Carmel Harrington Knihy

'A warm and beautifully evocative story of family and secrets, love and heartache, with a devastating twist' Alex Brown, bestselling author of A Postcard from Paris

In a sweeping family drama set in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, Rachel Butler returns to her childhood home for the first time since a tragedy shattered her family. While she enjoys her life in a picturesque Dublin coastal village, her heart longs for the beauty and outdoor lifestyle of Hawkes Bay. As she navigates life as a single parent in Malahide, Ireland, memories of her close-knit family and their dream home linger. Rachel is determined to move forward with her children, who are close to their grandparents in familiar surroundings. However, complications arise when the children's grandmother, still mourning, begins to interfere. Rachel's efforts to strengthen her family bonds lead to unexpected challenges, especially when her late husband's parents attempt to mend longstanding rifts, bringing with them a shocking secret. This story explores themes of family, identity, legacy, and the complexities of love and heartache, all set against the backdrop of two contrasting locations. Praise for the author highlights the warmth and emotional depth of the narrative, emphasizing its uplifting and powerful qualities, as well as its evocative portrayal of family dynamics and secrets.

A wonderfully life-affirming book...Carmel Harrington writes with such honesty' New York Times bestselling author, Hazel Gaynor

“Those children are our life, Rachel. You can't take them from us. And I will not stop until they are back where they belong, with their blood family!”When Rachel met handsome Irish widower Lorcan it was a whirlwind romance. Her family back home thought it would never last. But it did, and they were so happy. Bringing up two stepchildren hadn’t been in her life plan, but she loved them like her own. She’d say to them “even though you didn’t grow in my tummy, you grew in my heart”, and they’d all laugh together. Their little family wasn’t quite the same as everyone else’s, but it was beautiful, it was happy, it was home.Until now. When Lorcan dies in a tragic accident, Rachel’s world collapses in an instant. She knows she has to be strong for her stepchildren. But given the chance to move back to the country she grew up in, she wonders if it could be the new start they need.However, she doesn’t count on the children’s own grandparents. Their blood relations, who say Rachel isn’t their real mother, and so can’t take them away from Ireland. Who say they won’t let her.As Rachel finds herself fighting against the only people who might love the children as much she does, everyone will have to ask – what makes a parent? What makes a home? And with whom do the children of her heart have a future?An utterly unmissable and powerful story about families, love and heartbreak, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Maeve Binchy and Jodi Picoult.

Embraces the spirit and the message of the movie...A must read' - Karolyn Grimes, actress, Zuzu' in It's a Wonderful Life' Beautiful and uplifting...Written with such heart it warms the soul' - Claudia Carroll, bestselling author of `Meet Me in Manhattan'

'This book has given me life' Trish Hannon, reader reviewThis is a joyful, uplifting book to remind us how strong we are...no matter how pear-shaped life gets!'Original, funny, moving and brutally honest...perfect for fans of Ruth Jones' Debbie Johnson

Family secrets never stay buried... 1951, Ireland On the windswept Cork coast, the lighthouse-keepers' wives wait, watching the sea. Their husbands are coming home. But one secret can never be revealed. 2023, Maine Decades later, Mollie Kenefick receives an anonymous note: Family secrets never stay buried. The only person she can ask is her grandmother - however, Beth made a vow that she swore never to break. But someone knows what happened that summer in 1951, and it seems they're not happy keeping silent ... Readers are loving this story: 'Once again Carmel has us sitting on the edge of our seats in anticipation' 'Can't praise this book enough' 'Carmel is such an amazing storyteller' 'Totally absorbing from start to finish' 'A truly magical book of love and loyalty'

‘An atmospheric story, sweeping across 80 years’ Sunday Independent