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An Irish Christmas

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For Colleen, life is spinning out of control. She just lost her husband, and her relationship with her young adult son Jamie is crumbling. Should she confess to him the secret that has been haunting her for twenty years? Jamie has a few secrets of his own. When he announces his plans to join the military, Colleen decides it's time for the two of them to take a trip together--to Ireland. The truth they discover there could fulfill both their dreams in a way neither ever thought possible. An Irish Christmas is a captivating story of love, deception, and secret passions, from popular and prolific author Melody Carlson.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

219 people are currently reading
1051 people want to read

About the author

Melody Carlson

418 books3,238 followers
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

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5 stars
370 (27%)
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408 (30%)
3 stars
410 (30%)
2 stars
138 (10%)
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27 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,834 reviews1,437 followers
December 5, 2018
3.5 stars

This one was fun and bittersweet at the same time. It really caught the heart of a mother's love for her son, who she's lost touch with. While pets of it were pretty predictable, it was enjoyable to read and to watch the mother and son mature past their previous griefs. I haven't read a lot set in the 1960s, but I felt like it really captured the feel of the time period and then of Irelnad as well.
Profile Image for Sheila.
3,085 reviews122 followers
November 16, 2025
Could not get into this book. Did not like the characters at all.
Profile Image for Janet C-B.
738 reviews43 followers
December 28, 2022
This is a Christian fiction story, written by Melody Carlson. I have read several of her Christmas-themed books over the years.

An Irish Christmas is told from two points of view, Colleen, a middle-aged widow, and Jamie, her young adult son. Colleen has something to tell her son, and decides that a trip to Ireland would provide a good setting. Jamie also has something important to tell his mom. The story is fairly simple and predictable with a touch of romance. I enjoy all of those elements in my Christmas reading. It is not a time of year when I look for complex novels, thrillers, or non-fiction.

Given my reading preferences, I rate the book 4 stars





129 reviews2 followers
July 23, 2015
I don't typically read Christmas books in the summer. Some friends and I decided to read one for the Christmas in July thing. I am very glad I did! This book was great! It shows how poisoning secrets can be, how the Lord can make things right when we've messed them up, how his love can shine through if we just let it, that he can guide us if we just trust in him! Loved it!
Profile Image for Irisheyz77.
577 reviews207 followers
July 29, 2014
An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson is a story that is told from two different points of view, that of the two main characters: Colleen Fitzgerald and her son Jaime. The story takes place in the early 1960s shortly after the loss of Colleen's husband.

I was really excited about this book but found myself disappointed in it. I often felt that the dialog was a little forced. Especially when it came to inserting slag words from the day. The plot was also horrible predictable and the characters would get on my nerves. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to reach through the pages to smack Jaime for the way that he acted towards his mother. This boy dropped out of school and lied to his parents for years.....yet he when he told his mother he got angry at her when she was upset with him for the lies. He would then blow up other little things that she would do into bigger deals then they wore for nothing else but to make her feel bad. Yet through it all she would forgive him and often agree that he was right to be mad.

The story was a fairly quick read so for that I was thankful and the writing while not stellar could have been worse. While I am not sure if this is a book that I'd recommend to others I can't say that I regret the time that I spent reading it.

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Profile Image for Wendy Abel.
107 reviews13 followers
January 3, 2023
Rereading it again in 2022.

I reread this book this Christmas, and was surprised to find that I'd rated it just 3 stars last time. The fact that it stuck with me and drew me to want to read it again prompted me to bump it to 4 stars this time. It's a sweet story but not too saccharine, with some real life grit and struggle thrown in for good measure. I don't care for Christian books whose characters are too perfect, but rather ones with flaws and problems that I can relate to in some way and that better reflect reality. Set in the 60s, I enjoyed the bits of nostalgia from that period and how real-life historical events like Pearl Harbor and JFK's assassination were woven into the storyline and characters. It has some good plot twists that aren't too predictable or implausible. Being part Irish myself, I loved the way the author described the scenes in Ireland and made me really be able to envision it and what it and the people were like. I would recommend this to anyone who'd like a light Christmas story that's part romance and part family drama and that's not too fluffy or sticky sweet.
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,447 reviews
December 13, 2018
Colleen, a recent widow, and her son, Jamie both are hiding secrets that could tear the two of them apart. Will a trip to Ireland for Christmas bring them together?

