Hearts Under Renovation

Love in Dooncarra #2

by Maeve McBride

She's rebuilding her life. He's the only one who can help... if she'll let him close enough to try.

Eimear Walsh never planned to come back to Dooncarra. But newly divorced and out of options, she's returned to save the crumbling family inn. And it's in far worse shape than she feared.

With the Dooncarra Community Renewal Grant on the line, the restoration deadline is non-negotiable. Which means Eimear needs the best contractor in town. The problem? The best contractor in town is Aidan Flynn. The man she left behind ten years ago without a word of explanation.

As the renovations begin, they uncover more than dry rot and dust. There are secrets hidden in the attic, old wounds that never properly healed, and a spark that a decade apart couldn't quite extinguish.

The inn might be fixable. Whether her heart is another question entirely.

With inspectors looming and time running out, Eimear must decide whether she's brave enough to rebuild more than just a building.

Perfect for readers who love second-chance romance, broody heroes with soft hearts, and small-town stories where the past and present collide in the best possible way.

Book 2 of the Love in Dooncarra series -- interconnected standalones set in a coastal Irish village where community, family legacies, and second chances make the best love stories.

Genres: Romance

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2025

About the author

Maeve McBride writes heartfelt, clean small-town romances set against the lush landscapes of Ireland. Her stories weave together the warmth of close-knit communities, the charm of cobblestone streets and cozy pubs, and the tender journeys of love and self-discovery.

Download your FREE eBook at: www.MaeveMcBrideAuthor.com

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like these books, I really did. even after reading all the other reviews after I finished the first book, I still pressed on to read the second. Sigh. I love reading all things Irish, and the descriptions are on spot in the books, but that's about all I enjoyed. Instead of a cute, clean romance, the books read as an angsty diary of a forlorn person who wants to love but is just torn apart by everything in their life. I mean, the entire book! There is no real dialog in the book. Conversations here & there, but mostly just reading about the inner thoughts of an overly, anxious main character. Plus, there was no real interconnection between the first book and second, even with the same characters involved. I was a little confused with Niamh's gift shop from the first book, but described as a café in the second.

Overall, if you want to just read anxiety driven thoughts with very descriptive surroundings, this is it.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently divorced Eimear inherits her mother’s crumbling inn with all its structural issues and in order to obtain a historical grant for repairs she needs to hire someone to come up with a plan for repairs and stubbornly doesn’t want to consider her teenage ex Aidan even though he the only one available, qualified, and willing to assist. As more walls get stripped away she discovers her mother was covering up the inn’s decay for years to pay for the things that would make the town think the inn was successful. Even the work that’s completed is to make it look like a good investment to the town and grant committee. As work is done on the inn Eimear keeps battling with Aidan embarrassed by hers and her mother’s choices. This was a kisses only second chance romance.

[Pat Weingartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I really enjoyed book 2 in this series watching Aiden and Eimear travel their very rocky road to finding their HEA. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series and will definitely recommend this book to everyone.