Fans of Cecelia Aherne and Nicholas Sparks are going to love this beautifully written and richly atmospheric tale by J.P. Monninger: Seven Letters. A book that will touch your heart and lift your spirits, keep a box of tissues nearby because you are certainly going to need them!

Kate Moreton is on a sabbatical in Ireland, where she is taking a break from all the stress of her teaching job at Dartmouth College. A majestic land full of poetry, music, breath-taking vistas and charming people, Ireland has the power to heal and the ability to mend broken souls. While in Ireland, Kate comes across Ozzie Ferriter, a fisherman and veteran of the American war in Afghanistan who has his own ghosts to vanquish and demons to battle. The hardship and conflicts that have marked Ozzie’s life for so long have certainly left their toll on him and he has come to Ireland seeking sanctuary and peace from the war still raging within him. All Ozzie wants is to be left alone to learn to cope with all the challenges that lie ahead of him, but a chance encounter with Kate ends up changing his life forever.

Kate and Ozzie quickly find themselves drawn to one another and soon they find themselves giving into temptation and acting upon their attraction for each other. As their relationship gives way to a love that simply cannot be denied, Kate and Ozzie begin to create a life for themselves away from the pressures and stresses of the real world. But their idyllic paradise will soon end up jeopardised by the intrusion of the real world that sees Ozzie become reckless with his life and endanger not just Kate’s safety, but also their relationship.

Unable to see the man she loves with all of her heart self-destruct, Kate realizes that she cannot stand by and watch him throw his life away, so she makes the most difficult decision of her life and returns back to the United States, heartbroken, devastated and completely and utterly alone. Kate realizes that she will never love another man in the same way she loved Ozzie, however, when she receives news that Ozzie has been lost at sea, she finds herself forced to make yet another heart-breaking decision: she can either forget him and move on with her life or she can return back to the one place where she felt safe and loved- Ireland.

A hypnotic, seductive and searingly emotional page-turner, Seven Letters is a book about hope, love, loss and the ties that bind that will grab a hold of you and simply not let you go. Dramatic, uplifting, hopeful yet devastating, in Seven Letters, J.P. Monninger effortlessly and deftly plumbs the depths of the human heart with a story that will linger in your mind long after the last page is turned.

A book that will make you fall deeply in love and one that will make you want to board the first plane to Ireland, Seven Letters is a sensational read that is as hard to put down as it is to forget!

This book will definitely touch your heart. Kate goes to Ireland to do her doctorate on the Blasket Island. She meets Gran and then her grandson, Ozzie who is recovering from the things he saw in Afghanistan> She falls in love with Ozzie and they do wonderfully for awhile. Kate does not understand Ozzie and she has her idea of what a marriage should be like so in the end she goes back to being an associate professor at Dartmouth. There are seven letters which move Kate's life in one direction or another. Is this the end for Kate and Ozzie? You have to read this story to see where life takes them.

How to explain this story? Truly a unusual story...as I was reading this, I actually wasn’t sure what to make of it. Lots of sadness and heartache but, also, lots of love and hope.
I loved the descriptions of the scenery and the love between Kate and Ozzie. At times the story seems to just stall and then it would jump forward in time.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but it didn’t wow me.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book and give my honest review.

I think the time has come for me to accept that JP Monninger is probably not an author for me. Years ago, I loved this style of book (very Nicholas Sparks-esque on the romance scale - another writer who I've also given up on in recent years) but these sad, troubled, drawn out romances just don't work for me anymore. Monninger is a beautiful writer and his books certainly reflect that, but the plot and pacing unfortunately lose me.

There are many romance readers who loved this book and I know I am in the minority, so I hope other readers will consider multiple reviews as well as think about what styles they like best before tossing it aside based solely on me!

I've been honored to be part of this book tour so I'd take this opportunity to thank the publisher for the invite and for sending this book in exchange of an honest review.

