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The Knocknashee Story #1
Lilac Ink: The Knocknashee Story, Book 1
As the world teeters on the brink of war in 1937, two young souls separated by an ocean are about to discover a connection that defies logic and time.
Grace Fitzgerald, a fiery-haired dreamer, longs to escape the confines of her windswept Dingle fishing village. Across the Atlantic, Richard Lewis, heir to a Savannah banking fortune, suffocates under the weight of societal expectations he can't quite understand.
When their worlds collide through a twist of fate, Grace and Richard uncover a bond so profound it shakes the very foundations of their existence. As Europe inches towards chaos, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of discovery, challenging everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.
From the rugged Irish coastline to the genteel streets of Georgia, 'Lilac Ink' weaves a tapestry of love, destiny, and self-realization against the ominous backdrop of impending global conflict. Grace and Richard must navigate not only their impossible connection but also the turbulent waters of family expectations, social norms, and their own conflicting desires.
This mesmerizing journey through time and place will leave you questioning the very nature of fate and the extraordinary power of human connection. In a world being torn apart, can two hearts, inexplicably linked, find a way to beat as one?
Grace Fitzgerald, a fiery-haired dreamer, longs to escape the confines of her windswept Dingle fishing village. Across the Atlantic, Richard Lewis, heir to a Savannah banking fortune, suffocates under the weight of societal expectations he can't quite understand.
When their worlds collide through a twist of fate, Grace and Richard uncover a bond so profound it shakes the very foundations of their existence. As Europe inches towards chaos, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of discovery, challenging everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.
From the rugged Irish coastline to the genteel streets of Georgia, 'Lilac Ink' weaves a tapestry of love, destiny, and self-realization against the ominous backdrop of impending global conflict. Grace and Richard must navigate not only their impossible connection but also the turbulent waters of family expectations, social norms, and their own conflicting desires.
This mesmerizing journey through time and place will leave you questioning the very nature of fate and the extraordinary power of human connection. In a world being torn apart, can two hearts, inexplicably linked, find a way to beat as one?
Audible Audio
Published December 11, 2024
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About the author
Jean Grainger
103 books1,655 followersJean Grainger was born in Cork, Ireland. She has been a tour guide of her beloved home country, a teacher, a university lecturer and a playwright. She began writing fiction at the suggestion of her clients on tours, many of whom were sure all the stories she told them would make for a great book. Her first book, The Tour, has become a Number 1 bestseller on Amazon. It tells the story of a disparate group of American visitors to Ireland, who, along with their Irish tour guide have a life changing experience in the magical Emerald Isle.
Her second book, So Much Owed, is a family saga set during the Second World War. The story centres on the Buckley family of West Cork and how their lives are pulled in different directions as they become embroiled in the war. It is a sweeping family saga of intrigue and romance against the background of occupied Europe.
In her third novel, Shadow of a Century, she tells a tale of a battered old flag found in New York in 2016, a century after it was used during the Easter Rising, when Ireland made her final bid for freedom from Great Britain. This tells the story of a journalist who uncovers a story, one with much more to it than a flag.
Her fourth novel, due out in Spring 2016, Under Heaven’s Shining Stars, is set in the 1970s in Cork, Ireland and is a novel about friendship. Three boys, Liam, Patrick and Hugo, though from very different backgrounds are united in a deep but often times challenging friendship. As their lives progress, only by staying strong, can they prevail. Or fail.
Her novella, Letters of Freedom, tells the story of Carmel, stuck in a pointless marriage, when a figure from her past emerges and changes everything with a ‘like’ on Facebook. This quick read will touch your heart.
She lives in Cork with her husband and her two youngest children. The older two come home occasionally with laundry and to raid the fridge.
Her second book, So Much Owed, is a family saga set during the Second World War. The story centres on the Buckley family of West Cork and how their lives are pulled in different directions as they become embroiled in the war. It is a sweeping family saga of intrigue and romance against the background of occupied Europe.
In her third novel, Shadow of a Century, she tells a tale of a battered old flag found in New York in 2016, a century after it was used during the Easter Rising, when Ireland made her final bid for freedom from Great Britain. This tells the story of a journalist who uncovers a story, one with much more to it than a flag.
