Sandy Taylor is one of my absolute favourite authors, so I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was going to be a wonderful read . And yes that’s even before I started reading it ! It’s the second book in the ‘Irish Boarding House’ series but can be easily read as a standalone . Reading this book I was immediately brought back to 1950’s Dublin and Merrion Square. The author has such a fantastic way of writing you are literally transported back in time as you read this book . This is one of those books that I was hooked on right from the prologue . A story of friendships and helping others in times of difficulties. I loved all
the character with one or two being particular favourites . An uplifting but at times emotional read . I had a smile on my face at times reading this book but also I did shed a tear or two with one very tear jerking moment . I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future .

Dublin, 1956 it’s been years since World War II ended, but the scars of the war will remain forever. Mary Kate Ryan is grieving from recent heartbreak and she feels as if her life has no purpose. When her friend Moira Kent, persuades Mary to reopen the Irish Boarding House. Mary Kate was once in need of what the boarding house offered as a safe place for single ladies during the war and now years later she needs it again. Mary Kate, Moira and Abby, Moira’s ten year old adopted daughter, restore and reopen the boarding house. Moira and Abby have been family to Mary Kate and she desperately needs them in her life. So, when information surface’s about Abby’s birth mother, Mary Kate and Moira must do everything possible to keep Abby from being taken from Moira. They band together, including others working and living at the boarding house, to keep Abby with Moira while at the same time keeping the boarding house running to protect those that seek refuge.

Return to the Irish Boarding House written by Sandy Taylor is a wonderful and heart-warming story. Taylor does an amazing job of reminding us that it’s never too late to return to your roots and still make a difference in someone’s life. This story had me tearing up as I flipped through the pages. I had to keep the Kleenex box near by as I read faster and faster. The characters in this story were so beautiful and I felt as if they were family members. I loved this installment to The Irish Boarding House series and the author left no stone unturned. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful series. This story is inspiring, powerful and filled my heart with love. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful heartwarming read.
I loved the Irish Boarding House and was bereft when I finished it so was delighted that there was a sequel.
So nice to be back in Merrion Square and to catch up with the old characters and get to know the new ones.
This read is as beautifully enveloping as is the welcome at the Irish Boarding house.

Return to the Irish Boarding House by Sandy Taylor is one of those stories in which you want to curl up all snug and comfy. True, it will shred your heart and soul, but it stitches it up again all nicely and even knits it a nice bobble hat. I am so very glad that I have been introducd to this series (nd writer) with this book, what a way to begin!

It is 1956, Mary Kate Ryan is bereft, her heart broken. She returns to 24 Merrion Square, her Irish boarding house where her loyal friend, the adorable Moira Kent, convinces her to re-open it just for single ladies to stay in (and of course, we need to give a little nod to Mary's dog Guinness)

Mary Late, Moira and Moira's adopted daughter happily live together, running the boarding house in a tight little unit, a found family. Sandy Taylors narrative just sparkles off the pages in these little interludes of daily life. But what Sandy Taylor really excels at, is the depth of human emotion, the highs, the lows, the all-arounds. However, their peaceful life is rocked by a discovery that could potentially fracture the family unit by Abby being removed from their home. Can Mary and Moira prevent this from happening and how can the friends move forward and protect their livelihood?

A wonderful read, truly a delight for lovers of historical fiction and an author I will be putting on my TBR list

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and the fantastic author Sandy Taylor for this heartwarming ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

A lovely heartwarming story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read the ARC.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

very excited to be able to read this book... again a plethora of characters but each add a bit of charm to the fact that the boarding house is being opened again as a boarding house and stops being a school that was being led by moira....

mary kate is back and as the first boarders arrive the magic is there but its a sad start as we find out the reason she is back and though its thanks to moira a bit more context here would have been nice

on the whole i enjoyed catching up with the two main characters, but was puzzled about one character and was looking forward to reading about their experience in the boarding house and we didnt get to enjoy the ride it was over before it began... we had the history and backstory of that character and i was hoping to read how they intergrated with the rest of the household and experience what they felt about their time there but it was glossed over and i felt cheated....

but it was the poignant ending that caused a few tears to run down my cheeks and though i had enjoyed my visit to this boarding house i was just a little bit disappointed...

Dublin in 1956 saw Mary Kate lose her beloved husband Sean, and her grief was shattering. She didn't think she could go on, until her best friend Moira persuaded Mary Kate to reopen the boarding house; the one with the red door on Merrion Square. Gradually, the boarding house began to take shape once again, laughter filled the walls. Mary Kate and her dog Gideon; Moira and her daughter Abby; their cook and her daughter Eliza - and new people, people who needed help and caring, love and laughter. Mary Kate saw her future looking brighter.

