Susanne O'Leary

This book was an easy read and it had everything it needed to be a good book - a well written plot, a bit of romance, a bit of mystery plus a beautiful friendly town. The descriptions of Ireland were so beautiful that I felt like I was there and that I should pack my suitcase and make a trip to this rugged area on the Irish coast.

Laura was a nurse and a care giver to Josephine after her stroke. They spent two years together and became good friends. When Josephine died, she left Laura a cottage in the beautiful village of Sandy Cove on the west coast of Ireland, a painting and her beloved old dog Ken. Laura decides to visit the cottage and falls in love with the town and the people who lived there. She misses her old friend and needs to recuperate from her loss. Even though Laura was in her 50s, she was still happily single even though she still hoped that she would find love in the future and the town has several men who could make that wish come true. The painting is a bit of a mystery because Josephine asked her to find out who is in the painting and to return it to its real owner. As she learns more about the painting, she finds out that its very valuable and was painted on the beach below her cottage. But how will she find the real owner? As she is falling in love with her new town and one of the men in town, Josephine's only son is planning to contest the will claiming that Laura somehow got his mother to leave valuable items to her instead of her family. Laura isn't sure whether she'll be able to stay in Sandy Cove or lose the ownership of the beautiful cottage.

Laura is a well written main character - she works hard and appreciates all she's been given. Her upbeat personality makes it easy for her to become friends with everyone in the village and she's overall just a nice person. The descriptions of Ireland are beautiful and made me wish (for a short time) that I was living in one of the Starlight cottages. The Lost Mother of Ireland is book 6 in a series but can be read as a standalone with no confusion. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to read all of the earlier books in the series to learn more about the people who live in Sandy Cove.… (mais)

If you want a warm, cosy and feel-good inner glow, then this sequel to A Woman's Place is just the thing.

This picks up the story of Sonja from the previous book through 20s/30s/40s America and we witness her life's loves, ups and downs, hopes and achievements.

As with A Woman's Place, the author has taken her information from her great aunt's letters and diaries, keeping as true to them as possible.

Susanne's style is comfortable, and expressive and it's almost a compulsion to follow Sonja's life – you laugh with her, you cry with her and most of all you feel the utmost pride for the way she shaped her life with dignity, with acceptance and with thoughtfulness.

Considerably shorter than A Woman's Place, this did not compromise the quality or pleasure of the book one little bit; it is captivating and complete and Susanne's style is easy-going, but assured.

I loved it.… (mais)