A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village

The Little Irish Village #3

by Michelle Vernal

Ava Kelly loves returning to Emerald Bay for Christmas. Snowflakes fall on the green rolling hills and mulled wine fills The Shamrock Inn with the smell of winter spice. But this year, the Kelly family is hoping for a miracle…

When twenty-four-year-old Ava Kelly and her adventurous twin Grace return home to The Shamrock Inn, their Ma’s favourite baubles bring back so many memories of Christmases past. They have always done everything together, even leaving their little Irish village for the excitement of London. But with the locket her handsome ex Shane gave her hanging just above her heart, Ava has just one wish this festive season…

After a year stuck in a job she can’t stand and going on dreadful dates, Ava longs to be back with Shane. Curling up in front of the fire with him, the brooding fisherman everyone else sees melts away as his blue eyes meet hers. But planning a future with Shane would mean telling Grace she’ll be moving back to the village for good. Ava knows it will break her sister’s heart for them to be parted.

But, before Ava can build up the courage to talk to her twin, terrible tidings about Shane hit The Shamrock Inn like a winter storm. With everyone but Grace rushing to the harbour, will Ava’s hopes for a future with both Shane and her sister in it be dashed? Or could a Christmas miracle bring them all together?

Fans of Nicola May, Trisha Ashley and Debbie Macomber will love this stunning festive romance. Get comfy under your winter blankets with a warm cocoa ready, because you will not be able to put this wonderful, heart-warming book down!

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Audiobook, Contemporary, Holiday

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2023

About the author

Michelle Vernal is a bestselling author who writes uplifting stories set in places readers long to visit, where ordinary women discover that home isn't just somewhere you live, it's the people who welcome you in.
Born in England to parents from Liverpool – often called “Little Ireland” – she grew up in New Zealand raised on her mum’s tales about Iocal families, music, and humour.
For updates on Michelle's latest book releases you can follow her on Amazon - click here:
https://www.amazon.com/author/michell...
Or for a free O'Mara family short story visit her website at: www.michellevernalbooks.com

Reviews

["Avonna]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE IN THE LITTLE IRISH VILLAGE (The Little Irish Village Book #3) by Michelle Vernal is an emotional rollercoaster addition to The Little Irish Village series. This story features the youngest twin, Ava Kelly, but still involves the entire loving Kelly family and their small-town of Emerald Bay, Ireland during the Christmas season. While this women’s fiction/small-town romance can be read as a standalone, I feel they are better read in order as each sister finds her forever love and the relationships within the family and village continue to evolve.

Ava and her twin, Grace, head to London to work and live for the excitement of the big city and to travel while they are young and free. After a year, Ava believes she has made a terrible mistake. She is unhappy and lonely and regrets leaving Emerald Bay and her ex-boyfriend, Shane. She is torn between her twin and her love.

Before Ava can sit down with Grace to tell her how she feels and that she wants to leave, she gets a phone call from her mother telling her Shane has been swept off his family’s fishing boat during a storm. Ava rushes home and prays for a miracle and as she waits for news, Grace still believes nothing will change. Will Ava get her future with Shane and be able to make Grace understand her true feelings for her future?

I loved this return to the Kelly family and Emerald Bay. There are two parts to this story that both revolve around Ava, and both had my emotions all over the place. I cannot say a lot about the plot points because it would give too much away, but I can tell you to keep the tissues handy. This heartwarming story is full of family, love, hope, reconciliation, and second chances.

I highly recommend this joyful and heartwarming women’s fiction/romance and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

[Sheila]

Good read, nice characters.

[Catherine Craig (Angelic Light)]

I really enjoyed this Christmas story, which was set in Ireland. The audiobook narrator had a lovely Irish accent, which was nice to listen to, and she did a great job.

The story is about Ava and Grace, who are twins who have moved to London. Ava ends up going back home to Ireland to find out what has happened to her ex Shane, as he has had an accident and is missing. She wants to get back with him, so she is hoping he will be found alive. Will she get her Christmas miracle?

This is a sweet, emotional and heartwarming book which is easy to listen to, to brighten up a cold, dull day. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Caroline’s Page~Turners]

Emerald Bay at Christmas is a beautiful sight to see, and that is exactly why Ava Kelly returns every Christmas. The snow is falling, and the Shamrock Inn smells like Christmas. Ava and her twin sister Grace return home for the holidays. Ava and Grace moved to London, with its hustle and bustle and life in the city. It's been a year since Ava and her ex, Shane, split up. Returning to Emerald Bay is bittersweet, Ave wants to get back together with Shane. When they reconnect it was as if they hadn’t parted for a second. Picking up right where they left off a year ago, they begin planning a future together once again. The hardest part will be when Ava has the difficult conversation with Grace letting her know she may not be returning to London.

