If you like Cathy Kelly and Faith Hogan, then you are going to be completely gripped by Ann O’Loughlin’s Secrets of an Irish House.

New Yorker Katie never imagined that she would find herself in Ireland in front of Kilcashel House. But a lot has changed for Katie. She had unexpectedly lost her partner, Harry, who had been found with a diamond engagement ring in his pocket. Harry has left Katie Kilcashel House. But that’s not the only surprise he has in store for her from beyond the grave because Harry has also left the home perched on the Irish cliffs to his ex-wife, Maggie!

Maggie and Katie are like chalk and cheese, but finding themselves thrown together by fate and united by this unexpected legacy, travel to Kilcashel House together to unravel the secrets of Harry’s past. Only, Kilcashel House is a dilapidated mausoleum mired in debt and in desperate need of repairs. However, as they step over the threshold, they begin to seem a glimmer of what Harry had hoped to build for the two of them.

Slowly but surely, Katie begins to feel as if she has found somewhere to belong – thanks largely to local gardener, Daniel. As Kilcashel House becomes a beautiful home full of life, energy and vitality, Katie wonders whether she can make her dreams of opening a bakery a reality – and whether she might just take a leap of faith and open her heart up to Dan…

However, when a letter arrives out of the blue with a shocking secret from Harry’s past and tragedy hits Kilcashel House, Katie wonders whether all her hopes for the future are going to be cruelly snatched away. Or whether Ireland is where this New Yorker was meant to be all along…

Ann O’Loughlin’s writing in Secrets of an Irish House is deft, assured and so beautifully layered, you will feel as if you are living the story alongside the characters she brings to such colourful life. A wonderful story about new beginnings, belonging, healing and embracing life, Secrets of an Irish House is a heart-warming, emotional and poignant tale that is absolutely perfect for losing yourself into.

A lovely read that grips you from the off and keeps you hooked until the last page, Secrets of an Irish House by Ann O’Loughlin is not to be missed.

This book portrays such different obstacles and hardache from a few very different women. All brought together from the death of a man who connects them all in varies ways. Unexpected secrets get revealed bringing emotions of all kinds to the forefront.

What an enjoyable read, keeping me engrossed in the book to put together the next puzzle piece of these women's lives.

Harry Flint leaves some strange requests in hill will! The biggest one throws together his ex wife Maggie, who you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of and his partner Katie Williams who is so kind natured.
At the centre of Harry’s main wish is Kilcashel House which sounds idyllic. At present the house is locked up and Anna Walker who lives in the gate lodge vets everyone who tries to get in which makes her unpopular with locals, especially with her brash manner. Or has she done this to build walls around herself, keeping everyone out?
Maggie and Katie agree to disagree once they get their heads around the stipulations of the will.
I assure you it makes for a great read, with twists to keep you page-turning.

Another fantastic, heart rending read from Ann O'loughlin.
I really loved the relationship that developed between Maggie and Katie as they were forced into a difficult situation when Harry left them Kilcashel House in Ireland. They had no idea why as he had never told them of having a house in Ireland.
My heart broke when tragedy struck I could not help shedding tears.
The women in this story were incredible, Katie,
Maggie and Anna. They all contributed in their own way when Katie's dream of having a cafe came about.
The location was fantastic. I absolutely loved the story. Ann is a fantastic writer and I shall read the next Irish House book.
Thank you Netgalley for this Arc.

A slow start with what appeared to be unlikeable characters but once the story shifts to Ireland, it picks up pace and the house slowly reveals its secrets. Strong female leads and the desires to make a go of things in Ireland make this an engaging read. Some humorous moments alongside moments of depth - these are covered in a light and somewhat uplifting way, despite sadness.

*although this book contains death, it was handled in a sensitive manner. Having just experienced a family bereavement I have been unable to read other books that have touched on death but this was fine.

Great story of strong women thrown together in unusual circumstances and finding that if they work together and make the most of it great friendships can be the result. Real roller coaster of a storyline keeps your interest as does the lovely setting of the beautiful old house by the sea in Ireland and of course a bit of romance thrown in.

