Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch, 320 pages

I always enjoy armchair traveling...especially to a country that I can't wait to re-visit (it's probably changed a little since I was there 14 years ago). I also have a soft spot for Ireland because I'm 18.5% Irish. Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt's destination wedding (wish I had a relative that would get married in a foreign country and pay for my travels). She's also trying to get over a broken heart. The boy behind her broken heart caused a riff between her and her favorite brother, Ian. They're supposed to go Italy to visit Addie's best friend who recently moved there but her brother makes his own plans. Addie can't let her brother out of her sight (due to a punishment given by her mother) so she's forced to tag along on her brother's secret road trip across Ireland while trying to convince her mom they're both in Italy. Besides the amazing descriptions of the Irish countryside and road trip antics you keep reading because Addie and her brother both hint at there's more to her break up than she's admitted.

The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins, 360 pages

It is 1959 and 12-year old Christy Hurley lives in Ireland with his father and extended family.  They are travellers, tinkers, nomads.  Christy's grandfather dies, the extended family settles down for a time so that Christy and his cousin Martin can get confirmed and Christy discovers a family secret that changes his world.

This is one of those rare novels that is so beautifully written that I didn't want it to end.

Blessed are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch, 256 pages

This is a sweet little slightly magical tale about a small cheese operation in County Cork, Ireland.  The two old cheese makers who run the operation, Corrie and Fee, determine they need to look for a new cheese maker.

Two unlikely candidates, Abbey, the estranged granddaughter of Corrie and Kit, a recently fired New York banker just might fill the bill.

A Few of the Girls: Stories by Maeve Binchy, 319 pages

A Few of the Girls is a collection of short stories by Maeve Binchy that was published posthumously.

I listened to this collection that was read by several different people.  I am not much of a short story person, but I enjoyed the stories.  Some were happy, some were sad.  All dealt with human relationships in one way or another.

Maeve was a prolific writer and I wonder if some of these were ideas she jotted down to be fleshed out later.  Whatever their purpose they offered the chance for me to step into Maeve's world one more time.

'Tis: a memoir by Frank McCourt 367 pages

This sequel to Angela's Ashes is a memoir from the time Frank McCourt came to New York until after his parents' deaths.  Frank had a rough time after he came to America.  His eyes had infection, his teeth were terrible, he was completely broke, and he was full of aspirations that had trouble being realized.  He has such a conversational and funny (albeit dry) way of telling his stories, I really enjoyed this book.  It was made all the more pleasurable because I listened to it read by the author.  He has a wonderful way of telling a story so you feel like you were there.  This was the first thing I ever read by Frank McCourt and I'm really glad I gave it a try.

Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly 551 pages

Oh my!  I loved this book.  I may just sit back and read all 551 pages again.  It begins in "before times" in Ireland.  Before the famine, before death, starvation and mass immigration to "Amerikay".  Honora Keely is supposed to join the convent in 2 weeks, on her 17th birthday, but up from the sea arises Michael Kelly.  It is love at first sight and their destinies are sealed.  But life in Ireland is not easy.  The Irish work as serfs, planting the fertile Irish fields only to have their crops shipped off to England.  Their diet consists of the pratties, (potatoes), and fish.  So when the blight hits, they are desperate.  Millions succumb to disease, fever, and starvation.  Millions also leave the land and traditions, the family they love, and travel to "Amerikay", to find work and survive.  And survive, thrive they do.  In American cities like Chicago.  The children grow into strong, intelligent and talented adults, leaders in their communities, hard workers.  But as time goes on, they lose a bit of the "Irish", forgetting their lyrical native tongue, the emerald green of the Irish fields, but not the love of family, the strong ties that bind and the love of a good story or reel.  Mary Pat Kelly is the great-great-granddaughter of Honora Kelly, the main character in this book.  This is a story passed down thru the ages, because after all, "We didn't die."

The Secret Place by Tana French 452 pages

Tana French is one of my new favorite authors and this book has received quite the hype, but frankly, I am disappointed.  This is the story of the lives of privileged teens in private schools.  The girls' school is St. Kilda's and the boys' school is St. Colm's.  There has been a murder of a St. Colm's boy on the grounds of St. Kilda's.  It has gone unsolved for a year.  Then, a picture of the boy, Chris Harper, with a note saying “I know who killed him", is posted to the Secret Place, a special bulletin board in an alcove at St. Kilda's where the girls can anonymously pin their innermost secrets.  Cold Case Detective Stephen Moran brings it to the attention of the acerbic Murder Squad Detective Antoinette Conway and together they try to solve the murder.  Good luck to them, navigating the secrets and emotions of teenage girls and hormonal boys.  Both schools are private, religious boarding schools but the keen eyes of nuns and priests alike does not keep the students from sneaking out at night, meeting to have sex, drink, party.  Not to mention the cruelty of the "mean" girls at St. Kilda's and the boys at St. Colm's.  My beef with the author is that there is enough angst, secrets and emotions involved with teens this age, without bringing in the hint of magical powers.  Don't get me wrong, I liked the book.  However, I much preferred some of her previous stories to this.  

