DESCRIPTION:
Ireland, 1920. As they take my baby away, I choke on my tears. I grew up alone, abandoned in a place like this. I won’t let my newborn share the same fate.
Arriving at St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, it’s not the first time Mary-Kate has faced hardship. She grew up in a poor orphanage in Dublin after her father died and her mother gave her up, and never stopped working for a better future.
But, as her baby is taken from her arms moments after coming into this world, Mary-Kate almost loses all hope. She can’t do this by herself. The baby’s father has made it clear he wants nothing to do with the child. And she hasn’t heard from her only friend since she was trapped here.
When a kind nun finally hands her a letter, it revives some of her determination. Help is coming for Mary-Kate and her baby. But as much as the secret plan to get them out raises her spirits, the letter is also gut-wrenching. Why was she left to grow up all alone… when her father is actually alive?
Could Mary-Kate really have a family out there to rely on? Or will counting on the offer of help in the letter leave her more alone than ever?
This achingly beautiful and emotional historical novel is perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Sandy Taylor. The family secrets will have you sobbing – and you won’t be able to put it down!
BUY LINK:
Title: The Orphan at the Irish Adoption House Author: Michelle Vernal
Series: The Irish Adoption House Book 3
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Historical Fiction
Date of Publication: February 6, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
Having spent several years in a Dublin orphanage, Mary-Kate’s life has been shaped by hardship. Yet despite everything she has endured, she maintains an optimistic outlook. When she becomes pregnant, life grows even more complicated. Unwed but determined, Mary-Kate plans to raise her baby herself. However, the nuns at St. Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, where she is forced to seek refuge, doe their best to take that decision away from her,.
Mary-Kate’s early life marks a pivotal turning point in the novel. Having never known her father and having been abandoned by her mother, she is determined that her child will not suffer the same fate. The deep bond she feels with her unborn baby, filled with fierce love and hope, fuels her determination as she tries to plan a future for them both.
Her childhood becomes even more tragic when a man claiming to be her uncle removes her from the orphanage. Sadly, this was an act that quickly proves to have nothing to do with love. These years are marked by profound pain and trauma. Still, despite being only fifteen years old, Mary-Kate’s strength and resilience shine through. These experiences prepare her for what will soon become the fight of her life.
This was a heartbreaking read. I was moved to tears when Mary-Kate went into labor and faced the devastating events that followed. As more truths about her past are revealed, the story becomes even more gripping, drawing me deeper into the emotional turmoil she must endure. Michelle Vernal once again delivers a deeply sensitive and compelling story, one that held my attention and my heart from beginning to end.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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