Member Reviews

A Christmas story full of Irish craic …. What’s not to love!

Cassie, 37 from New York. Has been stuck in a rut for the last 3 years. Which leads her to booking a rental home in England for Christmas.

Ended up surrounded by an Irish Community in England. Cassie begins to work on herself.

This a wonderful story written by Debbie Johnson filled with love and laughter.

Her writing captures you in and you feel you are in the moment with the characters.


A must read for this Christmas season

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute little romance without spice. I enjoyed the characters, but honestly I didn't really like the love triangle. It felt like there was too much investment into both guys that the pick seemed random. Overall I enjoyed it and would suggest anyone who wants a cute holiday book to read it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

After Cassie, 37, American with Irish roots, has been jilted at the altar, she takes the money her beloved Nanna Nora left her and spends it on a month long Christmas holiday in the Cotswolds.

Why she doesn't go to Ireland beats me, but luckily the book is not called A Christmas in Ireland but a Very Irish Christmas so she finds a ready-made close-knit Irish community in this small English village, complete with an English viscount and his eccentric family: mother Allegra who has dementia, teenage daughter Georgie and Roberts the housekeeper. And a stray dog called Eejit who sort of adopts her.

Soon she is immersed not only in village life but also in helping Charles the viscount in planning and staging events to hold at Bancroft Manor to increase his revenue. Both he and Irishman Ryan are interested in her but she can't decide so instead she delves into finding out more about Nanna Nora's past in Ireland.

"Woman leaves her old life behind and finds a new one in a community that draws her in" is not a new trope and quite predictable.

However, in Debbie Johnson's hands this becomes a brilliantly written, feel-good, heartwarming fast read with great supporting characters.

I didn't care much for the love triangle and didn't find the romance too convincing, especially as there aren't enough scenes between the main characters. This should have been fleshed out more.

However, I loved the description of the snowy Cotswolds and Cork in winter and all the Irish expressions. It is cosy and festive and has log fires aplenty. The Irish blessings and quotes dotted about were a nice touch! What a delightful holiday read.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a light hearted and cozy Christmas rom-com, the Irish charm added such a unique element to the book as well.

Cassie was jilted at the altar 3 years ago by her ex fiancé, Ted. It’s been hard for her to move on, though Ted has had no problem with moving on. She decides to spend the month leading up to Christmas in England, following her Nana Nora’s love for adventure. What she doesn’t expect is to find not one, but two men who make her feel things she hasn’t felt since Ted. Will she end up finding love?

This was such a cute and light hearted read, perfect for the holidays coming up. I loved Cassie’s character, seeing her reclaim her life. She was the perfect main character for this book, her character growth was amazing, I also really enjoyed Ryan and Charles, both were so flirty and swoon worthy. I’m usually not a fan of love triangles, but loved how this was done! I definitely recommend adding this to your holiday TBR!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Love loved this book. I didn’t want it to end. Please Hallmark make this a movie. A sweet story with lovable characters. A great read for your Christmas holidays.

Was this review helpful?

Wow I absolutely loved this book. Could totally see it turning into a sweet Christmas movie. This was a very comfy and swoon worthy read. Loved getting to know the characters and watching their journey. Also I got to learn more about different cultures, which I love.

Was this review helpful?

It’s two years after being jilted, literally at the alter, our heroine, Cassie, uses her inheritance from her beloved Nana, and heads to a month long adventure in the U.K.. Here she’s hoping to get some closure, but two very different, and very handsome, men have other ideas!
Really fun story with a great cast of characters.

Was this review helpful?

Cassie O’Hara decides when her beloved nanna leaves her a legacy she’s going to find her roots. She ends up in England ins a little Irish town.
She ends up with two unlikely suitors Charles the lord of the manor and Ryan the local lothario.
Cassie has some adventures and some heartwarming moments but who will she end up with.
Greatly written book with fun laughter and heartwarming moments loved it.

Was this review helpful?

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson ❄️

This book gave me all the feels of a perfect Christmas romcom movie.

I adored the Irish characters and the blend of different countries and cultures coming together. It was a lovely story and I enjoyed following Cassie’s adventure across the world to find out all about her Nanna.

I don’t know if this is part of a series or not but I’d love to read about all the characters again in future focusing on others more and their relationships/futures.