Her fourth novel, due out in Spring 2016, Under Heaven’s Shining Stars, is set in the 1970s in Cork, Ireland and is a novel about friendship. Three boys, Liam, Patrick and Hugo, though from very different backgrounds are united in a deep but often times challenging friendship. As their lives progress, only by staying strong, can they prevail. Or fail.
Her novella, Letters of Freedom, tells the story of Carmel, stuck in a pointless marriage, when a figure from her past emerges and changes everything with a ‘like’ on Facebook. This quick read will touch your heart.
She lives in Cork with her husband and her two youngest children. The older two come home occasionally with laundry and to raid the fridge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
July 26, 2024
Another great piece of storytelling from the author. A message in a bottle, a charming resourceful heroine, a well meaning but confused hero, well defined secondary characters and a tapestry woven with care though the main two threads do not meet yet.
And as a bonus we get a cameo of Cullen's Celtic Cabaret in1938, with the well loved characters of the series and full of new kids as well as of May's theater.
Energetic style that compels one to turn the pages and at the end (good tbc place) look up when the new installment will be available.
Highly recommended and a top novel of the year
And as a bonus we get a cameo of Cullen's Celtic Cabaret in1938, with the well loved characters of the series and full of new kids as well as of May's theater.
Energetic style that compels one to turn the pages and at the end (good tbc place) look up when the new installment will be available.
Highly recommended and a top novel of the year
July 4, 2024
Jean Grainger is an incredible storyteller! Her newest book, Lilac Ink, begins a new series. The story takes place in the late 1930s in a small town on the Irish coast. The story is filled with interesting characters who get up to all sorts of things. Grace, the main character, is a lovely young woman who has had a tough go of it.Despite this, she moves through life with kindness and gratitude. She lives with her older sister, Agnes, who is nearly the exact opposite of Grace. Trouble ensues when things don’t go according to Agnes’ plans. The colorful folks in the village are fond of Grace and rally around her in unexpected ways. Grainger does a marvelous job of weaving two storylines together bringing twists and turns to the plot as she goes. I was so invested in the characters and the story, I couldn’t put the book down. I enjoyed this book very much, and can’t wait for the next in this series!
July 24, 2024
I always enjoy Jean Grainger books and the inventive stories she tells. Lilac Ink reminded me of why I love reading: some books are a slog, but this book drew me in immediately, as her tales invariably do. I was always anxious to read the next part of the engaging story. In the late 1930’s, two sisters, polio-handicapped Grace and her older, bitter sister Agnes live together in their home in the small Irish village Knocknashee and teach in the school next to their home. Their kind parents had drowned, and Agnes resents taking care of her sister Grace while taking ownership of Grace’s income and denying comforts such as ice cream. Agnes is a strict teacher who believes in corporal discipline at school, while Grace despises such punishment and inspires love of learning in her young charges who love her.
Many of the villagers are very fond of Grace while disliking staunch Agnes who causes such unhappiness in their children. Ms. Grainger’s characterizations are excellent and often endearing. There is the strict, authoritarian Canon Rafferty who is the male religious equivalent of Agnes, the pilgrimage-going sister. His opposite is the chubby, friendly curate Father O’Riordan who befriends Grace
Through a fluke of fate, Grace ends up in communication with a wealthy American also disapproved of by his family, and the interesting story unfolds, with both changing each other’s lives and perspectives.
I very much enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
Many of the villagers are very fond of Grace while disliking staunch Agnes who causes such unhappiness in their children. Ms. Grainger’s characterizations are excellent and often endearing. There is the strict, authoritarian Canon Rafferty who is the male religious equivalent of Agnes, the pilgrimage-going sister. His opposite is the chubby, friendly curate Father O’Riordan who befriends Grace
Through a fluke of fate, Grace ends up in communication with a wealthy American also disapproved of by his family, and the interesting story unfolds, with both changing each other’s lives and perspectives.
