Really enjoyed this gentle story set in Ireland. The setting was so well described it has made me want to go to Sandy Cove. A story of heartbreak and also of strength after Lydia's life is shattered through no fault of her own. Through a small piece of fortune she and her daughter can relocate to the small village of Sandy Cove. Slowly she manages to find her feet and carve out a new life for herself and her daughter - not forgetting Lucky the dog. I am so please this is the start of a series and I have to know what happens to Lydia next. Will certainly be reading more by this author.

This was a heart warming and uplifting story.

I loved the descriptions of Ireland and it made me want to visit.

The characters flow well with the story.

It kept me reading from page 1 to the end.

Highly recommend this story.

The Lost Girls of Ireland is the first book I have read by Susanne O'Leary though I have seen her name before. Now I will be on the lookout for more books including her backlist because I enjoyed this story immensely. Lydia Butler and her daughter, Sunny, wind up in Wild Rose Bay, not really how she had thought her life would go.

The splendid word images of the Irish landscape are only outdone by the deep character development of the characters - Lydia, Sunny and Jason. I also fell in love with many of the local supporting characters too. Such a heartwarming and heart searching story of Lydia’s new beginning in life. What she lost was not nearly as great as what she gained in Wild Rose Bay.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed The Lost Girls of Ireland. It was the perfect book to escape into. The descriptions of the setting transported you to the cost of Ireland and you couldn't help but root for Lydia the whole time. I did wish Aunt Nellie's story was a little more fleshed out and there were more details to it than what was given. Overall this was an enjoyable read and would be the perfect companion at the beach.

My first Suzanne O'Leary and the first book in a new series and, my goodness, what an opener! I loved it. Finding out your late husband had been committing fraud and money laundering, leaving her with very little money, Lydia had no idea what she was going to do. Luckily, her solicitor remembered that her Great Aunt had left her a property a few hundred miles away. Would this just be a short term solution and she's be able to move back to Dublin and her old life?

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Lost Girls of Ireland" in exchange for my honest review.

Once again Ms. O'Leary has allowed us to return to the gorgeous Sandy Cove and add new characters to ones that we already love.

This story revolves around Lydia Butler and her 14-year-old daughter Sunny. After the death of her husband of 20 years - Barry, Lydia learns that he was not the man that she thought he was. As she loses everything that they had because of his shady business dealings, a ray of hope opens for her and Sunny. She was left a cottage by her great-aunt Nellie in Kerry. She had known about the cottage but as it had been let-out for the past 10-years she had totally forgotten about it. As this is all that she has left in her name they pack up their meagre belongings and head to Sandy Cove in Ballinskelligs.

There she meets some of the most down-to-earth and real people that she has every been around. Her immediate neighbour is Jason O'Callaghan from Boston but with Irish roots. Talking to him through the hedge their first night there, starts her on the road to healing. The other neighbours are Saskia DeVries and Ella Caron.

We also get to visit with some old friends again. Sorcha Keating who runs the grocery store. Brian O'Connor, the vet. Helen O'Dwyer, the owner of a pharmaceutical company, wife of Dr. Pat and the mother of actor turned politician Mick O'Dwyer.

We learn about Aunt Nellie and her romance with Hans Mueller - a German pilot who crash landed on the mountain during WWII.

Lydia takes several odd jobs around the village to make ends meet but continues to dream of returning to her glamourous life in Dublin. Until she learns that what will cure her feelings of being lost and lonely are right there in Sandy Cove. A place where there is community, love and friend around every corner.

There are a few continuity errors that would have you re-reading paragraphs trying to figure out what was really being said.

Pg. 95/232 - "as she got ready and put Lucky on his lead..." a few sentences later it reads "Lucky greeted Lydia ecstatically, jumping and barking, wagging his tail furiously as she came into the living room ... I'm happy to see you, too. And now we're going for a walk."

Pg. 106/232 - Brian is all of a sudden written as Brendan.

Pg. 116/232 - "the weather turned stormy and wet, and it lasted several weeks." Then on Pg. 117-118/232 - "I saw this man coming out of an Audi outside your house last week."

A brilliant read and as always, I am eager to see where the next book in the series will take us. The stories are always so richly written and the reader can see themselves following the characters around. All the characters are so engaging that you feel like they are your friends as well.

