Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

 Isolation can happen in a city, at work, or anywhere people gather.  Those are the same places that relationships grow.  

Forever a resident of Ireland, Eleanor Oliphant has no intentions of disrupting her strategic and purposeful regime of work and weekends of pizza and soothing vodka.  She has a respectable job, which many may consider boring, a subsidized place to call home, a weekly call to her mum, and her life is plain and simple.  

This is her life-long plan to keep the past from distracting the rest of her life.  

Her coworkers occasionally whisper or make jokes about her detachment, otherwise they ignore her for anything other than work.  The new IT worker, Raymond, is the exception.  

Eleanor's computer has an issue, and Raymond eventually gets to her desk.  She's not impressed with his careless dress and sloppy attitude.  It surprises her when he somehow inserts himself in small parts of her days until they help rescue an older man who's fallen on the sidewalk and needs an assist.  

Raymond is super friendly, ready to give a hand, and always open for a new friend.  Eleanor is the opposite, so she grudgingly responds on limited terms.  Besides, she recently decided to remake herself from the outside, to hide her ugly past, and find the perfect man she saw in an ad for a local concert. How hard can it be?

This is a lovely story of unassuming colleagues getting to know each other, while having no intentions.  As details of their lives are slowly exposed, their need and respect grow.  It's this that helps Eleanor realize what she has to do to be whole and happy and Raymond is a specific ingredient. 

Happy reading,

Dawn Kunda

 

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson

 Cassie O' Hara is in a rut.  Keep lamenting the lost groom-to-be, as she is doing, or move on.  So far, this Christmas season she's chosen to keep reminding herself of her loss by watching her almost wedding video.  Right up to when her fiancé, at the altar of course, said he couldn't finish the nuptials.  

Worthless, that's how she feels.  Her sister and her mom aren't any help with their constant reminders of her uselessness.  Cassie comes up with a great idea, egged on by her BFF, and decides to skip the Manhattan Christmas.

With a small inheritance from her grandmother, Nora, she books a trip to England for a month with hopes of a vintage and magical Christmas.  Her reservation at Whimsy Cottage should do it.

Whimsy cottage is cold, dusty, and with sheets over the sparse furniture.  Now what?

The nearest pub should be warm and offer food.  If the dog stalking her on her trek down the street signifies the coming month in England, she might be in trouble.

A tall, gregarious, and handsome Irish man, Ryan, takes Cassie under his wing, advising her to contact Charles, Lord Bancroft, about a suitable room until the Whimsy Cottage is prepped.

Ryan is the local handyman, and Charles is the local lord.  They both have Cassie's well-being in hand.  She helps Ryan clean the cottage along with deep discussions over a pint or two of Guiness.  Charles offers his mansion during cleanup time including deep discussions and plentiful warmth and food.

Cassie hasn't had a legitimate date in three years, and now two eligible and fine men want her attention.  Who wins her heart and how does he triumph over the other?  Not to mention the country she must choose!  

Love is a wonderful experience surrounded by snow, lights, and decorations of an English Christmas.

Happy reading,

Dawn    

  

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

 Doesn't matter what hospital you're in but as Claire Walsh gives birth to her new little angel in London, she is exhilarated.  For a few minutes until her husband, James, sits next to her bed with little interest in the swaddled baby.

He tells her he is leaving her for the woman downstairs from their apartment.

Now what?

On maternity leave, Claire packs up and ventures to her parents and sisters in Ireland.  

Claire doesn't have a problem voicing her opinion, and you certainly will get pagefuls of her contempt toward her husband along with her doubts of marriage, men, and what the hell will she do now.

On another page, she meets a gorgeous man, Adam, and has a night with him.  Loaded with his own baggage, Claire doesn't take the romance too seriously.

Besides, James flies over the pond to discuss how they can remain married.  According to him, it's all her fault and if she changes everything can be perfect.

Push the knife in, twist and pull.  

With a lot of mind-probing and heckling from her family, Claire tries all avenues until she finds the clear path to love and happiness.

Happy reading,

Dawn

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

 Just what we want to talk about after the holidays is a guest list.  Although, the list for this romance is for a wedding on an exclusive island off of Ireland.

