The Granddaughter’s Irish Secret continues Susanne O’Leary’s story about the Fleury family that began with The Keeper of the Irish Secret. This volume focuses on Lily’s sister Rose, her work assisting Granny Sylvia with the remodeling of Magnolia Manor into apartments and her astonishment when she discovers the antique family necklace Sylvia gave her is a fake. Will Rose be able to find out what happened to the original? She enlists the aid of attorney Noel in her efforts and along the way finds her future. Fans of the first book will enjoy the character development as Rose must also deal with Arnaud’s son, Henri, who unfortunately holds the reconstruction purse strings. This is a good story filled with family history, mysteries, new beginnings and Ireland. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

It was nice to return to Magnolia Manor. It was like visiting old friends ;)
This is the second book in the series. I do believe it can be read as a standalone. Though, if you are like me, I like to start from book 1 in a series.
The story is about a family heirloom necklace that is passed down. Main character, Rose, discovers something about the necklace that sends her on a mission.
There is friendship turning into romance. Though the romance is somewhat mild, it is there.
Each characters is loveable in their own way.
I love the setting of a little village in Ireland.
The mystery element was intriguing.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Number two in the Magnolia Manor series and like the first this is a grand gentle with characters that I'll be thinking about for some time to come. At times predictable and all the more lovely because of it, we find ourselves back in the Manor, this to time hearing Rose’s story. As she leaves Dublin brokenhearted and jobless to return to the hug that is her childhood home, life will change completely for her as she uncovers secrets and learns a lot not only about her family’s past but about herself too.
Read in one sitting, this is the perfect holiday read.
I'm so looking forward to our next visit to catch up with these characters who now feel like friends.

An irresistible slice of escapism and a joy to read. Compelling, absorbing and highly entertaining. Fast-moving and fun! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After having her heart broken, Rose Fleury is offered a lifeline by her Granny, Sylvia. Come and work on the Magnolia House project and take time away to recover.

With her sister, Lily, now having a baby, Rose can’t refuse. Being back at Magnolia House brings back many memories from her childhood.

With her friend getting married, Rose needs a plus one. When Lily suggests Noel, Lily’s old boss, she calls on him to ask for his support.

I was so pleased to be back at Magnolia House, and to be amongst the characters again.

A lovely tale with lots of memories from years gone by, as well as up-to-date dealings going on with the big project for Magnolia House.

An entertaining and enjoyable read, that kept me engrossed to the very end.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book taking place at Magnolia Manor. Rose Fleury after her boyfriend leaves her decides to leave her apartment and go stay with her grandmother Sylvia at Magnolia Manor. Sylvia thinks it is a good idea. Rose takes over the job of overseeing the place turning into plush senior flats. On the way there, Rose takes what she thinks is a heirloom from Sylvia to a vintage jewelry store to get cleaned, only days later to find out it is a copy. The mystery of the original necklace begins. Do they find out what happened to it.? Rose finds a real friend in NoeL Quinn the family's attorney. Do they fall in love.? Follow the journey to find the original necklace and the relationship between Noel and Rose. Lily , Rose's sister with her family also plays a part at being in charge of the gardens at Magnolia Seniors flat. A GREAT READ.

Even the title is intriguing…secrets…Irish…family and friends…this talented author has written a page turner. A quick fun read. From page one, I liked this book. Thanks Netgalley

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Good drama; not enough romance

Rose Fleury returns to Dingle to the family home, Magnolia Manor. The place is being renovated and converted into residential housing for senior citizens. Nursing heartbreak, Rose hopes to find a fresh start in a place filled with childhood memories and her grandmother Sylvia.
When Rose realizes that her topaz necklace, a family heirloom is fake, she is worried the news will upset her dear grandmother. Rose begins to dig through the family archives to find out more about the necklace. With help from Noel Quinn, a local lawyer, Rose is determined to solve the mystery. Will this also give her a chance to build a relationship with the handsome lawyer?
The story comes in Rose’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
The book should work as a standalone, though it seems to have elements from the first book (which I didn’t read). It is Lily’s story and also has elements related to the Magnolia Manor. Yet, I could understand the basics without much difficulty.
Sylvia seems to be a great character, though she doesn’t have much role in this one. Whatever I saw of her is good. The side characters are definitely intriguing, more so than the FMC, which doesn’t work well for her. Henri, Vicky, Noel, etc., manage to make an impression.
The book is quite short (200+ pages) and has a fast pace. This is an advantage and a disadvantage. The pace keeps the story moving and covers many days at a stretch. However, it doesn’t give the reader a chance to connect with the characters. This made it very hard for me to connect with Rose. I couldn’t get a hang of her.
I loved the mystery of the necklace and the backstory behind it. I kept guessing where and how it would turn. Moreover, the conclusion for the mystery is also good. Not what I expected, but something I really liked.
The setting is good, too. We get enough glimpses of the countryside and lush landscape with cliffs, sea, charming sunsets, etc.
My main issue is with the romance between Rose and Noel. I just couldn’t feel their chemistry despite enough scenes between the two. Rose’s third-person POV somehow doesn’t give us the depth of her emotions. For a long time, she doesn’t want anything more from him, but then she is suddenly in love? Even afterward, she is tentative? Not convinced!
To summarize, The Granddaughter's Irish Secret works better as a family drama than a romance. The book should be more enjoyable to fans of the author or those who liked the previous book in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The Granddaughter’s Irish Secret is the second book in the Magnolia Manor series. This book focuses on granddaughter Rose. The characters we grew to love in book one are back for Rose’s story - I wish some had larger roles in this book.

