Once again, we are swept away to the beautiful south-west of Ireland. This is the third book in the Starlight Cottages series.
You'll be swept away to the beautiful Irish coast.
Though this contemporary is part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone because each book has different main characters, but we visit with familiar characters from past books in the series.
Maggie's family lived in a cottage here thirty years ago and it just so happens to be empty at this time. After a breakup she's so happy to be able to come back "home." It's surprising to her that some of her old friends are still living here. In the attic of her old cottage, she finds love letters from an old love from America. When she is reunited with her teenaged love will things be able to go back to the way they were and what'll happen when she finds out he's been hiding secrets from her? The author's writing is very descriptive. Maggie's pretty oblivious in her relationships not realizing how much someone cares for her and the secrets being kept from her.
Such a heartwarming read about reunions and happy memories.

Pub Date 17 Dec 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This one was a lovely read. I really enjoyed reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me

This is the epitome of a beach/vacation read. The plot and location are simply addictive. I finished this beauty in one sitting!

This is the third book in the Starlight Cottages series, a contemporary fiction story with community, friendship, new beginnings, romance and unwanted progress. It's a series that can be read as standalone stories as each book has different main characters. There are some recurring and familiar characters in each book, which ties them together as well as the setting. Maggie wants to go away for the summer and happens upon an advertisement to rent a cottage near Kerry. It just happens to be the same cottage her family used to own 30 years earlier and sold when she was a teen. Her marriage has broken up and this seems to be a perfect place to get away, yet see some familiar faces. She meets up with some old friends, as well as meeting up with Paul, the boy she had liked years ago, but they lost touch when he returned to the U.S. While in Sandy Cove she gets involved with a group trying to stop a large hotel being built on the bluff. Paul seems to be playing his cards close to the vest, what are his secrets and how will they affect Maggie?

Sandy Cove is a place where there is a great community and wonderful friendships. It was lovely to see how Maggie was welcomed back and quickly became part of the community. The characters were all well developed, realistic and I loved that they all had their own unique personalities and issues to deal with. Once again there are familiar characters from the earlier books. Maggie is an independent woman and I enjoyed seeing her relationship with Ellie, Lydia and Sorcha, as well as the way they supported each other. Paul and Brian, Sorcha's cousin, were both handsome men, who were vying for Maggie's attention, one who cared for her, and one who wanted something from her. I enjoyed reading how the community worked together to try and stop the hotel from being built and to see how different organizations work to save not only historic buildings, but also environmental endangered areas. My one issue was that Maggie seemed to be a bit oblivious to what was happening in her own budding relationships. I do enjoy Susanne O'Leary's descriptive writing that pulls me into the story and helps me to feel like I am there on the coast of Ireland.

~~~ I received an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

The Lost Promise of Ireland is the first book by Susanne O'Leary that I've read, which means I haven't read the other books in this series either... and I probably won't. This whole book was a struggle for me- I struggled to engage with the plot and to finish the book. The main character Maggie is recovering from a split with her partner after over 20 years and two kids together, so she returns to her childhood cottage for the summer to mend. There she reconnects with many old friends and a long lost boyfriend, which turns out to be a dud. But there's lots of good changes in her life resulting from this vacation and she ultimately finds what she's looking for. This book was just too tedious and boring for my taste, I suppose it had potential, it just didn't reach me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but hey, you may find you like it, you never know.

The Lost Promise of Ireland is Susanne O'Leary's third book in her Starlight Cottages series. A sweet and touching story. I love a good book set in Ireland.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for to opportunity to read and review!

The Lost Promise of Ireland is the third entry in the Starlight Cottages series. Trying to recover from her 20 plus years relationship, Maggie heads to the place she was so happy as a child and fell in love at age 18 with a young man from America who did not stay in touch as promised. When she has a chance to reconnect with Paul, Maggie finds that they both have changed, and that love may be found in another direction.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Lost Promise of Ireland" in exchange for my honest review.

This is book 3 in the Starlight Cottages series. Once again we are visiting Sandy Cove, the Coastguard Station in County Kerry and most of the characters will be familiar to the reader from previous books. Jason/Lydia, Saskia and Ella/Rory who all live in the Starlight Cottages.

Maggie is a PE teacher in Dublin and she has just gone through a breakup with her partner of 22 years. They have 2 grown kids Orla and Jim. She sees an ad for the cottage that her family owned when she was between the ages of 8 and 18. She decides to rent it for the summer and reconnect with the friends that she had back then. She also happens upon her first love that she met on the train when she was 18. She soon learns that some things should stay in the past. She also learns that some times true love is right there you just have to be open to it.