The wedding is from the perspective of several of the guests, the bride, the plus-one (an extra friend who had something to say), the best man, the wedding planner, and a bridesmaid.

Anxiety during weddings come in all forms.  The bride, Jules, wonders if the groom loves her and it's the right choice.  The plus-one,  Hannah, worries that her current boyfriend, an ex of Jules, is going to be competition.  Johnno, the best man, has always been felt to be lesser of a person than the groom.  The wedding planner, Aoife, naturally wants everything perfect even if the ghosts of the island spook her.  And Olivia, the bridesmaid, stresses about doing everything to plan in order to keep Jules happy.

They all have their personal grudges.  Some just want to leave the island married, in love, and part of someone else's beautiful day.

That's until death pops up at the most inopportune time.  Which one with a sore heart or mind will be the murderer of love?

The story boasts a full crew of characters to keep track of, but make a note to yourself as you read because it's worth the surprise ending! 

On the Edge, A Dublin Nights Novel by Brittney Sahin

The first two things in this romance are a paradox to me because I love Dublin, Ireland and hate fighting.  So, of course, I had to read this story and find out what Brittney Sahin  creates to make me love the tale.

Granted an internship in Dublin, Anna, filled with excitement and fear, packs up and leaves the U.S. for the summer.  

Her roommate in Ireland is as good as a blind date.  She found Leslie online, the supposed woman who turns out to be a man.  Only she meets Adam instead on her entry of the apartment.

Adam is Leslie's best friend, a fighter - kind of like boxing only worse and illegal, and a billionaire.  Quite the unique combination.  Leslie had been beat up pretty bad in the ring, so Adam is sent to meet Anna.

The meeting of Adam and Anna is uncomfortable, but it is even worse when Anna starts her internship and finds Adam is her boss and owner of the tech company.  

Leslie is still a big part, but hardly seen.  He also fights and lost a lot of money.  Adam had quit fighting, but is put in a position to get his friend out of trouble and ultimately to keep Anna safe.  Adam is blackmailed into returning to the fight, almost a bad addiction for him.

Let's not forget, during the close contact Adam and Anna continually have, they are extremely attracted and can't hide that fact.  I have to like her because she abhors fighting just like me.  He has some hidden good points other than being a fine business man.  Between his looks and charitable goodwill, Anna just might be able to find a good man in him.

Let's hope she gets a job through her internship, can overcome the distance from her family, and he finds a way to stay away from the fighting!

Happy reading,

Dawn

  

Wild Irish Heart (Mystic cove Series) by Tricia O'Malley

 Get a book in the mail, and you never know what will happen.

Keelin O'Brien received a mysterious, old journal in the mail.  It was from her grandmother, far from Massachusetts in Ireland.  This must mean her grandmother, Fiona, had passed, or why else would she have parted with her secrets?

Keelin knew there was something special about herself, and now was the time to find out.  Also, Ireland would be a perfect place to study the ocean and prepare her thesis.  Mostly, she wanted to know about her grandmother. 

Keelin planned to spend the summer at her grandmother's cottage.  Not only did she walk into a great surprise upon arrival, but she also met several eligible bachelors that had no idea how to woo a lady.  That didn't matter because she preferred different, eccentric, unique, or whatever the Irish way was called. 

Flynn certainly fit all of those, and Keelin still didn't know what to do with him when she got a special feeling every time he turned up.  

No matter, she had more important things to figure out, including what to do with her magic.  Those things that were so different about herself didn't come from her imagination.  She had a lot to learn about how she can help heal the world, or at least the community around her.

Flynn acted as Fiona's handyman.  He was as gorgeous as silent.  Keelin had trouble reading his thoughts, but he popped up at all the right times.  The first indication that he wasn't an ogre appeared as a fury puppy as an  "I'm sorry" for  his distant attitude.

Was there hope for Keelin to finish her thesis, learn her magic, and break through Flynn's hard shell?  The cool nights, a mysterious cove, and the enchanting greenery of Ireland cast its magic on Keelin's visit.

