Irish Rose Orphans' Christmas

By Susan G. Mathis

Description:

About Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas:
Get ready to fall in love with seven girls and their unforgettable stories! This heartwarming prequel sets the stage for the upcoming Irish Rose Orphans: A Thousand Islands Gilded Age Series, where seven spirited young women serve the islands’ elite!

Brooklyn, 1876
At the Irish Rose Orphan Asylum for Girls, seven young women are about to experience a Christmas that will change everything—their last one together before stepping into lives of service among strangers in the Gilded Age. United by trials and an unbreakable bond, they've pledged to remain “forever sisters.” But as the season of parting approaches, buried wounds rise to the surface.
Twin sisters Annie and Taryn remain divided by a silent rift. Fiona grapples with the ache of abandonment. Vivian hides her fear of being left behind beneath a cheerful façade. Cassie, the lover of numbers, tries to steady the group as Isabel and Gloria struggle with the agony of separation.

When Sister Rose invites the girls to prepare their hearts during Advent for a deeper calling, each young woman must face the truth of her past and the hope of her future. A final gift—tin lockets adorned with the Irish Rose—become tokens of hope, courage, and an everlasting sisterhood. This Christmas, seven orphans will discover that no matter where life leads them, love and faith will go with them.

Book Takeaway:

All sixteen of my stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas also focuses on growing up, finding purpose, healing broken hearts, forgiving those who hurt you, and embracing God’s plan for your life.

Why the author wrote this book:

I grew up with about a third of my classmates coming from a nearby orphanage, so I saw firsthand how deeply they longed for family and belonging. Their stories, resilience, and quiet hopes stayed with me through the years. When I began writing Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas, I wanted to honor those children—to capture both the struggles they faced and the strength and love that could still blossom in their lives. The story is a tribute to the enduring human spirit, the healing power of love, and the beautiful truth that family isn’t always defined by blood, but by the heart.