We’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day a week early because I want to pick your bookish brains for Christian Fiction / Clean Fiction set in Ireland or with Irish main characters so I have something seasonal to read. 🙂
In case you didn’t know, I was born in Ireland and my family immigrated to Canada when I was a child. I’ve always felt a keen connection with my Irish roots so I love celebrating all things Irish during St. Patrick’s Day month. I found a St. Patrick’s Day book tag that I thought would be fun to share so here we go…
- Irish Flag – Name a favourite book with a predominately green cover. Or…if you’re up to a challenge – a book cover with green, white and orange!
I had fun hunting through my bookshelves to find a book with all three colours of the Irish Flag and I found one! Trust me, the orange parts are orangier on the actual book. 🙂
2. Corned beef and cabbage – Name a book that made you hungry.
3. 4 Leaf Clover – a rare good luck book find. (And I feel I must add that 4 leaf clovers are a totally Americanized thing. It’s shamrocks in Ireland which have three leaves and were used by St. Patrick to explain the concept of the trinity (or so legend says.)
Eeeppp!!! Found this one recently on Chirp for $2.99!
4. Irish Jig – a book you loved so much it made you want to dance a jig!
Literally referred to happy dancing in the first line of my review. 🙂 And look — green, white and orange!
5. Ireland – a book that transported you to another place.
6. Pub – a book with a meeting place you’d love to hang out in.
The whole Hope Harbor series! And the place to meet up at is Charley’s of course!
7. Ceilidh (pronounced Kaylee) – a house party with crackin’ good music and traditional dancing. A group of characters you’d want to party with.
The whole Skymar series: these siblings/cousin and their signifiant others as well as all the secondary characters would be a hoot at a party!
8. Favourite St. Patrick’s Day themed book
Ta da! That was fun. And what would a St. Patrick’s Day celebration be without a leprechaun’s pot of gold? It comes in the form of a Giveaway, of course!
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
Answer one or more of the St. Patrick’s Day book tag questions
AND/OR
Leave a suggest for a book set in Ireland or with Irish characters — Christian Fiction or Closed Door please. I’ve read a few and I swear I’ve sourced ’em all out so let’s see if you might have something new-to-me I can read this year.
And your pot of gold? Why, a $10 Baker Book House e gift card – since books are our preferred currency here, right?!
Draw will be held and Winner announced on Saturday March 15 2025. Make the luck o’ the Irish be with you!
Kav's Best Reads 
Hey, Kav!
I didn’t know you were born in Ireland! So neat!
I’ll answer a few of these!
1. Heaven’s Wager (Ted Dekker) has a lot of green. So does his book Renegade (at least one of the editions). A Lady in Attendance (Rachel Fordham) has all three colors but also a lot of blue.
2. Such a good theme!! Food descriptions are one of my favorite things to read haha. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip has quite a few cookies. (But weirdly, some books I read as a kid made foods I wouldn’t like tantalizing. A certain Bernstein bears book made salmon seem appealing—and I didn’t like fish!)
4. Haha! Dancing a jig is funny because I have actually danced while reading. I think a recent one was “Tea with Elephants,” by Robin Jones Gunn. I was dancing because of references to her other characters I know and love.
6. Okay I’m cheating here 😉 but your use of the word “pub” probably planted this idea: J.D. Peabody has C.S. Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Dorothy Sayers as fictional characters in his Inkwell Chronicles books, and they spend time at the real-life pub where the Inklings met. So I’ll say there, but more for the group gathered.
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Ha — I never thought of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs Kip for a book that made you hungry but it does work, doesn’t it? Had to check out the cover colours you mentioned and I love that one of the ‘orange’ elements on A Lady in Attendance is the heroine’s hair. (Gasp, Anne Shirley would hate that I called it orange…more auburn, of course, but still on the orange scale.) And Berenstein Bears is a blast from the past. Now I’m more intrigued by Tea with Elephants (and yes, it’s sitting idle on my TBR pile) but I wouldn’t get the references to characters from her other books. Still fun that you got to happy dance over that though. You’ve introduced me to a new middle grade series that looks awesome. Sadly, my public library doesn’t have the Inkwell Chronicles but my church library might. Will definitely me checking. Good luck, Stephanie!