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by author Michelle Vernal was a lovely, heart-warming story of second chances. This wonderful festive story will definitely pull at your heartstrings as you flip through the pages. This story will not only transport you back to Emerald Bay, but will have you celebrating Christmas in Ireland. I not only wanted to hang the Christmas lights but I am ready to decorate the Christmas tree. What a wonderful and charming story filled with reconciliation, second chances and new beginnings. I loved this amazing book and it’s a great addition to this lovely series. I highly recommend it.

[Jules]

I couldn’t love meeting the Kelly family more, so imagine my delight upon discovering this book is part of a series! While I didn’t begin with Book #1 (Christmas in the Little Irish Village), that did nothing to take away from my enjoyment of the story and I was able to get to know the Kelly family quickly through Vernal’s detailed descriptions of each character and the way they so naturally interact with one another, despite starting with Book #3. I will gladly pick up the previous titles from the Little Irish Village series and look forward to joining my new favorite family in their cozy village for more stories of heart, family and home.

Part Little Women with its tale of many sisters and part Family Stone with its big family dynamics (bursting at the seams with large personalities), the Kelly family are the true stars of A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village and it is such a treat to explore the dynamics between each of them. Refreshingly, Vernal manages to steer clear from turning any of the distinctive personality types into caricatures (maybe aside from a handful of the villagers who are only more entertaining for being written as such). The Kelly’s instead are all written very wholly and the relationships between each pairing of sisters feels unique and realistic. Michelle Vernal was able to transport the reader directly to Emerald Bay for the holidays, fully immersing us in tons of cozy atmosphere. I was surprised to find that these characters were written with much more depth than the typical rom com and was delighted by the strong writing style backed with a smooth flow throughout the novel. While this will surely be categorized as a cozy romance, the writing rarely veers into the saccharine as it is grounded by laugh out loud humor and a fresh storyline that still delivers a heartwarming finish. The great Irish turns of phrase lend themselves to enhancing the overall atmosphere- Vernal writes the dialogue in such a way that you feel like your are right there in Emerald Bay at Christmastime (just don’t let Nan catch you skipping breakfast!)

The main characters of this love story are Ava and Shane, but the relationships between the five sisters (particularly twins Ava and Grace in this installment of the series) are the true love story and what will keep you coming back for more. I was also especially drawn to the characterization of matriarch, Nora, and particularly pleased that the author gave us part of the story from her point of view. Nora’s loyalty to her family and to who her daughters are as individuals is beautifully illustrated through her chapters and is the part of the story I felt most attached to.

Overall I found A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village to be utterly enchanting and greatly look forward to more time spent with the Kelly family in the future. An easy recommendation from this reviewer!

[Lisa]

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A great, feel-good book. Loved the small-town Ireland imagery and the Kelly clan.

Regrettably, the book archived with about 20 minutes remaining, so I was unable to finish — although I can guess how it ended.

[Kathy Sacchetti Bell]

The book was light reading after reading Covenant of Water. It was enjoyable to read. It’s one of those books after 1 or 2 chapters you know how it’s going to go and how it will end. Loved the relationships of the sisters. It’s worth a light read

[Chloë ☾ ⋆*]

Adorable and addictive!

[Elizabeth]

This is just so boring. You’ve got something like 6 tropes shoved into a 300 ish page books and somehow it’s still the reading equivalent of watching paint dry.

[Elaine M]

I hadn't realised this was number 3 in a series, but it really didn't matter. It was a really sweet, easy Christmas story.
Likeable characters, nice story & it has put me in the Christmas spirit. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

[No Apology Book Reviews]

Thank you to Michelle Vernal, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to what was supposed to be a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bookouture did not notify me of their approving my request, however, so I failed to download the ARC before it was archived that same day. I had to buy a copy in order to review it and stop it counting against my NetGalley feedback ratio. Publishers aren't required to notify reviewers of approval, but in all my years using NetGalley, this is the first time one didn't.

To their credit, Bookouture has sent notifications since, so I forgive them . . . but I'm still salty about wasting an Audible credit.

Because a waste it was. While ostensibly charming and heartwarming, this book was mostly fluff.

