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  • Letters of Freedom : The Carmel Sheehan Story - Book 1
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Letters of Freedom : The Carmel Sheehan Story - Book 1 Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 5,716 ratings
4.4 on Goodreads
4,089 ratings

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Carmel Sheehan was raised in an orphanage in Dublin, and always believed what she was told, that her unmarried mother abandoned her as a newborn.

Forty years later, living in rural Ireland, in an unfulfilling marriage, and she has no reason to suspect that version of her past was untrue, until she gets a Facebook message one day from a stranger claiming it was all lies.

In this gripping story, Carmel begins a journey of discovery that takes her back to a time long before she was born when love and loyalty, betrayals and secrets decided her fate. The reality of her true story is both shocking and heartwarming, and Carmel learns that in order to go forward, she must first make peace with her past.

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Product description

About the Author

Siobhan Waring is a British audiobook narrator and voiceover artist with a warm voice that is described as soothing, inquisitive, and wry. She tells stories in all genres with character voices and accents for fiction and nonfiction.



Jean Grainger has worked as a university lecturer, a secondary school teacher, and a tour guide. She is the author of several novels, including The Star and the Shamrock, What Once Was True, and The Tour. She lives in Cork, Ireland.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01B8TA790
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Jan. 29 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 342 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Carmel Sheehan Story
  • 鶹 Rank: #3,640 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 5,716 ratings

About the author

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Jean Grainger
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Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author with over 100,000 5* reviews of historical and contemporary Irish fiction. She is acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft characters that feel like friends, and sometimes foes. Grainger's works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in recent Irish history, but told from the perspective of families, the humans behind the headlines. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger's writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
5,716 global ratings

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Top reviews from Canada

  • Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I Enjoyed the flow of this book so much I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
  • Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2017
    Carmel's story is so heartbreaking, her life so lonely. When she finally finds answers to questions she hadn't dared asked, she realizes that she had been loved and is worthy of being loved. I would have enjoyed reading more about her upcoming journey
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A beautiful, evocative story. Carmel captures your heart. I look forward to reading the continuation of her story. I have read several of Jen Grainger’s books and have enjoyed them all. The characters capture your interest and the setting and often the suspense keeps you reading. I cant wait to complete this series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on July 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great story
  • Reviewed in Canada on August 1, 2017
    This short novella is GREAT. It poses a very interesting dilemma, making the reader beg for more, and yet smile in satisfaction and wonderment. I am really looking forward to the sequel to this story which I hope will open a whole new life for the protagonist, Carmel, and give her the happiness she deserves.

    This is a smart teaser by Jean Grainger, and I am anticipating a great novel to follow. Well done!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on July 6, 2018
    I was hooked on reading Jean Grainger’s books, loved this story, and I will be reading The Future’s Not Ours To See the follow up.
  • Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Not at all impressed. The first 100 pages of book 2 is exactly the last 100 pages of book one. I m hoping this was an error. It’s a good story though I enjoyed it
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2017
    Enjoyed this little Novella. Hooked in the first page and wanted the story to continue. Hope Jean Grainger writes more on this character! Very well written.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mags
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent story from Jean Grainger.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I downloaded this book as it was actually a free Kindle book but I would have gladly paid for it as I thought that it was very well written and kept me occupied from start to finish. Since then, I have downloaded all Jean Grainger's books onto my Kindle and I am now waiting for the next one, that I hope she is writing as we speak. I love Jean's writing style and the feeling that the reader is participating in the story somehow. Excellent! Please write some more very soon.
  • AnneB
    3.0 out of 5 stars Short and sweet
    Reviewed in France on February 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I was surprised, and a bit disappointed when I understood that I was near the end of the book and of the story. I thought that the bond between Carmel and Sharif was going to slowly develop. And that we were going to discover why Carmel's mother was prevented to find her daughter, although I have suspicions (I don't say more, I don't want to spoil the story for future readers).The ending is a bit too much like a fairy tale. But, as usual with Jean Grainger, the writing is good, the characters well described. And maybe she will write a follow up, that would be nice. Carmel deserves it. So, Jean, please, don't keep us waiting....
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Wonderful
    Reviewed in Australia on August 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    An often unspoken misery of babies born out of wedlock within the Catholic Church and the sadness that they are saddled with. A magical turn of events. Lovingly written and received. Well done.
  • Rick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Telling of a Necessary Story
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Jan not Rick (shared account). This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time. I’ve read many, many books set in Ireland and am familiar with the horrible, horrendous way unwed mothers were treated by the Church years ago; and by extension, many of their children. But the strength of Jean Grainger’s writing, her ability to articulate Carmel’s story, is a measure of how evil (or close to it - I’m not as forgiving of the Nuns or Bill and his family as Carmel) can be overcome by goodness and hope for a better, brighter, future for Carmel, one filled with love and happiness. I’ve read and enjoyed many of Jean Grainger’s novels, but this is the standout by far.
  • TraceyT
    4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed reading this story
    Reviewed in Australia on April 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed reading this story. Julia was an orphan who married a man who had no love for her at all. A chance journey changes Julia's life forever.

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