Told through the viewpoints of both Colleen and Jamie, we get a glimpse of what both of them are thinking and feeling as their secrets begin to unravel and a person from the past enters their lives. As their journey through Ireland progresses, they each begin to understand their similarities and differences. Carlson does a wonderful job of setting her reader in the midst of a small town in Ireland filling me with the sounds, feel, and warmth of an Irish Christmas. The story is heartfelt and touching as Colleen and Jamie open up to one another, share their secrets, and both began to understand what from the past has led them to the present.

Definitely recommend for a tender Christmas read.
56 reviews2 followers
July 23, 2015
This book was totally, completely, and utterly amazing! If I could give it ten stars, I would! It's definitely going to be one I'll read over and over again, I'm pretty certain of that! when Jamie announces his intention to join the Air Force, his mother, Colleen, both in attempting to dissuade him from doing so and to try and mend their rocky relationship, arranges for them to travel to Ireland for the holidays. there, secrets come out, and unexpected joys await. that's all I'll say. I loved it! However, I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't yet read it. this may be a short little book, but in its pages you'll find love, laughter, tears, and a lesson in completely surrendering all to our Lord.
Profile Image for kelley.
345 reviews31 followers
December 4, 2011
I downloaded this book for two reasons. One) I had just finished "Christmas at Harrington's" by this same author. I enjoyed it so much I was certain that I would enjoy other books written by Ms. Carlson. Two) As I browsed the list of books available by the author this book "An Irish Christmas" caught my eye. I've always wanted to go to Ireland and I love Christmas. So I thought this would be a win/win/ for me. I was right. I like the way Ms. Carlson writes. Life is not peachy but her characters are made of stern stuff and weather the storms of life with courage. I liked how the story evolved and wrapped up as Colleen and Jamie discovered Ireland, themselves and each other.

Profile Image for Colleen Whale.
131 reviews1 follower
December 20, 2021
It's 1963 and Colleen is trying to live her new life as a widow. Her 21 year old son Jamie is drifting away from her and she feels like her life is falling apart. She has something important to tell her son and decides to book a trip over the Christmas holidays to Ireland with him in an attempt to grow closer together. Not only does she have something to tell Jamie, he has something to confess to her too.

This was a cute book, but I guess with a name like An Irish Christmas, I was hoping for more Christmas. I just wanted to read a warm and cozy Christmas book while I drank my eggnog by my Christmas tree, and I found that there was just too much "story" and drama and not enough cheesy Christmas. This exact story could've taken place any time of the year. The only time it felt like Christmas was when Colleen was describing the Christmas Eve party she and Jamie were at and the decorations. So because of that, it did effect my enjoyment because it wasn't want I was expecting or craving. That aside, it was a decent story. I liked the alternating points of view so I could tell what each of them were thinking or feeling about things. It also made me sad as a mom of boys, knowing that when they grow up, they'll like drift apart from me as their mom and I felt Colleen's sadness about not knowing her son, who is now a young man.
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,610 reviews49 followers
November 17, 2017
Even though I guessed what was going to happen, I enjoyed the anticipation of waiting for it to take place. This was a good story about a family with one grown son, a mother, and a father, who had died a year and a half before the story takes place. We are told there are secrets that will be revealed when the mom and son go to Ireland for the Christmas holidays. I liked hearing the descriptions of where the son and mom went in different parts of Ireland, and the things the mom bought. The son loves music, and he finds musicians in a pup, and makes friends with them. In another city he finds a restaurant that has a piano, and he is given permission to play it. We learn about the relationship of the son and mother, and the changes they learn to make with each other, after their secrets are revealed.
Profile Image for Sherri.
1,616 reviews
December 17, 2024
Colleen and her son Jamie are each holding many secrets. After the death of Colleen's husband and a angsty/angry 20 something son, she decides to set off for Ireland to unload her deeply held secret.

Time period: Early 1960s after JFK assassination.

Neither of them wanted to confront each other and both look for the perfect time to tell each other. Then circumstances happen that force their hand and all is revealed.
Profile Image for Kristina .
1,324 reviews74 followers
December 19, 2021
I've been reading all the Christmas novellas from this author this month, this was the 12th out of 17. This one was bad, with two unlikable main characters, a cheesy cringe inducing ending and incredibly unrealistic. Despite the title, it's a story that happens to take place over Christmas, not really a Christmas story.
Profile Image for Morgan Giesbrecht.
Author 2 books184 followers
December 4, 2023
2.5 ⭐️

A mother & son out of touch. Secrets between them. And an Irish Christmas that might change everything.

There’s a sweet 1960s charm to the storytelling, and any time spent in Ireland is always a delight!

