The World Starts Anew: The Star and the Shamrock Series - Book 4

This series has a good plot and the storyline makes instigates a feeling of wanting to read more. The characters become like people you know and the fluency of the story draws one deeper - it’s like watching a movie. Must read all books.

Thank you Jean for another example of how kindness can change so many peoples lives. Greed,abuse and intolerance are Always destructive.

I loved this series. As a Catholic I loved the interaction between Fr. O tool and Rabbi Frank. Their perspective on religious "rules and protocols" was so refreshing and realistic in light of life's daily struggles. It just reminds me of how important it is to be a good, caring, honest person in every day interactions with people no matter what their religious affiliations are if any.

The World Starts Anew: The Star and the Shamrock Series Book 4 is by Jean Grainger. This book is just as intense and emotional as the others in the series. Through this series, we readers have watched Liesl and Erich Bannon grow up in Ireland among strangers who took them in after they were brought to England by the Kindertransport. They were to stay with a cousin in London, Elizabeth; but after her home was bombed during the Blitz, she took them to Ireland where they stayed in her parents’ home. They became friends with the children at a nearby farm which had been set up for Jewish children who weren’t placed in homes. The entire group on the farm as well as the townspeople became good friends and acceptance was granted to all. After the war, Liesl and Erich’s mother came to Ireland to be reunited with the children. She and the lady who hid her during the war and the lady’s son also came to their town in Ireland. Rather than take the children away from their adoptive parents, their mother stayed and became part of the extended family. Now, Liesl and Erich are grown and are making lives of their own. As usual in people’s lives, real life is not without its struggles and problems. Most of Liesl’s problems were in Book 3 but Erich’s are just beginning.Jean Grainger does a fantastic job of creating this story and combining her imagination with the beauty and ugliness of life in Ireland after World War II. She tells their story with a truthfulness that makes it necessary to expose some of the dark secrets that life includes. She shows that with the combined strengths of everyone around us, we can overcome the dark secrets and be left with the light of the best life has to offer. Her novels are always well researched and well written. Like the others in the series, having a box of tissues nearby is advised.How I let this book sit unread since November, I have no idea. The only thing I can come up with is that I kept it because I knew the series would be over when I finished this book. That makes me sad.

Loved all her books. I am looking for a new one to read. I start a book and cannot put it down.

Telling of the struggles of Jewish people to get to the homeland. Told in lives of individuals who lived it.

I recently discovered Jean Granger’s books. Based on historic events, it is obvious that she has researched her stories. The characters come to life and you share their joys and sorrows. I’m looking forward to reading more of her works.

I’m crying, smiling and not wanting this series to end! Best review I can give of Ms Grainger’s work……I think she’s great……

Having read the first three books in this series I was thrilled to find the fourth, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it was sad to say goodbye to all the characters. Oh, if only the world was like Ballycraggen we could live in relative harmony in acceptance of our differences.

I just loved these books couldn’t put them down Jean Grainger is a marvellous writer

This is one of Ms Grainger's loveliest books. Like all her books it takes you into Irish communities with characters so real you want to meet them. This series follows the lives of Jewish refugees who escaped the Nazi horrors in a small farm in Ireland, and grew up there after the war. The main hero for me is the Rabbi who stays on at the farm so that survivors can keep in touch with him, including one who grew up to be a vicious criminal but one the Rabbi nurtures, still, in the hope that he'll change. It's a time when, in the Magdalene Homes for Unmarried Mothers babies were sold and the mothers earned their keep in the laundries, and there was still religious intolerance. Three faith leaders - Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish are the best of friends, supporting one another with humour and real affection. Jean Grainger is very gifted and her books are a delight.

I found this fourth episode by accident, as I thought there were only three. If you’ve not read the first three, I recommend you do. Although the back story is referred to throughout, but not in an annoying way.Erich’s story continues with him as a 23 year old, finding love and there is conflict with the families as he is Jewish and Roisin is a catholic. He wonders what can be done and questions his faith and life in general.The other characters in the series are providing more interesting facts about themselves, which makes this a good read.It was a fabulous read, albeit a bit “ploddy” midway. I don’t do spoilers, but I was a little disappointed at the end.I think the author needed to tell Erich’s story to have closure on the series, but felt it was a bit rushed?

This book was a perfect end to the family saga, a great read. Some difficult historical occurrences were explored and addressed with care. It could probably be read as a stand alone but, having read the previous books I think it is more enjoyable as part of a greater whole