The Orphan's Daughter

By: Sandy Taylor

Narrated by: Aoife McMahon

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

A heart-wrenching story of love, loss and the power of friendship during unimaginable hardship.

Ireland, 1924. For 13-year-old Nora Doyle every day is a fight for survival in Ballybun, the rural Irish village she calls home. Each night, as she feels the cold wind blowing through the cracks of her family’s cramped cottage, Nora longs to escape the poverty surrounding her and find her place in the world.

When she meets Edward, from the grand house that looms over her tiny village, she feels an unlikely kinship that is impossible to explain, and as she grows from an impulsive child into a beautiful woman, Nora spends every moment she can with him. But Edward holds the key to a devastating truth about Nora’s own family that will change her life forever, leading Nora away from the village, to the bright, dazzling lights of Dublin and the charming baker Joe Lynch.

But sorrow is never far away for an Irish village girl, and when tragedy strikes, Nora must return to Ballybun and face up to the truth that drove her away. There, she faces an impossible choice. Can she deny her roots, or will she always be the girl from Paradise Alley?

©2020 Sandy Taylor (P)2020 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Really Enjoyed This

I normally read books with more action, but there was something about this book. Usually, I roll my eyes at descriptive books, but this author has a way of giving me such a clear picture of these lives that it seems like I really know these people. Her characters are really well developed. Also loved the narration. I find myself talking with a little lilt in my speech after three or four hours of straight listening. The author’s note at the end was really touching and I appreciated her sharing the personal note. Lovely book. I will look for more from her.

Love

Read or listen to “The LittleOrphan Girl” first.
Both of these books are amazing. I, unfortunately, finished them way too fast. They are that good.

a good listen

I really enjoyed this story, and had a few laughs. The characters were likeable and the performer was fantastic.

Wow , what’s a story

You know every now and again an author comes along and changes the way I look at life , Sandy Taylor is that author , I listened to the Little orphan girl which blew me away and was so pleased to see the continuation in the orphans daughter, a beautiful story that warms the brain and makes you realise there are lovely people in the world , I was devastated to hear that Sandys son passed away during the writing of this book , it must have been so tough to continue, but continue she did , I’m a 53 year older man that works for a busy London railway , so listening to Sandys books takes me to a lovely place , if my wife could read this review she would laugh at my soft side , it’s my secret , thank you Sandy xx

Over sweet at times with historical inaccuracies.

Having listened to the The Little Orphan Girl which was very enjoyable, I was delighted to discover The Orphan's Daughter a sequel to the story.

Sadly the thirteen year old Nora, the main character, and her friend Kitty were over sweet and at times discussed matters like seven year olds. The story was repetitive and lacking in substance in the second half. However it appeared to come "back on track" when Kitty, and the writing, matured during the final chapters.

The main historical inaccuracy is in relation to the 1916 Easter Rising against English rule in Ireland. After the failed uprising Connelly and Michael Collins were not both excuted " along with the rest of them " as stated by the author. Michael Collins was ambushed and assassinated on 22th August 1922 in Béal na Bláth County Cork. Such lack of basic research is disappointing.

The narrator, as usual, was superb,

Always a great book

I loved The Orphan and loved this one just as much. The only problem is, I never want them to end.

Exceptional! Another Fantastic Read

Sandy Taylor never lets me down. This book was so lovely and had all of the ingredients that a great book needs. I cried like a baby at time’s, then smiled and laughed.
The way sandy can capture human emotions with words is a gift to the world.
The narrator was wonderful too.