SPOILERS

There was no reason the love interest had to go missing; that was purely unnecessary drama. Sure, it created tension, with Ava wondering if she'd have a chance to apologize for leaving him, but I didn't like that. On that point, I agree with Grace, Ava's twin, that Ava deserved a chance to do what she wanted with her life, and if Shane was unwilling to compromise, move on from him. He should have approached her with apologies, not the other way around, I don't care if he'd already seen the error of his ways or not. (And why did his dad wait to lay into him AFTER she'd left? What good did that do? *eye roll*) Once Shane was found, all the tension regarding that storyline dissolved, because no conflict remained. He was sorry, still loved her, wanted to get married immediately. Cue wedding planning fluff.

As for the main storyline, that of Ava and Grace's difference of opinion, it's resolution was awful. Ava and Grace both stubbornly refused to try to resolve the issue, and Mommy had to step in and force a resolution herself. Pathetic. Removed a great opportunity for character development in which the characters could mature enough to approach each other and fix the problem themselves. It also made it appear that Grace was in the wrong, when I don't believe she was. Yes, she had to learn to let go of Ava and stop resenting Shane, and she should have been able to resolve the conflict herself, but Grace's point in disliking the whole business--that Ava was bowing to Shane's whims when she shouldn't--I completely agree with.

The premise is absolutely solid, but the execution was terrible. Overall it came off like the author just wanted an excuse to write about a cozy Irish community, so she tossed together some half-assed conflict to make it a story. Or was contractually obligated to write another book and same. The journalist thread meant nothing, the Christmas setting was superfluous. Flashing back to when she and Shane--met? fell in love? It was unclear--was unnecessary. Shouldn't have needed to switch to Nora's point of view. The whole book was a mess. I'd have recommended starting the story where the conflict started, before the girls moved to New York, and made it more romance by switching POVs between Ava and Shane so we could experience their thoughts and emotions as they worked through the situation themselves. Lots more opportunity for character development and would hopefully cut down on the fluff.

Lastly, the quality of the recording wasn't great. Definitely not the worst I've heard, but not great either. I could hear a tinny/echoy quality, and the narrator sounded bored at times. In a few spots she repeated herself, as if changing her mind about how to deliver a line, but the mistakes weren't edited out. Also I believe chapter fourteen was repeated. Very sloppy work.

[Susan]

Terrific story of love and family. I loved returning to Emerald Bay and spending time with the Kelly family at the Shamrock Inn. This book focuses mainly on Ava, Grace's twin and the youngest of the family. Ava has always been quieter, while Grace is outgoing and adventurous. The story opens with Ava and Grace leaving Emerald Bay to live and work in London. They are looking forward to life outside their quiet village. There are glimpses of their relationships with their sisters and various community members. While Grace is bubbling with enthusiasm, Ava is more contemplative, thinking about how her move ended her relationship with Shane.

Fast forward a year. Ava's enthusiasm for the move is all but gone. She dislikes her job, her plans for traveling have never happened, and she is homesick for Emerald Bay and Shane. The description of her date with Tyson is hilarious and painful and is just about the last straw regarding her life in London. Then she gets a call from her mother back in Emerald Bay, telling her that Shane is missing, having been swept overboard while working his family's fishing boat. Ava immediately hops on a plane home. During the flight, she remembers how she and Shane met. She realizes she still loves Shane and hopes for a chance to repair their relationship.

I was thoroughly immersed in the story as the village rallied around Shane's family during the search. I loved the sense of community and seeing how everyone pitched in. But there are bumps in the road ahead. Grace has never been a fan of Shane and their relationship, and her attitude is jarring when she arrives on the scene. She pushes Ava about returning to London and resuming their life there. Ava, who has been a follower when it comes to Grace, puts her foot down about staying in Emerald Bay. This drives a wedge between her and Grace.

There were times when I wanted to shake both of them. While each made valid points, the delivery was antagonistic, and neither was willing to give an inch. I could feel Ava's unhappiness over the break, but she stubbornly held on to her hurt and anger. Grace was also disinclined to make the first move. I liked watching their other sisters, mom, and grandmother try to break the impasse. I loved seeing them all collaborate to bring the stalemate to an end.

The intensity of the search for Shane and Ava's refusal to give up kept me glued to the pages. I was as hopeful as Ava that he would be found safe and sound (he is, of course). I liked how Ava and Shane talked honestly with each other about what drove them apart and their reasons. I ached for Shane when he revealed why he refused to leave Emerald Bay. It was sweet to see them rekindle their romance now that each has gained a little more maturity. I loved the ending and look forward to seeing more of them in the future.

I liked getting reacquainted with the residents of Emerald Bay. Each one is unique in their quirkiness, and it is always fun to see their interactions with members of the Kelly family and each other.

[Barb]

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal is a lovely Christmas novel to enjoy. Twins, Grace and Ava Kelly have always done everything together. Grace was determined to see the world and to start by moving to London from Emerald Bay. She couldn’t imagine her life without her sister, Ava, but Ava wasn’t so keen on the idea. However, they did ove. Grace had a great job and many friends to party with. Ava wasn’t so lucky. She just wanted to be by herself and was not that interested in party life. Ava was still in love with Shane Egan. They parted on bad terms when Ava moved to London.

About a year after they moved, Ava received a call that caused her to hurry back to Emerald Bay. Shane had been fishing with his family and a storm came up. Shane was swept overboard into the cold sea. Anyone going overboard in this cold weather was susceptible to hyperthermia in minutes in the water. Ava was heartbroken to think that she might have lost Shane. All Ava wanted was to get back with Shane and live happily ever after, but Grace was not happy about it. She was the stronger-willed twin and usually coerced Ava to go along with what she wanted to do.

Shane was finally found alive, but cold and wet. He had found a small island cave to shelter in so that he was not in the water that long. His recovery was lengthy though. The townspeople were so gratified that Shane was found alive that they deemed it a Christmas miracle that they wanted to celebrate it, although the hero of the story was not interested.

I won’t tell the rest of the story, but suffice it to say that I enjoyed this book and the characters in this small Irish fishing town. There were some odd characters, as you might find in any town, but the way the author portrayed them was wonderful.


I was granted a Kindle copy of this novel by Bookouture through NetGalley and was not required to give a review.

[Debra Gaynor]

The Little Irish Village #3
A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village
Michelle Vernal
Emerald Bay is home and will always feel like home to Ava Kelly. Every Christmas she returns to the Shamrock Inn, her parents’ pub. Ava and her identical twin sister Grace have always done everything together. Ava is the quiet one while Grace is more adventurous and outgoing; she tends to make the decisions for both twins. They left Ireland for the adventure of living in London. Ava not only left Ireland but she also left Shane, the love of her life. She has tried dating, but the results never go well. She has a job she doesn’t like; the rent is high and she’s tired of living in London. After a year in London, she is ready to return home to Shane; she daydreams about curling up with him in front of a blazing fire. She remembers all the time she spent with Shane. Returning home means breaking the news to Grace. Telling Grace, she is returning home to Ireland and to Shane won’t be easy. Before she can have that discussion, she receives a phone call from her mother, Shane has disappeared; he has been swept overboard while working on his family’s fishing boat. She rushes to the airport to return home. Her first stop is the harbor where the rescue squad is doing their best to locate him. Ava realizes she is still in love with Shane, but will he survive the accident? Will he want her back if he does survive? Will she and Grace come to terms with their disagreement.
This is a beautiful love story that shares a Christmas Miracle. Emerald Bay is a beautiful setting. There is a lot of humor in this tale as well as a deep message concerning second chances. I enjoyed reading about the family dynamics of the Kellys, especially the relationships of the five sisters. It was nice seeing the community of Emerald Bay pull together for Shane’s family.
Thank you to NetGalley a copy of this book for review. My reviews are always my unbiased opinions.

[Nomadic Librarian]

3*


This is a sweet, squeaky clean, second-chance romance set in a small seaside village on the west coast of Ireland at Christmas. Ava and Grace Kelly are identical twins and the youngest of five daughters whose parents run the Shamrock Inn in Emerald Bay. As the story opens, the twins are moving to London and Ava is leaving her boyfriend of five years, Shane Egan. It’s clear from the start that, despite wanting to see the world outside their small village, Ava is making the move reluctantly and, after one year in London, she’s regretting her decision, especially since Shane ignored her the two times she went home. So, when she gets a call from her mother telling her that Shane is missing after falling off a fishing boat during a freak storm, she doesn’t hesitate to get on the next plane to be there when he’s found. She refuses to consider that she won’t get a second chance with him. The question is whether he’ll take her back and, if he does, if she’ll have to choose between him and her sister since the two people she cares about most don’t get along.

Like all small-town romances, this one features a cast of quirky, nosy characters who make everything their business. There’s plenty of humor, but there’s also Shane’s enduring and stifling grief over losing his mother to cancer at 17 and Ava’s unsustainable role as the peacemaker (pushover?) in a family of strong-minded women. Unfortunately, if you’re not Irish, it’s often difficult to understand what’s being said with the large number of words and phrases that are unknown to American audiences., so it disrupts the flow of the narrative. In the crowded market of Christmas romances, this one fails to stand out.

I received a complimentary ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are strictly my own.

[Kirsty]

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Ava Kelly loves returning to Emerald Bay for Christmas. Snowflakes fall on the green rolling hills and mulled wine fills The Shamrock Inn with the smell of winter spice. But this year, the Kelly family is hoping for a miracle…

When twenty-four-year-old Ava Kelly and her adventurous twin Grace return home to The Shamrock Inn, their Ma’s favourite baubles bring back so many memories of Christmases past. They have always done everything together, even leaving their little Irish village for the excitement of London. But with the locket her handsome ex Shane gave her hanging just above her heart, Ava has just one wish this festive season…

After a year stuck in a job she can’t stand and going on dreadful dates, Ava longs to be back with Shane. Curling up in front of the fire with him, the brooding fisherman everyone else sees melts away as his blue eyes meet hers. But planning a future with Shane would mean telling Grace she’ll be moving back to the village for good. Ava knows it will break her sister’s heart for them to be parted.

But, before Ava can build up the courage to talk to her twin, terrible tidings about Shane hit The Shamrock Inn like a winter storm. With everyone but Grace rushing to the harbour, will Ava’s hopes for a future with both Shane and her sister in it be dashed? Or could a Christmas miracle bring them all together?

My Opinion

This is the second book I have read in this series but it is the third book that has been released, however missing the second book has not spoilt my enjoyment. A heart-warming, charming story that will leave you with that warm and fuzzy feeling that you can expect from a festive book.

Rating 4/5

[Jennyfer]

Ava Kelly is living with her twin sister, Grace, in London after an awkward split from her long term boyfriend in Emerald Bay. But when she hears news he has been swept overboard from his fishing boat and is lost at sea, she flies back home to hold vigil for him. While she is home, enveloped in the warmth and love of her family and the small town, Ava has a chance to reassess her life choices, and a second chance with her ex, Shane - if he is rescued.

Set in the Irish village of Emerald Bay at Christmas, this is a delightful, heartwarming story. It is book 3 in "The Little Irish Village" series, but it works well as a standalone.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a romance, yes, but it focuses on relationships first and foremost: Ava's relationship with her family (all the banter and bonhomie of a large, multi-generational household); her particular relationship with her twin; her relationship with Shane; and the way the wider community supports one another in times of crisis, all with a backdrop of Christmas - without being a specifically Christmassy story.

I had the pleasure of listening to this as an audiobook (although I then bought a copy for my Kindle as well, to read alongside the narration). Jessica Regan's narrations was warm and her different voices for each of the characters was fantastic. There are a LOT of side characters and her voice acting for each was spot on, allowing us to keep track of each of the (many!) Kelly women in the story and all their quirky neighbours.

A delightful read/listen.

~ I had been approved for an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, however I had been unable to download it prior to being archived. I purchased the audio version from Audible ~

[Anna]

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village" in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Kelly family run the Shamrock Inn in the village of Emerald Bay. Nora and Liam Kelly have 5 daughters - Shannon in Galway, Imogen in Dublin, Hannah in Cork and twins Grace and Ava live in London. Shane Egan was the love of Ava's life but her twin convinced her to move to London with her and leave the village and Shane behind. Hoping that Shane would go with her, she was disappointed when he chose to stay with his father and brothers. A frantic call from her mam brings Ava rushing back to Emerald Bay when Shane is reported missing from his family's fishing boat. On the flight home and the drive to Emerald Bay Ava remembers how she and Shane first met back in 2016 when his dog Jody jumped on Ava at the beach.

Ava realizes that she is still in love with Shane and hopes that a Christmas miracle will bring him back to her and that he still loves her as well. Through several misunderstandings and disagreements everyone realizes that they are a family first and they can't exist without each other. Ava feels that Grace needs to realize that while they are twins, they are also two separate people and can have their own dreams.

My favourite character was Napoleon the cat who is a wee kleptomaniac - he loves to steal socks, boxers and even false eyelashes, then deliver them as "gifts".

I hope there are more stories to come from this heartwarming series. It is well-written and engaging. The reader will feel like they are one of the Kelly family as they join them on this journey.

[Markie]

"A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village" by Michelle Vernal is a heartwarming and enchanting small-town Christmas romance that will melt your heart. Set in the picturesque Emerald Bay, the story follows Ava Kelly and her twin sister Grace as they return home for Christmas.

The novel beautifully captures the essence of the holiday season in a quaint Irish village, complete with snowflakes, mulled wine, and the cozy Shamrock Inn. Ava's longing for her ex, Shane, adds a touch of romance and nostalgia to the tale. The locket he gave her symbolizes her one wish for the festive season.

As the story unfolds, Ava faces a dilemma between her love for Shane and her sister Grace. The emotional tension and the anticipation of her decision keep readers engaged. Michelle Vernal skillfully portrays the bonds of family and the complexities of love.

With the unexpected twists and turns that occur when news about Shane reaches the village, the book keeps you eagerly turning the pages. Will Ava's dream of a future with both Shane and Grace come true, or will circumstances tear them apart?

"A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village" is a delightful holiday read that combines romance, family, and the magic of Christmas. It reminds us of the power of hope and miracles during the festive season. If you're looking for a heartwarming Christmas story filled with love and holiday spirit, this book is a must-read.

Enjoy this charming tale of love, family, and the possibility of Christmas miracles in a charming Irish village.

[Stacey]

‘Ava, love, it’s Shane. He’s missing.’

When Ava Kelly gets a phone call from home telling her that her ex-boyfriend is missing at sea, she frantically leaves London to return to Emerald Bay.

Ava had wanted to travel, and it led to the end of her relationship with Shane Egan. But when she knows he's in danger, Ava realises how much she loves Shane and prays he'll be safe so that they might have another chance together.

It's always great to return to Emerald Bay, where the Kelly family, parents Liam and Nora, grandmother Kitty, and five daughters Shannon, Imogen, Hannah, Grace and Ava, call the Shamrock Inn home.

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village brings together the Kelly family, as well as the weird and wonderful characters who live in Emerald Bay.

However, this instalment is on the more serious side, given Shane's situation and the search for him, as well as the fractured relationship between Ava and her twin, Grace. I also felt very sorry for Shane as his discussed his beloved mum.

I enjoyed the serious topics and how they were handled, whilst we also had the usual humour and festive feel as the village prepared for Christmas.

It was lovely to see Shane and Ava reunited. The romance between them was very sweet. But with Ava and Grace at odds, will she have to choose between the love of her life and her twin?

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village is a sweet, fun, festive read that's emotional and enjoyable. And with a little mystery right at the end, I'll definitely be ready to return to Emerald Bay again soon!

[Kylie]

I have not read either of the first 2 books in this series and had no trouble following along in this one.
Twins Ava and Grace have moved away from their small Irish village and live in London. Ava is longing to go back home, so when her ex Shane goes missing at sea, she rushes home to support the search for him. They parted on good terms, hoping for a long distance relationship that was too difficult to continue at the time. If Shane is found, Ava wants a second chance.
I liked Ava, she was very loving to not only an ex, Shane, but to her whole family. There was such a great family dynamic (for the most part). She was really trying to figure out what she wanted as her own person without Grace.
Possible Spoilers:
Shane gets found alive like halfway through the book and then a lot happens after that. Ava and Shane's relationship is very cute, though I didn't feel a huge connection between them. Maybe it was because they already had this existing relationship before the book started. I would have liked a little bit more of their relationship.
Ava and Grace have words because Grace told her sisters that Shane was controlling and mean towards Ava (which was untrue) so their sisters would convince Ava to move to London with her. Ava felt that was actually Grace being controlling (which she kind of was) and it turned into them not talking to each other for a while. While I can see that the special relationship between twins really made Grace reluctant to go somewhere without Ava and she felt like Ava was choosing Shane over her, I still think that her actions were very petty and cruel. I was happy that it was resolved though.
This book didn't really revolve around Christmas. It just takes place around Christmas which was a little bit disappointing, but it was still a cute story!
The narrator had an incredibly thick Irish accent (which makes sense for the characters living in Ireland), but I did not find it hard to understand her and I actually loved her voice. I think she did a fantastic job.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Helen Maddix]