The book is slightly predictable with the light romance. The heirloom mystery and the family history add an element of interest that keeps the reader wondering. Susanne O’Leary is a master at writing warm hearted books with lovable characters. She totally transports the reader to little villages in Ireland. I have read several of her books and always desire more. I cannot wait for book 3 in this series.

I absolutely adore a good family heirloom mystery and Susanne O’Leary is a master of them. I always know when I start reading one of her novels, I won’t be able to stop! To say I am a huge fan is an understatement. Her writing is exceptional and truly rejuvenates my spirit. I enjoy every minute inside one of her Irish stories, visiting both former and new characters and seeing where their journeys take them. And the bonus? They are set in Ireland: my most favourite place in all the world! ☘️

The Granddaugher’s Irish Secret, the second book of the Magnolia Manor series, is a beautiful captivating story about family, second chances (for both humans and buildings), fashion and heirloom jewellery. The plot is infused with love, secrets, awakenings and an intriguing mystery. It caught my attention from page one and held me spellbound throughout. I truly felt transported to the west coast Ireland, Dingle Peninsula in Country Kerry: a place of stunning beauty. So, this heavenly location creates a delightful backdrop for the tumultuous and mesmerising journey of Rose Fleury.

Rose had it all. A great job at a major real estate firm in Dublin and a handsome and charming boyfriend who just happened to be her boss. But one day, everything changes and he suddenly walks out on her, leaving her tumbling in a shockwave. What was meant to be a beautiful romantic dinner (prepared by Rose), becomes a horrifying shattered goodbye. His sudden departure is so unexpected. Unable to face her friends and co-workers, she grabs a lifeline when her grandmother calls her and asks if she knows of anyone who could fill a position that has opened up at Magnolia Manor. She certainly does! Herself! Nursing a wounded and embarrassed heart, she resigns from her Dublin job, heads for the west coast of Ireland and takes up a position offered by her grandmother. Magnolia Manor is being turned into seniors’ apartments and someone needs to oversee the project. Rose is ready to put her degree and experience into action. She is excited at the prospects of the Manor’s new purpose and believes it will breathe life back into the old buildings.

But it is a big job and she needs a bit of help. Frenchmen Henri and his father Arnaud are investors. Sylvia, Rose’s grandmother, is in a relationship with Arnaud and she is hoping Rose will get along with Henri, who tends to be a real annoyance to her. But he is on the premises working out the apartment details so they must learn to work together. Then there is Noel, the local lawyer who is also involved as he has been asked by Sylvia (Rose’s grandmother) to look after various legal matters, pertaining to the property. He is a kind and understanding person that Rose gets along well with. Will their friendship blossom further? He has a wonderful presence in the story: a real white knight in many ways.

The Fleury women are strong independent ladies who inherit some unique and valuable jewellery. These pieces are passed down through the generations. Rose has a necklace her grandmother gave her but discovers when it is in for repairs, it is a fake! This sets her on a mission to see what became of the original piece. What she discovers is unexpected and this part of the plot was fun and intriguing. For when she eventually unravels the mystery, she learns of another family that is connected to the Fleury’s and the jewellery. This search will test Noel’s and Rose’s friendship and expose some surprising secrets and hidden passions.

I loved the exploration of the Manor archives and as Noel says, it was like ‘like stepping into a time machine’ going through old photos and other pieces of heritage items. I enjoy the history that is always present in Susanne’s stories and how it affects the present. I also was delighted to see some familiar faces from Book 1 like Lily and Sylvia. And the old Magnolia Manor itself is a fine character with new development.

I had no sense of time while reading The Granddaughter’s Irish Secret. I became completely lost in the story. The gentle romance, the second chances, the family secrets and dramas, the mystery and history and wonderful characters made this an uplifting and exciting read. Loved, loved, loved it! Highly recommend this heart-warming and memorable novel! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.