the four suspicious women he told John about, calling them the queens of hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades…?

As Bella delves into the case she uncovers a hoard of suspects: the lord of the manor, a secretive group of treasure hunters, the dead man’s desperate niece and her no-good son. And when another local historian takes a fatal tumble, she is certain that the answers lie in the antiques the professor stole. 

But can she solve the crime before someone tries to bury her?

My Thoughts

The Antique Store Detective by Clare Chase is the first A Bella Winter Mystery.   The author takes her time in setting the scene describing the village, the antique store, the manor home, and Bella’s apartment.  We get to meet a host of characters when Bella goes to the pub or people come to her antique shop.  I like that Bella is now living in the same apartment where her father resided.  You can tell how much Bella cared for father. Bella finds a man dead who was nighthawking on the grounds of the local manor house.  

I had not heard of nighthawking previously, and it was interesting to learn about this practice.  Bella along with her employee, John Jenks, dig into whodunit.  Bella, of course, does not believe the police are up to the task.  There are several suspects who have a motive.  John seems to be related to over half the village, which helps in obtaining information as well as questioning suspects.  Of course, Bella retires to the pub to share the information she has learned with her friends.  This leads to repetition of case details.  While parts of the mystery were interesting, the solution was simple.  There was a lack of action, suspense, and excitement.  The ending felt incomplete.  The story moved at a slow pace (snail’s move faster), and it was too long (375 pages).  As the saying goes, The Antique Store Detective was not my cup of tea! 

The Antique Store Detective is available from Amazon*.  You can read it for free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited. I suggest you download a sample and see if the book suits you.  The next A Bella Winter Mystery is The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder.  Thank you for coming by today.  Booked on Murder by Allison Brook (I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours on August 8) and Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs (I will be a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours on August 13) are out today.  I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on The Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble.  My mother and I survived Hurricane Debby. It rained heavily and the winds were strong (I am glad that my wind chimes are hung securely for not one of them fell off).  I do have a tall flag pole that is leaning.  I am waiting for the water to go down, so I can assess the damage to my garden (time to pull out my wellies).  I am just grateful that both of us are okay and so is our home.  I hope that you have cheery day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

The Orphans' Amish Christmas by Tracy Fredrychowski

 The Orphans' Amish Christmas

Book Summary

It will take an Amish miracle to save Christmas for the Willow Springs Children's Home orphans.

When presents are stolen right before the annual Christmas benefit, Lydia Troyer and Aaron Shetler join forces with Detective Lewis Powers to unravel the mystery. The town's Christmas spirit is tested by strange events that leave the community ready to cancel all holiday festivities.

When prominent Amish businessman Milo Glick goes missing, it will take special detective skills to discover the truth behind his sudden disappearance. As the closed-lipped Amish community hinders Detective Powers' efforts, he is forced to employ Lydia, Aaron, and one special Labrador named Yankee to help solve the case. Will their discovery put them at odds with the traditions of their beliefs, or will they bring a newfound hope to the true meaning of Christmas?

Christmas should be a time for joy and hope, but for fourteen orphaned children, all is lost unless Lydia can find a way to give them more than they could hope for this holiday season.

The Orphans’ Amish Christmas is an Amish mystery novella that introduces you to the Willow Springs Amish Mystery Romance Series. If you like secrets, disappearances, plot twists, and sometimes murder, then you'll adore Tracy Fredrychowski's small-town whodunnit Amish mysteries.

My Thoughts

The Orphans’ Amish Christmas by Tracy Fredrychowski is a tale that mixes a mystery alone with the true meaning of Christmas.  I thought the story was well written with realistic characters.  I enjoyed getting to spend time with Lydia, Aaron, Aaron’s sweet daughter, and Lydia’s dog, Yankee.  Thanks to the case of the missing gifts and the disappearance of their benefactor, Milo Glick, we get to know Detective Powers.  The story has a touch of romance.  I would have liked to have read Lydia and Aaron’s story (how they came to be together) before this novella.  I enjoyed following Detective Powers as well as Lydia and Aaron as they set out to find Milo and the missing gifts.  It was an interesting mystery.  I enjoyed how the true meaning of Christmas was explained.  I could understand why Aaron’s daughter wanted a Christmas tree at home.  I liked Aaron’s explanation as to why the Amish do not have Christmas trees.  The story has a heartwarming ending.

The Orphans' Amish Christmas is available from Amazon*.  If you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free.  The Amish Book Seller will be out June 4, 2024.  It is the first A Willow Springs Amish Mystery Romance. You can find Tracy Fredrychowski's other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on December 12 with Ruth's Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne.  I hope that you have a delightful weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn by Tracy Fredrychowski & Debra Torres

 An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn

Book Summary

Two sisters. Two stories. One great Amish Christmas read.

Orphaned just weeks before Christmas, the Beiler sisters suddenly discover they could lose their home and what’s worse—each other. To make ends meet, sisters Sadie and Katie are plunged into working at Willow Spring's Apple Blossom Inn.

But will their efforts be enough?

Sadie -Struggling with pride, Sadie yearns to bake scrumptious treats in the inn’s kitchen instead of cleaning floors and toilets. But when she makes the mistake of her life, can Sadie and the inn’s handsome maintenance worker Jubal King create a plan to help save her family and maybe even the Apple Blossom Inn?

Katie – On the cusp of a family tragedy, Katie must put her trust in the Lord and step into a mostly English world. When Jeremiah Hershberger returns to Willow Springs looking for answers, Katie sets out on a journey to help him discover secrets of his past.

Can these young women find a way to bring the joy of Christmas back to their family and to Willow Springs?

German Christmas Stollen

My Thoughts

An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn by Tracy Fredrychowski and Debra Torres contains two sweet stories.  The Beiler sisters have just lost their mother who was their last remaining parent.  Amanda, the eldest sister, must now stay home to take care of the home and the younger siblings.  It has been decided that Sadie and Katie will split their sister’s former job at the Apple Blossom Inn.  Their salary will help pay for the mortgage on the house. We get to see the period following the mother’s funeral from Sadie and Katie’s point of view.   I found both stories to be easy to read.  I liked meeting the Beiler sisters.  The stories focus on the Apple Blossom Inn, faith, a touch of romance, and Christmas.  Thanks to her best friend Sadie faith is deepening plus she is getting a better understanding of the scriptures.  Sadie is learning the power of prayer and giving her worries to God.  

Katie’s faith is strong.  She knows that God will direct her where she should go.  Katie has learned the importance of slowing down and allowing for quiet so she can hear God’s voice.  I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the Apple Blossom Inn decorated for Christmas.  Jeremiah’s story was especially touching.  I like how it turned out plus we get to learn the reason behind Mrs. Sorenson’s attitude (the owner of the Apple Blossom Inn).  Miracles do happen at Christmas as we see in Katie’s story.  With faith, family, and love we see that anything is possible.  An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn contains two heartwarming tales with distressed sisters, a bitter boss, a recipe catastrophe, a special keepsake, a nagging neighbor, and God’s guidance.  

Clementine Cake

An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn is available from Amazon*.  If you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for free.  You can find Tracy Fredrychowski's other novels here.  You can locate Debra Torres' other books here on Amazon.  Thank you for dropping by today.  It is hard to believe that there are only two months left in 2022.  The year has gone by so quickly.   Tomorrow I am featuring A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James.  It is the third A Beloved  Bookroom Mystery.  I hope that you have an uplifting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.