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Shamrock Green
Ever since hearing his granny’s old fairy tales, Hank Lear has longed to experience the ancient magic coursing through Ireland, sure that some grand adventure awaited him among the verdant hills. Now, with his vacation coming to an end, he’s about to return to Texas with nothing but memories of old castles, modern cities, and a cheap Claddagh ring he bought in an antique store. On a whim, Hank visits a bath house on his last night in Dublin, where he meets Darren Connell, a man with plenty of secrets of his own. Obscured by the dim light and thick steam, shy Hank musters the courage to flirt with Darren, and though they can barely see one another, a strong and mysterious connection forms.
Just as Hank is about to leave for the airport, Darren stops him, tells Hank he needs his help, and begs Hank to stay. Hank can’t refuse him, and soon they’re caught in a web of forces outside their control and outside reality as Hank understands it. Each step leads them to Shamrock Green and the last portal to the world of the Fae. With danger closing in, Hank and Darren must decipher their destinies before the portal is lost forever.
Just as Hank is about to leave for the airport, Darren stops him, tells Hank he needs his help, and begs Hank to stay. Hank can’t refuse him, and soon they’re caught in a web of forces outside their control and outside reality as Hank understands it. Each step leads them to Shamrock Green and the last portal to the world of the Fae. With danger closing in, Hank and Darren must decipher their destinies before the portal is lost forever.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Jackson Cordd
10 books15 followersStarted as an avid reader at age 4. First tried my hand at writing in Jr High when I tried to create a comic book, but my drawing skills are so lacking, the work was a flop. In high school, gave up on the idea of illustrations and focused on just the words.
While working in the computer industry, I spent years writing 'mainstream' works and trying to publish. It wasn't until I got honest, and started writing about characters more like me (gay) that I began having success with publishing.
Now that I'm single again, my steamy stories keep me from getting too lonely on cold winter nights.
While working in the computer industry, I spent years writing 'mainstream' works and trying to publish. It wasn't until I got honest, and started writing about characters more like me (gay) that I began having success with publishing.
Now that I'm single again, my steamy stories keep me from getting too lonely on cold winter nights.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 23, 2014
PizzyGirl reviews Shamrock Green by Jackson Cordd
http://www.mrsconditreadsbooks.com/?p...
REVIEW: Shamrock Green by Jackson Cordd is a fantastic journey into the world of Irish folklore with fairies, phoukas, dimensional portals, and a love that conquers all. The story is well written with descriptive language that pulled me in and kept me lost in the the evolution of this fanciful world of color and song. Mr. Cordd engaged my imagination and appealed to my love of mythology. I felt an instant connection to this book and will be reading this on again. I hope this is not a stand alone and that there will be more installments in this fascinating world.
There are so many good things I can say about Shamrock Green. It grabbed my attention right from the start with a enchanting description of a clockwork phouka. From the description, I could really see the intricate movements of the object. I wanted it to be real and really wanted to be able to see it for myself. Even if the rest of the novel had not been great, this description alone would have been worth the read for me. I know it seems weird, but it really left a lasting impression on me.
I also loved that Mr. Cordd kept pulling me right along by developing the mystery of the fantasy elements and only giving snippets information at a time. He did not rush to give away all of the characters’ secrets. He let the story unfold naturally and slowly in such a way that I never lost interest. He kept true to the thematic elements from start to finish and built a well rounded world that has the potential to be developed into an amazing series.
I also loved the plot. I love fantasy worlds where good vs. evil is at the forefront of all the action. The two main characters had to fight against evil to keep the dimensional portal open and keep magic alive. They had to first work together to discover the mechanism to keep the portal open, then had to find the key to said mechanism. In the end, that key was love.
And here lies my only disappointment with this novel. Love was needed to save the portal, but I felt that the romantic relationship between the two main characters was glossed over. It was not given the proper attention needed for the reader to understand how two strangers could come to love each other quickly enough to save the disappearing magic. It just seemed to be a side effect of the journey of discovery. I wish there would have been more insight into the developing romance between the men.
Overall, I highly recommend Shamrock Green to any fantasy lovers. Jackson Cordd has now been added to my list of favorite authors.
http://www.mrsconditreadsbooks.com/?p...
REVIEW: Shamrock Green by Jackson Cordd is a fantastic journey into the world of Irish folklore with fairies, phoukas, dimensional portals, and a love that conquers all. The story is well written with descriptive language that pulled me in and kept me lost in the the evolution of this fanciful world of color and song. Mr. Cordd engaged my imagination and appealed to my love of mythology. I felt an instant connection to this book and will be reading this on again. I hope this is not a stand alone and that there will be more installments in this fascinating world.
There are so many good things I can say about Shamrock Green. It grabbed my attention right from the start with a enchanting description of a clockwork phouka. From the description, I could really see the intricate movements of the object. I wanted it to be real and really wanted to be able to see it for myself. Even if the rest of the novel had not been great, this description alone would have been worth the read for me. I know it seems weird, but it really left a lasting impression on me.
I also loved that Mr. Cordd kept pulling me right along by developing the mystery of the fantasy elements and only giving snippets information at a time. He did not rush to give away all of the characters’ secrets. He let the story unfold naturally and slowly in such a way that I never lost interest. He kept true to the thematic elements from start to finish and built a well rounded world that has the potential to be developed into an amazing series.
I also loved the plot. I love fantasy worlds where good vs. evil is at the forefront of all the action. The two main characters had to fight against evil to keep the dimensional portal open and keep magic alive. They had to first work together to discover the mechanism to keep the portal open, then had to find the key to said mechanism. In the end, that key was love.
And here lies my only disappointment with this novel. Love was needed to save the portal, but I felt that the romantic relationship between the two main characters was glossed over. It was not given the proper attention needed for the reader to understand how two strangers could come to love each other quickly enough to save the disappearing magic. It just seemed to be a side effect of the journey of discovery. I wish there would have been more insight into the developing romance between the men.
Overall, I highly recommend Shamrock Green to any fantasy lovers. Jackson Cordd has now been added to my list of favorite authors.
June 27, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls review site.
3.5 stars
The last night Hank Lear is in Ireland, he goes to a bath house in hopes of at least getting laid once before returning to Texas. While at the bath house, he meets Darren Connell, a famous singer who he has an amazingly intense connection with. Before Hank knows it, he’s changing his flight plans to stay with Darren just a little longer and unknowingly thrusts himself right into the middle of a magical world of Fae and other creatures where the last remaining portal is almost closed and Hank and Darren might just be the key to reopening it. Unfortunately, Hank’s as skeptic as can be and it’ll take much more than a great connection, some weird jewelry and a talking cat to make him believe in magic.
When I first started reading this, I was pleasantly surprised at what I found. Not only was Hank, a young looking twink, over 40 but SO WAS Darren! There’s just not enough books out there with couples over 40, IMO, so I was excited to read about one in this book. Granted, it’s not a HUGE thing but I still enjoy reading about characters that aren’t always the young, hot guys we’ve come to see in most of the m/m books we read. In this one, Hank is just a small, Texan man who’s as skeptic of anything related to magic as he can be. Even though he grew up with stories from his grandmother about the Fae and such. Having grown up with magic, Darren already believes and tries his best to get Hank to believe as well. Unfortunately, that’s not an easy job. Where Hank is stubborn, closed-minded and has the build of a twink, Darren is loose, open-minded and has more of a bad boy look, although he’s a sweet and kind man at heart. The two together are adorable and hot and I absolutely loved them and how different their cultures were.
I really liked this book but I felt like it was too long. I was caught up in the story up until about half way through and then it started to drag for me. I loved the descriptions around Hank and Darren’s ancestors but after a certain event happens, I missed the connection between Hank and Darren. But more than that, the ending seemed out of sorts to me. I LOVED it but I can’t help but feel like it wasn’t explained as well as it could have been so I’m still confused on how or why what happened, happened. Also, I felt like there were passages of text that were unnecessary and could have been either taken out entirely or told from Hank or Darren’s POVs.
In the end, though, I really liked this one. It’s got some sweet moments and has a very intriguing world. It had a little too much description and dragged because of that but overall, I loved experiencing how Hank fit into all of it and the connection that Hank and Darren had, plus the world was amazing so I really hope there will be more to come in this setting because I’d love to see how everyone is in a few months or years down the road.
3.5 stars
The last night Hank Lear is in Ireland, he goes to a bath house in hopes of at least getting laid once before returning to Texas. While at the bath house, he meets Darren Connell, a famous singer who he has an amazingly intense connection with. Before Hank knows it, he’s changing his flight plans to stay with Darren just a little longer and unknowingly thrusts himself right into the middle of a magical world of Fae and other creatures where the last remaining portal is almost closed and Hank and Darren might just be the key to reopening it. Unfortunately, Hank’s as skeptic as can be and it’ll take much more than a great connection, some weird jewelry and a talking cat to make him believe in magic.
When I first started reading this, I was pleasantly surprised at what I found. Not only was Hank, a young looking twink, over 40 but SO WAS Darren! There’s just not enough books out there with couples over 40, IMO, so I was excited to read about one in this book. Granted, it’s not a HUGE thing but I still enjoy reading about characters that aren’t always the young, hot guys we’ve come to see in most of the m/m books we read. In this one, Hank is just a small, Texan man who’s as skeptic of anything related to magic as he can be. Even though he grew up with stories from his grandmother about the Fae and such. Having grown up with magic, Darren already believes and tries his best to get Hank to believe as well. Unfortunately, that’s not an easy job. Where Hank is stubborn, closed-minded and has the build of a twink, Darren is loose, open-minded and has more of a bad boy look, although he’s a sweet and kind man at heart. The two together are adorable and hot and I absolutely loved them and how different their cultures were.
I really liked this book but I felt like it was too long. I was caught up in the story up until about half way through and then it started to drag for me. I loved the descriptions around Hank and Darren’s ancestors but after a certain event happens, I missed the connection between Hank and Darren. But more than that, the ending seemed out of sorts to me. I LOVED it but I can’t help but feel like it wasn’t explained as well as it could have been so I’m still confused on how or why what happened, happened. Also, I felt like there were passages of text that were unnecessary and could have been either taken out entirely or told from Hank or Darren’s POVs.
In the end, though, I really liked this one. It’s got some sweet moments and has a very intriguing world. It had a little too much description and dragged because of that but overall, I loved experiencing how Hank fit into all of it and the connection that Hank and Darren had, plus the world was amazing so I really hope there will be more to come in this setting because I’d love to see how everyone is in a few months or years down the road.
August 5, 2016
I was lucky enough to win a paper copy of Shamrock Green by Jackson Cordd, even though I have no Irish blood at all (just central and southern European). I had read an excerpt previously that gave no indication what a wonderful fantasy/contemporary novel it is. I fell in love with the two MCs, a Texan and an Irishman, both fully realized with lots of little quirks. The book draws heavily on Celtic mythology, which I’m not very familiar with, other than LOTR, but really enjoyed. In true fantasy style, there is a quest of sorts, which did not lead to the expected ending. Rather, the ending was much more nuanced and encouraging, making me wish that Cordd would revisit this fun alternate world in another book. There are a few secondary characters who could have their stories told in future novels. Overall, an unexpectedly great read!
May 26, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
This story hooked me right from the start. Hank is just so dang likeable, from the very first time we meet him. I got attached to him very quickly and was happy to follow along as he explored. When he meets the mysterious man in the bathhouse, I was swirling with his same emotions. Hank was so relatable and believable. When Darren finally, properly, introduces himself, I was right there with Hank as he experienced confusion and anger. The connection between the leapt off the page and there was no doubt in my mind they’d be amazing once they finally sorted themselves out. I simply adored both men and thought they worked very well together.
Read Kris's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
This story hooked me right from the start. Hank is just so dang likeable, from the very first time we meet him. I got attached to him very quickly and was happy to follow along as he explored. When he meets the mysterious man in the bathhouse, I was swirling with his same emotions. Hank was so relatable and believable. When Darren finally, properly, introduces himself, I was right there with Hank as he experienced confusion and anger. The connection between the leapt off the page and there was no doubt in my mind they’d be amazing once they finally sorted themselves out. I simply adored both men and thought they worked very well together.
Read Kris's review in its entirety here.
July 30, 2014
Maybe not my cup o' tea. It was filled with mystical creatures and back stories that I didn't know about or understand. (If you are up on all things Irish and magical this is up your alley). Because of this I felt lost most of the time and didn't follow the peaks and valleys of the story.
The MC's were OK. I didn't feel one way or the other about them. Their romance caused the same response.
Besides the story setting and the dull romanace the story felt chopping instead of fluid.
The Texas slang/accent was over the top at times.
The MC's were OK. I didn't feel one way or the other about them. Their romance caused the same response.
Besides the story setting and the dull romanace the story felt chopping instead of fluid.
The Texas slang/accent was over the top at times.
August 17, 2018
Shamrock Green is a good read, though not quite what I expected from the blurb and cover … and speaking of the cover, let me award a large stamp of approval to cover artist Paul Richmond for a marvelous piece of work which contributed majorly to my decision to read this novel. In an era when genre consumers are literally overwhelmed by the outpouring of new gay and m/m writings, the cover artist’s job should not be underestimated. If s/he doesn’t hook prospective readers immediately, which of us has the time to study so many blurbs?
Rather than rambling, let me give you Dreamspinner Press’s cover notes directly:
Ever since hearing his granny’s old fairy tales, Hank Lear has longed to experience the ancient magic coursing through Ireland, sure that some grand adventure awaited him among the verdant hills. Now, with his vacation coming to an end, he’s about to return to Texas with nothing but memories of old castles, modern cities, and a cheap Claddagh ring he bought in an antique store. On a whim, Hank visits a bath house on his last night in Dublin, where he meets Darren Connell, a man with plenty of secrets of his own. Obscured by the dim light and thick steam, shy Hank musters the courage to flirt with Darren, and though they can barely see one another, a strong and mysterious connection forms.
Just as Hank is about to leave for the airport, Darren stops him, tells Hank he needs his help, and begs Hank to stay. Hank can’t refuse him, and soon they’re caught in a web of forces outside their control and outside reality as Hank understands it. Each step leads them to Shamrock Green and the last portal to the world of the Fae. With danger closing in, Hank and Darren must decipher their destinies before the portal is lost forever.
…which hints at the bare tip of the iceberg. An intelligent and compelling plot spins off from the preamble of the diminutive Texan tourist (!) headed back to Dublin airport after coming up sadly empty on a quest for holiday romance, and the story held my attention till the end. The reader looking for a sweet gay romance without explicit scenes hits paydirt here (though the reverse is obviously just as accurate! Readers turning pages looking for those steamy m/m bits will be frustrated). Shamrock Green is actually a brooding character study built on a really outstanding idea for a paranormal mystery, and the narrative is at its best when it centers on its cast of fascinating players and the complex relationships between them.
The book does have a couple of downsides, though only a minority of readers will notice. The story is set in Dublin, but it’s very obviously written from maps, since the location could as easily be Melbourne, Auckland or London … local color and Irish “flavor” are absent. And the pagana depicted is devoutly Hollywood style … fair enough. There’s only so much a writer can glean from books through the due diligence of research. However, if the reader is not a member of the modern pagan community, and/or isn’t familiar with Dublin, these points won’t detract.
Full marks to Dreamspinner Press for the preparation and packaging of the book: as we’ve come to expect, the proofreading is exceptional, and I’ve already mentioned the gorgeous cover.
Shamrock Green is recommended for readers looking for a clever gay paranormal mystery revolving around plot and characterization rather than sheer sensuality (which, actually, makes for rather a pleasant change!), and for readers who won’t be concerned by the aforementioned minus points. I’m going to give the book four stars out of five here because those points did rub me the wrong way just a little, but what the hey? I’m buried in a minority group -- and smart enough to know the other 99.5% of readers won’t even glimpse the problems. So --
Four stars for Shamrock Green, which was a most interesting read throughout, and a welcome change from the reading one has come to expect from a genre renowned for its … shall we say, unremitting sensuality! Clever plot and intriguing characterization carry the generous-length book, and there’s plenty of room for a sequel.
Rather than rambling, let me give you Dreamspinner Press’s cover notes directly:
Ever since hearing his granny’s old fairy tales, Hank Lear has longed to experience the ancient magic coursing through Ireland, sure that some grand adventure awaited him among the verdant hills. Now, with his vacation coming to an end, he’s about to return to Texas with nothing but memories of old castles, modern cities, and a cheap Claddagh ring he bought in an antique store. On a whim, Hank visits a bath house on his last night in Dublin, where he meets Darren Connell, a man with plenty of secrets of his own. Obscured by the dim light and thick steam, shy Hank musters the courage to flirt with Darren, and though they can barely see one another, a strong and mysterious connection forms.
Just as Hank is about to leave for the airport, Darren stops him, tells Hank he needs his help, and begs Hank to stay. Hank can’t refuse him, and soon they’re caught in a web of forces outside their control and outside reality as Hank understands it. Each step leads them to Shamrock Green and the last portal to the world of the Fae. With danger closing in, Hank and Darren must decipher their destinies before the portal is lost forever.
…which hints at the bare tip of the iceberg. An intelligent and compelling plot spins off from the preamble of the diminutive Texan tourist (!) headed back to Dublin airport after coming up sadly empty on a quest for holiday romance, and the story held my attention till the end. The reader looking for a sweet gay romance without explicit scenes hits paydirt here (though the reverse is obviously just as accurate! Readers turning pages looking for those steamy m/m bits will be frustrated). Shamrock Green is actually a brooding character study built on a really outstanding idea for a paranormal mystery, and the narrative is at its best when it centers on its cast of fascinating players and the complex relationships between them.