I very much enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
December 31, 2024
SOOO GOOOD BUT THEN ANTICLIMACTIC ENDING BYEEEEEEE
but apparently it’s a series
fuck agnes she was a true witch in bad way i have never felt such rage
my dear grace i can relate to being naive but holy shit this made me feel better about myself
richard was there too
but apparently it’s a series
fuck agnes she was a true witch in bad way i have never felt such rage
my dear grace i can relate to being naive but holy shit this made me feel better about myself
richard was there too
May 21, 2025
I love Jean Grainger’s writing: her characters, the Irish setting and culture, her stories….I love spending time with it all. Ready to read the second novel in this new series.
September 11, 2024
Enjoyable for the most part. Absolutely flat ending. Richard, Tilly, Sarah, Declan, Grace, Agnes. I didn’t care for it. A book should stand alone, not rely upon a sequel to wrap things up.
December 22, 2024
A simple, straightforward concept but still makes you evaluate your priorities in life.
November 15, 2024
This is a sweet and sad tale about a teenager with polio and her struggle with her overbearing sister. Actually sister Agnes is purely evil. No one does nasty female characters better! And as in most of Ms. Grainger's books, the Catholic church is pretty bad too. But the story of the pen-pals across the ocean who are as different as they can be and the ways that they help and influence each other is very nice. There are many good and inspiring characters in the small Irish town and the shadow of WWII creates tension that I am sure will continue in the rest of the series. Overall a good read.
unread-dnf
March 3, 2026I'm not sure what popped this book onto my radar ... I had it listed as a KU book, but it was available at my x-library, Kindle and audio. I went with the audio, and the audio is why I had to stop. The first eight chapters are Grace's story in Ireland, and Chapter 9 shifts to Georgia (Richard's POV, although I guess it will switch to Jacob per the blurb, being the MMC?)
The story was being told in 3rd person ... so keeping the same narrator is okay, even though I tend to prefer a male narrator if the chapter is from a male perspective. But while the narrator did a good job with the Irish accent/ambience, the Georgia one? Rubbed me the wrong way SO fast. Just terrible. No way I could continue. I could possibly revert to reading on my own, but honestly, I'd found my mind wandering already. 27% of the way in and I wasn't really attached to the story in any way.
Seeing that it's also just the start of a series, and a few reviews remarking on the lackluster ending ... I'll just call it now.
No proFanity.
I did actually enjoy the author's note at the beginning of the Kindle copy (doesn't apply to audio) ... "You will also notice that the American sections use American spelling and punctuation where the Irish ones use Hiberno-English. It is often pointed out to me that I have ‘misspelled’ words, such as honour, favour, travelling, kerb etc, but these are just spelling variations between Ireland and the USA, so I’ll stick to what I know because to be honest, I am more afraid of being haunted by the ghost of the scary Sister Margaret who taught me to spell, than of my lovely readers."
The story was being told in 3rd person ... so keeping the same narrator is okay, even though I tend to prefer a male narrator if the chapter is from a male perspective. But while the narrator did a good job with the Irish accent/ambience, the Georgia one? Rubbed me the wrong way SO fast. Just terrible. No way I could continue. I could possibly revert to reading on my own, but honestly, I'd found my mind wandering already. 27% of the way in and I wasn't really attached to the story in any way.
Seeing that it's also just the start of a series, and a few reviews remarking on the lackluster ending ... I'll just call it now.
No proFanity.
I did actually enjoy the author's note at the beginning of the Kindle copy (doesn't apply to audio) ... "You will also notice that the American sections use American spelling and punctuation where the Irish ones use Hiberno-English. It is often pointed out to me that I have ‘misspelled’ words, such as honour, favour, travelling, kerb etc, but these are just spelling variations between Ireland and the USA, so I’ll stick to what I know because to be honest, I am more afraid of being haunted by the ghost of the scary Sister Margaret who taught me to spell, than of my lovely readers."
March 22, 2026
This is the first of seven books in this series. The main character is Grace who is a young lady in the 1930s from Ireland. She is a polio survivor with a sister that takes advantage of her. One day she puts a message in a bottle and throws it in the sea. The bottle makes it way to America where a young man finds it. They begin a pen pal relationship and are able to change each other’s lives. I will be reading the next book “Yesterday’s Paper”.