A wonderful return to Sandy Cove with Susanne O'Leary. She's an amazing author who always manages to transport me into her beautiful Irish settings.

A heartwarming tale that can be read as a standalone. The only thing I can say, is that I'd prefer a little more romance. All-in-all a great edition to the series.

This is one of those ‘hug yourself’ books! Those stories that bring you comfort, whatever time of year it is, but makes it more meaningful in the run up to Christmas! And I found the story to be full of wonderful characters that made up a lovely community that you just wanted to be part of!

Maggie spots her old childhood family cottage up for rent, and makes a decision to move there for the Summer as she has nothing but good memories of the past. She’s looking to get herself back on track after a recent break up so this step back in time is hopefully going to be the reset she needs to get her spark back!

She notices a lot of changes in the area since she was last there, but the locals are all still very friendly and lots remember her from the past so she’s warmly welcomed home and soon finds herself involved in the daily goings on! She also unearths her old letters and diaries so that brings back fresh memories of her family growing up and her first love.

This was just so easy to read and to feel connection with the characters. In Maggie, there’s a woman who has been hurt but knows how the past can heal and she soon finds her strength again and support amongst those who knew her a long time ago. Then there is the power of community coming together when plans to change the local area forever threaten all they know and love.

This was a wonderfully warm read and the author has done another great job of creating a comforting story that is delightful to read!

Susanne O'Leary's stories always made me wish I was in the place she describes and always keep me turning pages.
This one is no exception and i loved the characters, the well told and developed plot, and the lovely setting.
Can't wait to read another book by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Maggie Ryan is newly single and decides to revisit the past by renting a cottage in Sandy Cove that her parents owned thirty years ago. This stirs up nostaliga for a teen romancw she had with Paul which fizzled out when he went back to America and stopped writing to her. Can she find Paul or are some things better left in the past?
The Lost Promise of Ireland is a warm romance novel set in the beautiful Irish landscape of Sandy Cove which has featured in a number of Susanne O'Leary's other books. I have previously reviewed Dreams of Willow House, Daughters of Wild Rose Bay, Memories of Wild Rose Bay, Miracles in Wild Rose Bay, The Lost Girls of Ireland and The Lost Secret of Ireland.
The plot revolves around Maggie who is nursing a broken heart. Now in her 40s and single again, she wants to find some answers about her lost love Paul. By coinicidence he has also returned to Ireland and is looking for Maggie but with thirty years in between contact, will the pair rekindle their affection for each other?
Our sympathies are instantly with Maggie as she struggles to come to terms with the changes to her life. However she doesn't feel the joy she expects when she reunites with Paul. There is a twist which was fairly obvious but it was enjoyable to watch how the events of the plot unfold.
The descriptions are vivid and bring the characters and landscape to life. There is a warmth to the writing and the author obviously loves her stories, settings and characters. It was great to catch up with characters we have met in her previous books to see how their lives have developed.
The Lost Promise of Ireland is a richly descriptive and warmly toned novel about love and second chances.

This is a book in a series, all set in Sandy Cove, but can easily be read as a standalone.

Maggie is a woman of middle years, who is at a bit of a loose end. Her long-term relationship has ended unexpectedly and her children are living independent lives of their own. When she sees that one of the Starlight Cottages is up for rent, it seems like fate, as her family owned that exact same cottage when she was a child, right up until her teens. She also has a lovely memory of an American teenager whom she had a little romance with at the time.

So, Maggie moves into her cottage and she also reconnects with various friends from her early life, most of whom she hasn't seen in 30 years. There is also a fella whom she has a bit of chemistry with, but should she be??

I found this a sweet, light romance. It was an easy read, which is just what I wanted right now.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Lost Promise Of Ireland' by Susanne O'Leary.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Susanne O'Leary , Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 17th December 2021.

