NEW BEGINNINGS IN THE LITTLE IRISH VILLAGE by Michelle Vernal is a heart-warming contemporary romance set in the small Irish village of Emerald Bay. The Kelly family owns the local pub and is a loving family with five daughters. This is Imogen’s story, the second sister of the five. The eldest Kelly sister’s story is in Christmas in the Little Irish Village, which is also a wonderful read, but this story does stand on its own.

Imogen Kelly is thirty-two-years-old and a successful interior designer. She has been living and growing her business in Dublin, but she travels the country for various jobs. She jumps at the offer of the job to redesign guest rooms in the big country manor in her hometown. She is happy to visit and stay with her family, but she also wants to revisit the manor house of her first love, Lachlan Leslie.

When she shows up for her job, she is surprised to find the builder on the project is the cheeky Ryan O’Malley from her school days. Imogen finds she is attracted to the handsome builder, but her love life is complicated. Imogen must decide if she can get closure with her first love, find happiness with her current beau who is 27 years older than her and already has a grown family, or choose the builder who she finds she cannot quit thinking about.

This is a wonderfully charming contemporary romance with realistic characters and a setting that makes me want to pack my bags and move. Imogen is an intelligent and successful businesswoman but is struggling to find her soulmate and HEA. Her journey is made interesting with the choices she must make between the men in her life. Her family and best friend are fully drawn and give her support and love through her journey. There is humor, love and plenty of heart written into this story. The author makes Imogen and the small Irish village come to life. I cannot wait to return for the other sister’s stories,

I highly recommend this delightful contemporary romance!

Imogene, age 32, Interior Designer, is back in her small home town to do some design work for Benmore House. Benmore house is the home of Lachlan, her summer love from when she was 16. Lachlan left when the summer was over and she never heard from him again. Lachlan's mother let Imogene know in no uncertain terms that she was not worthy of Lachlan! Now Lachlan is returning home to get married and his sister in law has hired Imogene to redecorate the guest rooms. Imogene is determined to show Lachlan that she's moved on and up and to prove to herself that she's completely over her first love.

I found it difficult to like Imogene in the beginning of the book, She had a big chip on her shoulder, trying to prove to everyone that she's now a big city girl, wearing designer clothes, driving a fancy sports car and working for wealthy clients. But as the story progressed, so did Imogene. Being home amongst family and old friends helped Imogene to find happiness being the person she is, rather than the person she was pretending to be..

A happy ending...

I received this book from Netgalley.

I love books like this one so when I saw it, I knew that I wanted to read it!

My immediate first impression was not the best. On the very first page Imogen starts speaking about her star sign and how it's the reason for her being the way that she is. My hope is that this doesn't become a theme throughout the book. She does come back to it a few times but it's not a large part of the book.

Imogen can't possibly think that Sigrid won't find out about her past with Lachlan. Aside from the fact that these things always come out - she's going to be working there... There is every possibility that she could run into him. She should have just been upfront from the start. Also, she makes it seem like this big, secret relationship they had when in reality it really wasn't anything.

Ryan is the best - where do I find one? He is my favourite character in the book.

This book is light, easy to read, and altogether a nice book. However, I feel like there isn't much that actually happens. It seems like a little bit happens in each aspect of the book but overall, not too much actually goes on.

Michelle Vernal does a fantastic job of bringing Emerald Bay to life with her vivid descriptions and beautiful visuals. The book's setting is so charming that it leaves the reader yearning for an Irish adventure. The story itself is well-written, with interesting characters that you can't help but root for. The book is a perfect read for fans of romance novels and anyone looking for a feel-good read. Overall, New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village is a delightful novel that captures the essence of love, hope, and the magic of Ireland.

New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal is a cute and charming novel that captures the heart of Ireland and the joy of finding new love in unexpected places. Imogen Kelly is a relatable character that struggles with finding happiness in her fast-paced life. She journeys back to Emerald Bay for a job and it brings a sense of nostalgia and new beginnings.

Overall New Beginings in the Little Irish Village is a fun read and is perfect for someone who is looking for a feel-good novel with a little romance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, Ireland, and a good old-fashioned happy ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Michelle Vernal never disappoints and as soon as I saw she was bringing us back to the Little Irish Village of Emerald Bay, I just knew I had to read it!

