Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes

Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery #2

by Rowan Dillon, Christy Nicholas

Reimagining her life isn’t going as planned. When a renovation turns into a crime scene, can she get to the bottom of a nightmare turned murder?

County Cork, Ireland. Skye Brigid O’Shea is still struggling to fit in. Still branded an outsider in her adopted rural town, the ex-pat American strives to get her inherited B&B shipshape despite the flaky local help. But after waking with a fright from a dream her fae cat claims she borrowed, the discombobulated newcomer trips over a dead body in her pub.

Not about to head the suspect list again, the nosy former nurse chases down clues both mundane and otherworldly. But after discovering she’s not the only person having others’ dreams and a band of New Age neo-druids making trouble near the standing stones, Skye is only certain that this perplexing puzzle is sheer chaos.

Can she unearth the culprit before out-of-control magic, small-town secrets, and old hippies land her on the wrong side of the veil?

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes is the quirky second book in the Skye O'Shea Cozy Mystery series. If you like stubborn sleuths, snarky felines, and eccentric locals, then you’ll love Rowan Dillon’s walk on the enchanted side.

Buy Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes for a shot in the dark today!

Genres: Ireland, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2024

Reviews

[Christina Frøkjær · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes, Skye, an American nurse, inherits her grandmother's pub and B&B in the picturesque Irish town of Ballymore. As she settles into her new life, a series of strange occurrences begin to unfold. A mysterious death within the pub, the arrival of a peculiar group of outsiders, and the shared dreams of the townspeople all point to something sinister lurking beneath the surface.

With the help of her grandmother's talking cat, Faelan, Skye discovers she possesses hidden magical abilities. Together, they embark on a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the recent events and protect the town from impending danger.

As Skye delves deeper into Ballymore's secrets, she uncovers a long-lost prophecy and a battle between ancient forces. With the fate of the town hanging in the balance, Skye must confront her fears and use her newfound powers to save the day.

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes * is a captivating blend of mystery, magic, and Irish folklore. With its well-developed characters and thrilling plot, this novel will keep readers enthralled from beginning to end.

[Tabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one seemed a little darker than most cozy mysteries but I still loved it. I enjoyed getting back into this world and seeing all the adventures that Skye went on. I really enjoy the fae elements of this as well, I find it to be really unique.

[Aussie · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Skye inherited  her grandmothers pub and B&B in the Irish town of Ballymore
-Skye start to settle in her life but there have been a strange occurrence that begins to unfold
- there been a mysterious  death at the pub aswell there have been arrival of outsiders
- towns people shared dreams but there is something sinister that is lurking beneath the surface
- Skye's grandmothers cat Faelan who is a talking cat who is helping Skye to discover that she has hidden magical abilities  that she possesses.
- They embark on a quest to uncover the truth behind the recent events and be able to protect the town from impending danger
-Sky dive lot deeper into the Ballymore's secret that she has discovered that there have been a long-lost prophecy and a battle between ancient forces
- Skye have to face he5r fears and use her New found powers to be able to save day aswell save the town
- it's is perfect for Spooky season

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced, page turning read that you can't put down. There are so many threads that need to be pulled and keeps you guessing to the end. Skye O’Shea was a nurse in Florida but when her grandmother passed away, she left her B&B and Pub to Skye, along with her talking cat, Faelen, only her inheritance is located in Irish town of Ballymore. So Skye packs up to start her new life in Ireland. As she is getting settled in her new endeavor, she discovers some strange occurrences. For, one, she has the shared dreams of the townspeople. What? There is something going on in the town. And with her newly discovered magic abilities and the help of Faelen, she decides to investigate the goings on. They find there is a dark ancient prophecy and an ancient battle going on and she has to unravel all of this to save the town. This is a fast paced, page turner and the second book in the series. I highly recommend this series as well as this really good second book. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meowrrr

The Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series is my new guilty pleasure. I adore the characters and the lovely little town outside of Cork.

But be forewarned, there be monsters here! And a host of troublemakers who get in the way of Skye O'Shea opening her Gran's pub.

I'm hooked on this series and I think you will be too.

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes: A Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery
(The Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 2)
by Rowan Dillon

I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Skye Brigid O'Shea has inherited a pub and B&B after the passing of her Gran, in the lovely setting of County Cork, Ireland. Along with the B&B, she also inherited Gran's fancy feline, Faelan. But Faelan is no ordinary cat; he's a fae cat, a cat sidhe, who deigns to communicate with Skye whenever it suits him. Originally from Miami and recently divorced, Skye is determined to reincarnate the pub in all its glory as Gran would have wanted if only the renovations would be quicker.

If being pestered by her ex wasn't enough, she discovers a dead body face down on the floor of her pub. To make matters worse, she begins to suffer from recurring bad dreams. When she learns that others in the village are also experiencing similar nightmares, her investigative instincts kick in, and she knows there is more to this situation than meets the eye.
Skye begins to ask questions as events become more dire until she has no choice but to face the problems head-on. Can she identify the killer before her time runs out?

Rowan Dillon has done a fantastic job with this book, the second instalment in The Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series. I enjoyed the suspense woven into the narrative, and there were a couple of surprising revelations as the story unfolded. I found myself constantly guessing who the main suspects were, and the truth at the end took me by surprise.

The story is filled with scary apparitions, dreams, plot twists, suspicious actions, and communications with a spirit from beyond, which I think will appeal to fans of cosy mysteries and paranormal tales. Even those looking for a great story will find this book impressive. And let's be honest, who can resist such an amazing book cover? Just look at the cute kitty! I loved the Irish theme. The author has included a pronunciation guide at the back of the book which is a great help for those unfamiliar with the language.

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes by Rowan Dillon earns 5 out of 5 stars.

[Peggy Plylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story revolves around Skye, an American nurse, who inherited her grandmother's pub/B&B in Ireland. She moves her life to Ireland. Everything needs renovation. One day she walks into the pub( not yet open for business) and she discovers a man lying on the floor and he's dead. She contacts the authorities. Now to prove who's committed the crime.
There's a new group of people in town, and the townspeople, including Skye are having dreams unrelated to them. They are dreaming of other's dreams. Is there any connection between the new group and the dreams?
Skye has some magical powers and she has Faelan, her grandmother's cat, who can talk( when he chooses)
There are some strange things going on and the town may be in danger. Can Skye and Faelan save themselves and the town?

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot had a lot of twists and turns and redirections. I couldn't figure out who were

the bad guys and who were the good guys.

Tara was like a bad kitty with those dangerous talons of her.I thought it was ironic with her always going to the cops to tattle on Skye. Lol. I enjoyed all the craziness and the supernatural elements. Most of the characters were engaging . It seemed like several people were holding out on Skye with what they knew. Faelan was a snarky aloof bugger as cats usually can be, but he was helpful in the clinch. Hoping Skye's ex leaves her alone, if the wishing tree is true. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Joseph Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sky O’Shea is just trying to open her Gran’s pub, but that seems to be neverending. She’s well-known now in town, but odd events keep happening to her. Another murder she is linked to – and more on the magic of this small Irish village.
She’s a fun character – a woman being strong in the face of new experiences and environment (and finding her strength in them). Her friends in town are also developing as the series progresses, giving a good perspective on this funny little place.
Really enjoyable series.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishers is Book 2 in A Sky O'Shea Cozy Mystery by Rosen Dillon. I enjoy having this series set in Ireland along with Irish words and phrases. The author did an excellent job of touching on book 1 to bring new readers background without dragging it out. I don't speak Irish and liked the pronunciation guide in the book. Skye has money going out with renovations to the pub and there is another dead body in her pub. Skye's cat, Faelan, is wonderful; but, her ex-husband, Armand, wants money and he is dangerous. I felt that the solving of the murder was very good and creative. I think that no one should miss this book and series. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes" by Rowan Dillon is a fantastic read that kept me hooked all night long. The blend of humor, mystery, and a touch of magic creates an engaging and unique story. The cozy Irish pub setting and the use of folklore make the book stand out, with descriptions so vivid I felt like I was inside the scenes. The way the atmosphere shifts from festive to eerie, especially during the pub’s blackout, was masterfully done, adding tension in just the right moments. I loved the protagonist’s internal dialogue, which brought depth to both her emotions and the environment around her.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an ex-pat American newly transplanted to a small town in County Cork, Irland, Skye O'Shea is perfectly aware of the fact that most of the residents consider her an outsider. But she is determined to get the B&B and the pub that she inherited from her grandmother renovated and back in business, sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, after waking from a nightmare that has no context in her life, she stubbles across a dead body in the middle of her pub, and with the local Guarda's hostility toward her coloring her decision she decides to begin her own investigation into the death. She will quickly discover that she isn't the only one having the dreams of other residents, and that it all started when a group of "New Age neo-druids" started performing rituals at the standing stones.
Oh, my goodness, I loved these quirky, and engaging characters. They all have fascinating and distinct personalities that at times made me laugh out loud, and at other times just shake my head in disbelief. I especially got a kick out of Faelan, the Sidhe cat who talks to Skye, but like any feline, he only talks he wants to make a point, or in this case teach Skye about magic. Murder, mayhem, magic, and rituals gone awry. This is a fantastic book, and I'm already looking forward to reading more of Skye's adventures. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second installment of Skye O'Shea and her talking black cat, Faelan, was more on par with a cozy, paranormal mystery, and Faelan played a much bigger role.

Poor Skye has a way of attracting dead bodies to her property, and when a stranger is found in her unfinished pub, she, at first, heeds the advice of the Garda and stays out of it. But, it doesn't take long before connections to the body are made to her deceased grandmother and Skye can't help but insert herself into the mystery. Along the way she will even have to call on help from a local "coven" to aid her in her investigation.

The writing in this one was so engrossing and I loved being able to learn more about the people of this small Irish village and the fairy lore surrounding it. There were multiple layers to this story but not so many that it was difficult to keep events straight.

This has been a fun series so far and I eagerly await the publication of the third full-length installment in May 2025.

[Me Christine Crawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the sequel to Bogs, Brews and Banshees, a cozy 'who done it' drawing from Irish folklore and narrated by an American woman living in a small Irish village. There is plenty of charm in this Irish tale, as Skye tries to get her pub up and running, whilst dealing with a number of challenges.

Skye is an honest narrator, so you get her flaws and complexities whilst rooting for her and her situation. I did feel that at times there was too much background detail and that slowed the story down, hence I didn't give this five stars. However, the scene setting was delightful and you did feel as though you were right there with Skye in her Irish village.

If you enjoy tales of the Fae and a 'who done it?' mystery then this would be a great read for you.

I was given an advanced copy of this book and I'm happy to leave my review.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

odd and getting odder. I'm not interested anymore.


Amazon synopsis:
County Cork, Ireland. Skye Brigid O’Shea is still struggling to fit in. Still branded an outsider in her adopted rural town, the ex-pat American strives to get her inherited B&B shipshape despite the flaky local help. But after waking with a fright from a dream her fae cat claims she borrowed, the discombobulated newcomer trips over a dead body in her pub.

Not about to head the suspect list again, the nosy former nurse chases down clues both mundane and otherworldly. But after discovering she’s not the only person having others’ dreams and a band of New Age neo-druids making trouble near the standing stones, Skye is only certain that this perplexing puzzle is sheer chaos.

Can she unearth the culprit before out-of-control magic, small-town secrets, and old hippies land her on the wrong side of the veil?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy paranormal mystery is book 2 and rich with Irish folklore. Skye O’Shea moved from Miami USA to
Ireland following the death of her Gran and the dissolution of her marriage. A fresh start - but with her Gran’s legacy to uphold. In this novel, Skye is having her Gran’s pub refurbished while worried about how quickly she is spending the trust money. She learns how quickly gossip spreads in a small town and begins to make new friends. A group visit town with odd dynamics and one of them is found dead in her pub. Desperate to untangle all that she knows and figure out his murderer along with strange happenings in town, Skye can’t help asking the hard questions. This is really well done and I truly enjoyed it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry to the Skye O’ Shea mysteries. All the village characters continue to develop well, and the plot is a maze of clues. Along the way, a few subplots show up. Intriguing reading and, if this is our first Skye novel, you will want to read the others in the series.
Skye O’Shea is struggling to get her pub renovated and open. Construction work in Ireland runs on a different schedule than Florida. But when she has a dream that doesn’t seem to belong to her and finds the whole town is ‘borrowing’ each other’s dreams plus a group of New Age people are messing around at the stone circle, she feels compelled to investigate. Especially after finding a body again on her property. Garda Donal, who seems to have a huge grudge against her, won’t be happy about this!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really invested in this series - there are great characters and lots of interesting "paranormal" things happening, however, I would like to see the main character get a little more umph. She kind of waits for whatever's next to happen and doesn't try to get ahead of what's going on. I will continue with this series, no doubt, but would like to see the MC get a little more confident. I love the Irish setting, I feel like I'm right there while I'm reading the description of the beach, the church, etc. This author is extremely proficient in descriptive prowess in this series. Can't wait for the next one!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Skye O’Shea series. Skye is renovating the pub she inherited from her grandmother and getting used to living in Ireland, which is nothing like her home in Miami. She finds a body in her pub, and with the help of her sometimes talking cat Faelen, they work to solve that and other mysteries occurring in town.

I like the cast of characters in this series but this book focused heavily on people passing through. I’m hoping the next book focuses more on the regular cast and maybe answer a couple questions that keep coming up but haven’t been addressed.

This is a fun series though and I can’t wait for the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always eager to read a second book in a series I started as is such the case with this one. I enjoy these books, and the only things that I don’t enjoy to an exceptional level are two reasons: there’s not much interaction between the characters and the main character solves the mystery more by telling than showing. This latest is very similar to the first one, and poor Skye finds another body. I really liked the discoveries that Skye makes in this and how we do get to know more about Skye and the other characters. There’s even a surprise from Skye’s past that I’m curious how it’s going to be resolved. Fun and interesting, this is sure to be a hit with fans of this author and series. Recommend.

[Nancy Gerards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced, page turning read that you can't put down. There are so many threads that need to be pulled and keeps you guessing to the end.
The mystery that is happening in the town is effecting everyone

If being pestered by her ex wasn't enough, she discovers a dead body face down on the floor of her pub. To make matters worse, she begins to suffer from recurring bad dreams. When she learns that others in the village are also experiencing similar nightmares, her investigative instincts kick in, and she knows there is more to this situation than meets the eye.
Skye begins to ask questions as events become more dire until she has no choice but to face the problems head-on. Can she identify the killer before her time runs out?

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes is the second book in the Skye O’Shea Mystery series. Skye is still trying to get the pub off the ground. The renovations are taking longer than expected. In the middle of the construction, her pub-in-process becomes the scene of a crime. Skye doesn’t want to be a suspect in the murder so she starts looking into the death. On top of that, something is happening to the dreams of the townsfolk.

I enjoyed Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes. The story pulled me in and kept me engaged. I loved the setting and world-building. There are twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I was constantly reevaluating who the suspects could be and their motive.

I was provided a copy of this book.

[Starr Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye inherits her gran’s property and a small trust in Ireland, so she’s trying to figure out life in a new home and country as well as the supernatural aspects.

Disaster strikes when an unknown person is murdered while the pub as it is being renovated. Thankfully,Skye has made some friends and has support to figure out what is happening in her new home.

While all this is happening, Skye is evading calls and refuses any form of contact from an abusive ex husband Armand, is quite intent to reestablish a connection with her..

Definitely a wild Irish homecoming with some crazzzzzy, and a murderer on the loose - so a few villains to be uncovered among the warm and engaging cast of characters involved with Skye.

A good cozy mystery and an absolutely worthwhile read

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes: A Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery (The Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 2), my seventeenth read from author Rowan Dillon (a Christy Nicholas pen name). An enjoyable 330-page read, well-written with a well-developed primary character, so far each book in the series has been as good as or better than the last. “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book am reading it & voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with Pranks, Poitín, and Púcas: A Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery (The Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) next on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rowan Dillon proves her talent once again!

These Skye O’Shea stories really draw me in. We have an American who relocated to Ireland after the death of her grandmother, who just happened to have special “talents”, which she passed on to Skye, along with her cat Sidhe, Faelan. In this story, Skye is dealing with murder, switched dreams, drugs and her abusive ex-husband who won’t stop calling her. The plot moves along without dragging, we’re introduced to new characters as the story line progresses, we learn more about Skye’s grandmother, and Skye finally begins to grow into the woman she is meant to be. Not to mention, Faelan, who is a character unto himself.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye still can’t catch a break! Now she finds a dead guy in her pub! And it’s not even open for business yet and it was locked! And she seems to still be a magnet for rude men. This is especially true when her ex suddenly starts calling.
This book did confuse me toward the end, because they found out who killed the guy and why, but Skye said something about removing two suspects from her list…her list of what? The murder was solved and there wasn’t anything else for there to be suspects for. Then everything suddenly seemed normal with the story, so I figured it was a small blip.
It’s going to be hard waiting for the next book. I’m really enjoying the series so far.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead in the pub!

Skye O'Shea is still renovating her grandmother's pub. Her bank account is dwindling, and she needs the pub and her B&B to bring in funds to replenish it, but Irish contractors work on their own timetable. Finding a corpse on the floor of her pub adds a new delay and complication. Between the strange happenings in her little town and the Garda wanting to blame her for the death, Skye has her hands full.

This is a good addition to the series. Skye is learning to use her magic. I like her occasional interaction with her deceased grandmother and Faelan’s cattitude. I received an advance copy but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Margery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye grew up visiting her grandmother in Ireland for vacation. While there the grandmother was introducing her to witch craft. She knows she has some powers, but, not how strong her powers are. She inherits her grandmothers B&B and she moves to Ireland not only to take over running the B&B, but to escape her husband. She is fixing up the B&B and the attached bar and finds a dead body in her bar. She becomes suspect number one. During her search she discovers all in town are experiencing other peoples dreams and nightmares. This makes her search a two fold issue. another great book!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispers, Whiskey, and Wishes is book #2 in the Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery series by Rowan Dillon.

I enjoyed this book. I had not read the first book, but the author did a good job of touching on the important details so I was able to read this without any issues. This hit several of the things I look for in a good cozy. It has an interesting setting, there is a pub/B&B, a talking cat, and magic. I plan to go back and read the first book while waiting for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good follow up to Bogs Brews and Banshees. Murder, mystery and an element of the supernatural. The plot was good although a little slow paced at times. Skye is a very likeable character and it was good to get some more back story in this book. This book does have a new murder/mystery but in the background it continues the theme from the first book. Looking forward to the next book to find out what awaits Skye. Will there be romance, the pub finished on time and hopefully we can delve deeper in to the magic side

I received an advance copy of this book and leave this review voluntarily