I received a free copy of, Secrets of an Irish House, by Ann O'Loughlin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Katie from New York is devastated when her boyfriend Harry dies. Katie inherits a house in Ireland along with Harry's ex wife Maggie. This is a great book, I really enjoyed it. Katie is wonderful, I did not care for Maggie at all though. Anna is a delight, as our the other people of this wonderful town in Ireland. So many emotions from this book. So many ups and downs.

What a wonderful refreshing book, full of pathos,laughter and Irish charm. When the ex wife and current partner of deceased Harry, are left an Irish mansion in his will, the proviso is they are forced to live their, together, for ten months. Leaving Manhattan,they bring their brash New York ways to Ireland and take possession of Kilcashel House, intending to stick it out for the required time before selling it and going their separate ways. What they hadn't bargained for was the way the house ,the community, the charm and beauty of this little corner of Ireland, would seep into their souls and change them and their lives forever. They also have to come to terms with the forbidding and mysterious Anna, the sitting tenant of the Lodge House. She seems very much a part of the house and is a keeper of many secrets. What follows is often hilarious, often tearjerkingly sad. This beautiful book has everything, warmth, friendship, laughter and love. .I feel very sad to be leaving it .....

What a moving, emotional rollercoaster read this proved to be
With grief, adventure, new beginnings and a brilliant community.
Along with family secrets to be uncovered
And a possible romance to be discovered.

When Harry was killed his will was such a surprise
As his partner and ex-wife soon realise.
He's left them Kilcashel House, they'd never heard of before,
And a challenge for them both, leaving them unsure.

They have to live in the house together for ten months or more
Or they'll lose their inheritance, so they go to explore.
From New York they travel to Ireland to see what they find
And hope the bequest is him being kind!

They make plans together for a fresh start,
Using their strengths, they'll both play a part.
Linking with folks who know the house well
Maybe there are even more secrets to tell?

How can these two, so different from each other,
Get on together - that they need to discover.
With wild swimming and baking, new friends and more
There's plenty of fun in their new life to explore.

However there's also hard work, tragedy and pain
And secrets that mean life will never be the same again.
A brilliant story, so beautifully shared
Bringing people together, showing they cared.

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Honestly if I knew where this one was going, I might not have chosen it, but I did enjoy the read. If this were a romance, the trope would be forced proximity, but since this is about friendship, I am not sure that is considered a trope. Friendship. Grief. Starting over. Second chances. So much in this heartbreaking and heartwarming book.

It’s about how a group of women, all grieving, that despise, tolerate and then love and care for each other. That despite their differences, they also shared so much. I felt so much as I read this one. And the more I read, the more my feelings changed and grew. We all suffer challenges and tragedy at some point, but with care, we can heal and make it out the other side. A quote that caught my eye, “Life is one long challenge. You can choose to lie down in the face of the challenge, or you can ride them and move on.” What a great piece of advice, whether it’s a small set back or a life altering test.

I loved the cast of characters and all their quirks. I liked how the characters grew through strife as they moved to Ireland and adapted. I always love when food is part of a story. And I love how the women in the book rose up and helped each other. I didn’t even mind the tears I shed.

I was introduced to author Ann O'Loughlin's writing with a previous book Her Husband's Secret. And you know what, I loved it.
Her style of writing and likeable characters I seemed to take to immediately so I had high hopes for Secrets of an Irish House.
We meet two lovely ladies Katie and Maggie in this wonderful story. Both ladies thrown together in the most unusual way...
Maggie's ex husband Harry who was Katie's partner has passed away in tragic circumstances and he leaves his house in Ireland, Kilcashel House to both women with a stipulation that they must live in it together for a certain period of time.
Kilcashel House is a huge surprise to them when they arrive. A mammoth task to take on this beautiful house and try inject life back in to it. Both women are sad, thinking and wondering what Harry had in mind for it and how he never quite found the time to tell either of them about it.
There seemed to be so much more that they didn't know about him and they struggle to navigate their way through it all.
But they have each other to lean on you would hope...
Setting up their beautiful Drawing Room Cafe with the most scrumptious cookies is sure to win over some of the locals and bring people back to Kilcashel House.
I loved how very different both women were and how they each loved Harry in their own way. I hoped that it would all come together for them, a friendship would ensue and they would come to love life in Ireland.
A bone of contention between them both seemed to be the lady living at the gate lodge Anna and all the promises Harry made to her...
But Anna has her own story to tell..
I think you might love this story. One that will warm your heart and make you love Ireland that little bit more...
Well worth your time..