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Haha! Poor Anne! I also recall someone else describing her hair as “Titian,” which she translated, I think, as “plain old red” haha.
Glad to introduce you to Inkwell! I hoped it might be a new series for you 🙂 I know the books are about to rerelease as paperbacks, so perhaps that will affect the library’s interest 😉
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That is so cool that you were born in Ireland, Kav! Would you ever want to go back there to visit? I’ve always thought it would be awesome to go there!
Jennifer Deibel’s new book, Heart of the Glen, is set in Ireland. It sounds very good! So there’s one you can add to your seasonal reading list if you haven’t read it already. 😊
Alison Boss nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com
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I’ve been back to Ireland a couple of times. First fright after high school and lived there for nearly two years. I would totally move back there in a heartbeat if I could. 🙂 I have read two of Jennifer Deibel’s books but not this latest one. Thanks for the suggestion. Good luck, Alison!
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Ireland? I hope you can visit …if you desire to!!! I want to hang out in Hope Harbor!!!
Thanks for your giveaway, Kav!
jacsmi75 at gmail dot com
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Yes to hanging out in Hope Harbor. We should do a reader’s retreat there! Good luck, Jackie!
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Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron is my favorite Irish book and the cover makes my favorite list too. I know you’ve read it Kav, but it is such a standout in Irish fiction it deserves a mention.
I remember you were Irish born and also remember years ago you posted a picture of you having traveled back there and kissing the blarney stone, so fun 🙂
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You have a great memory, Tracey! 🙂 And I’d forgotten that one of those castle books was set in Ireland! Might have to do a re-read of Castle on the Rise. Thanks for the reminder. Good luck, Tracey!
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The lady of galway manor by Jennifer Deibel came out in 2022. Awesome your family immigrated from ireland. My paternal grandparents immigrated from norway to the States. cheetahthecat1982ATgmailDOTcom
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I’ve always had a fascination for Norway ever since I read a book about twins adventuring there when I was a kid. It seems that all of Jennifer Deibel’s books are set in Ireland so she’s a good resource for St. Patrick’s Day. Good luck, Kim!
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My Dad, 2 brothers, and parents came from Norway when my Dad was 5. My dad has never been back but I went twice with my grandma at ages 9 and 11. Absolutely love it there!
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How fun!! I never knew you were born in Ireland! I sure would like to see that pic of you kissing the blarney stone, my Irish Canadian friend! hahaha
1) Dusk’s Darkest Shies by Carolyn Miller (orange, white, & green)
2) Tacos for Two by Betsy St Amant (definitely made me hungry!)
3) The Green Veil by Naomi Musch (got the entire series on sale . . . so good!)
4) Uneasy Street by Becky Wade (made me want to dance—ha!)
5) Sunburst by Susan May Warren (took me to Nigeria)
6) Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon (I had to copy you bc I’d love to hang out there the most!)
7) A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman (I’d love to hang out with the O’Connors!)
Book set in Ireland THE IRISH MATCHMAKER by Jennifer Deibel
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Okay, we definitely need to organize a reader’s retreat in Hope Harbor! 🙂 Love all your book selections. I don’t think I’ve read anything by Naomi Musch — sounds like I should. And hanging out with the O’Connor clan — perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day party!!!! Though I’d constantly be swooning. Bwahahaha! So, I chickened out on reading The Irish Matchmaker because it sounded like it featured a love triangle — am I right? Good luck, Diane!
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Yes to the Hope Harbor retreat! I guess when Irene H. quits writing that series we’ll just have to start from the beginning & reread all the way through! It’ll be so sad. 💔
Agree with the swooning, too. Especially over Collin McGuire . . . I think he was the roguish one. It’s been so long since I read these. But definitely smelling salts needed!