As you all know, I have the habit of not reading the blurb fully, I will just read the book and wait for that feeling of wanting to continue or stopping and not finishing the book (so far this doesn't happen much). For Seven Letters, the moment I read the first few chapters I fell in love with it already. I feel like reading and traveling with the character at the same time. The way the sceneries and people were described in the book, I feel like I am actually there. I haven't read a book that has featured Ireland until this one and I felt giddy, I guess I should put that as my travel destination in the future. The book is beautiful.

I enjoyed reading each characters as well, especially Kate and Ozzie. Can this book be a movie? I'd love to watch them in the big screen. Reading their story is just amazing. You know, meeting a stranger and falling in love in a new place where people doesn't know anything about who you are. Their story was impossible for my mind to grasp but of course stories like this really happen in real world right? It's just beautiful and it's like a fairy tale story. Also from the book, the challenge of what will happen in the future hangs in the air but Kate and Ozzie with their dog Gottfried are just enjoying the present. Future will come for them but together, they will face it. Kate is a sweet lady who decided to visit Ireland to continue her research while Ozzie, is the grandson of one of the rich people in Ireland, he was once a soldier but he decided to quit and stay in Ireland. The story of Kate and Ozzie are pretty much one of a kind.

On a serious note, I do hope this really become a movie. I think it would be beautiful in the big screen. The book is already a masterpiece what more if we're watching it right? Also, I would love to see who will be Kate and who will be Ozzie.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy of this book and inviting me onto the Blog Tour. All opinions are my own.

I rate this book a 3 out of 5 Stars.

I wanted a book that was going to make me feel all mushy gushy, something dripping with love, and some heartache. Because that is the kind of Romance I love to read. This fit the bill.

Seven Letters really was a heartfelt read, Monninger wrote with great passion. I loved the characters, and found them very realistic, and easy to grow attached to. I loved her smooth writing style, and how the pages just seemed to flow easily. I didn’t find myself getting bored, or eye rolling a lot, which I tend to do with Romance Novels.

It really was such a beautiful prose and the synopsis had me so pumped to read it. I loved The Map That Leads To You, and although I didn’t love this one as much, I still really liked it. I think Monninger will be my go to Author when I am craving a good romance/love story. Because in the rare instances I want to read them, J.P. Monninger’s books have satisfied the cravings.

Also, I want to add that my husband is a Veteran, so I had already felt a connection Ozzie and his desire to be away from people and places. Some of his traits I’ve seen in my own spouse. I enjoyed that aspect.

The theme of this book is set right from the opening Irish tale of love lost due to foolish (or selfish) choices. The author traces one woman’s journey over many years, paralleling the fable from the prologue. I enjoyed reading Kate and Ozzie’s story. I thought the author did an incredible job with detail, especially when it came to the Blasket Islands. Reading those stories made me curious about the realities, and I researched them further; what I found was fascinating. I also liked how the author made the point that there is often another side to people that even those closest cannot see. There is so much truth to that. I definitely recommend this book. For a complete review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary digital ARC of this book.

I really looked forward to getting back to this story when I was away from it. I enjoyed Monninger’s voice, her vivid Irish settings including the yurt and cottage, the funny banter between Kate and Ozzie, and Kate’s introspection and emotional exploration after her relationship has faltered.

The pacing and plot felt somewhat uneven to me—particularly the events and tone of the Italy section and the short relationship with another professor. It felt as though the many sections and settings didn’t gel together like I would have imagined—but maybe that’s how a life lived feels, in a way, with different chapters and zigzags to the next. The book started slowly for me as she eased into her Irish explorations, but that probably suited that section of the story.

A minor note: I found the frequency with which Kate addressed her friend Milly by name while with her or talking to her on the phone or Skype distracting (and unrealistic). I’m imagining that Monninger just loves the name Milly!

3.75 stars/4 for me.

I was provided an advance reader’s copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about Seven Letters. This is the first book I've read by J.P. Monninger, and I was very impressed with the setting of the story. I could so vividly imagine the Irish isles in my mind. Could practically taste the salt air. I loved everything about the setting, and thought that Kate and Ozzie's romance was a unique one.