The book does have a couple of downsides, though only a minority of readers will notice. The story is set in Dublin, but it’s very obviously written from maps, since the location could as easily be Melbourne, Auckland or London … local color and Irish “flavor” are absent. And the pagana depicted is devoutly Hollywood style … fair enough. There’s only so much a writer can glean from books through the due diligence of research. However, if the reader is not a member of the modern pagan community, and/or isn’t familiar with Dublin, these points won’t detract.
Full marks to Dreamspinner Press for the preparation and packaging of the book: as we’ve come to expect, the proofreading is exceptional, and I’ve already mentioned the gorgeous cover.
Shamrock Green is recommended for readers looking for a clever gay paranormal mystery revolving around plot and characterization rather than sheer sensuality (which, actually, makes for rather a pleasant change!), and for readers who won’t be concerned by the aforementioned minus points. I’m going to give the book four stars out of five here because those points did rub me the wrong way just a little, but what the hey? I’m buried in a minority group -- and smart enough to know the other 99.5% of readers won’t even glimpse the problems. So --
Four stars for Shamrock Green, which was a most interesting read throughout, and a welcome change from the reading one has come to expect from a genre renowned for its … shall we say, unremitting sensuality! Clever plot and intriguing characterization carry the generous-length book, and there’s plenty of room for a sequel.
June 8, 2019
not too keen on the character development. the texas guy seemed to be from new york not texas. that or the author doesn't know about people from the south.
September 19, 2014
Reviewed for MM Good Book reviews
This is a fun and quirky tale filled with fairies, brownies, red caps, poukas, and pixies, lots of Irish fae folklore. I happen to like Irish folklore so that is what captivated me and kept my attention through this story. The characters were interesting, the plot twisted, fascinating and fun. The writing was smooth and moved along at a good pace.
The love interests were pretty darn clear from the start, but if you’re looking for hot steamy smex, this book isn’t for you. The sexual romance is mild and a sort of fade in and out scenario, we know certain things happen without detail. Other than the bit of tantric sex in the end, it’s mild and vanilla but that isn’t the point of this story anyhow.
As far a romance was concerned, Hank seemed willing to put himself out there to such new and unusual experiences, yet I was starting to get pretty tense and irritated with the main character, Darren, when he wouldn’t grow a pair and make a move….but it all work out in the end.
There are many very interesting supporting characters such as the oh-so-mysterious Brigand that I would like to read more about. The sister drove me nuts, and I wondered about the band. In a novel of this size I’m surprised there is so much more material that I was still curious about.
I really expected an appearance by Hand Lear’s mom as the plot of his ancestor’s involvement thickened, but has fun with all the folklore characters anyhow. It’s an interesting read, and I was entertained for hours. If you enjoy reading about the fae creatures that lurk in the shadows, you’ll enjoy this novel by Jackson Cordd.
This is a fun and quirky tale filled with fairies, brownies, red caps, poukas, and pixies, lots of Irish fae folklore. I happen to like Irish folklore so that is what captivated me and kept my attention through this story. The characters were interesting, the plot twisted, fascinating and fun. The writing was smooth and moved along at a good pace.
The love interests were pretty darn clear from the start, but if you’re looking for hot steamy smex, this book isn’t for you. The sexual romance is mild and a sort of fade in and out scenario, we know certain things happen without detail. Other than the bit of tantric sex in the end, it’s mild and vanilla but that isn’t the point of this story anyhow.
As far a romance was concerned, Hank seemed willing to put himself out there to such new and unusual experiences, yet I was starting to get pretty tense and irritated with the main character, Darren, when he wouldn’t grow a pair and make a move….but it all work out in the end.
There are many very interesting supporting characters such as the oh-so-mysterious Brigand that I would like to read more about. The sister drove me nuts, and I wondered about the band. In a novel of this size I’m surprised there is so much more material that I was still curious about.
I really expected an appearance by Hand Lear’s mom as the plot of his ancestor’s involvement thickened, but has fun with all the folklore characters anyhow. It’s an interesting read, and I was entertained for hours. If you enjoy reading about the fae creatures that lurk in the shadows, you’ll enjoy this novel by Jackson Cordd.
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August 8, 2016DNF...just drags on
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