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  • Published: 17 October 2023
  • ISBN: 9781787303003
  • Imprint: Harvill Secker
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $37.00

Sweet Mercies




A charming Christmas adventure with the Sisters of Saint Philomena, about friendship, family and forgiveness, for fans of AJ Pearce, Katie Fforde and Call the Midwife

Even saints need second chances...

The new heartwarming Christmas adventure with the Sisters of Saint Philomena, about friendship, family and forgiveness, for fans of AJ Pearce, Katie Fforde and Call the Midwife.

Everyone loves Sister Bridget.

The cheerful Mother Superior of St Philomena's convent is friend to many in the town of Fairbridge and the irrepressible caller at the weekly Parish Bingo. There is nothing she can't sort out with a kind word, a cup of tea and a slice of her amazing chocolate cake.

But is everything as rosy as she thinks?

As the Christmas tree goes up and festive cheer rises, a visitor arrives at the convent who doesn't like Sister Bridget one bit.

Good intentions don't always go to plan.

Sister Bridget learns that secrets are bubbling to the surface back home in Ireland - especially for her younger sister Mary. She will need to face up to past deeds, however well-intended. With the help of her friends, and the power of love and forgiveness, maybe she can finally make things right.

With warmth and grace, Sweet Mercies reminds us that none of us is perfect, and everybody deserves another chance at finding peace and happiness.

Praise for Anne Booth's previous novel Small Miracles:

'Charming, witty and warm, Small Miracles is a gentle gem of a novel, a cheery balm in troubling times.' AJ Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird

'With gentle humour, and surprising twists and turns, this is just the book we need in these difficult times. I didn't want it to end' Katie Fforde

'This book felt like a hug' ***** Reader Review

  • Published: 17 October 2023
  • ISBN: 9781787303003
  • Imprint: Harvill Secker
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $37.00

About the author

Anne Booth

Anne Booth has had all sorts of jobs, including washing up in a restaurant, working as a tour guide in a haunted almshouse, bookselling, teaching English in Italy, sessional lecturing at university, running music and art activities in a residential home, and being a long term carer for elderly parents. In 2014 she had her first book published for children, and has had twenty published since. Small Miracles is her first book for adults.

@bridgeanne

Also by Anne Booth

See all

Praise for Sweet Mercies

With gentle humour, and surprising twists and turns, this is just the book we need in these difficult times. I didn't want it to end

Katie Fforde on Small Miracles

Charming, witty and warm, Small Miracles is a gentle gem of a novel, a cheery balm in troubling times

AJ Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird, on Small Miracles

Heart-warming and quirky, with a cast of lovable characters...Just wonderful. I loved it

Jill Mansell on Small Miracles

I want to be in the kitchen with Sister Bridget cooking up a storm! We should all learn to follow our hearts and find what we love, and be thankful for those we love. This book is a joyful celebration of love

Jo Thomas on Small Miracles

Although this charming book is indeed heartwarming, it has the spice of reality which prevents it from becoming too sweet. I really enjoyed it

Katie Fforde

I absolutely adored Sweet Mercies, which is if possible, even better than its predecessor, Small Miracles. Beautifully drawn characters, full of a resounding zest for life, mingle with others not so lucky. The result is uplifting, joyful and bursting with hope.... A triumph!

Celia Anderson, author of 59 Memory Lane

A wonderful, cheering Christmassy book about forgiveness and faith of all kinds. A perfect gift!

Julie Mae Cohen

On one level, Sweet Mercies is an accessible, light read, ideal to curl up with at Christmas. There's lots of laughter - the havoc unwound by two playful kittens; Sister Bridget's shenanigans with the bingo balls; the tragi-comic decapitation of a statue. But like its predecessor, the book touches on deeper themes... When the folk of Fairbridge experience divine tenderness and forgiveness through people of faith they are encountering for themselves the sweet mercies of God

Inverness Courier