This is the third book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'The Lost Girls Of Ireland' which is the first book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series and the second book 'The Lost Secret Of Ireland' which is the second book in the 'Starlight Cottages' series and both can also be read as a standalone and which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'For fans of Debbie Macomber, Sheila O’Flanagan and Mary Alice Monroe.' I am a huge fan of Debbie Macomber so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Susanne O'Leary and if this is half as good as 'The Lost Girls Of Ireland' and 'The Lost Secret Of Ireland' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 23 chapters and an epilogue The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Ireland 🇮🇪 UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. The fact that this book is based in Ireland is even better as I have been on holiday in Ireland many times so may even recognise some places Emma has set the book around.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist is Maggie Ryan. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Well done Susanne you have done it again!!!! OMG! OMG!! I cannot remember the last time I was so gutted to come to the end of a book!! I absolutely fell in love and it genuinely felt like I was packing my bags and being whisked away from my Irish holiday when I read the last page. Absolutely gorgeous!!!

The book is so well written with its stunning and vivid descriptions that I genuinely felt that I was standing with Maggie throughout feeling the Irish breeze in my hair and smelling the ocean. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly.

Although this book is the third in a series it can be read as a standalone with no problems. In fact I never came across anything in the book that would make me think it was part of a series. The storyline was realistic and just beautiful. It starts off in such a sad place and from the rain a rainbow was born. I loved getting to know everyone on Sandy Cove and Starlight Cottages and enjoyed the atmosphere and my gorgeous surroundings. It genuinely felt like I was on holidays and after not having one for so long this was definitely the closest thing.

The storyline was filled with romance, stunning settings, love, secrets, deceit, friendship, community and family. It made me feel all bubbly inside and it had an air of mystery trying to work out what it was that a certain person was up to. There was plenty of laughter, hope, love and some tension and sadness mixed in. Absolutely everything you want in a romantic getaway. I loved the ending which is absolutely perfect and gives me yet another relationship to look forward to watching develop in your next book 🥂

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The characters were all solid, realistic and I loved that they all had their own unique personalities. Maggie, Ellie, Lydia and Sorcha are such strong and determined women, one who had to get over the ordeal of a break up and lost love and the other dealing with the a very overprotective and overwhelming mum in law to be. I love it when the protagonist is such a strong female lead being a woman myself it's great to see, having four was an extra bonus!!! Maggie is such an independent woman and it was beautiful to see her relationship with Ellie, Lydia and Sorcha and the way they supported each other through thick and thin. Rory and Brian well phew, what handsome and romantic men. It wasn't just the main characters that made this book but also all the neighbours too, I really enjoyed meeting them all. I enjoyed meeting Ellie, Lydia, Jason, Saskia and Rory again along with new faces such as Brian and Paul and continuing to see friendships and relationships grow and bonds develop and secrets revealed. Susanne portrayed Irish Country life perfectly and it was exactly the same when I went on holidays for a fortnight many years ago, the close knit community where everyone knew each other and was so helpful.

Susanne I fell in love with yet another of your heart warming, page turning and stunning books which took my heart away and left me gutted when my holiday ended. This is exactly why your on my favourite author list!! I have already added all your books on my wish lists and I cannot wait for my next Irish adventure!!! Please get these put on the big screen!!

Overall an absolutely stunning, heart warming romance that will have you heading off to Ireland in the blink of an eye.

Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance and Holiday Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks and just anyone and everyone whether you are looking to get away or for romance this is the book for you!!!


272 pages.

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Loved this story about Maggie, who after her divorce decided to rent a cottage in Sandy Cove, the same house they came to every summer while her family owned the home. It was sold and then all of those homes were redone. This tells us of the past and her friends of whom she meets up with again. and how they keep the friendships going and most of all, Does she find love. A VERY GOOD READ.

This is the third book I have read by Susanne O'Leary set in Sandy Cove featuring the Starlight Cottages. It's a series though it can be read as a standalone.

Maggie spots an advert for a holiday rental in Ireland, and it just happens to be the very same coastguard cottage that her family had owned for several years and where they enjoyed some wonderful holidays, spending time on the beach or climbing the hills near the houses. Maggie is in her late forties and is going through a break-up with her significant other, Dermot who cheated on her after 22 years when he fell in love with someone else. A summer at the seaside is just the tonic she needs.