But here is where my mixed feelings come in: I just didn't think they had an EPIC love story. And I think a lot of that has to do with not knowing more about Ozzie. I wish we got more inside his mind, what he was going through. He was clearly tortured as a result of his time at war, and those demons were hard for him to shake. It manifested in many ways, the worst of which had him and Kate splitting. But when they split, I was sad, but I wasn't gutted. And I wanted to be. So when the rest of the story unfolded, I didn't feel the tug at my heartstrings that I wished I would.

There is a nice cast of supporting players. Milly is a great friend, Gran was a darling old woman. I enjoyed the story very much, but I didn't think it was the epic love tale that i expected it would be.

I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and St. Martin's Press and voluntarily left a review.

Kate is working on her PhD. She has decided to research the history of the Blasket Islands. She takes a sabbatical and takes off to study in Ireland. She never planned to fall in love.
At first, I did not feel a very strong connection between Kate and Ozzie. Basically because I thought of Ozzie as self centered and self absorbed. And Kate should have never accepted some of his excuses. As a matter of fact, I almost abandoned this tale because I disliked Ozzie so much. However, as their love grows, so does my belief in him.
The scenery and the rich history of the Blasket Islands is what makes this tale. This is a beautifully written story. I bet the movie will be fantastic with the Irish coast as a setting. Nothing like researching a new place!

J.P. Monninger has crafted an exquisite novel in Seven Letters. The author has a gift for making readers feel that they are on a journey with the characters. Places including Ireland and Italy come to vivid life in the novel. In addition, there is a good history lesson on the Blasket Islands in the book. I want to visit there and know more about the people who once lived on the islands.

The main characters in the novel are Ozzie, a damaged war vet and Kate, a professor at Dartmouth College. Their meeting, their relationship, their pasts all are beautifully described. The reader roots for them and wishes for their hard earned happiness...but can it be?

I highly recommend this lush beautiful novel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the wonderful read in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel On August 4, 2019, from Netgalley, J. P. Monninger, and St. Martins Press - Griffin. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest personal opinion of this work. This is a book I will want to read again, by an author I will follow.

Kate Moreton is a member of the teaching staff at Dartmouth working on her dissertation, a close family history of the settlement of the Blasket Islands off the south and west coasts of Ireland, and then the removal of those settlers by the Irish Land Commission in 1953. She has received a scholarship that will allow her to spend a semester in that area, doing research and taking oral histories to add those stories of her father, deceased these last 4 years, and the memories and histories of the enclave of Blasket Islanders who immigrated and settled, along with her family, in the Springfield/Chicopee areas of Massachusetts. She has already a lot of information and feels that a few months on the site will finish her work, and she can move on.

J. P. Monninger takes us to those isles, that isolated part of Ireland, her words providing a clear picture of that area, making real the heartbreak being removed from those islands and that way of life was for her family and others. Kate meets many interesting people on her travels to Dingle Peninsula, the dropping off place for the Islands. Most notably she is touched by ancient Nora Crean and her sidekick Shamus. Not to mention Nora's grandson Ozzie Ferriter, a fellow American and military veteran who recently served in Afghanistan. Already she is feeling immersed in the lore that is Ireland. From Dingle, she makes her way to the University of Limerick, where she will live in a small apartment and have a free hand at the associated library to work on her research. It is summer, so many of the carrels at the library are not being used, but Kate gets along well with the occasional drop-in and finds herself with growing friendships among the staff at the university. And then she meets again Ozzie and finds herself falling hard, almost against her will, for this troubled man. And as are most who love those deeply damaged by war, she cannot find a way to reach him, help him, even understand him.

But once back home, neither can she forget him. This is an excellent novel with much information and interaction with the refugee problems in Europe and Africa, an exceptional look at what can and cannot be done to help those refugees find asylum, all tied up in an interesting tour of New England Winter and Italy's involvement in the Syrian crisis. It sounds complicated, but it all folds together through seven letters, to and from various protagonists. This is a special read.