More about the twins than the couple
I wanted to read this book because of the setting being in Ireland. And it is, in what anyone not from Ireland, exactly how you’d picture it. Our three main characters are Grace and Ava Kelly and Shane Egan. Grace and Ava have left the village of Emerald Bay a year ago for the bright lights, big city of London. Ava broke up with Shane before she left because he wouldn’t leave the village to go with her. Shane is part of his family’s business, a fisherman who believes that he can’t leave his father and brothers. Neither Ava or Shane have moved on, even though Grace is pushing Ava to forget Shane, and Shane had told Ava there was no coming back to him. This is the basic setup for the book, which take place just before Christmas. I felt the story of Ava and Shane was resolved fairly quickly and satisfactorily, but this creates another problem for the pair, and this part of the story seemed to take a long time to be resolved.
The book is well written with good main characters and supporting characters, with no noticeable grammatical errors. The plotline seems to drag in places, which is why my rating is 3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4 stars. An enjoyable book, but not enough conflict or tension.
I was given an ARC of the book through NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

[Caroline’s Page~Turners]

Emerald Bay at Christmas is a beautiful sight to see, and that is exactly why Ava Kelly returns every Christmas. The snow is falling, and the Shamrock Inn smells like Christmas. Ava and her twin sister Grace return home for the holidays. Ava and Grace moved to London, with its hustle and bustle and life in the city. It's been a year since Ava and her ex, Shane, split up. Returning to Emerald Bay is bittersweet, Ave wants to get back together with Shane. When they reconnect it was as if they hadn’t parted for a second. Picking up right where they left off a year ago, they begin planning a future together once again. The hardest part will be when Ava has the difficult conversation with Grace letting her know she may not be returning to London.

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by author Michelle Vernal was a lovely, heart-warming story of second chances. This wonderful festive story will definitely pull at your heartstrings as you flip through the pages. This story will not only transport you back to Emerald Bay, but will have you celebrating Christmas in Ireland. I not only wanted to hang the Christmas lights but I am ready to decorate the Christmas tree. What a wonderful and charming story filled with reconciliation, second chances and new beginnings. I loved this amazing book and it’s a great addition to this lovely series. I highly recommend it.

[Pam Robertson]

I enjoyed travelling back to the Little Irish Village. This is such a heart-warming series, with some larger than life characters and a huge feeling of family, friends and community. Ava is at a crossroads in her life and torn between what she wants for her future and the wishes of her twin sister. Their bond is strong but feels a little inequal to Ava who as the youngest in the family, is slightly quieter and more reflective than her outgoing sisters. You get to know Ava through some flashback chapters and see how her relationship with Shane has come about.

Every time someone leaves the village, you get to glimpse the other villagers and the small businesses who line the main street. There is humour in the dynamics within the Kelly family and their observations about the villagers. Set around Christmas, there is a lovely festive feel which complements the story and fits perfectly. This is such a warm story which leaves you with a smile on your face and a wish to find out how life continues for the Kelly sisters.

In short: warm, festive feelings
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

[Chris]

A story of family and community and finding a way to be yourself in the midst of it all. The narrator was enjoyable to listen to with just the right amount of accent to make me feel like I was in the heart of the Irish village.

Ava is feeling a bit unmoored, she moved to London with her twin because she wanted to experience the world outside of their Irish village and broke up with Shane because he did not want to leave. London is not what she expected and there isn't enough money left to experience anything other than surviving in London. When she finds out that Shane has fallen into the sea and a search is on for him she immediately heads home. She realizes that she still has feelings for him and hopes that there will be a miracle and that he will be found and that he still feels the same. But leaving London means being parted from her twin, they have never been apart and Grace does not think Shane is enough for Ava. Will Ava have a Christmas miracle?

Enjoyed being immersed in this Irish village and the Kelly family and hope to return for more stories of the family.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ALC for my honest review.

[Alexandra]

Very sweet festive romance set in a small village on the Irish coast during the run up to Christmas. I was unaware when I began reading this story that it was the third in a series, however it read well as a standalone. There was a large cast of characters that I imagine were more gradually introduced in the prior instalments, but the characters (particularly the Kelly family) are well written and it was not hard to pick up the various personalities despite not having read the first two books.

The story centres on Ava, the youngest daughter in the Kelly family, who, along with her somewhat domineering twin sister Grace, leaves their hometown of Emerald Bay to move to London, leaving behind her fisherman boyfriend Shane to see what else might be out there for her. We drop in on Ava’s life in London to find that while Grace is happy and settled, for Ava things aren’t as she had hoped and when the call comes that her now ex-boyfriend has gone missing at sea she races home to be there while rescue attempts are ongoing. She swiftly decides that a return to London is not in her future as she waits in hope of Shane’s return.

