ARC Review: Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal

Oh, what a sparkling delight! Michelle Vernal has gifted us a holiday gem that will make you want to cozy up with a cup of tea, a warm blanket, and maybe even a sprig of mistletoe. *Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village* wraps you in the charm of Emerald Bay, a place where Christmas cheer and community spirit are just as important as saving the rolling hills from being bulldozed.

At the heart of it all is Hannah Kelly, a young woman with a fierce love for her hometown. She's everything you'd want in a small-town heroine: determined, compassionate, and just the right amount of stubborn. When she discovers her beloved Emerald Bay is under threat from a new building development, she returns home ready to rally the villagers. What she *doesn't* expect is to fall headfirst into a slow-burn romance with the charming (yet frustrating!) developer, Tom Flynn.

Cue the microtropes we love:
- **Enemies-to-lovers**: There’s tension and sparks as Hannah and Tom butt heads over the development.
- **The cozy Christmas challenge**: Inviting Tom to experience a Kelly Christmas Day, hoping it will soften his heart.
- **A near-kiss while peeling brussels sprouts**: Because how could peeling veggies *not* bring out the romance?
- **Grandparent nostalgia**: When Hannah shares her grandparents’ love story tied to the land, we get all the feels.
- **The meddling village matchmakers**: With a sprinkle of holiday cheer, of course.

One of the sweetest moments comes when Hannah shares her family history with Tom—the very land he's planning to develop holds deep emotional ties to her past. And when Tom starts to soften, peeling brussels sprouts alongside her at a Kelly Christmas Day, the sparks feel just as warm as the hearth at The Shamrock Inn. But just when you think things are snowballing into happily-ever-after territory, a mysterious phone call shakes everything up, revealing there’s more to this building project than either of them realized.

What I adored most about this book is how it balances romance with the deeper themes of preserving heritage and fighting for what truly matters. Vernal weaves in moments of heartwarming holiday magic, from twinkling Christmas lights to heartfelt caroling, giving the village a vibrancy that makes you want to book a ticket to Ireland yourself.

The tension between following your heart and protecting your home makes this not only a perfect Christmas read but also a story about finding where you truly belong. *Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village* is a snow-kissed tale of love, hope, and holiday spirit that’ll leave you believing in the magic of community—and maybe even a second chance at love.

**Rating**: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5 stars)
**Verdict**: If you’re a fan of warm holiday romances with a dash of Irish charm, this one’s a must-read. Grab your ugliest Christmas sweater, and get ready to fall in love with Emerald Bay!

As a lover of Christmas and holiday romance, I was thrilled to dive into "Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village" by Michelle Vernal. This charming tale immerses readers in the festive spirit of a quaint Irish village, filled with warmth, community, and a sprinkle of romance.

The story centers around a determined protagonist who embarks on a mission to save the village's Christmas celebrations.

While there were parts of the plot that felt a bit predictable, the feel-good vibes kept me engaged throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

I've just recently started reading cozy romances and if you are new to the genre, like me, Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village is an excellent book to start your journey.
Most cozy romances are centered around fall with pumpkin spice and crunchy leaves. Christmas literally jumps off the pages in this book.
It's a quick read and kept this reader engaged with every page.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I love Michelle Vernal books, and this was a sweet story during Christmas. great characters and a lovely setting..

It takes a village to save a village. Hannah is determined that development isn't going to take over Emerald Bay but then she meets Tom, who is meant to be the one to bring the garden center to town. There's more to Tom than meets the eye but these two have to work through their differences to get there. I liked this because although it's trope-y, it's got good characters in the people of the village and Hannah's family and delightful atmospherics. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A lovely read about a large Irish family who don’t want something built in their village. The gran is amazing . You get a mystery lady and a handsome assistant developer . You have a cute dog who only likes ladies. It is a great easy happy Christmas read. Loved it and a neat ending.

Book Review: Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal

In Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village, Michelle Vernal delivers an enchanting holiday romance that wrapped around my heart like a cozy blanket. From the moment I stepped into the twinkling, festive atmosphere of Emerald Bay, I was hooked. The charming village, with its carollers and fairy-lit trees, instantly put me in the holiday spirit.

Hannah Kelly, our determined protagonist, is a character I connected with deeply. Her passion for preserving her hometown’s beauty shines through, especially when faced with the threat of a new development. The stakes felt personal for her, and I admired her tenacity and dedication to her community.

When Hannah encounters Tom Flynn, the handsome lead developer, the tension between them is palpable. Their interactions—filled with both conflict and chemistry—kept me eagerly turning pages. I loved how Vernal balanced their growing connection with the underlying struggle over the village’s future. The moments of vulnerability, especially when Hannah opens up about her family history, added layers to their relationship that made it even more compelling.

The festive setting served as a perfect backdrop for their romance. I could practically smell the mulled wine and taste the brussels sprouts as they prepared for Christmas Day together. However, the arrival of work-related tensions brought a bittersweet twist to the story that had me rooting for both their love and the village’s preservation.

Overall, Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village is a delightful mix of heart, humor, and holiday spirit. Michelle Vernal has crafted a beautiful tale that reminds us of the importance of community, love, and standing up for what we believe in. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for a cozy escape this winter!

