It's 1984 in the west of Ireland, and two sisters have unwittingly betrayed each other.
Set against the sweeping landscape of Ireland in the 1980s, My Heart Went Walking follows Una, who runs away from her home and family bound by a secret too heavy to share. Starting over in the "big smoke" of Dublin City, Una leaves a bereft family and the love of her life looking for answers.
Following her overwhelming desire to return home after a year and explain everything to the man she left behind, Una encounters the heartbreaking reality that he is now dating her sister. But the newly formed couple are blissfully unaware of Una's love for him. To preserve her sister's newfound joy, Una chooses silence and returns to Dublin.
Considering her past life dead to her, Una grows into a capable woman. The couple she works for adopt her as their own. The three navigate their way through illness and business challenges... until tragic news leads Una to decide she must go home, where the secrets she has fought so hard to keep could destroy her sister's life.
My Heart Went Walking will take you back to the '80s and pull you in to the Irish approach to life - that of grit and laughter - and leave you with an overriding reminder of the possibility of hope and restoration in all things.
Advance praise:
My Heart went walking for the characters in this book as well. Heartwarming , heartbreaking , sad , funny , joyful , emotional, I could continue but will suggest you read it for yourself. Is Sally Hanan the next Maeve Binchy ? I think she could be. --Reader
What a privilege to be given the chance to read this book. It was beautifully written. I was even glad that it ended on a positive note. [Spoiler] Was sad to reach the end! Bravo, Sally Hanan. -- Bookseller
“Wonderful story! Engaging and enthralling. The best I’ve read this year.” --Reader
“So so good! I was tearing up at so many parts. Just wonderful!” --Reader
“Beautiful, beautiful use of language.” --Reader
“Emotion, tears, expectation all in one awesome book. Sally Hanan is a terrific storyteller.” --Reader