I received an ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Synopsis:
Kate Moreton is in Ireland on sabbatical from her teaching position at Dartmouth College when she meets Ozzie Ferriter, a fisherman and a veteran of the American war in Afghanistan. The Ferriter family history dates back centuries on the remote Blasket Islands, and Ozzie – a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States – has retreated to the one place that might offer him peace from a war he cannot seem to leave behind.

Beside the sea, with Ireland’s beauty as a backdrop, the two fall deeply in love and attempt to live on an island of their own making, away from the pressures of the outside world. Ireland writes its own love stories, the legends claim, and the limits of Kate and Ozzie’s love and faith in each other will be tested. When his demons lead Ozzie to become reckless with his life—and Kate’s—she flees for America rather than watch the man she loves self-destruct. But soon a letter arrives informing Kate that her heroic husband has been lost at sea, and Kate must decide whether it is an act of love to follow him or an act of mercy to forget. (less)

Review:
This is the first book I've read by J.P. Monninger.. After reading this one, it won't be the last! It is a book that gives you all the feels. It is an emotional rollercoaster that goes full throttle. It is almost hard to find words to actually review the book since it left me in that sad space of not having more words to read. The book is very moving. The tale it tells is magnificently done and may be one of 2019's best reads for me this year!

I was totally drawn to this book by the book synopsis. At the start of the book, Kate is an academic who is travelling to Ireland to do some on-site research. She has a connection to family there, and she's looking for ... something. She finds her adventure and more.

When she meets war veteran Ozzie Ferriter, it's more like a small explosion. Ozzie has some issues of his own. Kate and Ozzie fall for each other and marry but it's not an easy relationship since they don't really know each other. When Kate returns to the US, she's ready to begin a new life, but when her life in Ireland comes calling she will need to resolve all that she left behind there.

Seven Letters is a love story that has it all -- a great location, interesting characters and the highs and lows of living a life. It's told all from Kate's perspective, and I would have loved to have a little bit of Ozzie's perspective as well in the story. One aspect of the story I really enjoyed was the descriptions of Ireland and the islands. It made Ireland almost another character in the story and I love it when that happens.

Overall, a satisfying and enjoyable romance.

An ARC was provided for review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Griffin, and JP Monniger for the opportunity to read and review his latest book. Like The Map That Leads to You, which I enjoyed, this book is also part travelogue, letting me experience the beauty and history of Ireland.

Kate Moreton is a PhD student at Dartmouth, studying the Blasket Islands of Ireland. Kate grew up listening to her father's story of Ireland and these islands and is thrilled to be going there to complete her dissertation. But fate has a different path for her - she meets and falls in love with Ozzie, a fisherman with emotional scars left from his time in the war. Their romance is fast and furious and they end up getting married, until Kate wonders who she actually did marry and flees the country and Ozzie.

Besides the beautiful visions of Ireland this book revealed, the story of Kate and Ozzie was one to fall into. They both were real characters with real emotions and flaws. I loved the seven letters too, leading the story into the next phases.

