Tag: Irish

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Reading the Green: Death in Irish Accents (The Dublin Driver Mysteries) 

304 pages Publisher Kensington Publication date February 21, 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

After a long streak of avoiding murder investigations, Dublin limo driver Megan Malone thought her life had finally settled . . . but even her Irish luck can’t keep her out of trouble forever in Catie Murphy’s fourth Ireland-set cozy mystery…

It’s been over a year since Megan found herself entangled in a murder—much to everyone’s relief, including her girlfriend Jelena and Detective Paul Bourke. So when a body of a young woman quite literally lands in her lap at her favorite Dublin café, Megan tries to do the right thing and leave the crime-solving to the police so she can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. After all, she has no connection to the victim. Or does she?

Megan’s latest client, world-renowned romance novelist Claire Woodward, is fascinated by Megan’s own history of catching killers. Claire also just happens to be the murder victim’s literary mentor. So maybe Megan can just sort of stay on the periphery of the case while trying to help out? Just a wee bit without causing too much fuss? Even Detective Bourke would approve since he has personal reasons not to trust Claire. The investigation leads Megan to the victim’s writing group, who think that Claire has plagiarized the poor young lady’s work. And when another member of the group is found dead, Megan will have to step up her sleuthing before the killer decides to write her off for good.

MY THOUGHTS

Death in Irish Accents is the fourth book in The Dublin Driver Mysteries series.
There was really a lot going on in this book.
Set in Ireland, Megan Malone, a limo driver is involved in sleuthing yet another murder mystery and her girlfriend, Jalena doesn’t want her involved in yet another mystery which causes quite a bit of friction between them. There’s the plagiarizing author and a list of suspects that just seems to keep getting added to. When a body literally falls out of the closet onto Megan’s lap, she has no choice but to get involved in this mystery.
I did enjoy the location of the book but not the dynamics between Megan and Jalena, it really felt like a bullying relationship with her not being able to be herself and constantly needing to apologize for who she was and enjoying sleuthing.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

CE Murphy began writing around age six, when she submitted three poems to a school publication. The teacher producing the magazine selected (inevitably) the one she thought was by far the worst, but also told her–a six year old kid–to keep writing, which she has. She has also held the usual grab-bag of jobs usually seen in an authorial biography, including public library volunteer (at ages 9 and 10; it’s clear she was doomed to a career involving books), archival assistant, cannery worker, and web designer. Writing books is better.

She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.

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Reading the Green: Mrs. Morris and the Pot of Gold (A Salem B&B Mystery)

336 pages Publisher Kensington Publication date August 23, 2022

ABOUT THE BOOK

Salem, Massachusetts, B&B owner Charlene Morris will need the luck of the Irish—and the help of a ghost—to unveil a hooded killer . . .

Charlene has hired a van to ferry her B&B guests to an all-you-can-eat corned beef and cabbage dinner hosted by Salem’s Irish community at the Ancient Order of Hibernians club—but she should have booked a hearse. It’s never a good sign when the family black sheep drunkenly crashes a party by punching the guy dressed as a leprechaun. But things go from troublesome to fatal when Charlene stumbles upon a second brawl in an upper room—and this fight Connor Gallagher loses, his anonymous assailant rushing past Charlene, hidden by a hoodie.

Now Detective Sam Holden has another homicide on his hands, with Charlene as the only eyewitness. Even if she can’t give the police sketch artist much to go on, Charlene is determined to ID the murderer, with the help of Dr. Jack Strathmore, the charming ghost who haunts her B&B. The answer lies in the motive, and to uncover that sleuth and spook will need to shine a light on Connor’s shady past—before the killer pulls another Irish goodbye . . .

MY THOUGHTS

This is the sixth book in the Salem B&B mystery series. Each book is a standalone so no need to read it in order.
The mystery was fast paced and kept my attention. The characters were well developed, and I enjoyed getting to know Mrs. Morris and her cat.
A special St. Patrick’s Day dinner hosted by Salem’s Irish community at the Ancient Order of Hibernians club turns out to not be so great when her guests can’t even enjoy their dinner when a murder takes place there. The hooded murderer is seen running away.
Helping to solve the case with his input is B & B resident, Jack, a ghost.
This paranormal cozy mystery is full of St. Patrick’s Day events and yummy sound traditional Irish foods. A mistaken identity lets the murderer get away with well, murder, almost.
The real question is, is there really hidden gold to be found, or is just an afterthought at the end of the rainbow?
Great series that I’ll be looking into further.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Traci Wilton is a pseudonym of Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton. Patrice Wilton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty books, some indie-published and some published by Amazon/Montlake. Traci Hall is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 books, published independently as well as by Medallion Press and Samhain Publishing. Visit them online at PatriceWilton.com.