August 16, 2024
A beautiful love story of Richard and Grace. So much to tell of Polio, Sister Kenny, and Graces sister . Set in Ireland it is a heartwarming story, can’t wait for the second one in November.. thank you
March 28, 2025
Excellent. Thanks to my BFF for gifting me this book for Christmas.
March 29, 2025
Loved the story!
April 14, 2025
Fun read-
December 15, 2025
This entire series has become something I’ve become completely enamored with, beautiful storytelling and incredible characters, do yourself a favor and read.
October 12, 2025
short and sweet, turns out there's 6 more. I'll see y'all in a few days when I finish them all
March 17, 2026
SO GOOD. I have been craving a historical fiction like this and I am so excited to read this series!!! 🤍
February 4, 2025
I love the story, I was hesitant to get into a series but the Ireland story captivated me. Can’t wait to read the second one. So interesting and well written.
July 25, 2024
The beginning of another delightful series. Jean Grainger never disappoints!
July 27, 2024
Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
The new series finds Grace Fitzgerald under the tyrannical thumb of her older sister, Agnes. She has been there since her return from the hospital following a four-year battle with polio. She has been left with a gimpy, painful right leg and is at the mercy of her sister.
In frustration and despair one evening, Grace throws caution to the wind off Dingle Peninsula and discovers someone across the Atlantic shares much the same frustration.
Agnes is a scheming, nasty, spiteful woman bitter with the way her life turned after the loss of both parents and her sudden, unwelcome role as Grace’s caregiver.
Aside from Agnes and Canon Rafferty, who provide a strong dastardly antagonist role, there are a number of wonderful support characters all given enough engaging development.
As with all of the author’s books, there is Irish and British history interwoven into the narrative and as this book is set just pre-WWII, the tension of the country and it’s inhabitants. The storyline is a marvelous mix of storytelling, history, suspense, and that Irish sense of humor.
At this point, I’m sufficiently invested to await anxiously for the next installment in her promising new series. Character-driven, I’ve got to see where they go, but already placing bets, no money involved, as this author is always full of surprises.
The new series finds Grace Fitzgerald under the tyrannical thumb of her older sister, Agnes. She has been there since her return from the hospital following a four-year battle with polio. She has been left with a gimpy, painful right leg and is at the mercy of her sister.
In frustration and despair one evening, Grace throws caution to the wind off Dingle Peninsula and discovers someone across the Atlantic shares much the same frustration.
Agnes is a scheming, nasty, spiteful woman bitter with the way her life turned after the loss of both parents and her sudden, unwelcome role as Grace’s caregiver.
Aside from Agnes and Canon Rafferty, who provide a strong dastardly antagonist role, there are a number of wonderful support characters all given enough engaging development.
As with all of the author’s books, there is Irish and British history interwoven into the narrative and as this book is set just pre-WWII, the tension of the country and it’s inhabitants. The storyline is a marvelous mix of storytelling, history, suspense, and that Irish sense of humor.
At this point, I’m sufficiently invested to await anxiously for the next installment in her promising new series. Character-driven, I’ve got to see where they go, but already placing bets, no money involved, as this author is always full of surprises.
August 2, 2024
Another winner by Jean Grainger. I was disappointed with the abrupt ending only realizing there is a book two that hasn't been released yet!
"As the world teeters on the brink of war in 1937, two young souls separated by an ocean are about to discover a connection that defies logic and time.
Grace Fitzgerald, a fiery-haired dreamer, longs to escape the confines of her windswept Dingle fishing village. Across the Atlantic, Richard Lewis, heir to a Savannah banking fortune, suffocates under the weight of societal expectations he can't quite understand.
When their worlds collide through a twist of fate, Grace and Richard uncover a bond so profound it shakes the very foundations of their existence. As Europe inches towards chaos, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of discovery, challenging everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.
