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Thanks to Harper Collins, I have the pleasure of sharing a sneak-peek at the latest novel from Carmel Harrington, published on 15th June. There is also a chance to win one of two signed early editions of the book and a little extra prize (for twitter followers) of an A4-sized wooden wall plaque, which I thought captured the feeling of Carmel's novels perfectly. Twitter winner will also receive a signed edition of the book.
To be in with a chance of winning The Woman at 72 Derry Lane, just enter via rafflecopter link below. To enter twitter competition, see pinned tweet @margaretbmadden. Good Luck!
The Blurb
On a leafy suburban street in Dublin, beautiful, poised Stella Greene lives with her successful husband, Matt. The perfect couple in every way, Stella appears to have it all. Next door, at number 72 however, lives Rea Brady. Gruff, bad-tempered and rarely seen besides the twitching of her net curtains, rumour has it she’s lost it all…including her marbles if you believe the neighbourhood gossip.
But appearances can be deceiving and when Stella and Rea’s worlds collide they realise they have much in common. Both are trapped in a prison of their own making.
Has help been next door without them realising it?
With the warmth and wit of Maeve Binchy and the secrets and twists of Liane Moriarty, this is the utterly original and compelling new novel from Irish Times bestseller Carmel Harrington.
What Readers Think Of Carmel Harrington's Books
‘Will make you see life in a different way’ Woman’s Way

‘Heartwrenching and heartwarming’
Evening Herald
Evening Herald
‘Guaranteed to brighten your day’
Novelicious
Novelicious
‘Carmel Harrington has done it again! Brilliantly written … it surpasses all expectations’
Chicklit Club
Chicklit Club
‘A bittersweet, quietly brilliant novel that will make you cry, laugh and cry all over again’
Female First
Female First
‘Funny, poignant and bursting with heartfelt humour’
I Heart … Chick Lit
I Heart … Chick Lit
‘Completely stunning’
Reviewed the Book
Reviewed the Book
‘It will stay with you, well after you have turned the last page’
Bleach House Library
Bleach House Library
Exclusive Extract from The Woman at 72 Derry Lane
Looking at the trees, Stella thought that maybe next door was her answer.
Her gut, her every instinct told her that despite the gruff exterior, her
neighbour, Rea, was a good person. It had to be her who called the Gardaí each time. That showed she cared, didn't it?
So, before she had a chance to talk herself out of it,
she found herself knocking on her neighbour’s door.
'I was surprised to see you,' Rea said. 'A nice
surprise, I might add, but one I wasn't expecting.'
Rea looked at Stella closely, taking in how agitated she
seemed, her hands wringing in her lap. 'You have a look of someone with
something on her mind. Spit it out.'
Stella nodded, then cleared her throat. 'Can I be frank
with you?'
'I'd rather that. I've little or no patience for anyone
who beats about the bush.'
Stella smiled, warming even more to this woman; while
she was what many would call brusque, her eyes were kind. 'I should have
practised what to say. Sometimes finding the right words is difficult.'
'When you get to my age, that's something that comes
with the territory,' Rea smiled.
'Oh I doubt that. You're not so old.'
Rea took the compliment.
'First of all, please don't be offended by this
question, but I need to ask it all the same,' Stella said, leaning in.
Rea brushed aside her apology, 'You don't know me, so I
would think you have more questions than answers.'
Somehow even before she spoke, she knew the answer, 'Can
I trust you? I need to be sure that you won't repeat this conversation to
anyone.'
'When you say anyone, I assume you mean your husband?'
'Yes,' Stella nodded.
'You can say what you like here. Think of it as a
confessional.'
'I gave up believing in God a long time ago,' Stella
replied.
'I've a pretty up and down relationship with her myself
too.'
'Her?'
'Why not?' Rea said.
Stella smiled, thinking that she liked that idea a lot
and liked Rea even more.
'Well, leaving God and confessionals aside, would you
take my word for it, that you can trust me?' Rea asked.
Stella felt her shoulders sag with relief, nodding. Her
heartbeat accelerated so rapidly she thought it would jump out of her chest and
bounce clear across the floor, right out the door.
'I want to leave him,' Stella said.
'Good for you.' Rea had never been so glad to hear a
statement in her whole life. Maybe this one had more about her after all.
'Then why don't you? He's at work. You're not chained to
the house. Just pack a bag and go.'
'He's clever. He's backed me into a corner. I need to
sort some things out first before he ....'
Rea watched the girl before her tremble, unable to
finish the statement. 'Before he hits you again?'
Stella nodded, looking so broken, lost and very alone,
that it made Rea's stomach flip nervously for her.
'Matt has told me over and over that I'm all alone
without him, that I'd not last a moment on my own. He's right about one of
those things. I don't intend to prove the second.'
'You've got nobody?' Rea asked. When Stella nodded, Rea
felt something give deep inside of her. The girl’s face looked so sorrowful and bereft and she recognised
how that felt.
'I have family living in France. That's where I'll go,'
Stella shifted her weight slightly, wincing in pain as she did.
'That
bastard, how could a man do that to a woman, to anyone?'
'He's not a man when he loses his temper. He's an
animal. And each time he loses it with me, less of the man I married remains.
I'm afraid that soon they'll be none of him left.' Stella took a deep breath and
continued, 'I know you don't know me. I know that me landing on your doorstep
is a terrible imposition. But I'm desperate. I don't have anyone else to turn
to.'
It took Rea all of a nano second to reply. 'Now stop
that. I'm very happy you called in to me. What do you need? Because if it's in
my power to give it to you, it's yours.'
Rea reached over to hold one of Stella's hands between
her own. 'He seems to be losing his temper with you more frequently. The walls
may be thick in these Victorian houses, but they are linked all the same, so
noise travels....'
Stella felt her old friend shame come back to torment
her. The embarrassment of knowing that the most horrific, dark, secret part of
her life was silently witnessed by her neighbour was a difficult pill to
swallow. 'Yes, you're right.'
'You've got to get out of that house sooner rather than
later. Do you hear me?' Rea said, her voice rising in anger.
There was a time that Stella would have disagreed with
this. But things were different now. She didn't plan on dithering. 'I know. It’s hard when you
are in the middle of it, to see a way out. He's been chipping away at me for so
long, I've forgotten who I am.'
'Well then, that's the first thing you have to work out.
How to get back the Stella you were before he came into your life. As for being
trapped, the only person who can hold you back, is you,' Rea said.
She stood up and walked to the door, saying, 'I better
make some tea. A large pot too. I think we'll need it, to work through this
mess. But work through it we will. Two heads are better than one.'
'Thank you,' Stella said, almost breathless with
gratitude.
Rea stopped at the doorway and said to her, 'You were
wrong about something else you know. You're not on your own. Not anymore.'
****************************************
The Woman at 72 Derry Lane is published by Harper Collins in Ireland on 15th June 2017 in TBP and ebook format.
Love the sound of this book, great post.
ReplyDeleteThe life you left...although I've not read it, it's on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteOoh I would love to win a copy of this 😊
ReplyDeleteAnother fab looking book by Carmel Harrington. Every Time A Bell Rings is one of my favourite books by the author so far.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite of Carmel's books is Every Time A Bell Rings.
ReplyDeleteThe Things I Should Have Told You
ReplyDeleteThe Life YOU Left.
ReplyDeleteBeyond Grace's Rainbow. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteThe Things I should've told you - loved that book
ReplyDeleteBeyond Graces Rainbow has to be one of my all time favourite books ❤️
ReplyDeleteBeyond Grace’s Rainbow
ReplyDelete"The things I should have told you".
ReplyDeleteNew book looks good:-)