A Secret Daughter from Ireland

October 4, 2025 - By Corinne Rodrigues

Having read and reviewed other books by Ann O’Loughlin, I was happy to read and review her latest – A Secret Daughter from Ireland.

Book Description – A Secret Daughter From Ireland

The young woman gazes at the Irish sea for the final time, a careful hand on her stomach. She will do anything to keep her unborn daughter safe, even if it means leaving this gorgeous house forever…

Becky gazes at the name of the village in her mother’s will: Orchid Bay, Ireland. It sounds like a magical place, so why did she never mention she owned a house there? Desperate to feel close to her mother again, Becky decides to escape her life in New York and travel to the wild Irish coast with her teenage daughter, Jen.

When she arrives, she finds peeling paint and a garden overgrown with wildflowers. Becky knows her mother would have wanted her to breathe new life into this house by the sea. And when local chef Ben, with his warm grey eyes, lilting Irish accent and kind smile, volunteers to help, they begin to renovate the house. And as they work together, Becky feels her heart slowly mending…

But before she can imagine a new life in the place that has captured her heart, Becky finds an old envelope lodged behind a painting. In the crinkled pages, she learns about doomed romances by the Irish sea and a pregnant daughter who was driven from the town in shame. Becky’s heart breaks as she thinks of her own daughter. But could this tragic love story explain why her mother kept this house a secret?

When Becky finally uncovers the connection between the letter and her family, it devastates her. Will the truth tear apart the happiness she has found? Or will she and her daughter finally be able to make a home with a new community here in this beautiful place?

My Review

Ann O’Loughlin writes honestly and from the heart about grief, love, and belonging. Following her mother’s death, Becky’s path is uncertain, painful, but hopeful. Her dynamic with her teenage daughter brings authenticity and warmth, illustrating the generational conflicts during unexpected life shifts. Becky’s search for truth and healing is relatable for readers.

The book’s beauty is enhanced by the setting. Orchid Bay, a small Irish coastal town, is vibrant. O’Loughlin portrays small-town life’s rhythm, its quiet kindness and gossip, and how it offers comfort and secrets. The descriptions make you want to visit and linger.

The narrative progresses as the reader uncovers letters, memories, and hidden truths, maintaining their curiosity. The puzzle of Becky’s mother’s past is revealed slowly and deliberately. It’s not a thriller, but the emotional reveals are satisfying and often moving. Every new detail helps Becky understand herself and her mother’s hidden life better.

The novel’s core theme is home, exploring its discovery and its foundations in love and forgiveness. Becky’s choice to move and connect feels like a chance at renewal. Despite all the pain, the book offers readers a feeling of hope and completion.

Author Bio

Ann is the Irish author of five novels and has been translated into eleven languages. Her first novel The Ballroom Cafe was also an ebook bestseller and in the top 20 bestselling books of 2015 on Amazon UK. Ann loves to write and often gets up at 5am to get the words down, before starting her other job of writing as a news reporter. A leading journalist in Ireland, Ann has covered all major news events in a long career with Independent Newspapers, Ireland. She is now a senior journalist with the Irish Examiner specialising in legal issues. Ann has also lived in India. Originally from the west of Ireland she now lives on the east coast with her husband and family.