From the rugged Irish coastline to the genteel streets of Georgia, 'Lilac Ink' weaves a tapestry of love, destiny, and self-realization against the ominous backdrop of impending global conflict. Grace and Richard must navigate not only their impossible connection but also the turbulent waters of family expectations, social norms, and their own conflicting desires.
This mesmerizing journey through time and place will leave you questioning the very nature of fate and the extraordinary power of human connection. In a world being torn apart, can two hearts, inexplicably linked, find a way to beat as one?" synopsis copied
"As the world teeters on the brink of war in 1937, two young souls separated by an ocean are about to discover a connection that defies logic and time.
Grace Fitzgerald, a fiery-haired dreamer, longs to escape the confines of her windswept Dingle fishing village. Across the Atlantic, Richard Lewis, heir to a Savannah banking fortune, suffocates under the weight of societal expectations he can't quite understand.
When their worlds collide through a twist of fate, Grace and Richard uncover a bond so profound it shakes the very foundations of their existence. As Europe inches towards chaos, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of discovery, challenging everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.
From the rugged Irish coastline to the genteel streets of Georgia, 'Lilac Ink' weaves a tapestry of love, destiny, and self-realization against the ominous backdrop of impending global conflict. Grace and Richard must navigate not only their impossible connection but also the turbulent waters of family expectations, social norms, and their own conflicting desires.
This mesmerizing journey through time and place will leave you questioning the very nature of fate and the extraordinary power of human connection. In a world being torn apart, can two hearts, inexplicably linked, find a way to beat as one?" synopsis copied
January 25, 2025
1937.
Two lives.
Thousands of miles apart.
One in Dingle, Ireland, the other in Georgia, USA.
Grace Fitzgerald and Jacob Lewis are drawn together as the world seems to be on the brink of destruction.
They should have nothing in common. Except they do. More than anyone could ever imagine or understand.
Loved the back and forth from Ireland to Georgia, two very different people from two very different worlds, but they are pulled together by the slim thread of chance. I enjoyed reading the book enough that I'm ready to read the next book in the series.
Two lives.
Thousands of miles apart.
One in Dingle, Ireland, the other in Georgia, USA.
Grace Fitzgerald and Jacob Lewis are drawn together as the world seems to be on the brink of destruction.
They should have nothing in common. Except they do. More than anyone could ever imagine or understand.
Loved the back and forth from Ireland to Georgia, two very different people from two very different worlds, but they are pulled together by the slim thread of chance. I enjoyed reading the book enough that I'm ready to read the next book in the series.
October 11, 2024
Totally annoying characters for which I just couldn’t drum up much sympathy or identify with. I felt like they all need to just grow up. The story was also overly simplistic and ended abruptly.
April 26, 2025
I loved everything about this book! ❤️
November 20, 2025
4.5/5 - a little slow for the first third but sooooo worth it to stick it out!
April 10, 2026
Most of the series that this author writes take place in the current time. This series is based in 1937 before the war
Seventeen year old Grace Fitzgerald lives with her older sister Agnes in their parents house which is attached to the school they founded. Both parents died in a boating accident, leaving Agnes to care for Grace.
Grace contracted polio and had to be hospitalized for four years. Agnes was almost engaged to her beau, but he left her saying that polio might infect his family so he couldn't be around Grace. Agnes became bitter about her bad luck. She didn't like teaching and she often whipped the students with her belt
Grace was well cared for in hospital by Dr. Warrington and his wife. They educated the polio afflicted children and were loving parents to the patients. Grace ended up with a crippled leg in an uncomfortable brace which caused to bend over and walk with difficulty.
ed two years ago
Grace loved school as her sister's assistant for the youngest children. Agnes insisted on putting all of Grace's earnings in a savings account because she could never marry her disability so she would need to pay a caregiver.
Tilly O'Hare was Grace's best friend. Her father died two years ago and the sixteen year old took over the farm. First, she bought an inexpensive ram with a bad leg who fathered a lamb for each of their ewes . With the money from selling the lambs, Tilly bought beehives. She sold the honey and eggs from her twenty chickens. She encouraged her mother to bake sweets to sell. Tilly was so successful that there was money to spare.