But it was when the nuns told Moira and Mary Kate some news they didn't want to hear that things went awry. Abby was in danger and it was up to the mixed family to keep her safe. Would they be able to? Or would a horrific past come back to haunt them all?

[book:Return to the Irish Boarding House|209272776] is #2 in The Irish Boarding series by [author:Sandy Taylor|1417035] and once again I loved the story. The author has a way with words, and I always enjoy her books. Filled with emotion, laughter, happiness, love and caring, [book:Return to the Irish Boarding House|209272776] is a powerful read. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my, what a wonderful heart-warming return to the Irish Boarding House! It was so uplifting to pick up where the original story left off; to learn what has developed and to become reacquainted with old faces and to meet new ones. This story blossoms with hope and healing. For this residence built by hands of love, attracts the wayward, wounded and disadvantaged and gives them a second chance. All thanks to the noble vision of one woman: Mary Kate.

This second and final instalment is quite soul stirring and made my heart ache on more than one occasion. It covers a number of circumstances of visitors in need who land at the red door of Mary Kate’s rescue home. I call it that because many of the girls and women who end up on her doorstep are coming from some horrific traumas and are met with love and acceptance from the moment they step across the threshold of this residence. It is truly a beacon of hope for the lost, anguished and afraid who need food, shelter, a tender hand and a non-judgemental listening ear.

Mary Kate, the owner, who inherited a fair sum of money in the past from a wealthy mother she never knew growing up (until towards the end of the woman’s life) put the funds to good use when she came across this dilapidated building. Many thought her mad taking on such a project. But the old building captured her heart and represented in many ways the souls of those who would find their way to her door one day. And like the building be transformed. Once she purchased it, with the help of many hands, she turned it into a magnificent boarding house for the less privileged. It was both visually and spiritually captivating. The red door is significant for two reasons: it stands out and can be seen easily but it also represents her grandfather’s red-letter days. Significant days of special memories or opportunities: of rainbows and miracles fuelled by hope when good things come after a soul perseveres and does not give up.

Mary Kate has a heart of gold and changes so many lives with her kindness. She even finds love in the first novel and marries the builder Sean who restored the boarding house with her. They have two happy married years together before the unimaginable happens. Now, alone, she is dealing with the grief of her loss, until her friend Moira encourages her to reopen the boarding house. Which she does and in doing so, reopens her heart and gives her life purpose again. What better way to soften your own suffering than to help others who are in even greater distress?

What follows is an update on those we met in the previous novel but also a stream of new faces and stories—each one quite heart breaking but uplifting when they meet Mary Kate and she puts her gifts to work again helping them. But she does not do it alone as she has amassed a blessed team of supporters who understand pain and what it is like to be lost and abandoned. They are a magnificent support group for each other. I won’t list names of favourites as there are too many to mention but anyone who has read the first book, should read this one—it won’t disappoint. And for those who have never read Sandy’s books, get these two and her previous ones and read them! They are beautiful Irish tales that will put a smile on your face and a new spring in your step! As for Return to the Irish Boarding House, it will restore your faith in human kindness and remind you there are still caring people in this world like Mary Kate and her friends. I loved this novel with its bold beliefs and Good Samaritan theme and was sad to read the last chapter (or Epilogue in this case) which brought many tears to my eyes. But it is a triumphant and fitting conclusion in many ways: at least, in a spiritual sense. 5 Heart filled stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I'm going to be honest, I couldn't finish this one. I wanted to but I just couldn't. It could just be because this is an advanced copy but there were a lot of writing mistakes in this story. There were pov changes from first person to third person all in the same sentence, sometimes multiple times during a paragraph. There were a lot of typos too. And the story felt as if I had been dropped into the middle rather than the beginning. I really did want to like this story but I did not enjoy it.

Return to the Irish Boarding House by Sandy Taylor is the second book in this Boarding House Series. Mary Kate has suffered a loss that has down her down so friend Moira encourages her to reopen 24 Merrion Square as a boarding house once again. These friends have a history apart and together that gives them a strong bond.

The life back at the house with the red door brings laughter and a renewed interest in life around Mary Kate. However, it is not without some issues such as ones with Moira’s adopted daughter. Other include new women who come to the boarding house. They come for a place to stay but find a created family over time. Such a lovely resilient look at life.

A enthralling and joyful tale that I quickly became in engrossed in and read in one sitting. We are reunited with the much loved characters as Mary Kate continues life at the boarding house and I was thrilled to be introduced to a few new characters with a lot of baggage in their respective backgrounds. I have to say that my favourite character is Eliza as she made everything seem to be such a joy. Eliza is a kind hearted soul who lights up a room like a shining beacon. There are a few heartbreaking twists and one in particular had me bawling my eyes out. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil the story but it hit me really hard. On a happier note I loved rejoicing with the characters as they found there happiness. The plot is full of love, sadness and surprising twists!

