Endearing story of a doctoral researcher in Ireland who finds much more than she came for. Sensitive and poignant writing, a plot that keeps you reading and guessing, and how grace, redemption and salvation can come to rational people making irrational decisions. Definitely upped my interest in Irish history and desire to visit the land and legends. Thank you to Netgalley, Ms. Monninger, and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. The feeling of belonging to a place that one has never been is one that I truly understand. A wonderful story.

I enjoyed the story and it kept me turning the pages.
I’m not too sure about the relationship between Ozzie and Kate. I loved the description of Ireland, made me want to go. If your looking for a romantic book, definitely check this one out. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the early copy

After this book disappeared off my Kindle, I downloaded it again. I had already read it and loved it!

I very much enjoyed this book; 4.5 stars. This will probably not be the selling point for most readers, but one of the aspects of the book I enjoyed the most was the research on, history of, and exploration of the Blasket Islands off the west coast of Ireland, as Kate Moreton, the protagonist, learns more about her family history and works on her dissertation, which focuses on narratives of the former residents of the islands, especially the women who lived there. [Of course, having Irish ancestry, a degree in History, and having enjoyed the time I have spent in Ireland (though never on the west coast), that aspect of the story was a perfect fit for me.] The author created wonderful characters to assist Kate in her research and to really experience Ireland at its purest with Nora Crean (Gran), Seamus, Ozzie (the grandson of Gran and the eventual love interest of Kate), Bertie, and some of the University of Limerick staff, especially Daijeet. The burgeoning relationship between Ozzie and Kate, which does not get off to the most propitious start, is entertaining, enjoyable, romantic, and passionate.

Of course, the happiness cannot last, and Kate begins to realize that there are aspects of Ozzie's personality (which is shaped in part by his service in Afghanistan) that she does not really understand and possibly cannot handle; their marriage is not what she imagined. The second half of the book focuses on their separation, Kate trying to figure herself out, and her life becoming undone again when Ozzie re-enters her life in a most unexpected and unfortunate way, but the unexpected event gives her the opportunity to better understand her husband and herself. The book explores love, loss, expectations, how we really don't know each other or even truly know ourselves, and the power and grace of being vulnerable with someone.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is one of the best books I've read this year. It's a love story full of adventure and characters that come alive in the most wonderful way. It's definitely not a run of the mill love story. I was at times surprised and heartbroken as the story progressed.

Kate is a college professor who is studying the people who once lived on Blasket Isand off the coast of Ireland. Once landed in Ireland, Kate is looking for a seat on a crowded bus and just as she sees a vacant bench Kate is invited to sit with an older gentleman. He tells her the vacant seats must be reserved for someone important. A well appointed elderly lady is helped into those seats. Kate helps this woman and is given a card with her phone number. Nora or Gran wants to repay Kate's kindness with a visit to her home. This is where she meets Ozzie Nora's grandson.

Don't miss the chance to read this book. It's great! I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the author and St Martin's through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
#SevenLetters #NetGalley

A sweeping saga of love and loss. From the halls of Dartmouth to deserted islands in Ireland you will follow the beautiful and tragic relationship of Ozzie and Kate. The prose is beautiful and you can almost feel the chill of the wind and taste a drink by a peat fire. Misunderstandings and skewed expectations can take a toll on any relationship, and this new relationship is no exception. Sometimes you really don't know what you had until it is gone. Many issues are explored in this book and you will find it on your mind long after you finish reading,

Kate meets Ozzie when she is on leave to find more information for her dissertation. Ozzie is American he was a Navy Seal in the war.
They meet in Ireland when they ate introduced by his grandmother. They begin a relationship and decide to live on an island together. There they discover the love and mystery that is in their blood.
Interesting details of this particular place in Ireland. Good storyline.

Seven Letters is a love story filled with romance, divides, missteps and sadness. It is an all around lovely, though oft times sad and hard to read, story of two lives that become intertwined then broken apart.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed of Seven Letters from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What a tragically beautiful love story! I became completely engrossed in Kate's quest for knowledge of the Irish Blasket Islanders, as well as her life, and fell head over heels in love with Ozzie. Well done.
--A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and J.P. Monninger for the ARC.

I received this book "Seven Letters" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. A beautiful love story. Definitely transports you right there to Ireland. I enjoyed reading this book.

As soon as I read the first letter I knew I was going to love this story. And oh I did!