I think that the book could have been longer and fleshed out the love triangle aspect more and included more scenes between them to give the readers more insight into their relationships before the ending.

All in all a great easy Christmas read perfect to get you into the festive romance spirit!

Was this review helpful?

****Publishing October 30, 2024****

It’s Christmastime, Cassie O’Hara had a hard year, with her ex-fiancé getting married, her Nanna dying, and work not going well. Plus, she is still bitter about being rejected at the altar. She needed to make some changes. This was causing stress and anxiety. Her friend June encourages her to take a trip and do something for herself. After all, her Nanna left her money and she hasn’t used it. So she takes her advice and books a cottage in what she thinks is in Ireland, but turns out to be in England. Is this the break she needs to finally figure out her life? What will she discover? Is that what she is expecting?

A fun and entertaining read with laugh- out-loud moments. I loved how Cassie went out of her comfort zone to find happiness. Also, I loved all the Irish Blessings at the beginning of each chapter. It was a nice touch to the story! If you are looking for a holiday read that is heartfelt and has a satisfying ending, then add this to your holiday TBR list!

Thanks to Storm Publishing, I was provided an ARC of A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my poor heart! A wonderful story of healing, finding yourself and love! Cassie is stuck with her past hurt and decides to go away to England , a lovely welcome she gets from the village she books a cottage to stay in and she finds herself healing and a bit more than that too !
Brought a few tears to my eyes at the end.

Was this review helpful?

A brilliant book I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end.
Cassies story , a slightly broken American , stepping out of her comfort zone and taking a holiday in an English village.
The characters were loveable, relatable and mainly Irish ! All will be explained within the book !
Add humour, dual romantic interests , and the feel good factor in abundance , with a wonderful sense of community coming to the reader.
Highly recommended, loved this book and didn’t want it to end
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Debbie Johnson for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

The perfect holiday book! This book gave me all the feels. There was humor, romance, a little sadness and family vibes. Everything I want in a Christmas book. I didn't want Cassie and her story to end.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. Such a funny, heartwarming story. Cassie is a fantastic woman who didn't deserve what she got in the love department. Her Nana ends up passing away and leaving her some money so for once in her life, she decides to throw caution to the wind and book a passage to England for Christmas.

All hell breaks loose once she gets there, and she starts to wonder if she has made a dreadful mistake. However, life is funny like that. Sometimes when you think things are going wrong, is when they're actually starting to go right. She meets Ryan and Charles and both of them end up tossing their cap into the ring for her hand.

I laughed so hard at so many places in this book. So much stuff happens at once that it seems like poor Cassie has just gone from bad to worse. However, things look up and then you truly get to see her character blossom into the woman she was always meant to be.

This is a wonderful Christmas story, about finding yourself and finding the place you were always meant to be, even if you never knew it. I loved it. This book is definitely one that you will read time and time again.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Debbie Johnson for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and are completely honest.

Was this review helpful?

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Was this review helpful?

Sigh, this is the kind of book you just don’t want to end. The characters were absolutely delightful. I could easily this as a Hallmark series with the exquisite landscapes, the quirky and fun characters, and the love triangle that had you falling for both men. I’d love to see Charles get his story and then Georgie. Oh and I almost forgot the story comes with not one but 2 dogs.

Was this review helpful?

Cassie has had a traumatic couple of years and is trying to get back on track.. With an inheritance from her Irish Grandmother she takes a trip to spend 4 weeks in a village in England. There she finds that all the villagers have a connection to the town in Ireland that her grandmother was born in. Enter Ryan who helps her settle in and Charles the lord of the manor. Add to this the Christmas season and you have a magical Irish romance,

Was this review helpful?

What a fun book. The characters are people you want for friends. It makes you want to move to a small village where everyone knows and helps each other. Entertaining boo.

Was this review helpful?

The perfect cozy Irish Christmas book to curl up with your favorite warm beverage. Who doesn’t want to run away to Ireland and find new friends in a quant quintessential village? You’ll love this one!

Was this review helpful?

I loved the setting!! The town just seemed so cute. But I didn't love that we didn't get to spend a lot of time with a certain suitor.

Overall, If you're looking for a quick and easy Christmas read this year, throw this one on your list!! It's a really sweet read and honestly, who can go past an Irish accent lol

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?