Books

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Second Chances

Second Chances is a touching tale that takes us on a journey from India to Kent, UK, following the intertwined lives of the residents who live on the same road.

At the heart of the story is Molly—kind-hearted, resilient, and determined to make a fresh start after her husband Rory leaves her and their son Jamie.

But when Jamie disappears on the day they were supposed to move to Kent, Molly’s new life takes an unexpected turn.

As Molly settles into her new community, she befriends her neighbours, Florence and Colonel Bryce Beckwith, who share their own stories of love, loss, and longing for second chances.

The three of them navigate their regrets and come to realise that it’s never too late to make a change.

Second Chances is a poignant, multigenerational tale of connections and community, showcasing the unbreakable human spirit and the hope that can come from taking a leap of faith.

Paperback
April 2023

Shattered Dreams and Scorpions at Midnight: A Pocketful of Inspiration

Find inspiration wherever you go! Fitting perfectly into your pocket or bag this little book of quotes and insights will help you notice the wonders that unfold around you. Flowing out of Miriam’s first book, Shattered Dreams and Scorpions at Midnight, this pocketful of inspiration shows what we always knew… that stories are never just stories… they reveal truth and magic that can comfort, challenge and call us to new adventures.

Paperback: 56 pages
2 Dec 2015

Shattered Dreams & Scorpions at Midnight:

a search for sanctuary

Miriam, feeling the pressure, knew it was time for change. The stress of living with M.E. had become unbearable. So in 2003 she moved to South West Turkey. She dreamt of finding a sanctuary, a place to heal by the sea. The first steps into this new world were not as easy as expected and many of Miriam’s early dreams were shattered. With her Super Hero husband, CJ, she ventured up into the mountains… where a new life awaited them and where dreams could once again flourish. In Shattered Dreams & Scorpions at Midnight the rich tapestry of traditional village life unfolds in a series of fun adventures. Scorpions, chickens, dogs, dentists, decorators and charming market stallholders are only a few of the characters who populate this collection of short stories

Paperback: 190 pages
4 Jun 2015

See What My Readers Are Saying

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Second Chances, totally drawn into the pages and could not put it down.
Miriam very much brings the characters to life, people you can relate to and fall in love with.

From U. O’Regan

Just loved the thought of jumping into the classic Morgan sports car called Millie and zooming off into the country-side – absolute heaven!

From D Bartlett

I loved how each character was not only described, but also brought to life in such detail, at times I felt I could go outside and meet them in person. And the nostalgia, I am a big fan of nostalgic memories and love to read the back stories of people in books.

From Catherine Mellon – USA

I really enjoyed this book about the lives of a small group of nice neighbours. In fact, I’d like to live in this area with these lovely people. The mix of old and new in the storyline was intriguing especially as their secrets were revealed. We all have secrets and in this case they were mixed together in a good plot. I can recommend this book about Second Chances in life.

From Susan Willis, Author – UK

The idea of ‘second chances’ is well and truly front and centre in this book. Second chances at love, at family, at work, with friends, with hobbies, with yourself, and with life itself.
Even after I’d finished, I kept thinking I had to go back to it, because I enjoyed it so much. It’s a beautiful, heart-warming, tender story.

From Victoria Bucknell – Independent Reviewer – UK

The story strikes a wonderful balance of humor and heart as it explores the themes of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope for the future. It carries us on a journey that tugs at our hearts at one turn and has us laughing out loud at the next. The colorful cast of characters blend beautifully in the telling and leave us feeling like we’ve gained a new set of close friends. Overall, I highly recommend Second Chances to anyone looking for a wholesome, feel-good story that will leave you with a smile on your face and a renewed faith in the power of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

From Tim Wright – USA

I truly loved each page. Heart-warming, positive, encouraging, I was charmed by each character and the world you created for them. A warm and caring read with some good truths, this will be a favorite for many readers. Reminded me of a Maeve Binchy book.

From Jena C HENRY – USA

A Beautiful Book – A delightful Story
• A nice mix of characters and back stories. Not too many that I got confused by complicated threads.
• Enjoyed the unexpected plot twists.
• Some lovely touches of humour which made me smile.
Chapter 20 with Florence’s letters was poignant; one of my favourites.

From Traci Ferguson – UK

As a person who generally reads murder mysteries, I was intrigued. There’s an air of mystery with romance crafted into Second Chances. I honestly couldn’t stop reading as I had to know how everything panned out.

From Australia – Amanda Ray

When we met at Aylesford Farmers Market I said that I would tell you what I thought of your book. Frankly it is the most wonderfully intimate collection of stories I have ever read. It more than exceeded my wildest expectations. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with both of you. I nearly wet myself laughing at the story of the scorpion and how you can make a visit to the Dentist so interesting and amusing I will never know. My only complaint is that it was too short I could have read and enjoyed a book twenty times the size of the one you produced, but you have to keep something back for a second book. I can’t wait for the next book. Please, please let me know when your next one is available.

From Mr D Tillyer – Kent

Rarely do you find a book that is easy to read, captivating, entertaining and emotional – this is it! Miriam McGuirk’s book of short stories tracks a remarkable journey full of courage and surprising events. I was transported to the tranquility of the Turkish mountains, I could taste the divine ‘Dolma’ dished up for lunch and laughed out loud when a scorpion sought his revenge on ‘Super Hero’. In short this book is a delight, a must-read and I can not wait for the second installment in the ‘Tales from Turkey’ series. What a truly inspirational read.

From Mr. David White – UK

I loved this book and am so looking forward to the next one. I was actually gripped from the very 1st paragraph and by the end of the book I felt like I had gone on the journey with Miriam. I don’t want to give too much away to other readers but it was a whirlwind of Scorpions, high tech dentists, MIL’s, bare feet, Turkish carpets, waxing, Kangaroo rabbits and Darth Vader. Turkey is not somewhere I had planned to visit but after reading this book I really want to go experience the culture for myself.

From Debi H – Ireland

Amazing Story of Listening to your body & healing – I stayed up until 2am reading this intriguing book. I laughed at the chicken story & cried along with Miriam & Chris. A MUST read! I love Irish writers – their humor & irony amuse me – [Maeve Binchy is a favourite author of mine]
PS I have added South-West Turkey to my bucket list.

From Elizabeth – USA