This book took me to Ireland in a way that I never thought possible. With a story of love and loss and regrets. I was not expecting all this to be in this book! That being said, I didnt love it. It is driving me mad trying to figure out why. I liked the characters and the setting but the writing style wasnt my favorite. I found myself getting a little bored.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review. Because I read an early copy of the story, some of the details mentioned might not fully correspond to the final published version of the book.
I had never read any of the author’s work before, but the description of the setting, the protagonist and her reasons for visiting Ireland drew me in. I had read about the Blasket Islands in a previous book and become fascinated by what I came across, and, personally, I would love to have the opportunity to be a scholar researching the topic, in Ireland. The novel offered me the chance to vicariously live that experience through the main character, and I did enjoy it enormously. The beautiful writing, interspersed with Irish sayings, stories, and references to books were pure delight.
I am not a big reader of romance, and perhaps for that reason, the aspects of the novel that I most enjoyed were not the truly romantic ones, that I found a bit over the top. Kate, the protagonist, has a strong Irish (and Blasket Islands) connection, and she seems more than ready to fall in love —and under the spell— of Ireland, and the islands in particular. I did love the setting of the story, the description of her life at the university, her research, the people she meets there, and I would have loved to know more about some of the secondary characters (the Bicycle Society members, for example, Gran, Seamus, Daijeet, Dr Kaufman, and even Milly although we learn more about her later). Also, and I suspect I might be in the minority here, I would have loved to have had more details of Kate’s research, for example, samples of the stories she reads and of the book she writes (she is studying women’s accounts of the life in the Blasket Islands before they were abandoned and the few inhabitants left there had to move out), although I know there are accounts published and available, but her work process, and her description of how she felt as she engaged in it resonated with me (yes, I have a PhD and re-experiencing that period was a huge bonus for me).
Of course, Kate’s experience in Ireland would not be complete without a romance, and we meet the man in question very early on, and no, readers don’t need to be avid romance consumers to spot him and know where things are headed. As I said, not being a habitual romance reader, I wasn’t too convinced by that side of things. I never felt we got to know Ozzie well, but that is reasonable in the context of the story, as Kate seems to falls in love/lust with an idea or an image in her head, more than with the real man, and neither one of them give each other much chance to know what they are getting into and who with. Because we see the story from Kate’s perspective, we are expected to see him through rose-tinted glasses, at least initially, although things (and him) don’t fit neatly into the romanticized image she has in her head. (Oh, there are sex scenes as well, but they are not explicit and are overly romantic and totally unrealistic, but hey, as I don’t like sex scenes, I was pleased they were not many and didn’t mind they were unrealistic). Theirs is the perfect embodiment of a whirlwind romance. As we all know, the course of true love never did run smooth, and there are separations, trials, and many obstacles in the way, some that go well beyond what most people would expect from a typical novel in this genre, and deal in some very serious issues (like the Mediterranean refugee crisis), so although this is a romantic novel, it is not a light and cheery read (although yes, there is the mandatory happy ending that I won’t spoil for you).
The structure and the way the story is told is quite original, as it revolves around letters, the seven letters of the title, some formal and official, some personal, and they help create the backbone of the novel, written in the first person, from Kate’s perspective. In fact, although the novel is classed as a romance (and I’ve mentioned some of the more conventional romantic aspects of the story), for me it seemed to fit better into the Bildungsroman or coming-of-age story (although the character is perhaps a bit older than most of these kinds of characters tend to be), and it is written as if it were a memoir, where the letters serve as anchors, points around which the protagonist organizes her memories of the events, because although the story is told chronologically, it is not linear and there are jumps in time, during which life has gone on and settled, but the narration is only retrieved when something of some significance to Kate’s journey and to her relationship with Ozzie takes place. (There are scenes that showed potential, for example, an archeological trip Kate gets involved in, but it ends up becoming only a setting for an encounter with Ozzie, and we are given no details as to what else might have happened during the trip). Although she is not the typical innocent-abroad of many XIX and early XX century novels, she does not know herself, her trip abroad changes things and she goes back to the USA a changed woman, although there are many more things that she must learn, not only about herself but also about others, before the end of the book. Her process of discovery felt realistic, and I empathized with her struggle between her idea of what her life should be like, what her heart wants, and her attempts to reconcile the two, if possible. Oh, there is also a prologue including a lovely Irish story about a man falling in love with a fairy woman, although, to me, in this case Kate plays the part of the man —who cannot settle in the magical land and misses home— and Ozzie that of the fairy woman.
I agree with comments that say perhaps the story would have gained in depth and become more realistic if some part of it had been told from Ozzie’s point of view, but, considering Ozzie’s backstory, that would have been a completely different book, and one that would have taken the focus away from the romantic angle.
In sum, this is a story I enjoyed, and I don’t hesitate in recommending it to romance readers, in particular to lovers of Ireland and anything Irish. There are many elements that make the story worthy of reading even for those who are not big on romance, especially the setting, the beautiful language, and the protagonist, who although flawed and contradictory, loves books, scholarship, her friends, Ireland and has a wonderful zest for life. The descriptions, not only of Ireland, but also of New Hampshire, Italy, and other settings, take readers on a lyrical journey, and I was sorry it came to an end. Oh, and there’s a wonderful dog too.