Sandy Cove is a place where there is a great community and friendship in all quarters. Endearing characters are trying to find their way through their life situations. The story dances the reader smoothly through love, oodles of drama, soupcons of mystery and second chances set amidst the backdrop of a gorgeous coastline. A wonderfully fulfilling, highly recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased

Maggie has been away from Sandy Cove for awhile but still remembers the wonderful summers she spent there when she was young. So when she finds out that her family’s old cottage is available, she decides to rent it for the summer. She is in much need of a vacation in order to move on from the man who recently broke her heart. Maggie was so happy to see her best-friend Sorcha and Sorcha’s cousin Brian still living in Sandy Cove. The three have a great time reminiscing as if it was yesterday. Maggie finds an old box hidden in the attic of the cottage full of the love letters she sent to an American boy she met one summer. They knew the would find each other again one day, and that day happens sooner then she expected. Maggie is not the only one returning to Sandy Cove for the summer. She is torn between her feelings for Brian and her long lost love. I felt like I was actually in Ireland, I could feel the coastal breeze from the Irish Sea upon my face. The wonderful description of the village will have you forgetting where you actually are. This phenomenal story will touch your heart and make you feel as if are part of Maggie’s close circle of friends. This series is an amazing escape that you are sure to cherish long after you finish reading the book. I absolutely loved this amazing addition to the series.

Thank you Susanne O’Leary for another wonderful installment to the Starlight Cottage series.  This is one series I didn’t want to end, as I wanted to stay in Ireland for a while longer. I absolutely loved this story, and I highly recommend it.

Another lovely story in this great series about the row of cottages in Sandy Cove. The characters as always are warm and likeable and Maggie makes a great lead character and it is great to meet up with some of the characters from previous books. Although this book can be easily read as a standalone I would definitely recommend reading the others in the series

THE LOST PROMISE OF IRELAND by SUSANNE O’LEARY.

With thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLostPromiseOfIreland by #SusanneO’Leary.

This is book three in the Starlight Cottages series. I have to confess I haven’t read the previous two books, but having enjoyed this one, I will be going back and catching up. I think it’s always best to read a series in order, but I was easily able to read this as a stand alone.

By pure chance, Maggie notices an advert for a holiday rental in Ireland, and it just happens to be the very same cottage that her family owned for some years and where they enjoyed happy holidays.
Having gone through the break up of her long term relationship, Maggie jumps at the chance to get away from it all.
Back in Sandy Cove, Maggie plans to take time to heal and work out where she goes next in life. She is also thrilled to pick up with old friends and maybe even reconnect with past loves.

Maggie is a very likeable character. Sometimes a little naive, but she has a kind heart. I’m always a fan of a book with a more mature lead character.
This book is about Maggie’s journey to rebuild her life. There is a little romance and lots of action in the village to keep you turning those pages.

Susanne O’Leary creates a fabulous setting for the book. Her beautiful writing draws you in and wraps itself around you.

This is definitely a feel good, heartwarming and uplifting story. It’s very cosy and sweet... You won't want to put it down.

Susanne O’leary is an author whose books I am very much looking forward to discovering more of.

The Lost Promise Of Ireland gets a warm and enjoyable 5 stars from me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this heartwarming story by Susanne O'Leary, Maggie plans on spending her summer months in the village of Sandy Cove, Ireland. She has very fond memories of the lovely village and the time away will give her a chance to reboot. Her marriage has ended, and her children are out on her own. Maggie hopes that her time away will help to heal her heart.

When she spots old friend Sorcha, Maggie knows she made the right decision. The two hit it off as if their thirty years apart never happened. Maggie also sees Sorcha's cousin Brian again, who is now the village vet. But, who she really wants to see again is someone from America named Paul. When she was a teen the two grew very close and even wrote letters for quite a while. Will returning to Sandy Cove somehow make it possible for Maggie to truly go home again? To reawaken feelings of love for Paul?

Maggie truly begins to enjoy herself, especially when her teen love comes back in her life for a time. However, Maggie also finds herself drawn to Brian. Meanwhile, as a teacher, Maggie knows her summer months won't last forever.

This lovely story is rather light at romance as it explores Maggie and the discontent that led her to Sandy Cove. There is also a bit of drama about the village and its inhabitants. As this is the third book in a delightful series, I did enjoy the cameos from characters in previous books. However, as this is about Maggie, it would do very well as a standalone. Maggie was a true delight and I loved seeing her evolve in the pages of this well-written book.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book - and everything else I have read by this prolific author - is how she is so adept at pulling readers into her stories. I really felt like I was there with Maggie. Whether she was remembering the first time she stepped into the cottage where she would be spending her summer, or as she rekindled old friendships. Even with her trying to find that long-ago love. I also enjoyed the way the villagers all rallied about when it came to common goals. In all, this was a wonderful story and I cannot wait to read whatever comes next for Ms. O'Leary.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.