Life in Emerald Bay is always entertaining with the Kelly family. There are plenty of siblings to carry the stories and a general feeling of joyousness and warmth in the Shamrock Inn. This festive novel centres on Hannah, who has a social conscious and is heart and soul living for projects which will make the world a better place. The environment is her passion. The fear that a conglomerate will take over part of the village and build a huge garden centre spurs her to come home early, to scupper the plans. It seems she is a chip off the old block where her gran is concerned and she is not the only one ready for a protest.
When Tom appears as part of the planning process, Hannah leaps to all kinds of conclusions about him and spends most of the book discovering that he has hidden depths. There is so much warmth and family love in the story, as Christmas approaches. The sisters are all fiercely loyal to each other and I do enjoy their banter. in the background is a family mystery to solve. The villagers add all sorts of humour and in all, this is a joyful and heartwarming festive tale.
In short: enemies to lovers with a Christmas twist

'Saving Christmas in the Little Irish Village' is a heartwarming story following Hannah Kelly, a headstrong and contrary environmentalist and her quest to preserve her village's heritage. It is the fifth book in the 'Little Irish Village' series but is also completely accessible as a standalone.

Hannah Kelly, the middle sister in the large Kelly household, works as an environmental campaigner away from home. When she hears that her precious village Emerald Bay is threatened by a large organisation attempting to build on conserved land, she leaves for Christmas early and takes matters into her own hands. At her parents' village inn, she meets Tom, a businessman from Dublin, here to stay for most of the festive season. As she struggles to win her campaign against the new proposed development, Hannah and Tom lock heads, but not without other family issues joining in, too. Not only this, but the ghosts of the past- and present- threaten to open holes in this quiet village and loving family.

I enjoyed this book; it was fun and cosy and I really enjoyed getting to know the Kelly family. However, I felt that the plot lacked drive in the middle of the book. It was also slow to begin and the description of the book was not marketed to reflect the actual plot. Whilst the description emphasised romance, the main driving force behind this book was actually Hannah and her journey in warring with the planned development and discovering herself. Indeed, the "romance" element did not start until the last 25% of the book. I also felt that the Christmas atmosphere was lost in the middle and at times I was frustrated with the main character.

All this being said, I adored the speech of the characters and could hear the accents so clearly. At times, the setting descriptions were truly beautiful and I loved the focus on the famine cottage which gave it a sombre atmosphere. Kitty Kelly is also the best person ever!

Overall, a firm 3-star read. Thank you so much to Bookouture for providing me with an advanced reading copy. I look forward to its publication!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I was turned off by the appearance of unnecessary curse words in the first ten pages. As much as I tried to continue reading, I could not.

Releases Oct. 2nd. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookoture for my ARC copy.

3.5⭐️
When I first requested this i didn't realise it was part of a series, however it can 100% be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed this and loved watching the relationship grow between Hannah and Tom. Although I think Kitty is 100% the best part of this book. I will be going back and reading the previous books in the series now.

I do love a good Christmas book and a book by Michelle Vernal is always right up my alley. I could just picture the 'Christmas trees decked with fairy lights twinkle in every window, carollers fill the streets'. But what will happen to all this loveliness if the developers come it and build on the rolling hills around the village? And how will Hannah deal with the handsome young developer in their midst?

This is a charming, fun, cute and cosy read and I had no problems devouring it in a day. The beauty of the village, the Christmas theme and the great characters all added a warmth and charm to this book. A great read and one I fell in love with from the first page.

Thank you Net Galley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Love this cute little love story. I really like the Irish touches and intertwining. Such a cute and quick read!

The most gorgeous Christmas novel ever!
I absolutely loved Hannah and could relate to her plight to save her beloved hometown. Enter handsome developer Tom Flynn and you have the perfect t recipe for romance!
I love the story of her grandparents (it made me relate to my own grandparents love story) and the change of heart that comes her way without giving away too much it had me swooning. I was so invested in finding out if Hannah is able to save her beloved village and possibly find love and happiness along the way and I know readers will as well! This novel had me eagerly anticipating the upcoming holiday season and I know readers will feel the same as well. There is also a bit of mystery mixed in which kept the novel intriguing and interested throughout the course of the book. I absolutely loved it! Thank you Bookouture. An honor as always to read and review one of your beautiful books!

A lovely new installment in this series about the Kelly sisters and the Shamrock pub in a small Irish village. This time we follow middle sister Hannah. I enjoyed her romance and also learning more about grandmother Nan. Would read ok alone, but best in order.

Loved this book. Such a cute cosy feel good book! Highly recommend. Thanks Net Galley for the early read!

Es un libro sobre las dinámicas familiares con un toque pequeño de romance.

Me costó al principio porque me cayó mal Hannah ya que sentí muy fingida su pasión por el medio ambiente, pero conforme pasaban los capítulos me fue cayendo mejor y lo bueno es que al final se dió cuenta de cual era su pasión.

Una lastima que Tom no tenga povs.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a joy to return to Emerald Bay for another Christmas with the hilarious Kelly clan . This year it's the turn of feisty conservationist Hannah to find love though as always things don't run smoothly. You know there's going to be trouble -and fun - ahead when her first meeting with the enigmatic Tom , starts with her landing on her bottom, clad in her sensible cotton knickers! Along with the laughter, fun and love, there is a poignant element to this lovely story,with it's echoes of the past and the preventable tragedy that was the famine that saw mass emigration and so much death and sorrow. This series is full of Irish warmth and humour and is like being wrapped in a cosy hug. I loved the new animal addition in the tiny form of feisty canine chihuahua, Princess Leia . Adorable. If you need a pick me up, this charming book will do it !

Engaging and exciting from the beginning. A very realistic feel for the reader.
An irresistible slice of escapism and a joy to read. Compelling, absorbing and highly entertaining. Fast-moving, christmasy and fun! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay this was like a snow globe sweet love story!!!! I can not get over how adorable it was! I shared with friends because this is the sweetest holiday read. I am so excited to gift this!