In addition to the relationship between Ava and Shane, this story features the familial relationships of the Kelly family, between parents and daughters, sisters, and most centrally the relationship of the twins. I found these to be very well written, the parents were caring and wise, the sisters were supportive and loving but bickered as siblings do, and the tension between the twins was supported by events in the text and well resolved. So often in these types of novels, tensions are written arbitrarily in order to satisfy plot points but in A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village the author does a great job of detailing the deterioration and eventual reconciliation of the twins’ relationship.

This book is not super Christmassy and the Christmas miracle seems to take place several weeks before Christmas as far as I could tell - Christmas mainly features as the setting of the last chapter and prior to that there are mentions of trees being decorated etc. But it is an enjoyable read and I would certainly recommend it!

[Sams_Fireside]

This week I made another visit to the ‘Little Irish Village’ and this time it was Ava’s story to tell. Ava has been living in London with her twin sister Grace, but following an emergency back home, she has returned to Emerald Bay, just a few weeks before Christmas.

One thing I adore about Michelle’s Emerald Bay books is the Irish twang that I can hear when I’m reading. Whenever the Irish dialect comes into play, I honestly hear someone saying it in an Irish accent, which I adore. It must be one of the softest, loveliest accents on the planet!

Ava’s parents run the Shamrock Inn, in Emerald Bay and along with Ava and her four sisters, they make up the ultimate, cosy Irish family in a small village where everyone knows everyone and everyone’s business. Everything about this book is just lovely. The characters are wonderful; the setting is beautiful and the Irish camaraderie is second to none.

Take a trip to Emerald Bay this Christmas and buy yourself a copy of Michelle’s latest book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal.

[Melissa Motes]

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village is a wonderful story of family, second chances, and communication. The narrator made the audiobook with Irish accent. The story centers on Ava and Shane. Ava and Shane went separate ways when Ava moved to London with her twin sister, Grace. Ava rushes back to Emerald Bay, her hometown, when Shane goes missing in a boating incident.

While in Emerald Bay, Ava must face the decisions in her life and assess the her next steps. Through this process, she confronts her sister about the misery of her life in London and that she wants a life with Shane. Throughout the soul searching, the reader is given a glimpse at the Kelly family, including Ava's four sisters, parents, and Nan.

The book is perfect for a Christmas time read, especially if you are looking for a little miracle. This is the 3rd installment in the Little Irish Village series, which means I need to go find the first two fast to catch up with the Kelly sisters.

[Pam]

A sweet story. You knew it was going to end well but it was interesting.

Amazon synopsis:
When twenty-four-year-old Ava Kelly and her adventurous twin Grace return home to The Shamrock Inn, their Ma’s favourite baubles bring back so many memories of Christmases past. They have always done everything together, even leaving their little Irish village for the excitement of London. But with the locket her handsome ex Shane gave her hanging just above her heart, Ava has just one wish this festive season…

After a year stuck in a job she can’t stand and going on dreadful dates, Ava longs to be back with Shane. Curling up in front of the fire with him, the brooding fisherman everyone else sees melts away as his blue eyes meet hers. But planning a future with Shane would mean telling Grace she’ll be moving back to the village for good. Ava knows it will break her sister’s heart for them to be parted.

But, before Ava can build up the courage to talk to her twin, terrible tidings about Shane hit The Shamrock Inn like a winter storm. With everyone but Grace rushing to the harbour, will Ava’s hopes for a future with both Shane and her sister in it be dashed? Or could a Christmas miracle bring them all together?

[Coffeenbooks]

- Small town romance
- Second chance
- Christmas story

I adored this charming Christmas story set in the village of Emerald Bay. The Kelly family - I wanted to be part of it. I loved their dynamic.

This installment in the series primarily focuses on twins Ava and Grace. They have been living in London for the last year. Ava would rather be in Emerald Bay with her former boyfriend Shane, but she followed Grace’s lead. She has been missing him ever since.

When Ava receives news that Shane is missing after being swept from his fishing boat in a storm, she immediately makes plans to return to Emerald Bay.

It’s declared a Christmas miracle when Shane is found and the village wants to celebrate.but will Ava stay in Emerald Bay?

The town is filled with quirky characters and the story feels like a hug. Truly loved it!