4,5* rounded to 5
Sometimes you need a heartwarming and uplifting book that makes you smile and travel to lovely places and this what happens when I read Sandy Cove books.
This one was no exception and it ticked almost all the check on my list.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it engrossing and entertaining.
Lydia is an interesting character that face a huge change in her life. Even if she’s a bit passive she also grows in the book becoming her own woman.
I liked the characters in this book and think they are well developed and interesting.
The descriptions of the setting are great and they made me crave to be there. I think that the place is a character on its own. one that always makes you wish to live there and be able to explore the coves and walk around.
It’s another good addition to this beloved series.
It’s recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book swept me off my feet. It was absolutely delightful. And I loved Lydia's character. She was so strong headed and had a wonderful daughter who was very understanding of her mother.
Loved this story so much. The writing was brilliant and though I have never been to Ireland, it felt like I was a part of the story and travelling to all of the places as I read the story. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

I cannot wait to read more by the author as she has completely charmed me with her writing.

If you haven't read this book yet, I would urge you to read this one.

Thank you to to the Netgalley for this lovely book in exchange for my honest review.

The Lost Girls of Ireland is about a major life change in Julia Butlers life. She is married to a very successful Dublin businessman. They live in the prominent circles in Dublin. She is know as the best dressed woman in Ireland and only wears designer clothing. On day when she received a call that her husband has had a fatal heart attack at the airport. This was a shock however the biggest surprise was when she met with her attorney. She learns that her husband was fleeing the country as he has been investigated for fraud and the government has seized all of their assets. The only thing in her name is a beachside cottage left to her by her great aunt Lilly. This cottage has been rented with the proceeds in a bank account for Lilly. To survive, Lydia and her daughter move to the cottage while leaving instructions for the house snd furnishings to be sold to cover debts owed to the government. They also start using Lydia’s maiden name instead of their last name that has been tainted. They are pleasantly surprised with the friendly helpful reception in the small town of Sandy Cove. Sunny settles in at school and Lydia takes any job she can find including cleaning someone’s house to supplement their income. They are pleasantly surprised by their handsome neighbor that Lydia begins to rely on. This place that was supposed to be a temporary stop becomes home. I highly recommend this book.

A lovely easy read. I have read a couple of her books and this is as good. I really want to be in Kerry. A story about people helping each other and great friendships developing. Lydia and Sunny have a great relationship considering the trauma that happened in their lives.

When Lydia's husband dies suddenly she soon realizes that it's not only him she has lost. The beautiful house her and her daughter live in has to go to the bank along with furnishings to pay of her husband's debts. Lydia also loses her standing in society and her life will change forever..
All she has is a small cottage left to her by a great aunt and she has to move there to start again.
A riches to rags story that I enjoyed as an easy read. Lydias daughter Sunny was a good character and much stronger than her mother.
Although tragic things happened to Lydia she does have luck along the way like a good looking neighbour and friendly, helpful villagers.
I was expecting a different kind of book by the title and didn't think it suited the story.. I did enjoy the descriptions of Ireland and would love to stay in the village with all those lovely people.

The descriptions of the quaint Irish Village and the surrounding countryside made me want to live there and experience the slow paced tranquil life. The story of the posh Dublin socialite Lydia who became a not so grieving widow/Irish charwoman in less than a month is a Harlequin experience. The interwoven historical content of how the Irish treated German prisoners of war in the 1940’s was a redeeming feature of the book. A good read if you like things working out and characters finding happiness .

Lydia’s Butler’s life has been turned upside down in a heartbeat – quite literally. When her husband suffers a massive heart attack and dies, Lydia finds out secrets about him which forces her, and their daughter Sunny to leave their wealthy, luxurious Dublin lifestyle, selling their house and most of their possessions and moving to Sandy Cove, in Kerry on the west coast of Ireland.

Wild Rose Bay is the last place Lydia Butler thought she’d be, but seeking solace in the run-down cottage she inherited from her Great Aunt Nellie, she tries to protect her daughter from the gossip of Dublin and adapt to a different lifestyle, but can she escape the web of deceit and re-build their lives on a shoestring?