Have the tissue handy for this book, you're gonna need them! Not spoiling anything, but this is a feel good chick lit book that will have you reevaluating YOUR relationships and debating on running away to Ireland too! LOL. It's a case of two opposites- one ex-wife, one ex-fiancee to be, and the crazy dream of their shared love, Harry. Even though he left them broke, he left them his dream, which becomes THEIR shared dream, and together they learn more about Harry than they wanted to know, more about themselves as drama unfolds and they stand to loose what they have worked so hard to build. perfect for the end of Summer, it's a book to savor and cherish

Katie’s partner, Harry suddenly dies and in his pocket…a diamond engagement ring. But when Katie discovers that Harry left her a house in Ireland, she also learns the same house was also left to his ex-wife Maggie. Katie never imagined leaving New York for life by the beautiful Irish Sea. When she arrives she finds her new inheritance to be dilapidated, in need of much repair inside and out, and she is not the only resident. Maggie is also there and she is surprised at her new inheritance. Dan, a local gardener and a group of his friends, begin to restore the house into a beautiful home. Katie and Dan enjoy spending time together and their friendship changes as she is ready to love again. But when a letter arrives that reveals the truth about Harry’s past, Katie is faced with a heartbreaking decision: does she stay in Ireland or is it time for her to return to New York once and for all?

Secrets of an Irish House written by author Ann O’Loughlin, is an enjoyable read that swept me away to the Irish coast. The wonderful sea breeze and the sound of the waves was a great escape. I liked the plot twists and turns and the secrets of Harry’s past was a great storyline. This is a wonderful story with likable characters and a story I recommend.

Today is my stop on the book tour for Secrets of an Irish House by Ann O’Loughlin. Being of Irish descent I always gravitate towards books that take place in Ireland. So I jumped at the opportunity to read and review this book.

Katie’s boyfriend, Harry, was shot and killed in a shooting in New York. At the reading of his will Katie is shocked to discover that Harry bought a house in Ireland and bequeathed it to both her and his ex-wife Maggie. But there is a catch. Both women must move to Ireland right away and live together in Kilcashel House in order to claim ownership. Reluctantly the two women leave their lives in New York and head to the beautiful Irish Coast to start the next journey of their lives.

Maggie and Katie are polar opposite’s. Maggie is an extrovert and demands an audience while Katie is quieter and more reserved. Maggie wants to sell Kilcashel House while Katie falls in love and wants to open a bakery.

After a few weeks both women fall in love with their home, the beautiful seascape and the crazy people that live in their community. There is the grumpy Anna, gruff on the surface but tender hearted and loyal. She helps the two women set up and run the new bakery. Then there are the loopy swimming ladies, who take a daily dip in the frigid Irish Sea at the edge of Kilcashel House. There is also the dashingly handsome and helpful neighbour Dan, whom both women develop feelings for.

Secrets come to light and tragedy strikes but even though I shed a tear or two, The Secrets of an Irish House was such a touching and heartfelt story. It explores the power of friendship and the importance of community.

Thank you so much Bookouture for my electronic arc of The Secrets of an Irish House. I thoroughly enjoyed this 4 ⭐️ read. I look forward to reading more books by Ann O’Loughlin.