Have a wonderful day!

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Reading the Green: The Lost House of Ireland: A totally uplifting Irish romance about second chances (Starlight Cottages Book 4)

252 pages Publication date June 8, 2022 Bookouture publisher

ABOUT THE BOOK

An enchanting story about forgotten family secrets that will transport you to the charming village of Sandy Cove on the beautiful Irish coast.

Allegra Casey is searching for a new beginning. So when she discovers an engagement ring buried in the sand near her home in Cape Cod, the last place she expects it to lead her is to the west coast of Ireland. But when she arrives in the tiny village of Sandy Cove, she finds herself falling in love with the crashing waves, the picturesque coast and the warm-hearted people.

As soon as she settles into her cottage at the old coastguard station, Allegra meets her eccentric neighbours. They believe the ring belonged to Davina Courtney, whose family still live on the Strawberry Hill estate just outside the village. And when Allegra visits the old mansion, she meets the charming, enigmatic Max Courtney-Smythe, the great-nephew of the former owner.

As they try to solve the mystery of the long-lost ring, Allegra and Max grow closer, and it soon becomes clear that their feelings for one another are mutual. And as she spends more time with the local community, Allegra wonders if she’s finally found the place she can call home.

But the reappearance of the engagement ring causes problems among the heirs of the estate and, as Max suddenly grows distant, Allegra wonders whether she should never have travelled to Sandy Cove. Is this where she will finally find true love, or is she destined to leave this magical place alone?

MY THOUGHTS

What is supposed to be a three week stay in Ireland turns into so much more.
While at the beach Allegra finds a ring in the sand near her Cape Cod home she knows she must try to find its owner. Her travels take her to picturesque Sandy Cove, Ireland. The coastal area is arresting and the locals friendly.
Long held secrets start to unravel. found family, such a beautiful read. I loved the characters and it kept me reading long into the night. So delightful and heartwarming.
This really kicks my dreams up a notch to visit Ireland and try to find any of my ancestors.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than 30 novels, mainly romantic fiction set in Ireland. Her many books set in County Kerry have been hugely popular with readers all over the world. She shares her time between Dublin and Kerry, where she and her husband have a little cottage near the beach. The wild, beautiful landscape, the small villages and the friendly people of that county have inspired her to write her feel-good stories. She’s been inspired to write about people of all ages and walks of life, with lots of romance, and more than a dash of humour.

When she is not writing or reading by the fire, Susanne loves heading for the great outdoors, walking on the beaches or scaling the green hills of her favourite county.

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Marrying the Matchmaker: An Irish Matchmaking American Historical Romance Novel Set in 1800s St. Louis (A Shanahan Match)

336 pages Publisher Bethany House Publishers Publication date February 3, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

As the middle child of the Shanahan family, Zaira does her best to keep the peace. She doesn’t share her dream of becoming a published author with her family to spare herself their disapproval. When she’s caught in a scandal involving the local matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, she must put her storytelling ability to good use and feign a match with him to avoid wagging tongues and her parents’ anger.

Feeling the growing pressure to marry as a well-known, yet single matchmaker to St. Louis’s Irish community, Bellamy reluctantly agrees to a temporary match with Zaira. But even though the matchmakers in his family might be able to find love for others, they have a history of disastrous relationships for themselves. When secrets and danger force Zaira and Bellamy to work together, is it finally the matchmaker’s turn to be lucky in love?

MY THOUGHTS

Marrying the Matchmaker is the fourth and final book in the A Shanahan Match series.
An Irish Matchmaking American Historical Romance Novel Set in 1800s St. Louis.
I’ve read and loved all of them. It would be hard to pick a favorite but if pushed to, I’d have to say it’d be this one.
Fake it til you make it or in this book a fake relationship becomes of so real with sizzling chemistry. Swoon worthy writing that’ll keep you reading!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over seventy books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet, clean romances with plenty of sizzle (but without the spice).

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