This book was perfect for me – it was like slipping my feet into handmade shoes – the fit was spot on, and I don’t know how I haven’t read any of Susanne O’Leary’s books before. Although this book is just one of the Sandy Cove series, I really didn’t feel that I missed any of the story by not reading the others, it is a standalone book but I shall now be going back to the beginning and reading them all.

I absolutely loved Lydia as a character, even though she didn’t realise how strong and resilient she was and Sunny was the perfect daughter, supporting her mum when she needed it - they made a great little team together, fighting grief and rumours but coming out smiling together.

For me though, the absolute best bit of the book was the visit to Garnish Island – my family are all from Bantry and Glengariff, although I’m a townie from London, and so reading about my parents home-town made me feel closer to all my relatives, especially in a time when I can’t travel to see them, so it was a really lovely surprise for it to pop up on the pages of the book.

In a time where we are all stuck at home, this book was so descriptive and the writing was spot on that it made me feel the wind in my hair, and I could even smell the salt from the Wild Atlantic sea without leaving my living room.

Thank you Susanne for such a wonderfully, brilliant story.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Lost Girls Of Ireland' by Susanne O'Leary. This book was previously titled 'The Irish Rose'.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Susanne O'Leary , Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 5th May 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the seventh book in the 'Sandy Cover' series but can be read as a standalone.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'perfect for readers of Debbie Macomber, Sheila O’Flanagan and Mary Alice Monroe.'
I am a huge fan of Debbie Macomber so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 29 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Ireland 🇮🇪 UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. The fact that this book is based in Ireland is even better as I have been on holiday in Ireland many times so may even recognise some places Emma has set the book around.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Lydia Butler. The benefits of third person perspective especially with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

OMG! OMG!! I cannot remember the last time I was so gutted to come to the end of a book!! I absolutely fell in love and it genuinely felt like I was packing my bags and being whisked away from my Irish holiday when I read the last page. Absolutely gorgeous!!!

The book is so well written with its stunning and vivid descriptions that I genuinely felt that I was standing with Lydia throughout feeling the Irish breeze in my hair and smelling the ocean. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly and I think the title change was definitely a good move as 'The Lost Girls Of Ireland' suits it perfectly. I was a bit disappointed when I first read it was being changed from 'The Irish Rose' as I thought that was such a beautiful title but after reading the book and understanding where both titles came from then this one was the best option.

Although this book is the 7th in a series it can be read as a standalone with no problems. In fact I never came across anything in the book that would make me think it was part of a series. I am however looking forward to reading all previous books and being whisked back to Ireland again. The storyline was realistic and just beautiful. It starts off in such a sad place and from the rain a rainbow was born. I loved getting to know everyone on Sandy Cove and enjoyed the atmosphere and my gorgeous surroundings. It genuinely felt like I was on holidays and after not having one for so long this was definitely the closest thing.

The characters were all solid, realistic and I loved that they all had their own unique personalities. Lydia is such a strong and determined woman who had to leave her glitzy and glamorous life and although she was mournful, as anyone would be, she picked herself and her daughter up and made the most of what they had and definitely made the right decisions. I love it when the protagonist is such a strong female lead being a woman myself it's great to see. Sunny is such a mature girl and i really liked her attitude. At her age many kids I know would have been stroppy brats but she was so mature and realistically so. She was such a pleasure to get to know. Jason, well phew, what a handsome and romantic Irish man. It wasn't just the main characters that made this book but also all the neighbours too, I really enjoyed meeting them all. I enjoyed watching Helen and Lydia's relationships grow and their bond develop. Sorcha, Saskia and Brian all stood out to me too. Emma portrayed Irish Country life perfectly and it was exactly the same when I went on holidays for a fortnight many years ago, the close knit community where everyone knew each other and was so helpful.

Susanne I fell on love with your heart warming, page turning and stunning book which took my heart away and left me gutted when my holiday ended. Welcome to my favourite author list. I have already added all your books on my wish lists and I cannot wait for my next Irish adventure!!! Please get these put on the big screen!!

Overall an absolutely stunning, heart warming romance that will have you heading off to Ireland in the blink of an eye.



Genres covered in this book include Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance and Holiday Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks and just anyone and everyone whether you are looking to get away or for romance this is the book for you!!!


