The Lost Letters of Aisling

A Novel

By: Cynthia Ellingsen

Narrated by: Aoife McMahon, Stephanie Cannon

A woman faces the past she fled in a heart-stirring novel about unforgettable love and indomitable courage by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper.

Rainey’s grandmother makes a startling request: Take me home. To Ireland, the country she fled post-World War II. Though they’re inseparably close, Rainey knows few of her grandmother’s secrets. Until they arrive at Aisling—the majestic estate on the southern coast of Ireland where her grandmother was raised—and Rainey discovers a collection of seventy-year-old letters in a trunk.

Dublin, 1945. The Germans surrender, celebrants crowd the streets, and fourteen-year-old Evie meets her best friend, the spirited Harding McGovern. Years on, they are more like sisters when rumors begin that Harding works in the black market trade—a source of wealth that could give her a dream life in America but could also cause great danger. Evie is uncertain of the truth but will stand by Harding, whatever the cost.

As Rainey uses the letters to reunite her grandmother with the past, what unfolds is a never-forgotten story of family, friendship, and love, and the healing that comes from letting go of secrets.

©2024 Cynthia Ellingsen (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Ellingsen’s latest is full of beautiful descriptions of Ireland and well-built relationships between her characters. Fans of Ellingsen’s Starlight Cove will enjoy this departure from that series, and new readers will enjoy reading about this tumultuous time in Irish history, when the war was over but peace was not guaranteed. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton’s The Secret Keeper or Michelle Gable’s The Bookseller’s Secret.” —Booklist

“Rich and evocative, The Lost Letters of Aisling is a portrait of true friendship and the long-reaching sacrifices made to protect the ones you love. A beautiful blending of past mysteries and present betrayals, fans of Karen White will adore this book.” —Susan Crandall, author of Whistling Past the Graveyard and The Myth of Perpetual Summer

Interesting

I didn’t like the current day storyline with Raineys co-worker. That felt like filler material. The story of her grandmothers history was kinda interesting though.

Lost Letters of Aisling

I’m not in favor of stories that go back and forth in time. I’d rather have the story start, than at a good point have the remembrance from the past, then get on with the present. Good story though.

great story not predictable

made me cry that's all I got I hate it makes me use more words

Touching Story of love and loss

Life is short. It’s important to let those you love know that you love them. I have always wanted to visit Ireland, I enjoy the feeling of being there through stories I read, this book is one of those.

Skillfully crafted novel.

I love the way the story bounced back-and-forth from present to past and back,pulling me forward into the intrigue. I had fun guessing all the possible alternatives that might play out in the story. The lilt of the Irish accent made the audio portion of this book delightful, although I kept hearing that accent and everything I read until I finish the story, lol.