While there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with the story, I never connected with the characters or the writing style.


Content: mentions of Valium consumption; hints of being pregnant on wedding day; vague mentions of a man’s injury making it difficult for him to conceive children
Profile Image for Suzanne Barrett.
Author 22 books17 followers
January 5, 2012
It is 1963 and Colleen Frederick's life is disintegrating. President John F. Kennedy has been assassinated, Hal, her husband of twenty-two years has died, and her relationship with her son, Jamie is deteriorating.

Jamie wants to join the Air Force, something given the escalation of what would become the Vietnam War, Colleen passionately does not want, and Jamie isn't interested in the shoe business Hal wanted him to take over. Moreover, Jamie's vagueness about his college education makes Colleen wonder if he's been completely truthful to her. But Colleen, who feels more than a little guilt at not having loved Hal as much as he cared for her, has a secret of her own, one she feels compelled to reveal to Jamie. A Christmas trip to Ireland seems the right place to do it.

An Irish Christmas is told in first person, in the viewpoints of Colleen and Jamie. Ms. Carlson pens a story of secrets, passions and a family coming to know and accept their differences as well as their similarities. While a bit slow-moving at first, I found myself staying up late to follow Colleen's and Jamie's journey to fulfillment through letting God be in control. At times, both Colleen's and Jamie's reactions seemed a bit over the top, but I cheered for each of them because I sensed real love just beneath the surface. The ending was entirely predictable, yet it grabbed my heart just the same.

The secondary characters supported the story and felt entirely Irish. Ms. Carlson made me feel I was there once again. Well-written and detailed, An Irish Christmas left a warm feeling in my heart. A lovely story for Christmas or any time.
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Profile Image for Lisa.
423 reviews13 followers
December 15, 2010
This was another book for my Holiday Reading Challenge hosted by All About {n}. Once again I want to tell you how much I love Holiday novels. They usually make me feel warm and fuzzy and get me in the holiday spirit. Apparently, this season just hasn't been my best season for picking great holiday reads.

An Irish Christmas was a very short read. The writing tended to be simplistic and predictable. It didn't really capture my attention and pull me into the story. I did, however, enjoy the descriptions of Ireland in December. The country sounds beautiful and makes me want to take a vacation there soon.

For me, the characters themselves were believable but their expectations of each other were not. Both the mother and son have MAJOR secrets they are keeping from each other and they expect the other person to not to be horribly upset when they reveal them. I don't think this is believable at all. If I was as deceptive as either of these characters I would expect monumental explosions once I revealed my secret. I was talking to my mother about this book (she read it for her bookclub) and she agreed with me that if I ever kept a secret like that I'd be disowned and disinherited...not really...but she did say she'd be disappointed in me and we all know how catastrophic that is coming from a parent.

Another thing about this novel that I didn't enjoy was the ending. Without giving away too much, it was too unrealistic and extremely unlikely.
Profile Image for TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey.
1,021 reviews11 followers
December 30, 2011
Melody Carlson is the bestselling author of more than 200 books, including My Son, the Savior and The Christmas Bus. She lives with her husband in Sisters, Oregon.

For Colleen, life is spinning out of control. She just lost her husband, and her relationship with her young adult son Jamie is crumbling. Should she confess to him the secret that has been haunting her for twenty years?

Jamie has a few secrets of his own. When he announces his plans to join the military, Colleen decides it's time for the two of them to take a trip together--to Ireland.

The truth they discover there could fulfill both their dreams in a way neither ever thought possible.

An Irish Christmas is a captivating story of love, deception, and secret passions, from popular and prolific author Melody Carlson.

My Review - this book was just okay for me. It too me until about page 80 or so for it to really get good for me and even then it was predictable. I loved the actual story about Jamie, Liam and Colleen though. And the ending was good, which as I've said before is rare for me to like an ending. I'll be reading more Melody Carlson and hoping for less predictably.
Profile Image for Regina Spiker.
749 reviews22 followers
October 9, 2012
Colleen and her grown-up son, Jamie, have kept secrets from each other, not little secrets - but blow it out of the water secrets, secrets that could tear apart their fragile relationship. While Jamie was in college, his Dad/Colleen's husband passed away from a heart condition. Now alone and adrift, Colleen sells the flourishing shoe business that Jamie does not want to run and is seriously considering downsizing her beautiful but much too large home. When Jamie comes home from college and with a sudden decision, but really a cover-up announces his plan to join the military - Colleen makes a sudden decision as well. A trip to Ireland at Christmas will be where she tells Jamie the secret only her and her late husband hid.

Rather predictable, sometimes downright unbelievable, but with beautiful descriptions of Ireland, the pubs, and a small Irish island named Inishbofin, Carlson writes a sweet little inspirational with a nice surprise ending.
Profile Image for Sara.
11 reviews
May 27, 2016
This short story is very enjoyable. The main characters are so sweet and pure-hearted, that it's easy to forgive their mistakes. After recently visiting Ireland (though not the same regions), I could really imagine the places and people that the characters met along their journey, thanks to Carlson's beautiful descriptions. Melody Carlson drops plenty of clues for the reader along the way, so though the book may be a little predictable, it is the only way to feel closure with this type of story! I was glad to spend a few days of my Christmas holiday reading this warm story!
762 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2012
A widowed mother, Colleen and her adult son Jamie are each keeping secrets from each other. Because this is Christian fiction, after a few chapters I thought it was an updated version of the prodigal son however I was wrong. It is more a story of truth and forgiveness. Carlson's characters are always likeable and she does not hit you over the head with the message. This was a pleasant holiday story about how keeping secrets can make life so difficult as well as finding freedom when nothing is hidden.
Profile Image for Mandy.
889 reviews16 followers
December 26, 2013
Not too much Christmas in this one, but still a great story. Jamie bugged me a little during the first half of the book, he was quite the selfish little brat, but he grew up as the book progressed. I thought this story was adorable and heartfelt. I have read several of Melody Carlson's Christmas books and I am always pleased in the end. Her books always contain a fantastic moral to the story, her characters always grow through their trials, and the books always hold my attention. I will definitely be reading more of her Christmas books next year.
135 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2020
Awesome read!!!

I love to read any book written by Irish Authors of anything Irish! This was an excellent book and I look forward to reading more books by this Author. I loved the characters and could relate easily to them all. Thanks for sharing your wonderful talent with the reading class. I enjoyed this story so very much and related to the same experience of finding out that my Dad was not my natural father so this was something I wanted to see how it played out. Great job!
Profile Image for Christy.
364 reviews
December 19, 2018
By all accounts I should have loved this. Christmas. Galway Ireland. Family secrets. That would usually be right in my wheelhouse. But I didn’t care about the characters. I didn’t care about much of anything. Everything felt “blah” throughout the entire story, there were unnecessary parts, and then everything of real significance happened in like 15 pages. I wanted to like this one, but I just didn’t.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,981 reviews
January 29, 2012
I enjoyed this very unique story set partially in Ireland, and I love how it ended. The only drawback in my mind was that some of the circumstances seemed just a little bit too far-fetched to be believable. Things worked out a little bit too smoothly and quickly to seem plausible. Melody Carlson has a fun-to-read writing style, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Profile Image for Debra.
613 reviews
November 30, 2013
This book was just ok. I'm not sure why continue to read Melody Carlson books. They are always mediocre, at best. The characters were kind of irritating to me, and the ending was unbelievably happy. Plus, this is supposed to be a Christian book, but there were only a few prayers offered up to the vending machine God.
6 reviews
May 10, 2011
I liked it, but it was very predictable, there were no surprises.
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,215 reviews598 followers
August 1, 2015
This was a different, but enjoyable, read. I liked how it was a story of lost love and second chances. Also, the story took place in Ireland - which was fun.
Profile Image for Jules.
1,077 reviews233 followers
November 6, 2015
Enjoyable read. The main characters grew on me as time went on. Loved the Irish setting & the happy ending :-)
Profile Image for Annie Flanders.
278 reviews4 followers
December 27, 2024
This time of year is a great time of the year to read Christmas stories.

I found this story in a collection of 3 stories by Melody Carlson. I realize it is also a 'stand alone' story.

What can I say about it? It's a very sweet story. It's about a mother and son. Each chapter alternates between the thoughts of the mother and then the thoughts of the son.

After her husband passes Colleen decides to take her adult son Jamie to Ireland for Christmas. The time setting is at the John F Kennedy assassination. Young Jamie is undecided about his future - as are a lot of young people at age 21. Heck, did I know what I wanted to do with my Life at 21? Not really.

Colleen has a secret - which one night she shares with an innkeeper and then later with her son. The son is so shocked that he leaves his mother and boards a ferry to an island - where he ends up having to stay for a few days because of a major storm.

When he returns - he meets a man in a pub and that meeting involves the secret that his mother had been hiding for 21 years.

At the end all is resolved and there is a happy ending and resolution to the mother and son's problems.

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