Happy reading,

Dawn
  

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts

The story opens in the thirteenth century, Ireland as we meet the Dark Witch, her children, special pets, and the evil man, Cabhan, who wants her more than life.  And he proves it, which takes us to current day at the same spot in Ireland and with several generations later of the Dark Witch's descendants.
Little did Iona know that her reason to spontaneously leave her uncaring family and move to Ireland wasn't the same reason that Ireland "called" her.  She wants to meet her two cousins and make a life near them.
Iona wants freedom, to work with horses, a friend would be nice, and possibly a nice man to pay attention to her.  I don't think she's asking for much.
It's a magical story, literally, as we encounter Iona's cousins, Branna and Connor.  Iona is welcomed into their home and life.  The cousins explain to Iona that she makes the trio of witches to complete the power to fight the evil witch, Cabhan, who still survives to this day.
Wait!  The cousins are witches, and...wait! So is Iona!  She knows nothing about magic, but is easily convinced to give it a whirl.
This doesn't mean she's giving up on the rest of her ideas.  And with her new connections, she is accepted to work at a horse ranch for a man, Boyle, whom she can't keep her eyes and maybe her hands from touching.
As Iona is taught the magic of the witches, she is tested in scary ways.  Between herself, her cousins, Boyle, and a few friends, Iona finds out whether she's cut out to be a witch and if Boyle can accept such a powerful woman in his life.
A challenging group of characters who had to figure out how to fit together and figure out their puzzle, and a beautiful puzzle it was!

Happy reading,
Dawn

A Romance Author's Vacation...Fourth and Final

Our last place on the tour for Ireland is Waterford!  Yes, the amazing and sparkly crystal that I’ve been waiting for.

We watched artisan’s create the blown glass and etch the famous designs we all want shining on our holiday tables.

Not a place to have a problem with the credit card.  I chose a large selection of crystal and jittered with anticipation and smiles as the very helpful salesman (who had traveled to a Wisconsin Waterford store) rang up my choices.  I had carefully selected pieces made at the store we were in.  The card didn’t go through.  OMG!  And the bus will leave in ten minutes.

I had to leave without the treasures.

Later called the credit card by their 24/7 free call from anywhere in the world. 

The day before, my husband had tried to use a Tyme machine by putting the card in at least five times.  The card company though it may have been stolen, so they closed it.  After the call, all was settled and the card open.  We weren’t near the Waterford store anymore.

Long story, short, I ordered pieces online, Ireland said they don’t ship to the U.S. (only for tours), so I ordered on a different site.  The nice UPS man brought me a huge box and placed it inside my door.  Yeah!  Four days later I received another huge box.  Both orders came.  My husband laughed and said “keep it all.”

Sometimes errors work in your favor!

Across the channel and into Wales.

We visited Cardiff Castle, which was amazing with decoration and history.  This is the same castle that Harry Potter was filmed in, and on the day we arrived a wedding had been scheduled.  The groomsmen wore handsome kilts.  The bridesmaids had crimson satin dresses.  The Groom arrived in a black Jaguar with a bridal bow across the hood of the car-English tradition.

The castle was the first English castle to have electricity and plumbing because of the owner’s great wealth.  Each room had murals full of stories.  The wooden trims along the walls are embedded with real garnets, rubies, and emeralds.

During the ride back to London, I updated my notebook.  I have a hoard of ideas for another novel.  The mystery and cold of exquisite castles, the churning waters of the channels, the austere atmosphere of Heathrow, the personally ordered pieces of crystal, and the running prowess of the horses are all parts of an upcoming novel.  As soon as I write it!

 

Have a grand holiday,

A Romance Author's Vacation...Part III

As is tradition here on HEAT, an author speaks on Sundays with a giveaway!  Leave me a comment or a curious question and you’ll be in the running for an e-book of Inked (From the CIA 1)!

On with the journey of the United Kingdom!

After we traversed the lowlands and skirted the highlands of Scotland, a ferry scooted us across the North Channel between the Irish Sea and North Atlantic Ocean.  Sounds cold and frigid talking about deep waters and when I leaned over the edge of the ferry – had to do it – the churning waters below were mesmerizing.  I might have to kill someone in the waters in the next book!