From the cute book cover to the wonderful characters, old and new, to the witty remarks, community spirit and sweet romance, New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village is a fantastic feel-good romance that I just didn't want to put down!

Imogen Kelly returns to Emerald Bay to take on an interior design job at the big country manor in the village, where she hopes to see her first love, Lachlan Leslie, the heir to Benmore House.

Instead she runs into the class prankster, Ryan O’Malley, only to find that he's the builder who'll be working on the project with her - and he’s still a cheeky charmer, but now he has transformed into a gorgeous guy who unexpectedly sets her pulse racing. And she has to work in close proximity to him. Will romance blossom? Will she leave Emerald Bay broken-hearted? Or will Imogen realise that home really is where the heart is?

Imogen's sisters are all back for the St Patrick's Day celebrations, bringing madness and mayhem, and lots of laughs, including from Napoleon the cat! His antics always make me chuckle.

I loved catching up with Shannon and seeing how her romance was progressing, too.

These characters are so well-written that they feel real. Imogen's story is a sweet, quick read that fans of Michelle Vernal, and romance fans in general will love.

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip back to Emerald Bay and I can't wait to return in the future!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC copy of the book.

#NewBeginningsintheLittleIrishVillage #NetGalley.

The main character of the story is Imogen. Her occupation is Interior Designer. She is asked to come work on a manor house in her home town of Emerald Bay. She knows this manor well because as a teenager she explored the manor with the owners son. Will going back bring Imogen happy memories? Will she find the happiness she wants so bad?
New Beginnings in the LIttle Irish Village was a cute, cozy read with humorous moments thrown in to make you smile and laugh out loud.
I loved the description of the Irish village and the many quirky locals.
A enjoyable book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal is a charming novel that captures the heart of Ireland and the joy of finding new love in unexpected places. Imogen Kelly, the protagonist, is a relatable character that struggles with finding happiness in her fast-paced life in Dublin. Her journey back to Emerald Bay to take on an interior design job at Benmore House brings a sense of nostalgia and new beginnings.

The novel has an intriguing plot that follows Imogen as she navigates the ups and downs of working with Ryan O’Malley, a former schoolmate and the builder working on the renovation project. Michelle Vernal has skillfully created two unique male characters, Ryan O’Malley and Lachlan Leslie, who both vie for Imogen's attention. While Lachlan Leslie represents Imogen's past, Ryan O’Malley represents a new beginning, and this creates an interesting dynamic that adds depth to the plot.

The setting of the novel is as enchanting as the characters, with vivid descriptions that make the reader feel like they are part of the village of Emerald Bay. The inclusion of St. Patrick's Day celebrations adds to the authenticity of the story and enhances the reader's experience. I felt like I was there and part of it all.

Overall, New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village is an entertaining read that is perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good novel with a touch of romance. Michelle Vernal has created an engaging story that explores the themes of new beginnings, forgiveness, and the importance of letting go of the past. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, Ireland, and a good old-fashioned happy ending.

The main character of this book is an interior designer who returns home to work on a new project. She meets up with her first love, from her teenage years, and the story unfolds.
I found this book difficult to get into as there is a huge amount of characters which means lots of names and relationships to remember which detracts from the storyline.

BLURB: Thirty-two-year-old Imogen Kelly is meant to be living her best life in Dublin but the bright lights of the city aren’t making her truly happy. So she leaps at the chance to take on an interior design job at the big country manor at the edge of Emerald Bay. It also gives Imogen an excuse to return to the place where she spent an unforgettable summer with her first love, Lachlan Leslie, the heir to Benmore House.

Imogen’s heart is full of hope at the thought of seeing her childhood sweetheart but on the way there she nearly has an accident on the winding, muddy country road. She arrives at Benmore House late and flustered, only to discover the builder working with her on the renovation project is none other than Ryan O’Malley – the class prankster who was forever pinging her bra strap at school.

