I have enjoyed all of Debbie Johnson’s Starshine Cove novels I have read. But A Very Irish Christmas is just magical—especially the ballroom dancing scene: complete with a fairy tale Prince Charming! This is a story about following your heart—even if it gets you into a bit of trouble at times. But in taking that advice, it will eventually lead you home to where you belong: with the right person in the right location. You may end up quite far from where you started, though, so be prepared for some surprises! But that is okay as what is meant to be—will be.

This is also a story about healing from emotional upsets and loss. Cassie O’Hara is an American from New York with an Irish nanna (Nora) who has unfortunately passed away within the year. They were very close and Cassie misses her terribly. But her grandmother’s words of advice and display of love are forever in her thoughts. She draws upon these things as she tries to move forward after her big romantic upset—when her fiancé left her at the altar. Stunned and wounded by this rejection, she has not been quite the same. It put a real dent in her confidence well and sucked the life out of her. She thinks maybe she just needs to get away for a break to reset and heal. Nanna Nora has left her some inheritance money to be used for a rainy day. And as her friend says, it is pouring rain in her life right now! So it’s a good time to take advantage of her grandmother’s gift.

When Cassie looks on line for a destination, she sees a special place that tugs at her heart. So, she decides to head to England to stay for a month in Whimsy Cottage (in a place the locals call Little Ireland). But when she arrives, the accommodation she has rented is anything but cosy or clean! And there is a very strange dog hanging around. Accompanied by an attractive Irish fellow full of secrets. When she makes a complaint about her ill-equipped cottage, she discovers the booking was a mistake as the cottage is up for renovation. The owner, an Englishman, apologises and invites her to stay at his impressive manor while the work is being done on the cottage. It is here she meets some very intriguing persons and the drama heightens. Lots of things happen to upset her ideas but also to realign them to what is important. She gets involved with the community and it latches on to her heart. Her journey also takes her to Ireland where her nanna is from and she learns more about this woman she loved so much. This knowledge gives her courage to begin to follow her heart and to make decisions that are good for her.

This novel is pure delight from start to finish with never a dull moment! It kept me glued to the pages. A well delivered cast of characters made it fun and festive. The settings are gorgeous and the Christmas festivities are appealing. Plus, the dialogue is dripping with delicious wit! Wonderful humour and Irish sayings fill this beautiful tale. There are dilemmas to be sorted and choices to be made. And sometimes it is hard to tell which direction things may go in. But once decisions are made, we know they are the right ones for the characters. A Very Irish Christmas is an absolute gem and a-must-read at any time of the year. It will give you a lift, a laugh and a welcoming warm hug—just as it did me. 5 sparkling stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. I honestly had such a fun time with this read. Cassie receives money from her "Nana" who is Irish, and decides to use that money for a vacation in a village in Ireland. Rather than get cozy and quaint vibes, she gets something completely different that does not align with her plans. Also, two guys named Charles (English and has a manor house) and Ryan (Irish and brooding) are interested in her - so terrible! Along the way, Cassie helps Charles with event planning in an attempt to save his family home, which also has her working closely with Ryan. Eventually, the village begins to win Cassie over, but then she ultimately has to make a choice when it is time to go home.

This is a great book for Christmas, or for any time of the year. It incorporates a Christmas setting, but the romance is spot on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! I felt such a pull with this story and I was easily able to picture the setting and put myself in the shoes of our main character, Cassie. This is not just a book for Christmas. It is, first and foremost, a great romance story and it just happens to take place around Christmas which to me is the cherry on top (reference absolutely intended here!); I would happily read this book again and again, all throughout the year. Such engaging characters with raw and honest backgrounds, all woven together beautifully. I especially loved that I felt in suspense until the last pages, which is rare for me to find in a book.
Honestly, I would have happily read another 300 pages of this story, and I would happily read another book about these characters!

Thank you so much to Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this book via NetGalley.

This had quite a decent premise, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. I found the conversations stilted, hinged on turns of phrase that were rather unnatural. Considering that conversation occupied a huge chunk of the book, this became a deal-breaker for me. That aside, the third act of the story was a bit of a letdown, seeming to be an attempt at the classic romcom grand gesture, but it ended up falling way short of it, becoming rather rushed and slightly unbelievable. I did find the story concept quite cute, though; anyone who wants a quick Christmas read could try this out.

I do not believe I have ever read a Debbie Johnson novel before, but after reading A Very Irish Christmas, I plan to search out her entire canon. This was such a warm-hearted and feel good read.

New Yorker Cassie was jilted at the altar by her long term boyfriend/fiancé three years before our story begins, and she has recently lost her grandmother who was her champion and foil to her perfectionist mother and sister. She has lost her confidence and joy and is just drifting through life when her best friend encourages her to use her inheritance to recharge her life. Although this intro to her booking a month long vacation in an English town (with many, many Irish expats) sounds sad, the humor is prevalent and we immediately root for Cassie.

What follows is a charming story of Cassie finding herself again in a village with wonderful characters and two hunky men. There is a trip to Ireland and some answers to her beloved Irish grandmother’s past, but the story is just so much fun to read as we learn the backstories of the villagers and see how they cope with challenges with humor and grace.

This book kept pushing onwards with humour and surprises. There are knowing looks and glances that Cassie can’t decifer, the big old house with the memories and whimsy cottage that needs refurbishing. This is a fun read with lots of real characters and an every so often a little taking of the mickey of the English with the constant tea drinking, talking of the weather and swearing! There are two sexy men vying for Cassie’s attention and heart as well as a fabulous stray dog. Cassie is scared and hurt from the past though and might just not open her arms in time

Love Debbie Johnson books. Cassie decides to use the money her Irish nana Nora leaves her to go to Ireland to seek out where her nana came from only to discover she's in England in a place called Little Ireland. She gets wrapped up in the local life there and loves it

I loved this cosy festive novel, it's the perfect book to curl up with over the festive season. It was easy to follow, had a good cast of characters and the pacing was just right. Overall a good read that I would recommend to other people.

Whenever I see Debbie Johnson I come running. I have never seen such a beautiful author whose words and passages stay with you forever. One of her books is literally one of my favorite books of all time. What a treat to be able to read in advance this Irish tale and fall in love with a whole new cast of characters;

A Very Irish Christmas by D. Johnson, published by Storm Publishing, is a witty and fun read. Like coming home after a long day at work and snuggling on the couch with a blanket and a mug of cocoa.
Blurb: When New York-born Cassie O'Hara decides to use the money her sassy Irish nana Nora left in her will to book a month-long stay in a quaint country village, she's expecting a cozy cottage, steak-and-ale pie and plenty of Christmas cheer. Instead, she gets a draughty disaster covered in dust, a temperamental stray dog and two devastatingly handsome men vying for her attention…
There's Charles, the dashing English aristocrat with an enormous manor house and a heart of gold. And Ryan, a curly-haired Irish handyman with a past he won't talk about and an accent that makes her weak at the knees.
When Charles enlists Cassie's event-planning expertise to save his family estate, she finds herself working shoulder to shoulder with Ryan, breathing new life into Bancroft Manor. As village life weaves its spell, Cassie uncovers some intriguing secrets about Nana Nora's past.