Umm, yeah. Exactly why I removed it from Goodreads 2 or 3 times. 😄 I wanted you to read it 1st & see what you thought. I mean usually LTs are predictable—they have a good guy & a bad guy, she picks the good guy so it’s usually not too bad. You can read it & let me know. 😉 But I’m not going to hold my breath & more than likely I’ll have to be the 1st one to read it. 🤣
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Perish the thought of no new Hope Harbor books. That isn’t going to happen! Think positive thoughts into he Hope Harbor universe!!!!! Ha – we’ve both been waiting for the other to LT proof The Irish Matchmaker?! Bwahahaha! Are we on the same wavelength or what?!
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I think Irene said there is one more book after Sunrise Reef!
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Sending good vibes in the atmosphere & ignoring PAULA’S depressing comment about only 1 more book after this upcoming one. LOL! Just kidding, Paula. Thanks for preparing us. Wahh 😢
Kav, I know how you feel about LTs plus I can find out everything I want to know about you on Goodreads. 😳 Book-wise, that is. If it ain’t ok with you, it sure ain’t with me. So yep, we’re definitely on the same wavelength! 😃
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Bwahahaha! Paula, thank you for keeping our hope alive for more Hope Harbor stories, even if it is just one more. BUT, it’s happened twice before that the series was supposed to be over and the publisher gave her a contract for more so….And she could always publisher her own indie Hope Harbor additions. I refuse to give up hope completely. 🙂
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Excuse typos. I did this on my phone & couldn’t see well. The first one was supposed to be ‘Dusks Darkest Shores’.
dianalflowers at aol dot com
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Surely she’s not tired of writing them?! Bc if she is, our boat is sunk. Ugh There’s always the hope she’ll respond to begging. 😀 hahaha
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One of my absolute FAVORITES set in Ireland is The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel😍 Also, my sister has been obsessed with The Fires of Gleannmara trilogy by Linda Windsor for years (and I’m planning to read them myself sometime soon!) A series that we were BOTH obsessed with when we were younger is the Viking Quest series by Lois Walfrid Johnson (It is for younger readers, though we just recently obtained new copies of the series and I read through them again at the start of the year and remember why I was so in love as a young teen🥰 And don’t let the series name deceive you!😅 It does indeed have a lot of characters and setting of an Irish bent, lol. The main character is an Irish chieftain’s daughter who is kidnapped from her homeland by Vikings and struggles to return to the green hills of home over the course of the series.)
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Yes to the The Maid of Ballymacool — that is my favourite Jennifer Deibel book…well, I’ve only read two..no maybe three. And it was a fairy tale retelling. Maybe I should give that one a relisten this year. That Linda Windsor trilogy looks good and my library has the first book. Woot! Just put it on hold. The Viking Quest series looks great too. Have to search around for that one though. Thanks for the suggestions, Elly. Good luck!
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I have some Irish ancestry but not actually born in country in the last century. My bookish depth of knowledge doesn’t begin to compare with many of the posters here, but I learn by reading comments. I have to say that most any Amish book makes me hungry, and many have recipes in the back – a good and fun plus. Talking of Irish characters – the first book that popped into my head was one by Tamera Alexander, Colors of Truth.
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Oh, good point about Amish books — there’s always yummy food descriptions in them. I didn’t realize the Irish connection in Colors of Truth. Might have to try that one even though it’s Civil War era. Good luck, CC!
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Irish flag: orange is hard to find on book covers! Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron has orangey-yellow flowers amongst the greenery, with white font and a celtic knot (bonus, it’s set in Ireland).
4-leaf clover: Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin – I found it at a garage sale for maybe a dollar. I’d never read anything by Lynn Austin before, and I wasn’t sure I was really interested in a depression-era story. But when I finally read it, I absolutely loved it! By far and away my best garage sale book find.
Julie Lessman’s historicals nearly all feature Irish main characters. It’s been quite a while since I read them, but I want to say one of the Daughters of Boston books–maybe A Passion Most Pure?–partially takes place in Ireland. Other than the few books that people have already mentioned, it’s hard to come up with more actually set in Ireland!
rdalquist AT gmail DOT com
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Yes — Castle on the Rise fits the colours in the Irish flag perfectly. So pretty! And what a great deal you got for Wonderland Creek — one of my favourite Lynn Austin books! I had completely forgotten that most of Julie Lessman’s characters are Irish. I agree, an Irish setting seems to be elusive in Christian Fiction. Good luck, Rachael!
