Mary and Sean Kelly are characters filled with the richness of life - characters that are easy to love and hard to forget
584608
This is a powerful story, well written, with characters that capture the heart and the imagination. Having grown up in Ireland I am familiar with travelers, but this story showed how little I really knew, about the culture, and way of life of a people who are at part of our society.
There is strong characterization, with a magical thread woven through the story. Jack, Mary, and Sean Kelly are characters filled with the richness of life - characters that are easy to love and hard to forget.
It is a book that once started it is hard to put down, and if I had one regret is that the story is too short.
478584
The mind is a wondrous thing, unless it has gone astray...

Mrs. Folie "Folly" Hamilton started to write her cousin, Robert Cambourne, who resides in India.  His letters are filled with knights, dragons, and the love of mysteries and the magic of life.  When out of nowhere, Robert confesses in his last letter that he is married, this shatters the closeness these two had discovered together, by the power of their pens.

Out of the blue, Folly finds out Robert is now residing in England and he requests her and her stepdaughter's company.  She really has nothing to say to the knight whose amour was tarnished so long ago, but he will not take no for an answer.

My Sweet Folly is by authoress Laura Kinsale.  With her wily and precocious pen, Ms. Kinsale crafted another fascinating novel with the two main characters, Robert and Folly.  These two dominated and entertained this reader until the close of the book.  The detail to the emotional wealth of both characters left this reader connected to their inner turmoil and turbulent relationship, leading her upon a merry chase, needing to keep the pages turning and their lives exposed.

Folly is an absolutely astute woman.  Though she may be plain to look at, she has a delightfully and sunny disposition.  When Robert breaks her trust and confidence, her heart will ache for their lost correspondence, but she will never forget those wonderful letters, gifts, and the pieces of their lives they shared with each other.

Now, they will come face to face, and her knight in shinning amour is more than just tarnished, he is quite insane to boot!  What has happened to the person Folly once thought she knew?

Could this dark and tortured man really be her prince charming?

Read on to see truths exposed and the mind left in muddled wonder...

If you are a loyal fan of Ms. Kinsale or a new reader looking for a wonderful happy-ever-after historical, then My Sweet Folly is sure to wet your whistle.  Laura Kinsale is truly an outstanding and constant writer, and this reviewer looks forward to many more happy years dwelling within the characters lives she creates.

Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2006

Courtesy of Love Romances
411495
Kellie Delaney adored her widowed brother and his son; they were the most important parts of her world. That all changes is a moment when the police come to her door to announce their deaths in a tragic car wreck, one that was not an accident.
Kellie can not seem to get her life back on track after this, not until she knows why her family was destroyed. Her quest for the truth gives her a name to go on, Tom Whelan. She sets out to meet him and find out his connection to her brother. Instead of the killer she was expecting to find, she finds a man she can love. However, Tom is still married, though the marriage is essentially over, with his wife in prison and someone he no longer loves. Tom also has a troubled past with the IRA, and that part of his life is about to cause problems, as is his wife's return, and Kellie's own secret. Her deception puts lives at risk, and could destroy her future.
***** THE DELANEY WOMAN was one I expected to be a gentle meandering trip through Ireland. Instead, I got a thrilling mystery with warm moments and a to die for, mature hero with a heroine I could sympathize with easily. You can feel Kellie's pain if you have ever loved and lost. Tom's daughter is a charmer as well, but not a kid that overwhelms the plot. I am hoping for a sequel; there are characters worthy of exploration left with their stories untold. *****
17696
To the outside world, the Guinness family in Wexford appear to have it all - a happy marriage, two wonderful children, all under one roof with their beloved Pops. But looks can often be deceiving. Olly and Mae's marriage is starting to crumble around them. With little or no interaction, both of them struggle with where they fit in their family, and with the everyday frustrations of life testing them, they have moved away from each other. Their beautiful and clever, thirteen-year-old daughter, Evie, has almost killed herself by consuming a truckload of alcohol. As this is so out of character for their little girl, they know that she is hiding something from them - can they uncover the truth and help her find her happy self again? Jamie, their youngest, is their superhero, always making them smile and providing cuddles, but the tension at home is affecting him too. And then there is Pops, Olly's dad. The best dad anyone could wish for. And he is dying. And the Guinness family don't know how they will survive without him.

But Pops knows that something must change or Olly and Mae will lose the most important thing in the world - their family. Realising that his time on this earth is almost over, Pops arranges the trip of a lifetime for Olly and the kids, for them to undertake after he has gone. Armed with Nomad, a camper-van, Pops has organised a journey that will take them from Wexford to France, from Germany to Romania, with a special letter from him at each destination to help them along their way. Love, anger, guilt, and fears will tumble from the Guinness family, but if they follow Pops' instructions, they might just find their way back to each other again.

THE THINGS I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU by Carmel Harrington is such a special, powerful book. When I finished reading it in one sitting, having laughed and cried alongside the Guinness family, I knew that this book had that something extra that makes it superb. I love the layout of the book because seeing it through each character's eyes really allowed me to get to know all of the family - in this book I didn't feel there was a main character as each member was vital to the story. With stunning imagery, I was transported to destinations across Europe and I have definitely added some of these to my bucket list. With serious topics such as bullying and grief, THE THINGS I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU pulled at my heartstrings and had me in tears. But in true Carmel Harrington style, I was also crying tears of laughter at each stop along the way on their exciting road trip. Life is never easy but if you take each day as it comes and cherish what you have, you might realise the answers to your problems are right in front of you if you just open up and talk. THE THINGS I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU by Carmel Harrington needs to be read by everyone. It is a beautiful tale that will stay with me for a long time to come.

*Book received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review
4310456
Hearth Song is a heartwarming story that is good to the very last drop, with vivid scenes depicted with humor and immense feeling on each page. It is one of those novels that once completed, leaves the reader wishing it wouldnt end. It is easy to get pulled into the lives of such rich and dynamic characters, which makes for a fast read, as it is hard to put down!  This captivating story tackles a number of multifaceted topics as the characters define family, learning to trust again, regret, and shows how feelings about the past can mold us as humans. The scenes and characters come alive and leap off the page, taking the reader on a wild journey of hope and surprises. I highly recommend this book, it is a perfect read for curling up next to the fire on a chilly night, or great for a daily scoop of pleasant escapism as your transported to a world where characters like Bravura and Tonk can call home.

*Purchased at a book fair from the author
841414
This book deals with addiction, infidelity, recovery, heartache, and most of all the strength of the human spirit, while one is battling their inner demons and how to truly forgive and move past the hurt and anger.

The author tackled two extremely difficult topics; alcoholism and infidelity and she did an excellent job of showing how the characters each had to overcome these challenges.

The book is packed with a lot of emotion and characters the reader comes to love and can't help but root for them, and wanting them to resolve their issues and move on to their happy ending.

FOR THE LOVE OF A LUSH is a heartwarming love story, that will tug at your heartstrings and also give you hours of entertainment, as you get to know each character who are plucked into an environment that is extremely out of their element.

Highly recommend.
3376408
I enjoyed this book immensely.  I liked the short chapters and the easy reading of the pages.  I was not able to put the book down.  The characters were alive and you could picture them in their stages of life.  The difficult journey of our immigrants was depicted with inhuman conditions and hardships they had to endure.  The fortunate survivors of this journey and the strength they had to start a new life was heart felt.  Prejudice was another setback the Irish had to fight to win a place in society.  The devoted friendships and the tests of those friendships was a beautiful thing to watch as the story unfolds.  The goodness and understanding of Mary was an encouragement for us to strengthen our own tolerance of the faults of others.  On a personal note, the elderly woman named Maeve meant something to me.  My granddaughter is named Maeve and I was told it was an old Irish name.  This is the first time I saw it in print. How delighted I was.  Waiting with bated breath for your next novel, Lace Curtains.
1557823
Just like in D. Kelly fashion she draws you in with these amazing characters and makes you feel so much. Holly and Declan have loved each other since they were 15. But after a night of drinking and an over heard conversation leads to one huge misunderstanding. This also leads to the break up of the epic couple of Holly and Declan. Now 2 years later Declan has come to his senses and wants to win Holly back. Unfortunately, things aren't the same and now Holly has a secret Declan needs to understand before Holly can be his again. D. Kelly always writes about wonderful characters that seem to pop of the page and become your friends and family. I enjoy reading her books and seeing what she has in store for me - she never disappoints!
4040224
A lovely story about an Irish Catholic girl growing up in the Kennedy era in Kansas. The title may be a bit misleading in that the story is about a young girl's finding herself. "Suzanne Kelly's Stolen Child will steal your heart. This novel captures the intricacies and confusion of religion, politics, and family conflict all through the eyes and logic of a child. Sweet, struggling Lucy is right up there with Scout on my list of favorite child narrators. This novel will steal your time and all commitment to other obligations, too--once you open it, nothing else will matter but seeing it through to the beautiful, moving end." ~Katrina Kittle, author of The Blessings of the Animals
1377703
You don't have to be a young adult in order to love this book.  It will bring you back to the memories of your own first love.  It is the first book in a series called "Hearts Out of Water."  It is a combination of a love story, a mystery and the story of a beautiful and haunting ancient Irish legend. It is the story of a modern day romance between an American girl and an Irish boy, but also involves a romance that happened years before between a mysterious old Irish woman and her fisherman husband, who has mysteriously disappeared, along with their two children.  The best writing is that which comes from a place deep inside you.  And you can tell from the writing that this book is written from a deeply personal perspective.  In this book the author's writing reveals her deep love for the beautiful emerald isle of Ireland, its people and its traditions.  When you read her blog you will learn that she lives part of the year in St. Louis, MO and part of the year in Galway, Ireland.  And the romance in the book between the American girl and the Irish boy becomes all the more heartfelt when you read on her blog that she also has an Irish boyfriend, whom she calls her "own Irish dream guy."  I don't want to say too much, for fear of giving away any of the surprises in this suspenseful story.  This is one of those books that once you start reading it, you cannot put it down.  After finishing this book, I couldn't wait to start reading the sequel to it, which is "Learning to Live."
2313492
I wish this book were not out of print! The tone and characters are perfect; it has a great deal of depth without wasting words, and also represents Celtic spirituality thoughtfully and well. The basic plot is about the maturation of two young "lost boys" who are rescued by Father Ambrosius, a wandering priest who believes it is his God-given duty to travel through Ireland and praise the beauties he finds there. When Father Ambrosius rescues young Michael, whose village has been destroyed by Vikings, he also takes on Seamus the wolfhound, who is a character in his own right. Later, the trio encounters Harold Fairhair, a troubled young boy who, his fellow villagers claim, has been possessed by a devil. The children, who have been abandoned in various ways (one by death and violence, the other psychologically and through illness and - partly - his own failings), learn to love and trust each other like brothers, and Seamus and Father Ambrosius are always there for them, no matter who or what they encounter. There's lots of adventure, and some humor, and a bittersweet ending that offers hope. A really special little book.
1056731
A very sweet story with amazing characters that are so easy to love. My heritage is very Irish on both my paternal and maternal sides. I am definitely hooked and will be reading all of Patrick Taylor's ten books.
1883661
Mary Pat Kelly's Galway Bay was so endearing to me, I was delighted she continued the story of her ancestors in 'Of Irish Blood.' A lengthy novel, indeed! Perhaps a tome because it is also scholarly! I learned much more about the struggle for Irish independence through the eyes of Nora Kelly's compelling time in Paris, the City of Light. Nora has run from danger and left Chicago and her family to mingle with Americans, Irish ex-pats, and fascinating historical characters such as Hemingway, Maude Gonne, Yeats, and James Joyce. She becomes entrenched in the fight for Irish freedom, loves deeply, endures loss, and questions where her real home is. A novel worthy of taking the time to read.
2453993
The one thing that stood out as I closed the novel at 2 am this morning was how much I was drawn into this novel. I cared what happened to Mary and whether the case would be solved, I cared when the murder victim turned up and I cared about whether James was going to be in the next novel.

Y.S. Lee has managed to base this novel in Victorian England and include enough detail to create a mental image, but not so much that you get bogged down with useless details.

The case that young Mary Lang (now known as Mary Quinn) investigates is relevant to the time and I was shocked by the twist at the end that I did not see coming! Mary is a likeable character who makes mistakes (this is a refreshing change from perfect characters in other novels) and who is willing to accept help when needed.

All in all I can't praise this novel enough - so much so I have just ordered the second book "The Body at the Tower" and preordered the third. Well worth reading - but be warned - once you start this novel it is incredibly difficult to put it down!
1730730
I am a voracious reader that loves being invited into authors' inner worlds. However, it seems to be getting harder to find stories that make me want to do something with them besides quietly enjoy them. This is one of those really rare ones that will have me recommending it to everyone I know and many people I don't know too.

i recommend reading this book because all of the characters have normal and abnormal traits that are beautifully revealed. The author uses conflict to build upon those traits in realistic ways that enables the reader to experience a wide range of emotions. However, it is the relationship between the two main characters that was well worth my time.

This may be a work of fiction, but the depth of the character development and the richness of the storytelling make it believable on many levels. I hope you will take some quality time to enjoy this story for yourselves.
1223561
BLISS by Fiona Zedde chronicles a few months of Bliss Sinclair's life as she fights through heartache, discovers herself and finds love.  Bliss has a great job as an accountant with a major publishing house.  She has a very attractive boyfriend and life seemingly could not be any better.  However, for Bliss something is missing.  She craves more, but she just doesn't have a clue to what it is.  When Bliss thinks she has found the missing link, she finds herself in situations so carnal and taboo that she is unprepared when things come crashing down.

Bliss returns to her childhood home in Jamaica at the invitation of her father to lick her wounds and rediscover herself.  Not only does she reconnect with her father, she finds out she has a sister who introduces her to Hunter Willoughby.  Bliss is immediately drawn to Hunter; in fact, the sparks appear immediately.  The couple takes their relationship slow, but there is no denying their chemistry.  From their innocent sightseeing adventures, subtle brushes against one another and lingering looks, there is no way the two can stay away from each other.  Yet, they must be prepared to deal with the conflicts involved in their unconventional relationship.

The novel is rich in texture due to the author's ability to bring the lushness, beauty and culture of the Jamaicans to life.  Her breathtaking descriptions of the landscape, food, weather and the ocean are vivid and vibrant and help to make this novel standout with a Caribbean flair.  Fiona Zedde has written an astonishing account of a woman who discovers who she really is and how beautiful finding true love can be.  The story is fresh and well written.  The plot is well structured.  The characters were ones you could never forget because the author allows readers to connect with them on a very honest and emotional level.  At the beginning, the sexual trysts were a bit too taboo and later the intimacy between the main characters was described explicitly; however that is just a portion of the novel. The real story is the discovery of true love by our main character.  Readers will have to put their judgments aside and see love from a different point of view.  If they are able to do so, they will find this story will resonate long after the novel is finished.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
4726156
Having been directed to this book as one for fans of the Barbara Vine or Patricia Cornwell school of thriller,  I was delighted to be anything but disappointed by Julie Parsons' debut,  Mary Mary.  In common with these  other women writing thrillers,  Parsons avoids sentimentality or cliche in  her story of a psychiatrist,  Margaret,  whose daughter, Mary, is murdered  on a return visit from New Zealand to Margaret's native Dublin.  The murder  is devastating to Margaret, naturally,  but it also uncovers her  relationship with her dying mother,  the secrets she kept from Mary all her  life and the impossibility of escaping the past.  What is extraordinary  about this book is not only the portrait of modern Dublin,  or the  edge-of-your seat plot which endures to the very end,  but the unusual  character that is Margaret,  so very refreshing in her reserve and  intelligence.  It is an aptitude for smart and seductive characterisation I  was glad to see developed further in Parsons' second book,  "The  Courtship Gift".