Broken Harbor by Tana French 450 pages

Dublin's Murder Squad star detective Mike "Scorcher" Kennedy is hard nosed, hard working and focused.  So when this latest murder lands in his lap, he thinks it will be an easy solve.  A family is dead, the 2 children suffocated, the father stabbed to death, the mother barely hanging on.  There are baby monitors throughout the house.  But Kennedy and his rookie partner, Richie, soon discover strange things have been going on in this house. Not only that, but Broken Harbor holds tragic childhood memories for Kennedy and the fact that he is working this case sends his mentally disturbed sister, Dina, off the rails.  Scorcher has his hands full with this one.  Will he succeed or be destroyed?  My favorite quote from this book is "Boring is a gift from God.  Life has more than enough excitement up its sleeve....without you adding to the drama."  But really his book is about people who think so much of others opinions that they build carefully constructed facades to the detriment of what might really be important in life.  Another good Dublin Murder Squad read by French.  Look out Patterson!

The Likeness by Tana French 466 pages

You know, they say everyone has a twin in this world.  Cassie Maddox discovers hers murdered, in an abandoned cottage in the country.  Not only that, she has an ID with Cassie's undercover name on it.  You see, Cassie is a Detective in Dublin and she used to work undercover.  Her undercover name was Lexie Madison.  Now, Cassie is asked to go back undercover, again as Lexie, to try and flush out the murderer.  She manages to return to the dilapidated country mansion Lexi shares with 4 roommates.  It is a complicated life full of complicated relationships.  Cassie finds herself becoming emotionally involved with this group of misfits while the investigation goes on, not only trying to discover just who killed Lexie, but Lexi's true identity.  Tana French weaves a great mystery, and seduces you into her tale with wonderful descriptive phrases.  Her pen is like a paintbrush.  I have found a new favorite author!

Blood Magick: Book Three of the Cousins O'Dwyer Triology by Nora Roberts 304 pages

I love Nora Roberts' books.  I know, I know, her trilogies are pretty much like other authors' series in that they follow a set pattern.  There are always three:  three sisters, brothers, cousins, friends, who share a business or task and in each book of the series one of them finds their soul mate, falls in love and lives happily ever after.  I don't care....I still like her trilogies!  I especially like the ones that take place in Ireland, like this trilogy.  In this book, it is finally Branna and Finbar's turn to be together.  Though they fell in love long ago, they avoid each other because of Finbar's bloodline.  Finally, in this book, that issue is resolved.  A great read for a rainy day. Relax, let the mist surround you, have a glass of wine, put on a little fiddle music and let the O'Dwyers take you away.  They do put on a fine Craic!

Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts 339 pages

"Shadow Spell" is the 2nd book in the Cousin O'Dwyer trilogy.  Following the template of all other Roberts trilogies, there are 3 cousins and this one involves Conner and his lovely long time friend Meara.  Conner, his sister, Branna, and their cousin from America, Iona, are direct descendants of the Dark Witch and they must use their powers to defeat the terrible "dark fog" that threatens their family,their friends and their way of life.   A tale of good vs evil, good witch vs dark witch, with a little love, Irish lore and romance thrown in for good measure. A quick and easy read.

Dark Witch: Book One of the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy by Nora Roberts, 342 pages

I am a huge fan of Nora Roberts' trilogies and this one does not disappoint.  Set in Ireland, you are transported to the lush, green and magick but stereotypical Ireland. I am sure not all the homes in modern Ireland have thatched roofs, fireplaces burning peat moss, and large kitchens where you gather to sip the whiskey and plot against evil, but Nora sure makes you want to travel to such a place.  In this case, the Dark Witch is the good witch.  Iona Sheehan comes to Ireland in search of herself.  Not exactly neglected by her parents, but in no way cherished, she searches for the feeling of belonging.  She knows the instant she meets her cousins, Conner and Branna, that she is home.  They take her in, make her feel needed, wanted and part of the family.  She learns the craft, works in the stables, and of course, falls in love.  Not just with her horse, Alastar, passsed down blood to blood, but with the tough and gruff Boyle. This is the tale of ancient good vs ancient evil, but it cannot end in book 1.  Unfortunately, book 2, Shadow Spell, does not come out until May, 2014. Why do you torture us so, Nora?!