Our next stop was Belfast, Northern Ireland.  Expecting to see destructed areas from the war with the IRA during the Troubles, instead we crossed a maintained and recreated city. 

We stopped at the Titanic Museum.  Really?  A museum built to honor the failure of what was supposed to be THE unsinkable ship of the times.  Okay, the story behind the museum is when the love story “The Titanic” was filmed and made oodles of money, Belfast, where the ship was built, wanted in on the cash. 

Let’s get back to the brilliant green pastures where we encountered a horse ranch, a very special ranch, The Irish National Stud.   This ranch is home of highly bred racing horses that have run the Kentucky Derby, English Derby, and other well-known races.  Owners pay some hefty fees to mate their mares with the handsome, sleek, and fast studs.

The ranch uses “Tommy the Teaser,” a tempting stud, to assure the mares are ready to mate with the paid for stud.  Prices range from 6,000 euros to a million euros for mating.  A euro is approximately $1.48 (when I was there) and constantly is in flux.

Attached to the ranch is a Japanese garden.  The garden is full of orchids, maples, streams, sculptures, and words of wisdom.  One of my Aussie friends decided to grab a piece of a statue, right between the legs…maybe she needs to read a romance

Time for a sip of Irish Scotch and a few hours of sleep before we continue.

Create an adventure and do something different!

Dawn 

A Romance Author's Vacation...Part One

You may wonder what kind of vacation a romance author takes…the main difference from your vacation and mine is that I’m still constantly thinking of a plot for the next great American romance!

I just returned from a tour of the United Kingdom…England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Wales.  I’m not a historical writer, just reader, so I think about how I can turn this tranquil kingdom into a suspenseful arena. 

Yes, I saw beautiful castles, cathedrals, landscape, and ate English food.  I’m sure you’ve all seen documentaries and magazines depicting all of the above, so I’m going to relate a few personal adventures.

After an eventful flight from O’Hare to Heathrow, yes I got sick on the plane probably from too many “relaxers”, my husband and I exited the spacecraft.  The atmosphere of Heathrow was, to say the least, a bit spooky.  The two story walls were glass and stark.  We were directed through a series of turns, stairs, and escalators with only the light from fluorescents. 

Not too bad until I noticed not a single shop or kiosk, only the people from arriving planes, and police everywhere.  It was quiet.  The bathrooms had one toilet.  England’s terrorist alert had raised a level the day before.

Led to a long line of travelers, almost two hours later we handed our travel documents, passport and card explaining who we were and our reason for arriving, to one of a dozen officers.  

I can’t help but add a little controversy.  My card read…JOB:  Govt.  I do work for the govt. (USA), but I didn’t expand.  The officer looked me up and down-no I looked a wreck at this hour.  He rummaged through my carry-on, looked me up and down again, then said, “You work for the government?”

I said, “Yes.”  Could I be more obtuse, or what?  I felt the thrill of a challenge brewing already.  With the bobbies of England!  I was messing with the police!  My heart thumped and thudded as I waited for his dark eyes and thin lips to respond.  I have a former Marine at my side and wasn’t afraid to use him.

It ended well as he chuckled, stamped my card, and moved the long line forward.  I think I was a bit relieved.

Now I am in London!  Our hotel was two blocks from the Thames and we had legs ready to go with no sleep for twenty-seven hours. 

One more story about the infamously bad English food…

That first day our stomachs drove us to find a café for breakfast.  We eagerly tried an “English breakfast.”  I thought I over reacted, but my husband didn’t like it either.  Imagine, a poached egg, tiny hash brown (not too bad yet), a mushy tasteless sausage, and flavorless baked beans.  Don’t forget that a cup of coffee comes in halfsies and no refills.  Tea is abundant, but I couldn’t solely rely on it.

Sorry, but I won’t be gaining weight in England.

So much more to tell…Our hostess, Alexis, will need to give me more time to relate the interesting parts of the tripJ

Always travel with a mission and get the most out of it!

Dawn