Book description
24 Merrion Square. The house stands empty, the old stone steps overgrown with thorny rose bushes. But Mary Kate feels a deep connection to the neglected, silent rooms. Could this be the place to help her heal? Dublin 1952. When Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby, she's stunned. All her life, she has longed to know why her mother disappeared, and now she's devastated to realise that every lonely night she spent without a home or family of her own, her mother knew exactly where she was. Mary Kate is about to refuse the money when she sees a beautiful, deserted house for sale and something sparks in her heart. She will reawaken it, as the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies, and provide a shelter for others as lost and alone as her. Can she help the two young girls left at the local orphanage, desperate for a home of their own? Or the pregnant teenager on the run, who only wants to keep her baby safe? The boarding house brings Mary Kate love and friendships she never dreamed of, but just as her heart is about to burst with joy, a new guest arrives. The stern older woman won't speak about her past, but when Mary Kate uncovers her story, it reveals a devastating secret about her mother. With her life in turmoil once more, can Mary Kate draw on the strength of the women in the house to help her face her past, or will the tragedy she uncovers spell disaster for them all...? A heart-wrenching story full of family secrets. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe. What readers are saying about Sandy Taylor: 'Outstanding!... It gripped me from the first page until the last!... When a book makes your heart break it deserves all the stars.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Beautiful... heart-warming, and heartbreaking all at the same time... 5/5 stars.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars '5 stars... Heartbreaking.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I loved this book - I lost my whole day reading - just couldn't bear to put it down!' Goodreads reviewer 'I fell in love... Such an emotionally raw story can only be written by someone who has left a little piece of their heart behind in such a special place.' Goodreads reviewer 'Rarely do I find a book that can double me over with laughter and break my heart with tears... This book delivers and then some!' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'Brought me to tears numerous times with its emotive words and insightful views on life and love. The writing was simply breathtaking, it was witty and beautiful in the same measure and it has quite frankly stolen my heart.' Stacy is Reading, 5 stars 'Writing this through tears, the funniest, most tearful book I've ever read. Fantastic.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Wow... deserves more than 5 stars. It is a heart-warming as well as a heartbreaking story all at the same time. I absolutely loved this book. Warning: keep the tissues handy!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
Unseen
ListenBook's dedication to delivering an exceptional experience is evident in every detail. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly.
StorySculptor
I'm hooked on this app's curated content β it's like having a personal librarian. With this app, reading is no longer a luxury β it's an essential part of my day.
Handsome
The narrators' voices on this app are so soothing β it's my relaxation therapy. ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach.
Lucky Brandy
This app is a treasure trove of knowledge, entertainment, and imagination. The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality, providing a clear and immersive listening experience that enhances my enjoyment.
Psycho Thinker
πΆββοΈπ Discovering new worlds on my daily walks β this app is my travel companion! ππ§ The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Pixie
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading fit into every aspect of my life. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureβitβs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Saturnalia
With this app, my daily commute has transformed into an engaging journey through captivating stories. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library β this app's design is commendable. ListenBookβs interface is clean and intuitive. Itβs a joy to use. Iβve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best.
Kamikaze Granny
Audiobooks have become my companions during long hours of household chores. Downloading books directly in the app is so easy. Highly recommend!
Predator
π Dancing to the rhythm of stories while I dance through house chores β pure joy! ππ Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend! The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Arsenic Coo
Audiobooks have become my go-to gift for friends β and they all love it! This app has brought back the joy of reading, even when I'm on the move. π§ Making housework more enjoyable β audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. π§Ήπ π Unleashing the power of audiobooks with this user-friendly app β it's like having a personal storyteller on demand! ππ₯ Tone adjustment is a thoughtful addition that adds a personal touch to the audiobook narration. It's like having a narrator tailor their voice to my preferences.
Reed Lady
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for enjoying clear audio in any environment. ListenBook's intuitive controls and features have made it my preferred choice for audiobooks. Navigating my audiobook library is a breeze β thank you, app developers! Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
MuseMaster
ListenBook's user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. This app is my secret to staying ahead on my reading list, even during my busiest days. I can't get enough of this app's easy navigation and quick access to chapters and playback controls. ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side.
Instant Star
ListenBook's commitment to delivering an exceptional audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. ListenBook has given me the gift of time β turning daily tasks into moments of inspiration. This app's compatibility with different file types means that my entire audiobook collection is at my fingertips. ππ This app has rekindled my love for books β I can't stop listening! ππ§
Chuckles
πΌ Enhancing work-from-home productivity β audiobooks make even the most routine tasks a delight. π»π Automated artwork and metadata extraction keeps my audiobook library visually appealing. The adjustable playback speed is a secret weapon for getting through educational content faster.
Don Stab
πΌ Enhancing work-from-home productivity β audiobooks make even the most routine tasks a delight. π»π ListenBook has changed the way I listen to audiobooks. The app is so easy to use.
Sienna Princess
Audiobook immersion without complications β this app's ease of use is commendable. The app is so reliable. Iβve never had any issues with it.
Fuzzy Rainbow
Audiobooks on the go β this app's design prioritizes convenience. The app's performance is nothing short of impressive β smooth, responsive, and designed with audiobook lovers in mind. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! The playback history is a great feature. I can easily revisit my favorite parts.
Cabbie
Audiobooks have become a part of my self-care routine, thanks to this app. This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks hassle-free. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience. ListenBook has revolutionized how I consume content. It's like having a personal library in my pocket. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didnβt dislike it, but I also didnβt feel strongly about it one way or another.
VisionVortex
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. I love how ListenBook caters to various formats, making it versatile and accommodating for all my audiobooks. The noise reduction feature on ListenBook Pro is a godsend for clear and comfortable listening. Managing my audiobook collection is a pleasure thanks to this app's usability. The app is perfect for long walks. It keeps me company the whole time.
PixelPioneer
ListenBook's library organization features have transformed my chaotic audiobook collection into an organized masterpiece. The variety of supported formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from different sources hassle-free.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience