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The Kerry Series #1
Hot Property
When Megan O'Farrell inherits her uncle's house in a remote part of the windswept Atlantic coast of Ireland, she imagines it will be a romantic hideaway where she can recover from her recent divorce. But the house is a wreck that requires a fortune to restore, and she decides to sell it. An easy choice, were it not for the discovery of an old family scandal and a budding love affair with both the beautiful landscape and a handsome Kerryman. Catapulted into country life and faced with the less romantic side of farming, she also has to deal with a conspiracy to make her leave. British spelling, grammar and punctuation.
236 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2013
640 people are currently reading
1659 people want to read
About the author
Susanne O'Leary
58 books382 followersSusanne 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 represent 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
October 4, 2017
I'm not a rom-com reader. I never intend to venture into the world of romance as a writer. I'm fantasy (The Last Dragon Slayer) mainly, with perhaps a smattering of folklore, (The Lambton Worm). So what the hell was I thinking - reading a soppy romance set in Kerry, Southern Ireland?
Well, it was free at the time of purchase and it was by a fellow Kboarder. So that helped to sway me. Plus I love Ireland, the Irish and really need to go again soon. Maybe this was something of a literary holiday? The writing certainly takes you to Kerry! The other thing is, for an author to truly develop their authorial voice, I believe it's critical to read multiple genres. If you were a chef, but you basically only ever ate and cooked cheese... Well I don't think you'd be winning Master Chef, or getting a Michelin Star!
The funny thing about this book, is that despite starting it, entirely expecting to be bored to death and DNF'ing it. I actually enjoyed it. I genuinely enjoyed reading it and found it hard to put down at times. Megan is a likable character, even though her former career as a stylist, expertise on make-up and detailed critique on the size of her lovers' penises makes her difficult for me to empathize with. She has her fair share of trials and tribulations and is by no means a Mary Sue. There was a point where she has a flutter on an outsider and wins big - that stank of Deus Ex Machina, but really it didn't deter from the story. There was a point later in the book where she managed to eavesdrop and finally learn what was going on - that felt a little bit too convenient, but again it's forgivable. I suppose the third deus ex machina was Diane's brother and the change of fortune he brought Megan, but you could argue she was due some good luck, after all the crap she gets hit with.
It's difficult to really talk about what's happening in this book without giving too much away. It's not so much a 'who dunnit', but a 'who done what, when, why?'. The premise is simple, recently divorced Megan inherits a house from her Uncle Pat. She hadn't really expected to. She goes to see what she's 'won' and her initial thoughts are that she really has to sell the place. However she meets some locals, befriends a hilarious Polish girl called Beata and her Russian boyfriend Boris, and becomes well acquainted with both the solicitor handling her inheritance of the house and a neighboring farmer called Paudie.
Before long she's had a change of heart and wants to keep the house. However all the odds seem stacked against her. She inherits it in a near uninhabitable state and she meets numerous barriers to making it comfortable. Early on, you get a sense that somebody somewhere definitely wants her to sell. The mystery is wrapped up satisfactorily very near the end, but it makes things you read earlier in the story make sense. I'll be honest I wasn't entirely surprised about the revelation, but I wouldn't have said I knew exactly what was going on. There was some foreshadowing and flashbacks to give you a clue, but the execution of the solution was fine.
This book though, wasn't really about the destination, it was about the journey. It was a pleasant sojourn into the Irish Countryside, with a handful of colourful characters to keep you entertained. It was an easy, light-hearted read, perfect for the beach, the poolside or sitting in a snug chair by a roaring fire, late at night. Yes, I'll be honest, I'm a bloke, on the cusp of entering his forties - so I didn't care much for the fashion, the make-up or the sensitively handled descriptions of being penetrated by handsome and hunky men. Or of having your nipples played with. I didn't really appreciate the discussion of the men's penis sizes and their technique as lovers. This isn't really a book for blokes.
However, despite feeling a bit peculiar reading these obviously female targeted elements - I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone who likes, Ireland, Romance, or a light-hearted comedy with a bit of a 'who-dunnit' feel.
Paperback:- http://amzn.to/2wwUY2W
Kindle Edition:- http://amzn.to/2fOsdMb
Martyn Stanley
Author of:-
The Last Dragon Slayer (Free to download)
Well, it was free at the time of purchase and it was by a fellow Kboarder. So that helped to sway me. Plus I love Ireland, the Irish and really need to go again soon. Maybe this was something of a literary holiday? The writing certainly takes you to Kerry! The other thing is, for an author to truly develop their authorial voice, I believe it's critical to read multiple genres. If you were a chef, but you basically only ever ate and cooked cheese... Well I don't think you'd be winning Master Chef, or getting a Michelin Star!
The funny thing about this book, is that despite starting it, entirely expecting to be bored to death and DNF'ing it. I actually enjoyed it. I genuinely enjoyed reading it and found it hard to put down at times. Megan is a likable character, even though her former career as a stylist, expertise on make-up and detailed critique on the size of her lovers' penises makes her difficult for me to empathize with. She has her fair share of trials and tribulations and is by no means a Mary Sue. There was a point where she has a flutter on an outsider and wins big - that stank of Deus Ex Machina, but really it didn't deter from the story. There was a point later in the book where she managed to eavesdrop and finally learn what was going on - that felt a little bit too convenient, but again it's forgivable. I suppose the third deus ex machina was Diane's brother and the change of fortune he brought Megan, but you could argue she was due some good luck, after all the crap she gets hit with.
It's difficult to really talk about what's happening in this book without giving too much away. It's not so much a 'who dunnit', but a 'who done what, when, why?'. The premise is simple, recently divorced Megan inherits a house from her Uncle Pat. She hadn't really expected to. She goes to see what she's 'won' and her initial thoughts are that she really has to sell the place. However she meets some locals, befriends a hilarious Polish girl called Beata and her Russian boyfriend Boris, and becomes well acquainted with both the solicitor handling her inheritance of the house and a neighboring farmer called Paudie.
Before long she's had a change of heart and wants to keep the house. However all the odds seem stacked against her. She inherits it in a near uninhabitable state and she meets numerous barriers to making it comfortable. Early on, you get a sense that somebody somewhere definitely wants her to sell. The mystery is wrapped up satisfactorily very near the end, but it makes things you read earlier in the story make sense. I'll be honest I wasn't entirely surprised about the revelation, but I wouldn't have said I knew exactly what was going on. There was some foreshadowing and flashbacks to give you a clue, but the execution of the solution was fine.
This book though, wasn't really about the destination, it was about the journey. It was a pleasant sojourn into the Irish Countryside, with a handful of colourful characters to keep you entertained. It was an easy, light-hearted read, perfect for the beach, the poolside or sitting in a snug chair by a roaring fire, late at night. Yes, I'll be honest, I'm a bloke, on the cusp of entering his forties - so I didn't care much for the fashion, the make-up or the sensitively handled descriptions of being penetrated by handsome and hunky men. Or of having your nipples played with. I didn't really appreciate the discussion of the men's penis sizes and their technique as lovers. This isn't really a book for blokes.
However, despite feeling a bit peculiar reading these obviously female targeted elements - I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone who likes, Ireland, Romance, or a light-hearted comedy with a bit of a 'who-dunnit' feel.
Paperback:- http://amzn.to/2wwUY2W
Kindle Edition:- http://amzn.to/2fOsdMb
Martyn Stanley
Author of:-
The Last Dragon Slayer (Free to download)
June 24, 2016
Well, I'm very pleasantly surprised from this Amazon freebie! I didn't expect much when I picked it up, but the setting which was in Ireland was enough to make me try it out, and I'm glad I did.
The heroine is an almost 40 year old woman, recently divorced who quite unexpectedly gains a property in Kerry. She goes to visit, ends up staying for longer than planned, starts working on a B&B held by a prickly Polish woman, goes on a date with her solicitor and has to give up her Prada dresses (she was a stylist before she got fired) for wellies and ratty jeans. I liked seeing the heroine growing up and finding her own path and strength, I liked the descriptions of the magnificent Irish countryside, I liked the charming village and I absolutely loved Beata and Boris, who's romance I enjoyed maybe even more than the heroine's.
What I didn't like was the predictability of the plot and most of all, the weird dialogues, especially between the heroine and Dan, her solicitor. I mean, they were unbelievably and unreasonably rude to each other, had conversations that didn't wrap things up, were mean to each other with no obvious reason at all. Generally, the dialogues were a bit awkward and needed work IMO. But I liked the story so much, I could overlook it . But yeah, real people as far as I know, don't speak to others like that.
That aside, this was a very nice book to spend a quiet afternoon at home.
The heroine is an almost 40 year old woman, recently divorced who quite unexpectedly gains a property in Kerry. She goes to visit, ends up staying for longer than planned, starts working on a B&B held by a prickly Polish woman, goes on a date with her solicitor and has to give up her Prada dresses (she was a stylist before she got fired) for wellies and ratty jeans. I liked seeing the heroine growing up and finding her own path and strength, I liked the descriptions of the magnificent Irish countryside, I liked the charming village and I absolutely loved Beata and Boris, who's romance I enjoyed maybe even more than the heroine's.
What I didn't like was the predictability of the plot and most of all, the weird dialogues, especially between the heroine and Dan, her solicitor. I mean, they were unbelievably and unreasonably rude to each other, had conversations that didn't wrap things up, were mean to each other with no obvious reason at all. Generally, the dialogues were a bit awkward and needed work IMO. But I liked the story so much, I could overlook it . But yeah, real people as far as I know, don't speak to others like that.
That aside, this was a very nice book to spend a quiet afternoon at home.
June 24, 2013
A very enjoyable chick lit novel by Susanne O’Leary—the sort of novel that’s delightfully easy to read. Predictable? Yes, of course it is, it’s chick lit. It has the requisite scum-bag and the hunky chunk, whom you know the very likable heroine is going to get, ultimately, and it’s great fun finding out just how, in Susanne’s uncluttered and crisp style.
Megan’s surprise inheritance from a great-uncle of a property in a beautiful part of Ireland comes at rather an opportune time. She’s lost her husband (to a younger model) and her job (as a personal stylist), so a windfall has got to be rather handy…hasn’t it? If her run of bad luck wasn’t enough, she finds that the property is a wreck and needs a fortune to restore. Her rather tasty solicitor gets close enough (ahem!) to persuade her that selling it would be the best and most profitable solution, but new friendships, a growing fondness for the area, the lifestyle, and the people are making it hard for her to agree. One person among those same ‘people’ is making it even harder. Blunt, a little abrupt, perhaps a little moody, BUT, devilishly attractive… Megan has to balance the odds and decide whether to listen to the overzealous persuasion of her solicitor boyfriend or go with her heart and try and make a go of a costly renovation.
Throw in family secrets, deception, and conspiracy and you get a novel that keeps you solidly entertained. Megan is a great character: she’s nice and normal. Stung by her husband’s infidelity, she does reel rather blindly into a new relationship, but she’s only human. However, she does learn from her mistakes, and I liked her determination, as well as her talent for making other people—woman in particular—feel better about themselves.
A very engaging, untaxing read. Thank you, Susanne!
Megan’s surprise inheritance from a great-uncle of a property in a beautiful part of Ireland comes at rather an opportune time. She’s lost her husband (to a younger model) and her job (as a personal stylist), so a windfall has got to be rather handy…hasn’t it? If her run of bad luck wasn’t enough, she finds that the property is a wreck and needs a fortune to restore. Her rather tasty solicitor gets close enough (ahem!) to persuade her that selling it would be the best and most profitable solution, but new friendships, a growing fondness for the area, the lifestyle, and the people are making it hard for her to agree. One person among those same ‘people’ is making it even harder. Blunt, a little abrupt, perhaps a little moody, BUT, devilishly attractive… Megan has to balance the odds and decide whether to listen to the overzealous persuasion of her solicitor boyfriend or go with her heart and try and make a go of a costly renovation.
Throw in family secrets, deception, and conspiracy and you get a novel that keeps you solidly entertained. Megan is a great character: she’s nice and normal. Stung by her husband’s infidelity, she does reel rather blindly into a new relationship, but she’s only human. However, she does learn from her mistakes, and I liked her determination, as well as her talent for making other people—woman in particular—feel better about themselves.
A very engaging, untaxing read. Thank you, Susanne!
August 26, 2013
Hot Property is an enjoyable, short, well-written story, about an Irish woman who inherits a run down property and who - despite advice to the contrary - decides to renovate it and live there. The delightful characters she meets along the way and the mystery encountered, are what make this book a happy read. There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this one!
Set in the gorgeous Irish countryside, Megan soon comes face to face with the less palatable side of farming and a conspiracy to get her out of her cottage. Working at the B & B down the road - and the proprietor and her partner add to the pleasure of this book - she manages to keep her head above water, even though her savings are being depleted alarmingly by the renovations.
What I really liked about this novel was the easy, flowing style and the lack of histrionics in solving the mystery and Megan finding her soul-mate.
Well recommended
Set in the gorgeous Irish countryside, Megan soon comes face to face with the less palatable side of farming and a conspiracy to get her out of her cottage. Working at the B & B down the road - and the proprietor and her partner add to the pleasure of this book - she manages to keep her head above water, even though her savings are being depleted alarmingly by the renovations.
What I really liked about this novel was the easy, flowing style and the lack of histrionics in solving the mystery and Megan finding her soul-mate.
Well recommended
April 13, 2015
Highly predictable, but still enjoyable. Really, the horoscope early on wasn't necessary. It was pretty clear from the beginning who was supposed to become the HEA male part.
But still. It was a nice read.
But still. It was a nice read.
April 25, 2020
Three and a half stars rounded up to four. This was a chick lit book but a very good chick lit book. Megan inherits a run down cottage in Kerry. Reeling from a painful divorce, she moves there and tries to rebuild her life. The book has stunning Irish scenery, the requisite hunky man and also a sneaky plot that's afoot. I read this in one day, it was so much fun. Light and fluffy but very entertaining.
December 17, 2013
This was a good read and had all the elements of a good story. However, the author set up some great potential conflicts, and then you were left hanging. Spoiler alert: For example she set up the fact that she had sleazy cousins who did all they could to get the house and property, yet she got it. If they were as sleazy as she portrayed, why didn't they harass or make some attempt to get her out of there?
The next point, if the jewelry was legend, and had been looked for...it was a small town...the plumbers would have let it be known what they found...there should have been some attempt to have them stolen by the other family members or something. Such a big deal was made and then it fell flat.
I loved the way this author writes...I loved her characters. I hated the loose ends and the lost opportunities. Perhaps the author is just too clever by far. I will read another of her books to give her a fair chance. This book could have bee. So much better
The next point, if the jewelry was legend, and had been looked for...it was a small town...the plumbers would have let it be known what they found...there should have been some attempt to have them stolen by the other family members or something. Such a big deal was made and then it fell flat.
I loved the way this author writes...I loved her characters. I hated the loose ends and the lost opportunities. Perhaps the author is just too clever by far. I will read another of her books to give her a fair chance. This book could have bee. So much better
December 10, 2013
A delightful romantic reade! Perfect for a rainy afternoon. The chemistry between is characters is delightful, the plot is predictable but still entertaining and holds your attention without any problem.
August 12, 2018
4,5 Stars great book
September 12, 2014
Let me start off by saying, thank you Susanne for allowing me to read your latest book before it was released, it was an honor and a pleasure. I love the way you write, I just knew I would enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed your last one.
I didn't realize how much I would enjoy reading this story. The cover portrays it all. The building was just as I imagined it to be.
A love a book with a good cover, I may sound shallow, but its the first thing I look at before anything else.
Let me say readers, its not just about a house, its not just about a run down property that was left for Megan to inherit, its much, much more than this. The story starts with the inheritance, however, things are not what they seem. I loved the twists and turns in this storyline. Megan had take on a lot, I really didn't think she would make a go of taking on this run down property.
I liked the character of the first female friend she made, the way she spoke and her mannerisms really had me laughing at times imagining her.
The two prominent males in Megan's life were very strong character which led me to wonder just who would win out and if there was more to them than met the eye. As the story opened more I could see that I was going to learn a lot more about them! The ending for me what not as predictable as I thought.
This novel should be released on Amazon very soon, I do urge you to read it, this is an author who you shouldn't miss out on. I'm so thankful to my friend Philemena for pointing me towards Susanne O'Leary's books, the first one I read was Finding Margo. So when I saw Susanne on a book review page I just had to ask her if I could read this. I was over the moon when she said "Yes"
I didn't realize how much I would enjoy reading this story. The cover portrays it all. The building was just as I imagined it to be.
A love a book with a good cover, I may sound shallow, but its the first thing I look at before anything else.
Let me say readers, its not just about a house, its not just about a run down property that was left for Megan to inherit, its much, much more than this. The story starts with the inheritance, however, things are not what they seem. I loved the twists and turns in this storyline. Megan had take on a lot, I really didn't think she would make a go of taking on this run down property.
I liked the character of the first female friend she made, the way she spoke and her mannerisms really had me laughing at times imagining her.
The two prominent males in Megan's life were very strong character which led me to wonder just who would win out and if there was more to them than met the eye. As the story opened more I could see that I was going to learn a lot more about them! The ending for me what not as predictable as I thought.
This novel should be released on Amazon very soon, I do urge you to read it, this is an author who you shouldn't miss out on. I'm so thankful to my friend Philemena for pointing me towards Susanne O'Leary's books, the first one I read was Finding Margo. So when I saw Susanne on a book review page I just had to ask her if I could read this. I was over the moon when she said "Yes"
August 1, 2015
Just makes me want to visit Ireland even more than I already did! The way Susanne O’Leary describes the landscape it makes you feel like you are there already.
Loved the story from start to finish. Fun light-hearted read to get stuck into and keeps you entertained throughout.
The saying it never rains but it pours come in handy with everything that goes wrong with the house Megan inherits. If its not doors falling off, slurry being pored on the fields next to her or the cows escaping, its ghosts in the tower. There seems to be so much in her way with trying to get the house back to what it used to be and everyone seems to want her to fail and leave.
Even her budding romance doesn’t seem to be heating anything up and you get the feeling that everything is not quite as it seems with him. It looks like Megan should be looking in a different direction to get the right guy for her. he might be closer than you think.
All Megan has to do is finish the house and everything else will fall into place. Its just going to be a fun bumpy journey before she gets there :)
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
Loved the story from start to finish. Fun light-hearted read to get stuck into and keeps you entertained throughout.
The saying it never rains but it pours come in handy with everything that goes wrong with the house Megan inherits. If its not doors falling off, slurry being pored on the fields next to her or the cows escaping, its ghosts in the tower. There seems to be so much in her way with trying to get the house back to what it used to be and everyone seems to want her to fail and leave.
Even her budding romance doesn’t seem to be heating anything up and you get the feeling that everything is not quite as it seems with him. It looks like Megan should be looking in a different direction to get the right guy for her. he might be closer than you think.
All Megan has to do is finish the house and everything else will fall into place. Its just going to be a fun bumpy journey before she gets there :)
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
June 10, 2014
Megan is a little spitfire when she's riled, "Megan drew a breath. "You had the nerve to put those calves in my garden when my back was turned. A neighbor called to tell me they had broken loose and were on the road. He thought they were mine." But the's nothing compared to the hellion that she is when she's uber mad, "I wasn't going to say anything but hey, why should I be so kind to someone who's done what you did to me? I used you for sex?" She laughed again. "If I was going to use anyone for sex, don't you think I'd pick someone who was good at it? And someone with a little more than that shrimp you call a pen**?" Paudie just has much of a temper as Megan, "why didn't you call me again?" he demanded. "S***, Megan, did you really think I'd use you for a quick screw and then just run off. What do you take me for, huh?" I wasn't in love with this book but I liked it well enough, it wasn't what I thought it would be.
June 23, 2017
This entertaining read features an Irish lady who inherits a small house in County Kerry and falls in love with the location, though the property is close to derelict. She's from a city background so doesn't know whether to move, treat the cottage as a summer home or sell. There's a little land - that might go for building or a caravan park. The various locals, especially a Polish girl in a guesthouse, are quick to leap in with all kinds of advice, from the financial to the personal. And more than one man in the locality starts to hope for a relationship.
I don't want to give too much away but the plot takes several twists and turns, as does the Polish / Russian romance subplot. This is the second book I've read by this author and her writing style is assured and flowing. I'm looking forward to discovering more reads by Susanne O'Leary.
I don't want to give too much away but the plot takes several twists and turns, as does the Polish / Russian romance subplot. This is the second book I've read by this author and her writing style is assured and flowing. I'm looking forward to discovering more reads by Susanne O'Leary.
August 27, 2013
I liked this book. The main character Megan was struggling with her identity after a divorce and losing her job. She lost sense of who she was and what she wanted. In the end she found happiness in the least likely place and with the least likely person. The relationship with both Dan and Paudie was predictable at times. I enjoyed her friendship with Beata and thought their dialogue seemed true to the setting in which the book takes place.
May 23, 2015
Sweet read
After her divorce Meghan is heartbroken and then an Uncle willed her land and a house in a very desirable area of beach front property. Although the house was in need of repair she felt at home. So she sets out to find herself and restore her home. Love finally finds her when she least expects it.
After her divorce Meghan is heartbroken and then an Uncle willed her land and a house in a very desirable area of beach front property. Although the house was in need of repair she felt at home. So she sets out to find herself and restore her home. Love finally finds her when she least expects it.
July 8, 2013
I so loved this story. It was a nice warm enjoyable read.
Didn't expect the twist in it. Was glued to this book all day.
Am looking forward to reading more of this authors fabulous work.
Received this from author in return for an honest review.
Didn't expect the twist in it. Was glued to this book all day.
Am looking forward to reading more of this authors fabulous work.
Received this from author in return for an honest review.
August 22, 2013
I felt the relationships between all the characters weren't believable. I wasn't invested enough in any of them. Every situation felt rushed. It had so much potential, but I found it lacking.
January 20, 2025
A predictable but okay read. Megan inherits a farmhouse, that really needs some work, and some land, by the sea in Kerry. Coincidentally, Megan also finds herself recently unemployed and divorced. So she moves to the farmhouse and meets the locals, including Beata the B&B owner, Paudie the local farmer who rents her land, and Dan the solicitor dealing with the transfer of the estate into Megan's name.
It's quite obvious from the start what's going to happen, so there's no big surprises, and some of the exposition is a bit daft (for example - spoiler ahead - she very conveniently overhears Dan explaining to someone exactly what his intentions are, despite not noticing any of the red flags). I think Beata is meant to be a likeable friend, but I just didn't warm to her. Plus, the whole plot of (again, spoiler) Megan being hired as a make-up artist very randomly and without training is a bit forced.
But, I did finish it, and it did keep me reading, despite the numerous eye rolls throughout.
It's quite obvious from the start what's going to happen, so there's no big surprises, and some of the exposition is a bit daft (for example - spoiler ahead - she very conveniently overhears Dan explaining to someone exactly what his intentions are, despite not noticing any of the red flags). I think Beata is meant to be a likeable friend, but I just didn't warm to her. Plus, the whole plot of (again, spoiler) Megan being hired as a make-up artist very randomly and without training is a bit forced.
But, I did finish it, and it did keep me reading, despite the numerous eye rolls throughout.
February 10, 2017
O'Leary did a really good job keeping me off track of what would happen in the end: until the last quarter of the book. I was completely convinced that Dan was the guy, and I absolutely hated it. I didn't like him one bit from the first page of the book, but he stuck around, so I though he'd go through some magic change and become the hero every reader wants in a romance novel. But as I kept reading, I kept hating him, more and more. Padie was the guy I wanted from the very start, but there were always new obstacles that after a while, I gave up hope on him and tried to convince myself Dan was the better choice, but I just couldn't see it. I almost quit reading because I just didn't care about Dan; I'm glad I kept reading. Every time I read about Ireland makes me want to travel there even more. It was a lovely story after Dan left the picture. The restoring and rebuilding of an old house makes for a charming addition, because it sounds so magical and beautiful.
June 15, 2018
An entertaining story set in Ireland, my favorite travel destination so I usually love any book set there. Basically a Dublin girl, recently divorced and fired from her job, at the same time inherits a ramshackle house near Kerry. She faces financial challenges and decisions whether to attempt to restore the place or sell it as it is a “hot property” overlooking the ocean and the money could solve her financial woes. There are some interesting secondary characters and the house itself is almost a character. She faces the challenges of remodeling and makes the acquaintance of two men. Naturally one is a slug and the other is a hunk. She gets involved with the wrong one for a while but ends up with the right one. Some plot factors seemed a little too convenient and contrived, but the editing was good. A book doesn’t have to be perfect to be enjoyable and I enjoyed this one.
June 10, 2018
Susanne O'Leary has written a charming, complex and beautiful story that leaves you craving more while giggling through it all. Her characters' depth, and the strong women she presents is what kept me going through the first few chapters while the location descriptions are very lovely as I can only imagine these are correct. So many twists and turns that left me shocked and kept me in the book. I loved this book and looking forward to reading the next book in the series! A lovely chick lit book that was an easy read with alot of depth and character. Definitely a great summer read with coffee while relaxing.
May 27, 2018
TOUCHING ROMANCE IN A WONDERFUL LOCALE
Every once in a while, it's nice to sit back & read a good romance, & this book suited me perfectly. Set on the Irish coast in the small town of Kilshee, County Kerry, a former city dweller learns all about the joys of the simpler life, as well as the good & the bad of romance. It was a well-written book, with characters who were so fully developed that I really became invested in their stories. I loved the small touches of local Irish flavor & mysticism, & will certainly look for more of Ms. O'Leary's work. Highly recommended.
Every once in a while, it's nice to sit back & read a good romance, & this book suited me perfectly. Set on the Irish coast in the small town of Kilshee, County Kerry, a former city dweller learns all about the joys of the simpler life, as well as the good & the bad of romance. It was a well-written book, with characters who were so fully developed that I really became invested in their stories. I loved the small touches of local Irish flavor & mysticism, & will certainly look for more of Ms. O'Leary's work. Highly recommended.
September 2, 2022
A good read
This is the first book I'm reading by this author. I enjoyed her story creation and characters. There were a dozen or so proofreading typos and a couple of plot holes. The foul language could have been left out, and, as always, would have strengthened the story. Not enough to deter me from reading more of her work. The book's jacket is dull and lacks imagination, but that doesn't detract from my rating.
This is the first book I'm reading by this author. I enjoyed her story creation and characters. There were a dozen or so proofreading typos and a couple of plot holes. The foul language could have been left out, and, as always, would have strengthened the story. Not enough to deter me from reading more of her work. The book's jacket is dull and lacks imagination, but that doesn't detract from my rating.
June 24, 2018
Absolutely lovely reading experience. Love the realness of the story. Not all men are hung like horses, nor do they treat women as queens. The characters in this book are real, alterior motives, sarcastic language, body shapes, everything. I'm looking forward to continuing their story. I haven't snipped so much while reading a book in a long time.
June 25, 2018
This was a cute romance novel. Young woman recently divorced inherits a house on the coast of Ireland. It was a little too cutsy. Everything wonderful happens to her. Lovely home and land on the sea. Finds old jewelry that is valuable. Wins at horse racing. It was a fast read but good writing. And I did love the characters. Especially Boris the Russian.
April 4, 2019
I'v had this book for a while and just and just got to it. I started reading it and it didn't immediately grab me. I kept reading and as I read it got a lot better and I really liked the story and the characters, the good ones and the bad ones! By the time I finished I was ready to give it a 5 star rating!
March 22, 2021
Would have been better without a couple of unnecessary remarks
The protagonist's negative remarks about a "butch" haircut and a man supposedly "emasculated" by a woman were a turnoff for me. The conflation of penis size with sexual pleasure and relationship viability was ridiculous. The plot twist was entirely predictable. The argument between the lovers near the end felt contrived. There was too much annoyance in the book and not enough pleasure to balance it out.
The protagonist's negative remarks about a "butch" haircut and a man supposedly "emasculated" by a woman were a turnoff for me. The conflation of penis size with sexual pleasure and relationship viability was ridiculous. The plot twist was entirely predictable. The argument between the lovers near the end felt contrived. There was too much annoyance in the book and not enough pleasure to balance it out.
January 19, 2024
Brilliant
I loved the characters ,so fresh and real. I enjoyed this lovely Kerry village life , no hustle and bustle of city life just simple living full of daily lives and not so nice scheming people. I can't wait to read the second book. I hope you enjoy it too. As always happy reading
I loved the characters ,so fresh and real. I enjoyed this lovely Kerry village life , no hustle and bustle of city life just simple living full of daily lives and not so nice scheming people. I can't wait to read the second book. I hope you enjoy it too. As always happy reading
June 19, 2018
Eh, it’s okay. Very abrupt. For the fact that it was free I suppose it was alright, which is why I gave it Avada Kedavera many stars. But I wouldn’t pay for it. There was no flow and the relationships were very shallow and lacking finesse.
February 26, 2019
Will read it AGAIN!
Witty and intelligent dialog, endearing characters and a plot that was ever evolving keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. I read it in one sitting and will read it AGAIN!
Witty and intelligent dialog, endearing characters and a plot that was ever evolving keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. I read it in one sitting and will read it AGAIN!
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