Dublin, 1956

After two years of married bliss closely followed by heartbreak, Mary Kate leaves her little cottage in the Wicklow Hills and returns to 24 Merrion Square. Her little boarding house with it's bright red door painted so to remind her of her red letter days, as her grandfather had always told her. Kind, compassionate and generous to a fault, Mary Kate and her best friend Moira re-open the doors of the old boarding house, taking in the waifs and strays...and those who need a little help, a little love and a little kindness.

Mrs Lamb returns to her kitchens bringing with her Eliza, a child-like young woman, who runs the halls with young Abby, Moira's adopted daughter once a babe left on the doorstep one frozen morning. Together, they welcome all those that enter the bright red door. The first being "Banana", as Eliza took to calling her, a young woman searching for something or someone. Then came Emma, who was searching for her younger sister Nell who the sisters had shipped off to the Magdelene Laundries. Then came Cathy, a young woman hiding a secret she dare not tell and then Megan, a young Welsh woman on the run from something or someone. And then finally came Isobel, who stayed only for a short time but made wonderful friends and gained lifelong skills before moving into the house she inherited. And then of course there is Guinness who has been there from the beginning, found as a stray as the dilapidated old Georgian building was being renovated into the boarding house it became.

All of these women make he boarding house a home. Their love, their kindness, their laughter. Each of them brings something to the house unique to them. Just like those who have come and gone before them, but are never far away.

I loved this book as much as the first one and aside from the Epilogue at the end, I felt this could have continued as a series because I think the heartfelt warmth of this book and the first one would have made a wonderful series. But The Epilogue kind of ties everything up and life comes full circle by its end.

I laughed and cried along with everyone in these pages but none moreso than with the passing of dear Guinness, my own staffy statue named as such after reading of him in the first book. His passing is reflected on with sensitivity and love, and mentioned only with the passing of time and with them dear Guinness. Naturally, I was bawling as I always am at the passing of a beloved dog. He was much loved and a very dear addition to the boarding house. I miss him already.

A delightful read that I devoured in one sitting. I shall miss everyone from Merrion Square.

I would like to thank #SandyTaylor, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ReturnToTheIrishBoardingHouse in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Mary Kate owns an Irish boarding house with its trademark red door. Along with her friend Moira, Mary Kate is kind and generous, taking in boarders who are down on their luck and just need a helping hand getting back on their feet. Situated in Merrion Square, it’s a house which is full of love and compassion where all residents are a real mix of characters but have all become close friends, offering support to each other when needed. Mary Kate has not had an easy past herself and has recently lost the great love of her life, leaving her devastated.

In the second book in the series, we meet some new characters who have all come with their own story and previously had harrowing experiences. Mary Kate’s heartbreak doesn’t stop her offering each of them a roof over their heads or friendship of this assorted group of women. Most of the women have their own traumatic tales but they all pull together and create a bond that will last a lifetime.

I have been eagerly anticipating this book and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Mary Kate’s world. The new characters Sandy Taylor has introduced make for a hard read with their horrific back stories. I really enjoyed being reacquainted with characters from the first book, seeing them grow and in some cases move on to their own homes with independence encouraged by their friends at the boarding house.

Another great book not to be missed. Sandy is an amazing author with a talent to write such empathetic and enjoyable tales which fully engross you right through to the final page.

And what a welcome return it was! I waited (not patiently) for this book which was well worth the wait. I laughed and cried in equal measures.
While there are some difficult subjects involved, there is always Eliza to lighten the mood, she was my favourite character. Even got me into trouble for laughing aloud, it was early hours.
Merrion Square is a home full of love and understanding, the two leading ladies Mary Kate and Moira seem to adopt waifs and strays regularly.
Abby’s background is quite distressing. I have to say that Thomas was quite easy to take a dislike to.
I liked the way each new character was introduced giving some background. When I read about Charlotte I exclaimed loudly!
I really hope there will be another by this author.

I totally recommend this book, advising reading the first one if you haven’t already.

Return to the Irish Boarding House, is a warm, nostalgic return to a house full of friendship, warmth, laughs and tears too. I had such a lovely time reading this story, perfect for some me time .

Return to the Irish boarding house was started and finished in a day! The storyline was very interesting, it sucked me in and had me glued to my Kindle! Definitely don't miss out on this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Wow this was such a uplifting but heart breaking read .
I loved Mary Kate as a character.
Abby was so sweet.
Her back story was sad and the outcome of it was sad too .

I really must read the first book.
The Irish boarding house was a sanctuary for the lost to be found.
Sandy is a genius of a writer.