This novel, published on 7th September 2017, is set mostly in Ireland, with the historical part of the story set during the famine years of the 1840s.

Here’s the blurb:

What would you sacrifice for your children?

Ballymor, Ireland, 1847

As famine grips the country Kitty McCarthy is left widowed and alone. Fighting to keep her two remaining children alive against all odds, Kitty must decide how far she will go to save her family.

Present day

Arriving in Ballymor, Maria is researching her ancestor, Victorian artist Michael McCarthy – and his beloved mother, the mysterious Kitty who disappeared without a trace.

Running from her future, it’s not only answers about the past that Maria hopes to find in Ireland. As her search brings her closer to the truth about Kitty’s fate, Maria must make the biggest decision of her life.

The book is available to buy now.

Buy from Amazon UK          Buy from Amazon US

Buy from Kobo                   Buy from B&N (Nook)

Buy from iTunes                  Buy from WHSmith

It’s also available as a paperback from Amazon UK and was on sale in Asda. Later this year it’ll be available as a paperback from Amazon US, and as a large print hardback in both the US and UK.

Here’s a Pinterest board for pictures which helped inspire this novel.

And here’s a promotional video:

The Girl from Ballymor – Out Now! @HQstories @HQDigitalUK #kindle #paperback #timeslip pic.twitter.com/h4afeUrbXW

— Kathleen McGurl (@KathMcGurl) October 28, 2017

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Reviews

First review, a week before publication from Karen at GoBuyTheBook. She was impressed by the way it “seamlessly merges past with present”. Thanks Karen, and thanks for the early confidence boost!

Cheryl M-M, who has reviewed all my books (thank you!), says I ‘know how to create the kind of characters readers can relate to’.

Lovely review from Pam Norfolk in the Lancashire Post, in which she says I am a ‘born storyteller’ (!!) and praises the ‘exquisitely drawn characters that remain with you’. I can’t say how chuffed I am with this lovely review!

Julie at Boon’s Bookcase said, ‘her attention to detail with regards to accents, places and the history of Ireland is exceptional’. Research is the fun part, of course!

Here’s a review from lovely Lor Bingham who recommended it for those who enjoy an emotional novel.

A great vlog review from Aoife Lawlor, here on Youtube. She talks about The Girl from Ballymor starting about 3 minutes in.

An enthusiastic review from Patricia Terrell, who is an author herself. This book helped her reconnect with her love of reading British authors, and she described it as a ‘classic of the ages’. Thanks, Trish!

Trish also took the time to make a vlog about this book. Lovely to put a face and a voice to a reviewer from across the Atlantic!

Here’s an article about me and this book, published in The Robesonian, written by Patricia Terrell (again!)