Pub Date: September 5, 2023

This was an entertaining book. It had good relationship development between the characters and kept me interested in continuing to read it. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an unusual book in that the setup was a little convoluted: Katie’s boyfriend, and Maggie’s ex-husband, dies in a subway shooting in New York City. It turns out his net worth is zilch, except for a castle he bought in Ireland the year before, something neither woman knew about. What’s more, Harry has left the house to both women, with the stipulation that they live there for four seasons (ten months) before deciding whether to sell or stay. I’ve never heard of any sort of setup like this in real life, but I also know that anyone can put anything in a will, within reason.

Despite the unconventional setup, I really found myself immersed in the book and what happened to Katie and Maggie. Each woman has a strong personality, so naturally there are going to be clashes. Yet they act as adults and every time conflicts arise, they either walk away for a bit to cool down, or de-escalate the situation and calmly discuss their differences. This is such a refreshing thing in books, where I’ve read way too many books where the characters seem to thrive on conflict. This is the best sort of women’s fiction: adults acting like it, having real emotions, real reactions, and real conflict-resolution examples.

The secondary characters in the book add to the overall satisfaction to the story. First, there’s Ann, the cantankerous woman Harry granted a life tenancy to in the cottage on the grounds. Then there’s Dan, the handsome helper who takes care of the grounds of the estate. Sprinkle in a few other villagers and you’ve got yourself a literary and lively party.

There’s a plethora of emotions going on throughout this book, and it wouldn’t surprise me if you laugh out loud a few times as well as shed a few tears. No spoilers, but there’s definitely a rollercoaster of feelings while reading this book. As for the secrets, there are plenty, all slowly revealed throughout. I’m glad I read Secrets of an Irish House, and hope you’ll take a chance on it, too.

Another beautiful read from Ann O'loughlin. I really enjoyed this story full of warmth and emotion and loved the friendship that developed between Maggie and Katie as they were thrown together in difficult circumstances. It was full of joyous characters that were there for each other when tragedy strikes ,the location was fantastic and it had everything you want in a novel that makes you connect with them all and want to keep reading.

A man leaves an Irish house to his ex-wife and current girlfriend, stipulating that they must live in the house together for a period of time together, before deciding to sell.

Secrets of an Irish House by Ann O' Loughlin

Pushing her key into the gate lock, Katie looks up nervously at the grand tree-lined entrance sweeping up to Kilcashel House. This was not her home by choice, but if she was to ever move on from her past and uncover the truth about her beloved Harry, she would make it her home.
Harry has died and left the house to Katie , the only trouble he has done the same for Maggie , his ex wife , and it is stipulated they must live there for just short of a year.
An unusual plot but a great story , loved it that after a shaky start they begin to make the best of it, even when things happen to shake it all up in a bad way , and just when they think they have weathered the storm .........

Enjoyed it, although it wasn't my favorite book by the author. It reminded me a bit of My Only Daughter, mostly because of what happens to Maggie. I can’t imagine having to live ten months with my partner’s ex-wife in Ireland, getting the same Christmas gifts as each other and finding myself broke, with massive debt and homeless. Pretty much that's what happens to Katie and Maggie because of Harry. The biggest secret Harry kept from his ex-wife, Maggie and his current love, Katie was Kilcashel House and his crazy will stipulations. Loved the friends Katie and Maggie made, especially the women who went swimming in the freezing sea every morning. Katie and Maggie inherited Anna with their house. Anna was definitely abrasive and said whatever was on her mind, she had a strange obsession with her cherry blossoms and was harboring many secrets. She became a loyal friend to Katie and Maggie and once her story was revealed, everything made sense. Of all the characters, Maggie was my least favorite. I didn't hate her, but didn't enjoy her as much as the others. Everything in the bakery sounded delicious.

Definitely recommend the book. The story was an emotional rollercoaster. I'm pretty sure there were tears at the end. Who am I kidding, Ann O'Loughlin's books always cause me to cry. Kilcashel House sounded like a beautiful place to live. The gardens alone were amazing. I enjoyed the characters, writing style and story. I was hooked from the first chapter until the very end. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.