'No one writes friendship stories quite like Curtin and the historical details are fascinating ... Everyone needs a friend like Lily, kind, clever and tenacious, and in a difficult year, this book is like a warm hug.'
- Irish Independent
'Given the Irish fascination with the opulence of the likes of Downton Abbey, Judi Curtin also strikes a careful balance in showing readers both sides of the social-class divide in early 20th Century Ireland ...The reader has sympathy both for Lily, whose hopes of becoming a teacher are bound by her stricken circumstances, and Maeve, the poor little rich girl who envies Lily the warmth of her mother's love, in contrast with the austerity of her lonely life in Lissadell while her own mother furthers the cause of Irish independence. Cork native Curtin, who in previous children's novels has embarked on time travels to the Second World War and the sinking of the Titanic, provides further valuable insights here into Irish history during a time of seismic political and social change, by engaging her readers in a compelling story of friendship and hope.'
- Evening Echo
'Set in Lissadell House in Sligo in 1914, this historical novel is narrated by a young housemaid, Lily, as she navigates her working life and rather tumultuous friendship with Maeve de Markievicz, daughter of the famous Countess. War has broken out and Lily's friend, Harry, the footman at Lissadell, has just joined up. The narrative includes his letters from the trenches, a clever way of introducing the World War I plot strand to the book. Curtin is the queen of friendship tales for young readers and the history in the Lissadell series gives her charming books extra depth.'
- Irish Independent
'A delightful book for fans of historical fiction, who can continue to follow the adventures of Lily, a young maid in the Big House. By blending fact and fiction, the author wonderfully evokes a time and place that makes the reader feel part of the world at Lissadell House and the historical events unfolding at the time, primarily the First World War and its effects on Ireland ... an engaging and heartwarming read with underlying themes of friendship and class differences - a treat to savour.'
- CBI Deliver the Joy of Reading