The villagers kept hunting about Agnes betrayal to her sister. Grace couldn't believe it until she saw for herself that Agnes had stolen all of the money she had earned teaching. She stole all the letters that were sent to her. She went to see Dr Warrington and his wife Lizzie who tried out new innovations for polio on Grace. Her leg felt more flexible and they fitted her with lighter braces.
The Warringtons wanted Grace to live with them in September while she attended college and worked in the hospital teaching polio afflicted children.
When Grace returned home, Agnes had found a new boarder who replaced her as a teacher. She left her home and moved in with Charlie McKenna the kind mailman.
Her pen pal Richard Lewis sent her a first class ticket to America! The newspaper paid her expenses to Warm Springs where President Roosevelt took polio treatments. The paper wanted to write about her and the letter in a bottle. She could stay for a month and return to the Warringtons to begin college.
On the day that Grace was leaving for America, Agnes had a stroke. Grace returned home to care for her sister since no one else would. She confronted Canon Rafferty about the money that he and Agnes stole from her. She demanded to be the head school mistress of the Knocknashee National School because Mr. Sheehan was worse than Agnes in beating the school children.
Charlie's son Declan who passed the post master exam with her tutoring, was now a postman. He rigged up a bath house for Grace with hot water to soak her leg in Tilly's cattle trough. Grace requested that Declan be her assistant teacher so the children were in good hands now.
Jacob, Richard and his sister Sarah's friend was going to be a war correspondent for the paper. He asked Richard to join him. Jacob was Jewish and a news reporter didn't make much money, but he wanted to marry Sarah after the war. Their parents would be against the marriage, but Sarah wouldn't care.
Seventeen year old Grace Fitzgerald lives with her older sister Agnes in their parents house which is attached to the school they founded. Both parents died in a boating accident, leaving Agnes to care for Grace.
Grace contracted polio and had to be hospitalized for four years. Agnes was almost engaged to her beau, but he left her saying that polio might infect his family so he couldn't be around Grace. Agnes became bitter about her bad luck. She didn't like teaching and she often whipped the students with her belt
Grace was well cared for in hospital by Dr. Warrington and his wife. They educated the polio afflicted children and were loving parents to the patients. Grace ended up with a crippled leg in an uncomfortable brace which caused to bend over and walk with difficulty.
ed two years ago
Grace loved school as her sister's assistant for the youngest children. Agnes insisted on putting all of Grace's earnings in a savings account because she could never marry her disability so she would need to pay a caregiver.
Tilly O'Hare was Grace's best friend. Her father died two years ago and the sixteen year old took over the farm. First, she bought an inexpensive ram with a bad leg who fathered a lamb for each of their ewes . With the money from selling the lambs, Tilly bought beehives. She sold the honey and eggs from her twenty chickens. She encouraged her mother to bake sweets to sell. Tilly was so successful that there was money to spare.
The villagers kept hunting about Agnes betrayal to her sister. Grace couldn't believe it until she saw for herself that Agnes had stolen all of the money she had earned teaching. She stole all the letters that were sent to her. She went to see Dr Warrington and his wife Lizzie who tried out new innovations for polio on Grace. Her leg felt more flexible and they fitted her with lighter braces.
The Warringtons wanted Grace to live with them in September while she attended college and worked in the hospital teaching polio afflicted children.
When Grace returned home, Agnes had found a new boarder who replaced her as a teacher. She left her home and moved in with Charlie McKenna the kind mailman.
Her pen pal Richard Lewis sent her a first class ticket to America! The newspaper paid her expenses to Warm Springs where President Roosevelt took polio treatments. The paper wanted to write about her and the letter in a bottle. She could stay for a month and return to the Warringtons to begin college.
On the day that Grace was leaving for America, Agnes had a stroke. Grace returned home to care for her sister since no one else would. She confronted Canon Rafferty about the money that he and Agnes stole from her. She demanded to be the head school mistress of the Knocknashee National School because Mr. Sheehan was worse than Agnes in beating the school children.
Charlie's son Declan who passed the post master exam with her tutoring, was now a postman. He rigged up a bath house for Grace with hot water to soak her leg in Tilly's cattle trough. Grace requested that Declan be her assistant teacher so the children were in good hands now.
