Series:
Emerald Bay (Book 1)
Welcome to the little Irish village where Christmas
celebrations are in full swing! Twinkling lights, cosy fires and big mugs of
hot chocolate are in abundance as Shannon Kelly returns home to the Shamrock
Inn. Will this be the year she finds the man of her dreams or is she destined
to be forever unlucky in love?
Thirty-four-year-old Shannon is heartbroken following an
unexpected break up. Seasonal joy is the last thing on her mind, as she wonders
if she’ll ever find the kind of long-lasting love she’s always dreamed of. Even
the comforting distractions of her big Irish family can’t cheer her up. Then
things get even worse when Shannon slips over on the ice and finds herself
red-faced in the arms of a gorgeous American man…
Shannon can’t help wondering who the handsome stranger is
despite the embarrassing encounter. She soon finds out when James Cabot takes a
room at the Shamrock Inn. Their second meeting is equally disastrous when she
gives James the tour – without realising her skirt is tucked into her knickers!
Shannon isn’t sure how she’s going to survive living under the same roof when
she has such a talent for making a complete eejit of herself, and resolves to
avoid their new guest at all costs.
But when Shannon discovers James is in Ireland because
he’s claiming to be the long-lost grandson of her elderly neighbour, Maeve
Doolin, she is immediately suspicious. Shannon has known kind Maeve since she
was a little girl and feels protective of her, so she’s determined to find out
the truth. Even if it means spending more time with James…
The two of them end up getting closer than she’d
bargained for when they take a tour of Emerald Bay and end up snowed in
together. But just as James begins to make Shannon’s heart melt with his cheeky
grin and awful carol singing, a shocking secret threatens to shatter the
growing romance between them.
Can Shannon trust James? And will she get the
happily-ever-after she’s been hoping for this Christmas?
Good Christmas story that takes place in a small village
in Ireland. It is full of family, quirky villagers, vivid descriptions, and a
bit of a mystery. After a heartbreaking break-up with her French boyfriend,
Shannon heads home to Emerald Bay and her family. One thing she is sure of -
she's off men for the foreseeable future. This is reinforced by two embarrassing
encounters with a handsome American man.
Shannon's relationship with James feels like a slow burn
until you realize that the entire book takes place over four days. The chemistry
between them is evident to everyone around them though Shannon does her best to
deny it. I could feel Shannon's frustration as her family seemed determined to
push them together. When Shannon gets roped into playing tour guide for James,
she doesn't expect to find herself liking him. James makes his interest known
with his charming smiles, sense of humor, and johnny-on-the-spot rescues. I
liked how Shannon's family drew him into their circle, much to Shannon's
chagrin. She also received quite a bit of teasing and significant looks from
her sisters, including Hannah's comparison to courting baboons! I ached a
little for James because Shannon is still letting her breakup affect her
outlook. Once she realizes that life is too short to live in the past, she permits
herself to embrace the possibilities. I liked that there were no insta-love
declarations, just an admission of mutual liking and an interest in seeing
where it goes. With Shannon in Ireland and James due to go back to America, the
book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. I hope to see more of them in the next
book.
There is a bit of a mystery surrounding James's presence
in the town in the beginning. When Shannon finds he's been visiting the older
woman, Maeve, she is suspicious of his motives. As a visiting nurse who has known
Maeve all her life, Shannon is protective of her favorite patient. Maeve's
secretiveness is worrying, but she's still mentally sharp, so Shannon bides her
time. While I suspected the truth, the background of Maeve's story was
heartbreaking. I loved seeing the happiness that the truth brought to her.
There was some drama caused by her son, who was a selfish prig, but it all worked
out in an emotional scene that tugged at the heartstrings.
I loved Shannon's family. It is big and boisterous, and
they clearly love each other. That's not to say there aren't squabbles and
moments of drama. Hannah is a blunt-spoken social activist who doesn't hesitate
to get in their faces about the causes she feels are essential. She is also a
bit of a pot-stirrer and delights in making things awkward for Shannon when it
comes to James. Imogen is the sophisticated sister who is also something of a
drama queen. Her reaction to Shannon's cat Napoleon and his presence in their room
was hilarious. The twins, Ava and Grace, don't have as much page time, but
their differing personalities are evident. Shannon's grandmother, or nan as she
is called, is a force of nature. I loved how she and Shannon's mom, Nora, could
bring the family under control with just a few words. Shannon's dad was the
quintessential pub owner with his outgoing nature and sense of humor. But my
favorite family member was Shannon's cat, Napoleon. He has a regal personality
mixed with adorable antics. I laughed out loud at how he seemed to stalk
Shannon's dad.
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