A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village - Michelle Vernal (Bookouture - Oct 2023)

Series: Emerald Bay (Book 3)
 
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?
 
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. 

New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village - Michelle Vernal (Bookouture - May 2023)

Series:  Emerald Bay (Book 2)
 
Thirty-two-year-old Imogen Kelly is meant to be living her best life in Dublin but the bright lights of the city aren't making her truly happy. So she leaps at the chance to take on an interior design job at the big country manor at the edge of Emerald Bay. It also gives Imogen an excuse to return to the place where she spent an unforgettable summer with her first love, Lachlan Leslie, the heir to Benmore House.
 
Imogen's heart is full of hope at the thought of seeing her childhood sweetheart but on the way there she nearly has an accident on the winding, muddy country road. She arrives at Benmore House late and flustered, only to discover the builder working with her on the renovation project is none other than Ryan O'Malley - the class prankster who was forever pinging her bra strap at school.
 
Within seconds it's clear he's still a cheeky charmer, even if he's transformed into a gorgeous guy who unexpectedly sets her pulse racing. Forced into close proximity with relentlessly cheerful Ryan, who's forever (badly) singing rock ballads at the top of his voice, Imogen at first finds him an annoying distraction.
 
With St Patrick's Day celebrations in full swing, Imogen has her work cut out to keep the job on track. Spending more time with Ryan, she discovers that, behind his warm smile and generous ways, he's nursing heartache. But when she finally sees blue-eyed Lachlan again,Imogen has to face up to the truth about the secret summer romance they shared.
 
Will she leave Emerald Bay broken-hearted? Or will Imogen realise that home really is where the heart is?
 
Sweet story of coming home, family, and new beginnings. Imogen left her home village of Emerald Bay and moved to Dublin, where she has a successful interior design business. While she has friends and an older boyfriend, Nevin, there are days when she feels something is missing. When offered a job doing up several rooms at Benmore House, the big manor in Emerald Bay, she jumps at the chance, hoping to see her childhood sweetheart again. Not that she wants to start anything up again; after all, he broke her teenage heart, but it would be nice to finally close the door on that chapter of her life.
 
She nearly has an accident on her way to Benmore House, stopping quickly to allow a family of ducks to cross the road. Then she's almost hit by another vehicle as she attempts to help a straggling duckling join the rest. The other driver is Ryan O'Malley, her school nemesis and class prankster, who has grown up to be a very handsome man. I loved their encounter, with Imogen trying to be the sophisticated city girl and Ryan being his usual teasing self. Then she discovers that Ryan is the builder also working on the project.
 
Though there is some tension between them initially, it doesn't take long for them to form a friendly working relationship. Ryan is a nice guy who rarely lets anything rile him up. He left behind his job and his girlfriend in London to come home when his dad had a stroke and has happily settled back into village life. As they spend time together, Imogen discovers there is more to Ryan than she expected.
 
I liked seeing Imogen readjust to village life. Her observations about the other residents were fun and realistic, as life in a small village means everyone seems to know what is happening with everyone else. I enjoyed seeing Imogen cope with everything from riding on the back of a scooter to being commandeered as Ms. Leprechaun for the St. Patrick's Day parade. She's also nervous about introducing her boyfriend to her family - not least because of the age difference between them.
 
There's no end of drama as Imogen deals with decorating issues at Benmore House, seeing Lachlan again for the first time since she was sixteen, and dealing with Nevin. Imogen has terrific self-confidence regarding her work, and I enjoyed seeing her deal with everything from delays to messed-up deliveries. Her meeting with Lachlan was quite an eye-opener for her. The author did a marvelous job of giving him the right amount of smarminess to make him unlikeable. The descriptions of Nevin and his attitudes made me wonder what Imogen saw in him, especially the more I saw of Ryan.
 
One of the things I liked about Imogen is her big heart. She isn't rude or obnoxious, even when she's frustrated by gossip and nosiness. I enjoyed seeing her empathy for Ryan over his worry about his father. When Mr. O'Malley's illness worsens, Imogen finds a way to help the family. I also loved how close she was with her family. There is plenty of love to go around, along with a fair helping of advice, wanted or not. I enjoyed catching up with Shannon and James (Christmas in the Little Irish Village) and the antics of Napoleon, the cat. I also liked seeing more of the family, especially the grandmother, Nan.
 
I liked watching Imogen and Ryan grow closer as they worked together. It's easy to see their friendship becoming more even though Imogen was blind to it for a long time. There are some sweet scenes of them together, from sharing lunches to escaping too much family drama. I loved the auction at the end of the book and seeing Imogen go after what she wanted.