Within seconds it’s clear he’s still a cheeky charmer, even if he’s transformed into a gorgeous guy who unexpectedly sets her pulse racing. Forced into close proximity with relentlessly cheerful Ryan, who’s forever (badly) singing rock ballads at the top of his voice, Imogen at first finds him an annoying distraction.

With St Patrick’s Day celebrations in full swing, Imogen has her work cut out to keep the job on track. Spending more time with Ryan, she discovers that, behind his warm smile and generous ways, he’s nursing heartache. But when she finally sees blue-eyed Lachlan again,Imogen has to face up to the truth about the secret summer romance they shared.

REVIEW: This was a cute read! A contemporary romance set in a small town where family and friends are treasured and connections are strong. The plot was super predictable, the characters likeable, and the accents yummy.

I finished this quick read in an hour.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this in return for my honest review.

Entertaining storyline.
Wonderful characters.
Funny, sweet, romantic and delightful.
The scenery is so well described that I feel like I can see it.

What a sweet & funny village romance! Ms. Vernal has written a heart-warming & charming romance with well-drawn & realistic characters. Will Imogen reunite with her first love, who broke her heart or will the former prankster schoolmate win her heart? Read it and enjoy every moment - I wish I could live in Emerald Bay!

Many thanks to the publisher, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved this book.

An interior designer, Imogen, finds work in Emerald Bay, in a manor, but also the place where her heart was broken.

But now, she wants Lachlan to give her some closure.

She’s in a relationship with Nev, but he’s much older than her, and she wants him to come with her to meet her family for Saint Patrick's Day.

I recommend this book.

I liked the characters in this book and I did skim read a lot of it, as there was a lot of description and "thinking", there was nothing very taxing but overall a nice holiday read.

Oh what a joy to revisit all my lovely friends at the Shamrock Inn ! This time the focus is on Imogen ,who has returned to the family fold while she works on a local big house . Soon she is joined by her sisters, home for St Patrick's day celebrations. The usual chaos, hilarity, laughter and love ensues . Once again I found myself laughing out loud at the antics of this loving,tightknit clan. .even the antics of Napoleon the cat had me in stitches! Lovely to get glimpses of the lovely Shannon' s progressing romance ,which is moving along nicely since the last book. I sincerely hope we will be invited back for her wedding! Hopefully with five sisters, we have at least another three books in this delightful series ,to look forward to!

New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village, is filled with family warmth, banter, humour and the quintessential village drama and romances. A pleasure to read and catch up with all the characters.

I love a sweet little village story and this did not disappoint. Imogen is such a relatable character I would love to have her job. Rescuing a sweet baby duck with the grumpy Ryan was adorable. I really enjoyed this book

Right from the cover you know this book is going be light and adorable. I feel like as soon as I read about a book set in a "village" I'm sold. New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village is a fast read with just the right amount of romance. I enjoyed the authors style of writing and definitely looking forward to reading Christmas in the Little Irish Village.
Imogen is ready to leave Dublin and start a new opportunity in Emerald Bay. Being an Interior designer is her passion and the fact she gets to work on the famous Benmore house is so exciting. Imogen knows when she arrives she will be reminded of the summer she fell in love for the very first time. Right from the drive up Imogen runs into obstacles and the universe seems to be against her getting to the mansion in one piece. She meets the handsome yet grumpy Ryan who helps her rescue a baby duck off the side of the road and later stumbles upon him at the mansion. As Imogen gets to know Ryan she realizes there's more to this man then she thought.
What she needs to do is focus on her job and the deadline she has in front of her. A big celebration is coming up and the house must be ready, but Imogen also knows she will come face to face with her first love Lachlan. Will he be interested in her? Did they really have something so special all those years ago that they can pick up where they left off? Or will Imogen discover she's built it up in her head to something it never was? This summer will be unlike any other and Imogen will end the summer completely different then she expected.

Loved Michelle’s O’Mara’s series and this one is just as good. An Irish family own a Village Pub. 4 very different Daughters who return back to the fold on occasion provide much entertainment. Village life and the people within are described in detail and you feel like you know them. There are laughter and tears . This story features first love, letting go, family life, community spirit and romance. A must read!

sweet story set in an Irish village great characters, , love a book by Michele Vernal. read in one afternoon.