As you might know by now, the mere mention of Ireland is enough for me to be highly interested in a book. This time however, it wasn’t only that, it was also my prior experience with J.P. Monninger’s writing that had me excited to pick up Seven Letters.
I loved the story it had to offer. It had a few twists in it, but it was heartwarming. I thought it was beautifully executed, I really enjoyed how it was laid out and paced. It was so well written, the descriptions of Ireland were masterful, and so vivid that they jumped from the page. The relationships set between the characters felt dynamic, which made the book even more entertaining.
I was engrossed in the book from the beginning and I had a hard time putting it down, eager to find out what happened next. It’s an excellent romance read that you should definitely pick up.

Seven Letters was a contemporary love story and I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in J.P. Monninger's words.   I was captivated from the outset and remained engrossed throughout this tale with its themes of love, loss and regrets.   It was a story of self evaluation, reflection and ultimately of hope and redemption.

Kate Moreton, the central character, was beginning a 12 month research project for her dissertation centred on the Blasket Islands off the south west coast of Ireland.    Not only was she discovering the sheer beauty of Ireland and her fathers beloved homeland, but this was also a journey of self discovery.
Without going into too many details for fear of spoiling the story, Kate met and fell in love with Ozzie Ferriter, a local fisherman recently returned from serving in the US Navy and doing his part in the Afghanistan war.     Theirs was a deep love but it was not without its challenges.  Ozzie carried dark secrets home from the war and he would not relinquish his burden of guilt.   Whilst at sea with Ozzie a fierce storm caused Kate to re-evaluate her priorities particularly what she wanted from her relationship.  However it was only after a tragedy that she began to appreciate the value of the man she had so easily let go.     Kate goes through a grieving process and there is no small measure of regret.    But the story has an element of hope too as the author touches upon the Syrian refugee crisis and the ways some people have done their part to help the children and families impacted.

Each of the characters and relationships were well developed and provided food for thought.   I reflected on some of the hard truths Kate learned and applied them to those things I value most in life.  
In the Acknowledgements the author wrote <b> "All novels are co-created in the pen of the writer and the mind of the reader. Thanks for listening to my story.</b>    It was my pleasure and I too give thanks to J.P.Monninger, St Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.


P.S.
This author has me intrigued and somewhat impressed. Kate was a thoroughly convincing female character and I'd have sworn she was written by another woman, perhaps based upon the authors own experiences.    Not so it seems as J.P Monninger also writes as Joseph Monninger.    Kudos on transcending gender boundaries and bringing Kate to life as you did.

This was my first time reading this author, and one the things I loved the most about the experience was to be surprised by the strong narrative voice, the fantastic writing and the story itself. The descriptive level took me to a beautiful place because it wasn’t hard to feel I was there with the characters, witnessing their story unfold. And what a story, my friends.
Kate goes to Ireland to write a thesis and ends up falling deeply and madly in love with Ozzie, and they quickly built a bubble, a little island, around them to keep the world apart from them. But there’s a thing about those “fast and furious” romances, and that’s you don’t really know the person you’re with, his or her past, his or her secrets, what will make him or her smile, and what will break you apart. And Ozzie is one of those persons that doesn’t share his burdens but keep them inside him.
The story was pretty romantic. Heartbreaking for some moments, but beautiful nevertheless. It takes many twists and turns as Kate grows into an adult, also take us on a journey to discover what true love, trust and forgiveness are about. Seven Letters is one of those stories that will keep you turning pages and guessing until the very end. So, if romance is your jam, I definitely recommend giving this book a chance.