The House on Lonely Street

by Lyn Andrews

For Katherine Donovan the slums of Dublin are a lonely place. Her father, a pawnbroker, is the most hated man in the district, and Katherine an outcast. Her only friend is tiny Ceppi Healy, underfed, irrepressible and, the youngest in a neglected family of eight, as much an emotional orphan as eighteen-year-old Katherine. Then, one night, the unthinkable happens. Katherine's father is murdered, a victim of local revenge for an act of cruelty even she couldn't have anticipated. Fearing for her life, Katherine flees, taking with her the desperate young Ceppi. Liverpool is her longed-for haven and, with the last of her father's money, she rents a lodging house in a street decimated by the sinking of the Titanic. But, far from finding a refuge for herself and little girl she promised to protect, she realises she has put them into the path of terrible danger...

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Lyn Andrews is one of the the UK's top one hundred paper-back bestsellers. Born and brought up in Liverpool, she is the daughter of a policeman who also married a policeman. After becoming the mother of triplets, she took some time off from her writing whilst she raised her children. Shortlisted for the romantic Novelists' Association Award in 1993, she has now written twenty-one hugely successful novels. Lyn Andrews divides her time between Merseyside and Ireland.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book a few times since I bought it and I still enjoy reading this book today.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book simply because I liked the cover and loved the title. It did not disappoint.

Katherine Donovan is forced to flee her poverty stricken home in Dublin when her father is killed.

She takes along with her, Ceppi Healy, the youngest of a large family whose mother was happy to hand over the child for five pounds.

Moving to Liverpool with no plan and no prospects, Katherine is faced with moments of despair and tragedy but this is one young woman determined to make a decent life for herself and the child in her care.

A simple story told in simple prose with engaging characters. In spite of the darker side of this story it was an easy read and a heartwarming tale.

[Layla]

Started this a few times just couldn’t get into this book.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Lyn Andrews better books, I think. Her books are very similar and so it's good to have a break between reading them.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book lacked emotion, with all the deaths and weddings it didn't really bring out any feeling. a good book but a emotionless read.

[Tracy Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that has been sat on my bookshelf for years, and one that needed to be read before being recycled!

I expected to find reading this a struggle due to the storyline and the time period it was set in, but it was much easier to read and I ended up actually enjoying it!

The characters were well defined and you did not anticipate how the story would end which was good.

An ok story, with ok characters, easy Chapters and a decent read - glad to have read it before passing it on!

[Naina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of the novel held much promise as the writer described Ceppi and Katherine's journey from a lackluster life into a self-made utopia. However, the same cannot be said about the last few closing chapters, where the writer veers from the central theme. At this point, she abruptly introduces unnecessary suspense in the form of Edwin. As the plot unfolds, it feels more and more contrived.

[J WHITAKER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I thought i had read all of Lyn Andrews books over the years. But have recently found a few more. Her books are unputdownable. I can always rely on Lyn to keep my interest going The house on lonely street is so full of twists and turns you can t put it down Joy Whitaker

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely good story with lovely characters. It really brought alive the real hardships that some people went through, especially the women whose husbands never came home after the Titanic sank.

I really liked Lyn Andrew's writing - down to earth dialogue with a touch of humour. It also turned out to be a bit of a crime story too, an added bonus!

[Mookie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. Not a great-written read, but I was sort of endeared to it. I like how she started fresh and won over the street, built a boarding house. But it's for naught if you can't do any of that being married. First time I read a book where I wanted the romantic interest to scram.

[celene irwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only okay

There was a little bit of excitement in this book but it didn't last long. The story wemt down like a led baloon. Not very exciting

[Elizabeth Cleland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read!

Such a nice sad story ,wee bit of everything in this book! Well worth a read will keep you guessing what happens next.

[Jill Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me turning the pages

Good characters which keep you entertained through every chapter. You don't want to put the book down. A great family saga

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read and very enjoyable. Great story, great characters. No depth to it, but none the worse for that. Couldn’t put it down.

[Ashwini Shajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-crafted story!

[Psammead · Rating 2 out of 5]

🤔Rather disappointing for a Lynn Andrews book. I found this story dragged and could have been told in a much shorter time. The second half was almost a sort of murder mystery. Certainly not one of her best, and so far my least favourite.

[Emma Oliveros · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House on Lonely Street has the potential to be a good book. I really like how the author described the setting vividly. It also had the mood of being back there in the Edwardian times.

The plot is also realistic, and the author was not "playing safe". A tragic event happened here and there, sometimes because of coincidence and sometimes not.

However, there are some things that did not go well with me while I was reading the book. As the other reviewer mentioned it, the book did very little to evoke any emotion. Sure there are incidents where I found myself laughing or frowning but it did not "flesh out" familiar emotions that a reader will be moved. Also, the conversation between characters gets muddled once in a while. I had to read the preceding sentences again just to know who was speaking (and that happened more than twice in the whole book). Katherine also doesn't get much characterization. She has no marked flaw. She was all goody-two shoes who cares for everybody.

All in all, this book has its good points and bad points. But it is really a nice book to cuddle with on a cold day.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional read

Another lovely heartwarming emotional tale from Lyn Andrews. A young girl shunned by all because of a father who was cruel and unkind who came to a sticky end which allowed his daughter to find love and happiness in a new town inheriting friend and family but not without a bit of drama before her happiness is complete. A recommended read

[Christine Russell]

Memories

I chose this book because of the author. After reading some of her prior works this book did not disappoint. Again another well written book a must read for those who wish to know more about liverpool.

[Carmel Carmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read but fictional books don't always keep my interest.

[Wiky]

It was a very good story ...

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect quick read with a hot chocolate on a cold rainy day

[Michelle Ohara]

GREAT BOOK. REALLY ENJOYED IT