This book is such a Christmas treat, which will fill you up with love, happiness, cheer, delight and joy, as it warms your heart on a cold winter's day. If you love Christmas books set in Ireland, with a wonderful audiobook narrator who portrays a fantastic Irish accent, then this is the book for you!

Shannon is sad after a breakup, and so she goes back to Ireland to see her family. While she is there, she has a good time with her family and friends, and she also meets an American man called James, who she bonds well with. This is a lovely story, with beautiful scenery and gorgeous characters. With hot chocolate, twinkling lights, Christmas decorations and goodies galore, this delightful book will entertain you and fill you with light this winter season.

I really loved and adored this book, and it really cheered me up, as it is uplifting and full of humour. I recommend it highly. If there is one book you have to buy this Christmas, then this is the one! You won't be disappointed!

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.


Christmas In The Little Irish Village
By
Michelle Vernal.

The story starts four days before Christmas.
Shannon Kelly is on her way home for the festive season. She’s bringing with her a broken heart and her cat.
Once back at the Shamrock Inn - her family home, Shannon is immersed in the warmth and chaos of her nearest and dearest.
Could things be looking up when handsome American, James books into the pub over Christmas? Shannon seems to embarrass herself every time their paths cross (oh the shame of tucking your dress into your knickers) so, she decides to try and avoid James.
However when Shannon becomes aware that James is here to connect with elderly neighbour Maeve, her suspicions are aroused.
Is James all he claims to be? And can Shannon find the love she so desperately craves?

This is the first book I’ve read by Michelle Vernal and I loved it!

This story is well written, hilariously funny and also remarkably touching.

I loved the beautiful Irish Christmas blessings that are included in this book. They provide a traditional accompaniment to this modern Christmas story.

Full of warmth, family, community, hidden secrets and a heart warming romance, this book has become one of my festive favourites.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Audio narration by Jessica Regan, who does a cracking job.

Out now on all formats.

With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio copy of this title.

Aww - this story has all the right holiday feelings and is sure to put you in the proper holiday mood.

A cute, somewhat romantic (although it is a bit to clean-cut for me) and lovely Christmas story in a small Irish town. And yes - I'll admit it - there were tears...

Recommended to all who enjoy a good Christmas story.
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I do find it interesting that I inadvertently picked up two books in a row with a side story of the horrible circumstances young, pregnant Irish girls were put in in the name of God and with nuns to guide "the show"... (I read "The Christie Affair" before this one). I think I need to explore this theme a bit more...

Life is short so dare to live it to the fullest is the underlying theme in this sweet Christmas romance. Wonderful characters set in a quaint village in Ireland wrapped in Christmas spirit while nursing a variety of heartbreaks makes for a delightful story of starting over and shedding the past. The narration was wonderful and helped to bring the characters and their individuality to life and enhanced a wonderfully written happily ever after Christmas romance. This is my first book by this author and it certainly won't be my last! I'm excited to see what other stories she has for us and am hopeful that this is just the first in a series to come as there are multiple sisters and brothers who will need life matches as well!

This audiobook is everything I didn’t know I needed this autumn into winter season. It’s a warm hug of a story narrated with the perfect amount of snark and depth that it felt like I was just listening to a close friend tell me about her holiday. Shannon, our heroine has hilarious inner-dialogue quips that had me snorting. The meddling family, small town coziness was so heartwarming that even a good Hallmark flick doesn’t hold a candle to this lovely little story. I will be buying a copy and reading again for holidays to come! 4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my unbiased review!

All the stars, this was such a delightful read!

Christmas in the Little Irish Village had everything I love in a Christmas romance:

* A close knit family, that bickers but still loves each other
* Slow romance that doesn't feel like insta love
* Very scenic setting that bleeds from the page
* Hearty pub that is at the heart of a community
* People watching out for each other
* Relatable characters I quickly fell in love with
* Good older female characters
* Cute fury friend - in this case a cat
* A mystery in the past
* Some darker topics

And even better, it lacks a few of my personal pet peeves
* No steam
* No drama just for dramas sake
* No surprise riches or celebrities

I started those with little expectations, and was so pleasantly surprised to find a book that seems more or less written just for me. Definitely more of a comfort read, but with a few serious topics thrown in and enough things going on to not feel shallow.

Definitely left me happier than I was before I started it!

Shannon Kelly has returned home to stay with family in Emerald Bay and heal her broken heart following a painful breakup. She has sworn off men, that is until she meets the swoon worth American James, who’s visiting in search of his roots. But once she gets to know him, she isn’t sure she can trust him because he claims to be the long lost grandson of Shannon’s grandmother figure Maeve. Shannon is determined to make sure that James isn't trying to take advantage of a sweet old lady. As she gets to know him though, she learns more about his past and at the same time, discovers more about herself, and begins to open up again.
You get the full Irish experience with this story and I adored it! I listened to the audiobook and I loved the accents! It made it feel like I was really there with the family in Ireland. Such a sweet and charming rom-com.
I will be watching for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.