Jacob, Richard and his sister Sarah's friend was going to be a war correspondent for the paper. He asked Richard to join him. Jacob was Jewish and a news reporter didn't make much money, but he wanted to marry Sarah after the war. Their parents would be against the marriage, but Sarah wouldn't care.
April 4, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. Grace had polio as a child and was told by her only living relative her sister that she was not pretty was not smart, and the only thing she could expire to was to be an assistant teacher under her. Agnes treated her poorly, took all of her earnings and told her she was saving them, but actually, she was spending them on trips to go with the canon. Grace was frustrated and sent a letter to America in a bottle. It was found by a rich man. Richard was told his life that he was supposed to be a banker, but he didn’t want to be in his family was forcing him. He read the letter from Grace and started to get a backbone. He broke up with his girlfriend who only wanted his title and money. He started to follow his creative dreams and became a writer. Grace in the meantime, connected with her friend Tilly. Tilly was most likely a lesbian at the time and was cut off from both the canon and her sister Agnes. Grace started to get a backbone and found out that her wages were being stolen. Richard from America was writing her and telling her she should put her money in a bank. Grace also found out that she had passed the board to become a certified teacher and Agnes had lied to her. Richard was sending a plane ticket. Make that a boat ticket for Grace to come over to America and write a story about the bottle that she threw into the ocean that landed up in America. As Grace was about to embark her sister, Agnes had a full stroke and needed someone to take care of her. Grace gave up her trip to America to take care of Agnes. She then went to the cannon and told him That she was going to blackmail him until he gave her the job at the lead teacher. He knowing that she had all the proof that he was taking her money, gave her the lead teacher job, and then it is known that Richard took a job with the newspaper that traveled to Ireland so that he could see hera wonderful, wonderful heartfelt story loved it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2025
Borrowed Kindle Unlimited
4 stars
I honestly can’t remember how I landed on this story but I’m glad I decided to. Enjoyable read even though this American is in no way properly pronouncing the Irish words written.
Grace, a young Irish lady in 1937/1938 with a crippled right leg due to her bout with polio, writes a letter to St Jude asking for help. Puts the letter in a bottle and tosses it in the ocean. She lives with her older sister Agnes in Knocknashee, Co Kerry, Ireland.
(Basically Agnes is a bitter, religious hypocrite who abuses and manipulates Grace, who is a beautiful, sweet and kind woman.)
The bottle/letter reaches the beach of St Simons Island in Georgia, America. Richard Lewis finds it and it sparks something in him. He’s the youngest I believe, with an older sister and the eldest a brother. The family is wealthy with a home in Savannah and the summer home on St Simons. Banking is the family business that Richard has to work in but he has dreams of doing something creative. He decides to write to Grace.
The story felt mainly about Grace’s journey. She finds her way, independence and purpose, and the letters back and forth between her and Richard help with that. Plus the people of Knocknashee love Grace and help her too.
The story ends with Grace (and Richard) in places where you feel they’ll be ok. Even though the war (WW2) is just beginning and the characters have no idea how it will affect everyone.
I had to immediately get the next book in the series, Yesterday’s Paper. ( a possibility of Richard and Grace meeting, which was alluded to. I need to know…)
4 stars
I honestly can’t remember how I landed on this story but I’m glad I decided to. Enjoyable read even though this American is in no way properly pronouncing the Irish words written.
Grace, a young Irish lady in 1937/1938 with a crippled right leg due to her bout with polio, writes a letter to St Jude asking for help. Puts the letter in a bottle and tosses it in the ocean. She lives with her older sister Agnes in Knocknashee, Co Kerry, Ireland.
(Basically Agnes is a bitter, religious hypocrite who abuses and manipulates Grace, who is a beautiful, sweet and kind woman.)
The bottle/letter reaches the beach of St Simons Island in Georgia, America. Richard Lewis finds it and it sparks something in him. He’s the youngest I believe, with an older sister and the eldest a brother. The family is wealthy with a home in Savannah and the summer home on St Simons. Banking is the family business that Richard has to work in but he has dreams of doing something creative. He decides to write to Grace.