This isn't a traditional romance story in beautiful Ireland. It is a deep, soulful, character-driven story of love, loss, brokenness, sin, and redemption. Kate is Irish through and through. Her dream of seeing the Blasket Islands and finishing her dissertation is finally coming around. She will be able to live by the sea and finish her research regarding the islands and how even her own family had been evacuated.

But life is never as tidy as that. When Ozzie comes along, it's as if their souls knew each other at once. There was a palpable feeling of connection in the way the author told this story. The descriptions of the sea, the saltiness you could almost taste, the wild beauty of the islands and the warmth of the people. Ozzie and Kate are an island in a vast sea of people.

I don't want to give anything away with this review. Just read it. And now I shall make myself a nice cup of tea and read it slower and savor all of the feels it has to offer.

Brilliant Work!

NetGalley/ October 8th, 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, since it was a romance, but the scenery and the characters had me from the start. It was for the most part a peaceful, dreamy read, but then there were the rough seas, both literally and figuratively! I found it hard to put down.
I'm really glad that I didn't read enough reviews or spoilers to be clued in on the ending, and I would suggest that you also resist that temptation! You will thank me later. I found it interesting, lovely, peaceful, exciting, maddening, sad, poignant, rueful, retrospective, thoughtful and hopeful. Many thanks to Net Galley, JP Monninger and the publisher for the ARC, in return for an honest review.

SEVEN LETTERS by J. P. Monninger is a beautifully-written and romantic novel about love, family and the meaning of home. Set mostly in present day Ireland, the vivid descriptions of the settings transported me there with the characters. The story is told from the single point of view of Kate Moreton, a Ph.D. student at Dartmouth University who ventures to her father’s homeland of Ireland to research the history of the people of the Blasket Islands for her dissertation. Soon after arriving in Ireland, Kate meets Ozzie, an Irish-American fisherman who is struggling with a past that haunts him deeply. Against her better judgment, Kate falls desperately in love with Ozzie and puts everything in her life on hold to pursue a life with him. Their journey together is both moving and heart-wrenching as they deal with tragedy, misunderstanding, separation and redemption. I truly enjoyed this compelling and emotional story of love, loss and forgiveness and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

After reading 'The Map That Leads to You' (which I adored), I couldn't wait to read this book. Although not quite as much of a favorite as the previously mentioned novel, 'Seven Letters' as magical, and romantic and will make all lovers of romance and women's fiction quite happy.

This novel is not one that I would normally pick up and read since it is mostly romance, and not even a totally believable romance, at that. Kate is on sabbatical from her teaching position in Dartmouth and has decided to spend her time in the Blasket Islands in Ireland. There she meets a fisherman with dual citizenship in the U.S. and in Ireland, but he has no plans to return to the U.S. since he is recovering from serving in the war in Afghanistan. Both Ozzie and Kate seem to have issues, but Kate is telling the story so she is the one about whom we learn the most. Kate and Ozzie fall in love way too quickly and get married so fast that it made my head spin. Then, Ozzie begins to behave strangely and Kate flees back to the U.S. The whole story was magical if wholly unbelievable. Readers of contemporary fiction and romance will enjoy this tale set mostly in Ireland with a lot of action in the United States as well. Although it was not my cup of tea, I am certain that others will find the magic in this love story and thoroughly enjoy it.

I received a copy of Seven Letters By J.P. Monninger from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I give Seven Letters by J.P. Monninger 5 stars! What a beautiful depiction of Ireland and magical storytelling of the myth in the beginning. Absolutely enchanting! The love between Kate and Ozzie is beautiful, yet haunting. A story of love and loss. A powerful read and I definitely recommend this book.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. In this book we get to meet Kate Moreton and Ozzie Ferriter and I just loved this story. I loved getting to see where Kate and Ozzie end up and their journey to the end. This book was such an easy read and I highly recommend this title you will not be disappointed.

I received a copy of SEVEN LETTERS on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

FIVE stars and here’s why:

The book drew me in from the get-go. I thoroughly enjoyed J.P. Monniger’s first book – THE MAP THAT LEADS TO YOU. Once again, the author has a beautifully written story here that is very hard to put down. Total book hangover. Each person experiences life and death and tragedy in their own unique way. The author portrayed emotionally raw characters who are dealing with death and anxiety and life in different ways. I found it to be a real page-turner. Once again, I fell in love with the story and rooted for the characters. I realize it’s one of these stories that stays with you long after you finish reading it. It’s been two weeks and I’m still thinking about it. Highly recommend.

A beautiful story of love and hope. A book that stays with you long after you close the last page !