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EXCERPT: I pause outside the main hospital entrance. Icy wind claws at my cheeks and I cup my hands, bring them to my mouth and blow hard. Eccles Street is beautifully still, as if the usual hustle of Dublin City is on mute. Moonlight shines through a blanket of cloud, casting shadows at my feet. Inside my head is blissfully silent too. And I know to enjoy it. The sweet spot of calm when one day winds to an end before another begins never lasts long.
An approaching siren slices through the air in the distance. I glance overhead as the clouds part. The sun will be up soon. I take a deep breath and step forward. The huge, glass automatic doors part and a grey-haired man in chequered pyjamas shuffles out. He slips a cigarette between his lips and bobs his head up and down as he asks, 'Do you have a lighter, love?'
'I don't smoke, sorry,' I say. 'But I think they sell matches in the tuck shop. It's open after nine.' I glance at my watch and realise that's more than an hour away. 'Or they might be able to help at the nurses' station.'
Without a word, he turns and shuffles back inside, struggling to keep his slippers on.
A lady in a black bomber jacket and with car keys in her hand races towards me from the car park.
'Are you a nurse?' she asks, breathless. 'Where should I go?'
I cup my ear to hear her better as the siren grows louder.
'It's my grandfather. He had a fall. They asked me to hurry. Room 114, they said. Or 124. I can't remember.'
'Mr Cullen,' I say, thinking of the jolly ninety-six-year-old who loves to dance, even an IV line and oxygen tank not slowing him down. My heart pinches, knowing that, if someone called his granddaughter at this hour, his time is limited.
She nods and her keys rattle in her shaking hand. 'Yes. Yes. Tom Cullen. Do you know where he is?'
I smile, happy to help at a time I can only imagine must be so difficult for her. 'Room 124. Reception is just through here, on the right.' I point over my shoulder at the glass door behind us. You have to check in there first.' I look at her teary eyes and shaking hands and realise she's not taking in a word I'm saying.' I can show you, if it helps.'
She nods and we jump aside together as the ambulance comes skidding into the bay. Blue scrubs and white coats hurry out of the doors to meet the paramedics and the patient and I know the chaos of another day at St Helens has begun.

ABOUT 'THE SECRET LIFE OF BEATRICE ALRIGHT': Beatrice Alright is the queen of silver linings. She can find a spark of hope in any situation. Even when her partner delivers earth-shattering news that leaves Bea and their four-year-old, Ellie, without a home, she refuses to panic.

Because Bea believes that what she does have is more important �� her job at St Helen’s Hospital, which offers a warm, dry shelter for her and Ellie to stay while she figures things out. By day Bea cleans the wards, by night she tucks her daughter into bed between mops and buckets.

And tries so hard to hold on to hope.

When Bea sees an old man sitting on a cold and lonely bench outside the hospital, she really doesn’t have time to stop. She should be clearing up her own mess, not worrying about this cantankerous stranger. But Bea can’t help herself��

As she slowly starts to draw out Malcolm’s heartbreaking story, could this simple act of kindness begin to heal a decades-old pain? And might finding peace for Malcolm help Bea in ways she didn’t even know she needed?

MY THOUGHTS: There were many things in this read that confused or puzzled me, but they didn't stop me enjoying this sweet and poignant story.

While on the surface (and the cover) this may look like a light-hearted read, and it certainly is in places, Brooke Harris shows just how easy it is for fortunes to change and for a person to become homeless through no fault of their own, and just how hard it is to turn things around again.

Even though this book is heart wrenchingly sad, it is never depressing, although I felt that Bea was quite understandably bordering on depression in places. The poor woman just couldn't catch a break! I did feel frustrated by her at many points. She just wouldn't stand up for herself. I would assume Declan is named on Ellie's birth certificate, so why was he not paying maintenance? Why didn't Bea go to the police over being scammed? And surely there must be something akin to Women's Refuge centres in Ireland where she could have gone rather than sleeping with a child in the cleaners' cupboard on the ward. Realistically, she never could have gotten away with this, as other cleaners would have come in on her days off to do Bea's job and other staff do access the cleaner's cupboard when the cleaner is not on duty. So you are going to have to suspend belief a little here.

Malcolm was a wonderful character. He is the old man on the park bench who Beatrice stops to chat to. He is warm and wise in his own curmudgeonly way while also trying to right a wrong and heal a family rift. His grandson Shayne is almost too good to be true, although Brook Harris's portrayal of his relationship with Malcolm was spot on when it comes to how many people treat their elderly relatives. Even Bea finds herself falling into this trap. Ellie, Bea's four-year-old daughter is a joy. A very typical four-year-old! I found it interesting that she didn't appear to miss her father at all when Declan left. She certainly didn't ask about him at all in the 'When's Daddy coming home again?' way that I would have expected.

There is just a wee sprinkling of romance to this story, but I liked the way that a friendship develops first, and the romance isn't introduced until late in the book.

Despite these 'wrinkles', I enjoyed this read. It is a moving blend of kindness and tragedy with mostly wonderful characters who will fill your heart. I will definitely be reading more titles from this author.

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#TheSecretLifeofBeatriceAlright #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Brooke Harris loves nothing more than opening a book in the middle and inhaling deeply. A self-confessed arty-type, she enjoys playing piano, sketching and painting. But her greatest love is stories.

Brooke writes heart-breaking and emotionally led fiction, often with a sprinkling of romance. Brooke lives in county Kildare, Ireland with her husband and five children. She is a keen supporter of mental health charities and creating a greater understanding of mental illness. She is the owner of the bestest, fluffiest, lickiest dog in the world. (Source: Storm Publishing)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright by Brooke Harris for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I combined reading with listening to The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright, written by Brooke Harris and narrated by Roisin Rankin who performed brilliantly.