The story felt mainly about Grace’s journey. She finds her way, independence and purpose, and the letters back and forth between her and Richard help with that. Plus the people of Knocknashee love Grace and help her too.
The story ends with Grace (and Richard) in places where you feel they’ll be ok. Even though the war (WW2) is just beginning and the characters have no idea how it will affect everyone.
I had to immediately get the next book in the series, Yesterday’s Paper. ( a possibility of Richard and Grace meeting, which was alluded to. I need to know…)
February 12, 2026
This was my first Jean Grainger book and I wasn't quite sure what I was in for with this story. The main character, Grace Fitzgerald, lives in a small town in Ireland called Knocknashee. She is a teaching assistant at the school with her sister, Agnes, who is the headmistress. They live together in the family's home, but they lost their parents years ago. Grace contracted polio as a child and spent many years in hospital. She recovered, though she walks with a limp as a result of the infection. Out of frustration one day at the treatment of one of her students by her sister (who is a real piece of work), she writes a letter to St. Jude, puts it in a bottle and sends it out to sea. It's received by a wealthy American in Georgia, Richard Lewis. They communicate with one another via letter, unknowingly helping the other by providing insight (and support) that they both needed to make some big changes in their lives. In addition to what is going on in the foreground, WW2 is trudging on in the background providing what will likely be more content for future stories.
This was a very slow burn initially. I listened via Audible and I initially found the story meandering, very detailed (almost too much so) and I debating switching out books. However, I'm glad I stayed with it as I did end up thoroughly enjoying it. And the details, that initially struck me as too much, served to increase my investment in the story and the characters in Knocknashee. I'm hooked and can't wait to see what happens next!
This was a very slow burn initially. I listened via Audible and I initially found the story meandering, very detailed (almost too much so) and I debating switching out books. However, I'm glad I stayed with it as I did end up thoroughly enjoying it. And the details, that initially struck me as too much, served to increase my investment in the story and the characters in Knocknashee. I'm hooked and can't wait to see what happens next!
July 29, 2024
The Perils of Polo
After viewing the world through the eyes and experiences of a young women who had contacted polo as a young child of six, and surviving ten years of rehabilitation living with the Dr and his wife who saw her through those ten years far from family and friends, as bright student who was compassionate and would excel as a teacher.
Grace returns to her small home town ready to begin her life full of hope and dreams of attending school to become a certified teacher in the fall, only to find a sister angry domineering and unwilling view Grace as anything but a burden .
She isolates, over works and controls the money Grace earns as her the sisters teaching assistant in the church sponsored school system.
Isolated, depressed Grace writes all of her woes to the patron Saint Patrick places the letter in a bottle and tosses it into the ocean.
The bottle is found in America by a young man after reading the letter. Writes back explaining how he found it and wondered about her. It is through the ensuing correspondence and Graces actions she slowly begins growing responsible to make her own decisions about her future, who to befriend and who to challenge.
I await the next book to watch this young women continue her journey from a crippled victim to a strong assertive compassionate women.
After viewing the world through the eyes and experiences of a young women who had contacted polo as a young child of six, and surviving ten years of rehabilitation living with the Dr and his wife who saw her through those ten years far from family and friends, as bright student who was compassionate and would excel as a teacher.
Grace returns to her small home town ready to begin her life full of hope and dreams of attending school to become a certified teacher in the fall, only to find a sister angry domineering and unwilling view Grace as anything but a burden .
She isolates, over works and controls the money Grace earns as her the sisters teaching assistant in the church sponsored school system.
Isolated, depressed Grace writes all of her woes to the patron Saint Patrick places the letter in a bottle and tosses it into the ocean.
The bottle is found in America by a young man after reading the letter. Writes back explaining how he found it and wondered about her. It is through the ensuing correspondence and Graces actions she slowly begins growing responsible to make her own decisions about her future, who to befriend and who to challenge.
I await the next book to watch this young women continue her journey from a crippled victim to a strong assertive compassionate women.
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