Christmas in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

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…

Despite the embarrassing encounter, Shannon can’t help wondering who the handsome stranger is. 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…

My Opinion

This is my first book my Michelle Vernal but it probably won't be my last. This is a lovely sweet Christmas romance that shows how a village can come together at Christmas to avoid people feeling lonely. For me this was an easy book to follow, the only issue I had was the cliff-hanger it is left on.

Rating 4/5

Such a fun, lighthearted read! It was wonderful to meet all of the beautiful characters and keep up with them all over the read. It was fantastic at showing the trials and the perks of living in a small town, and kept me happy the whole time. It will definitely be a lovely little addition to the holiday time reading list.

Thank you for providing me an advanced copy of the audiobook “Christmas in the Little Irish Village” in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to listen to the story and leave my review voluntarily.

Book Title: Christmas in the Little Irish Village
Author: Michelle Vernal
Audiobook Narrator: Jessica Regan
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Christmas ~ Family Drama
Pub Date: October 14, 2022
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up

This Hallmark type story starts Four days before Christmas. Each day closer to Christmas starts with an Irish Blessing. The narrator Jessica Regan has a beautiful Irish brogue which makes this story extra special.

Shannon Kelly is thirty-four years old and is starting over. Her boyfriend Julien decided to move out and left her to pay the remainder their three month lease.
It is four days before Christmas; with no good options – she heads back home to Emerald Bay with her cat Napoleon. Her family owns the Shamrock Inn in Emerald Bay, she is sure they welcome her to stay.

Ms. Vernal writes with a great deal of descriptions. Describing the village Christmas scene totally put me in a wonderful mood. I love the Christmas season and start decorating the day after Thanksgiving. However, here in Southern California we have to drive a distance in order to see and/or play in snow.

As you might guess Shannon meets a handsome young man named James; although she doesn’t want to get into another relationship, when she meets his mother Maeve, her relationship with her is very tender.

Story is a quick enjoyable light read. There was a twist that I was not expecting.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to listen to this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 14, 2022.

“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?“

This quiet little story was such a treat.

I loved meeting all the characters, and family dynamics of Emerald Bay. There were a whole host of characters, and the author did a great job of keeping everyone straight in my mind. I loved the descriptions of the town and surrounding countryside. Even in winter, it all struck me as LUSH.

I was, in particular, interested in the “Magdalene Laundries” and did a self-appointed deep dive. It very much reminds me of the shame Canada bears in regards to Residential Schools.

Lastly, having listened, in part, to the audiobook, I found the narrator’s Irish accent added such depth to this already surprisingly substantial story.

7.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this Yuletide ARC.

After her love life crashes and burns, Shannon Kelly has returned home to the Shamrock Inn, just in time for Christmas. But the holiday is the last thing on her mind, in her mid thirties, Shannon has begun to despair of ever finding a lasting love. Still, she falls for American James Cabot, literally when she slips on the ice and he catches her. James is staying at her family’s inn and while she feel’s a spark of attraction, she’s humiliated when he sees her with the back of her skirt caught in her underwear (could there be a more embarrassing way to impress a guy?). The reason James is in the village soon becomes obvious and Shannon is immediately suspicious and vows that no one will take advantage of her neighbors – even is they are gorgeous and irresistible. A sweet, enjoyable Irish romance

I really loved this Hallmark-esque story! The story being set in Ireland was super cute, but I did get lost a few times with the colloquialisms. I could have done without the cat storyline, but that’s probably more because I’m not a huge fan of cats more than anything. Overall, I really enjoyed this, and it’s a definite read during the holidays!

34-year-old Shannon, recently broken up with by her boyfriend who she could have sworn was “the one,” is forced to move back home to the Shamrock Inn for the holidays. Once there, she meets James, who claims to be the long-lost grandson of the wealthy and elderly Maeve, one of Shannon’s favorite patients. Shannon is suspicious of his true intentions. Is this James really who he claims to be?

The main character (and her cat) are both likable and relatable. I loved the family dynamics between Shannon, her nan, mom and siblings. This is a sweet story, a touch predictable, but that’s how we like our novels set at Christmastime, isn’t it?

I also thoroughly enjoyed this narrator. Her soft lilt drew me into the story and made me feel like I was right there with Shannon as it was all happening.

Oh what a fabulous audiobook!
Great narrator, great story with lots of giggles and a few emotional moments along the way!

Loved it!

When I saw a book that the story happens in Ireland I have to have it. And this was a sweet audio by Bookouture. Thank you so much to them and to Netgalley. The story is simple how to move one after a delusion and how to get happy with your life again. Just I missed the real involment of the couple, there was maybe to much past life instead of the new born love. And the pace was really to slow for mw unfortunately. Maybe for someone this is ok. Well the cat was a nice addition.