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Hi Kav, I had no idea you were born in Ireland. So cool! I perused my bookshelves and here’s what I found. 1. Irish Flag – Dee Henderson’s God’s gift – mostly green and orange 2. Corned Beef and Cabbage – The Holly Novels by CC Warrens. I know I mention this series every time, but it’s my favorite. Anytime I’m reading about Holly, I want hot cocoa with marshmallows, pizza, and Lucky Charms. Haha. Holly and I definitely eat the same. 3. 4 Leaf Clover/Shamrock – I always buy books second hand, and one of the best finds was 18 Terri Blackstock books that I found for .59 cents each. I still haven’t read them all 4. Irish Jig – I think I usually feel this way when I start a new book. Like I get a rush of adrenaline. The last book I read that I had that feeling the entire book was CC Warren’s Firefly Diaries. I texted my sibling group chat and said “have you ever watched the trailer to a movie and it looked so good, but then you saw the movie and it was terrible? That happens to me with books. The description looks so good but then the book is just terrible. Firefly Diaries was the exact opposite. It was everything I expected and more.” 5. Ireland – Connilynn Cossette’s Counted with the Stars. What a read.
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You’ve reminded me that I have a copy of God’s Gift — think it might be worth a reread this year. Bwahahaha! You have the most unique cravings attached to a book! But do you pick out all the marshmallows from the Lucky Charms? 🙂 You’re nudging me to spend my last audible credit on the second Holly novel. I finished the first one maybe two months ago? I think it’s time. Whoa — what a great Terri Blackstock haul! I never find deals like that. Love that you happy dance at the beginning of a good read. We should all do that more. Good luck, Rebecca!
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Book with a green cover, haven’t read it, so can’t say it a favorite, but it’s on my shelf – Daughters of the Heart by Caryl McAdoo
Series set in Ireland – The Galway Chronicles by Brock & Bodie Thoene, and The Fires of Glennmara series by Linda Windsor.
I didn’t know you were from Ireland!
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I haven’t read very much by Caryl McAdo so I’ll have to check into her more. A second recommendation for The Fires of Glennmara series, so glad my library has the first book. I’m going to check my church library for the Galway Chronicles — they have a lot of Thoene’s books so maybe I’ll get lucky. Thanks, Patty. Good luck!
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Hey Kav, I love that you were born in Ireland. My paternal grandfather was Irish, from whom I was blessed with my red hair.
I’d love to hang out in Narnia.
psalm103and138atmgmaildotcom
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Oh, yes, Narnia would be a great place to hang out — maybe go for tea at Mr. Tumnus’ cottage? Or visit the castle after the White Queen has been vanquished! Good luck, Caryl!
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Happy Sunday!! I always enjoy your Sunday conversations & look forward to whatever topic you pick to talk about. So Top ‘o the morning to ya lassie….here we go:
Here’s a few books for your Irish themed book topic:
Once Upon an Irish Summer by Lisa T Bergren (has green on the cover along with a beautiful coastal scene)
Jody Hedlund’s Shanahan Match series books (book three to release soon!!)….it features an Irish matchmaker: Calling on the Matchmaker, Saved by the Matchmaker (what a gorgeous green dress our heroine is wearing), and A Wager with the Matchmaker (May release)
Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Diebel: yet-to-read but on my list 🙂 Love the colors on this cover for sure! Any of her books are amazing really.
An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson. I remember reading this years ago!
Kinsale Kisses by Elizabeth Maddrey
Carolyn Miller has one coming out in September entitled An Irish Kiss (Fairall Romance Legacy bk 1)
Irish Encounter by Hope Toler Dougherty (Scrivenings Press LLC). Never heard of this author until today!
Corned Beef and Cabbage: Name a book that made you hungry
The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sarah Brunsvold
Pub: Hangout place
Definitely have to agree with Hope Harbor!!! I’ve never experienced a book series I’ve wanted to see go on forever….until now. 🙂
Happy reading Kav & all! And like a lot of others here, I never knew you were from Ireland….what a fascinating fact to learn 🙂
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
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Tráthnóna maith, Trixi! That’s good evening in Irish. 🙂 Eeeppp — I haven’t read Once Upon an Irish Summer. The think my library has some of the Shanahan Match series. Yes, Heart of the Glen’s cover is so pretty — and has green as well. I’ll have to keep An Irish Christmas in mind for closer to the season. It’s getting added to my Christmas TBR. I’ve read Kinsale Kisses — loved it. Need to check and see if Elizabeth Maddrey has anything new coming out. It seems to have been awhile.
Squuueeeaaappp — Carolyn Miller’s An Irish Kiss sounds fantastic! Set in Ireland, Irish heroine, Australian hero on a genealogy quest! Yes please! Thanks for the heads up on this little gem! I hadn’t heard of Hope Taylor Doughterty either and that books is 10 years old! Awesomesauce. You’ve given me some great titles to track down.
Hooray for Hope Harbor — we all need to meet there at Charley’s 🙂 Good luck, Trixi!
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I’m not sure I can come up with anything that hasn’t been mentioned but Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron came to mind as well as Jennifer Deibel’s books. I enjoyed A Dance in Donegal. Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander has Irish immigrant characters. Julie Lessman’s O’Connor family spans fifteen books, unless I missed one. Actually I think almost all of her books have characters of Irish heritage.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
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Thanks, Pam. I think I’m going to revisit The Castle on the Rise this week since it was the one mentioned the most. I’m sure I’m not current with the O’Connor family — I stopped reading Julie Lessman when she went indie so I should check into that. Good luck, Pam!
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1)green cover: The Color of Sky and Stone by Sara Davison ( not read)
2) made me hungry: The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher
3) good luck find: Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray PRINT 49 cents from Christian Book.
4) made me want to dance a jig: Grace and Freddy mysteries by Pepper Basham
5) transported to another place: Australia in Northargyle Abbie by Janelle Leonard
6) meeting pkace I would like to hang out in: by Otis the Hippo in Home to Heritage series by Tari Faris. But I love Hope Harbor too
7) house party : The gang from the SNAP Agency series by Natalie Walters
8) St Patrick’s day theme- couldn’t think of one
and I agree with Jennifer Deible- great Irish books. I have the series by Susan Ann Mason Courage to Dream but haven’t read them yet.
paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom
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Oh dear I was going to give up buying books for lent but you just blew my resolve with your first title – The Color of Sky and Stone. My thought process went: Ohhh, Sara Davison. I’ve been meaning to read more of her books! Oh and she’s Canadian. Bonus! Let me just see how expensive the book is, probably too much…wait…can that price be right? (Fingers automatically clicking ‘buy now’ button and poufff, my resolve is in smithereens not a full week since I made it.) Thanks, Paula! Bwahahaha!
Ohhhh — yes I’d forgotten about Susan Ann Mason’s series — fantastic books! And yes, yes, yes to partying with the SNAP Agency gang! Have you read NorthArgyle Abbie yet? That’s my most anticipated March release, I think. Good luck, Paula!
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Well my reply just disappeared! Here goes again :
I am reading Northargyle Abbie now. It’s a hoot.
I am also reading Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill. It is Historical, C F. Romance, and a mystery.
Both have witty banter and internal dialogue.
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Kav, I’m another one who didn’t know you were born in Ireland! I have an Irish heritage. My great-great grandfather stowed away on a ship to America when he was 16. He was with his brother, but when they got to NYC, they got separated and unfortunately never saw each other again. How sad, huh?
A couple of books with predominantly green covers that are on my shelves are The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Powner and Darkness Calls the Tiger by Janyre Tromp.
As for a book set in Ireland, I’m going way back for this one – In the Company of Others – one in the Mitford series by Jan Karon (when Father Tim and Cynthia visited Ireland.) Did you ever read the Mitford books? If not, I bet you’d love them! 🙂
ckbarker at gmail dot com
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Wow, that’s some family history, Cheryl and totally sad that the brothers never found each other again. Have you tried tracing your genealogy to find the brother’s descendants? That would be so interesting. Ohhhh — I did not know that one of the Mitford books involves a visit to Ireland! I’ve been daunted to start the Mitford series because it’s so long now, but I have read one — way out of order because I got it to review and I did enjoy it but I also felt a wee bit lost because of all the characters I felt I should have known. Thinking that might not be a problem with In the Company of Others since they’ll be in Ireland. Thanks for the suggestion. Good luck, Cheryl!
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No, Kav, I’ve not tried tracing the family history to see if we can find the brother’s descendants but that would be so cool if they could be discovered! I just don’t have the time for that kind of project right now. And oh my goodness, you need to read the Mitford books! You would love the quirky characters and feeling of community. Not hard to get hooked on the series so you could read them pretty quickly 🙂
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How cool that you’re from Ireland! Here’s my attempt, at a few of the prompts. 🙂
Irish Flag – “Deadly Pursuit” by Irene Hannon – It sorta has the colors.
4 Leaf Clover – “A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse” – Found it in paperback at an after Christmas sale for 99¢!
Irish Jig – “Fairest of Heart” by Karen Witemeyer – One of my recent favorites!
Ireland – “With this Pledge” by Tamera Alexander – It was so easy to imagine the scenery in this book, probably because I’ve been where it takes place, but I enjoyed being transported there again as I read. 😊
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Deadly Pursuit definitely fits the green, orange, white prompt. Such a great series. I love hearing about great book deals! They don’t happen often for me. I need to source out a good used book store. I’d dance a jig to any of Karen Witemeyer’s books! 🙂 I love it when an authors words can transport us to another place and time. Tamera Alexander excels at that, I’m just not a Civil War era fan so I haven’t read tons of her books. Good luck, Sabrina. Thanks for joining in the fun!
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Irish Flag – The Daily Bible in Chronological Order (365 Daily Readings – my go to for my daily Bible Reading).
Corned beef & Cabbage – Brunch at the Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano
Four Leaf Clover – I picked up a copy of A Mosiac of Wings by Kimberly Duffy today for $3 plus a 15% discount. The cover is orange, green & white, too!
Irish Jig – Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham (I have an early copy).
Ireland – When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer (love this series but I’m behind on it!)
Pub – LuLu’s Cafe by T.I. Lowe
Ceilidh – Hummmm……I’ll have to agree with you about Pepper Basham’s Skymar Series
Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Book – I don’t think I have one!
It’s cool that you’re from Ireland (I had no idea). I do have Irish roots on my grandmother’s side, but unfortunately I don’t know the details. She was a McFarland.
Please forgive my tardiness (once again). There’s a lot going on in our household these days!
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
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You’re never too late — we party on all week here at Kav’s Reads. 🙂 I loved the whole Supper Club series by Carla Laureano — must check out what she’s been writing lately. I’m woefully behind with her books. Love your great deal for Mosaic of Wings — such an interesting book, you’re in for a great read. Argggghh — this is me trying not to be jealous that you have an early copy of Some Like it Scot! And Lulu’s Cafe would make for the perfect meet up! It feels like everyone has some Irish in them if they go back far enough in their genealogy. 🙂 Good luck, Perrianne!
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I’ll try with some of the books I’ve read so far this year. I couldn’t find a book for every prompt, but it’s still always fun to try! 🙂
Irish Flag – Saved for Something More by Sandra McKee & Kyle Grob – It’s mostly green and it sorta has bits of orange and white, too?
Corned beef and cabbage – Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret by Misty M. Beller – Someone was always cooking in that book! Breads, dumplings, stew. Yum!
Irish Jig – Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer – Loved it!
Ireland – Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin – Technically this one could work for Irish Jig, too 😉 but Sarah Sundin does such a good job with writing and research that I do feel like I’ve been transported while reading her books, this one was no exception!
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It’s fun to do these prompts and challenges even when it’s hard to find a fit. I have one right now where I need to read a book with the word ‘thing’ in the title and do you think I have a single book on any of my TBR piles with that word in the title? Nope not one. Gah. Ohh, if I could get ahold of Saved for Something More that would work. Love that cover and the story sounds good. New to me authors too. Love that you found a foodie example in an un-foodie book! Our poor pioneer ancestors, if they weren’t preparing a meal they were cleaning up after one only to get back to preparing the next meal. We are spoiled with our modern conveniences! I’d dance a jig over any of Karen Witemeyer’s books! 🙂 You’re making me more excited about reading Midnight on the Scottish Shore. It’s on my TBR but I still haven’t read it yet. What am I waiting for?! Good luck, Bridget!
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Hi, Kav, from half-Irish Kathleen. Do you have dual citizenship? Do you have cousins in Ireland you have been in contact with? As close as I have come is hearing an ancestral name castle is now in use as a bank. My youngest brother has not been seen as a tourist when he has gone twice. My book mention is Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron. kathleen[dot]e[dot]belongia[at]gmail[dot]com
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So many people mentioned Castle on the Rise that I went and gave it a relisten this week. Just as good the second time around! I don’t have dual citizenship, though it would be easy for me to get it. I just never did the paperwork. Maybe I should get an Irish passport. 🙂 I’m not in contact with any relatives now…the ones I use to stay in touch with have all passed away. My parents left Ireland under a bit of a cloud — my mum was Catholic (youngest of 11 children who all thought they had a say in every area of her life, including her marriage!) and my dad was Protestant, oldest of two children though his family wasn’t very close. He grew up in boarding schools. No one on his side of the family would speak to him after he married my mum. He found my mother’s family quite overwhelming and so they emigrated for more than job opportunities. lol Good luck, Kathleen!
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Green cover: Sara Davison’s (Canadian!) Color of Sky and Stone (stunning green northern lights)
Book that made me hungry – Susan Meissner’s The Girl in the Glass – takes place predominantly in Italy and food is definitely a big part of the experience there. I wanted Italian food something fierce!
Rare, good luck book find — I recently discovered Donna Jo Stone, When the Wildflowers Bloom Again. It’s about the aftermath of a rape and pregnancy of a young teen. It’s really well-done without details. Beautiful imagery. Very thought-provoking.
Book I loved that made me want to jig –
Transported me to another place – Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell – the tiny European kingdom of Lethersby (created)
Has a meeting place I’d love to hang out in – Rae Walsh’s, The Lost Art of Reverie. It’s book one of the Aveline series. The FMC transforms an old Victorian of her grandmother’s into a bistro as well as her home. She is a chef and her meals sound delicious. It’s a quaint community that I really enjoyed. It’s an excellent series.
A group of characters I’d want to party with — Julia and Kate from Rebekah Millet’s Beignets for Two series.
Fav St Patrick’s Day themed book: I think the only one I’ve read so far is My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh. I loved it though!
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oops, missed giving the answer for one prompt
Pepper Basham’s Jane By the Book was one of the best romances I’ve ever read. All the feels, intelligent, swoony, etc. So well done.
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I just came across Jane by the Book while I was sorting my contemporary shelves and though, ‘hmmm, this is deserving of a reread.’ 🙂 And, after Color of Sky and Stone was mentioned earlier this week I couldn’t resist ordering it. Perched atop my TBR pile now! Woohoo to Canadian authors!
I haven’t read The Girl in the Glass — must check and see if my library has it. They have lots of Susan Meissner’s books so, hopefully. Your rare book find sounds heart wrenching. Love stumbling upon something you didn’t know you were looking for. Must make a trip out to a used bookstore soon and see what I can unearth. Yess a hundred times to Christmas in the Castle Library. I’m so happy that it’s first in a series. And you’ve introduced me to a new-to-me author — Rae Walsh. That book does sound good — would fit the foodie prompt too. Thanks for sharing and adding to my wishlist, Tammy. Good luck!
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I haven’t read that one of Sara’s yet but I’ll be reading the third on in the two sparrows for a penny this year. It’s fantastic! I really like her as a person also.
I think you’ll really enjoy the Aveline series. It’s excellent. Rae Walsh is the romance/WF pen name for Rachel Devenish Ford. I haven’t read anything by her in her other genre.
The Girl in the Glass gives so much history about the art, the places, the food, etc. I felt like I was there and hearing music in the background. It’s a little different than her other books. I think I have read 14 of hers to date. I’m so excited for her upcoming release on the 18th. I’ve had it pre-ordered on audio for MONTHS!!
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