279 pages.

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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When Lydia’s husband drops dead of a heart attack her life falls apart.
Can she put it together again and build a future for herself and her daughter Sunny.
A gentle read.
#NetGalley #TheLostGirlsOfIreland #SusanneO’Leary

This is the first book from Bookouture that I didn't give 4 ore more stars. I would have really wanted to like this book more, but I didn't.
It started with a very good premise and a Maeve Binchy sort of vibe, but the story doesn't deliver, it's a bit flat and boring.
Also I couldn't connect with Lydia's character, it feels like she is transported through her life by chances, not real decisions. It's almost as it's her daughter Sunny that takes care of her.
The small village of Sandy Cove and the descriptions of Ireland in general are lovely, made me feel I was really there.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From a grand home in Dublin to a cottage in the small village of Kerry. In this touching read by Susanne O'Leary, Lydia Harrington and her daughter Sunny experience a humbling experience when Lydia's husband suddenly passes away. Their home, expensive cars, clothing and more are now a thing of the past due to her husband's unscrupulous business practices that left them all but penniless.

Lydia is not left completely in the lurch as she had an inheritance from her great aunt Nellie that would at least provide them a home, although they would have to move away from everything they've known. For starters, Sunny would have to start in a new school. If only that would be the only extent of the many changes they would have to make. Lydia and Sunny being to settle into their new lives. The move was only the first change. Going back to her maiden name of Butler and working for the first time in twenty years clearly showcases Lydia's strength and resilience.

Both Lydia and Sunny adapt to the changes in their lives with great aplomb. Meeting new neighbor Jason O'Callaghan is one thing that begins to give Lydia a sense of belonging. While inexplicably drawn to Jason, Lydia is concerned that it is too soon to start over when it comes to any hint of romance. Also, while Lydia and Sunny fall into their new lives they take on an interesting project. Who was Lydia's great aunt and why do the village's members speak so highly of her? The research they begin proves to be a very nice distraction for Lydia and Sunny.

Oh how I have loved this Sandy Cove series! Meeting all the characters in the charming village has left me with a warm feeling of contentment. The Lost Girls of Ireland was a wonderful read. With endearing characters, a beautiful setting and a bit of romance, this book truly touched my heart. Impossible to put down, this moving story kept me tapping the screen of my Kindle deep into the night until I reached the heartwarming conclusion. From despair to hope, this fulfilling story of starting over was a stellar read, one that will be with me for a long while.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Book Review of The Lost Girls of Ireland by Susanne O’Leary
Lydia’s husband dies and leaves her in major financial difficulties and when the bank repossesses her house, her and her daughter, Sunny, are forced to move into a cottage that has been left to Lydia by her Great Aunt Nellie.
This means Lydia and Sunny are forced to start over in a new town, Sandy Cove with all their old comforts and lifestyle stripped away from them. Lydia finds a job and makes friends with the kindly neighbours and locals, whilst finding herself drawn to her mysterious neighbour Jason. Will romance blossom? Will Lydia and Sunny be able to make a new life for themselves in Sandy Cove? Or will a return to their old life be on the cards?

My thoughts
I really liked the author’s portrayal of small own life where people were wanting to help Lydia and make her feel welcome. The story as well as the cottage had a lot of charm. I found it easy to empathise with Lydia’s character, a struggling single mother trying to put her life back together. The romance between her and her neighbour Jason developed along gently as the plot progressed. The backstory of Lydia’s Great Aunt provided an interesting added story line and provided information about the history of the fictional town.
Overall, would I recommend this book?
Yes, it makes a nice summer escapist read. I gave it four out of five stars, with thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I also added this review in my blog at: https://sarahat3strawberrylane.wordpress.com

Lydia and her daughter Sunny lose everything and more into a cottage in a tiny Irish village. Lydia learns about her Aunt Nellie, meets a handsome neighbor and life goes on. But she must come to terms with telling the truth to her daughter.

Sometimes you need to lose nearly everything to find a better future. Lydia Butler loses everything when her husband dies suddenly and is discovered to have had various shady business dealings. Lydia and daughter Sunny escape the gossip in Dublin and head to Sandy Cove where they are forced to deal with a complete lifestyle change, and discover a whole new way of living.