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New beginnings In The Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal

Updated: May 9, 2023


Book Description


New Beginnings in the Little Irish Village: A completely addictive and gorgeous feel-good romance by Michelle Vernal

Welcome to the little Irish village of Emerald Bay where the sun is shining, the locals are gossiping, and romance is in the air. But will returning home be the fresh start Imogen Kelly needs? Thirty-two-year-old Imogen Kelly is meant to be living her best life in Dublin but the bright light s 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.






BLOG TOUR REVIEW



Review for 'New Beginnings In The Little Irish Village' by Michelle Vernal.



Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Michelle Vernal, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous



Publication date 4th May 2023.



This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in the 'The Little Irish Village' series.


I was originally drawn to this book by its colourful cover and intriguing, sounding synopsis and title. 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 41 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy 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 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in Ireland on many occasions so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.



This book is written in third person perspective and the protagonist is Imogen Kelly. 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.



LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOOVVVEEE , LOVED IT!!! A HUGE WELL DONE MICHELLE ON AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC BOOK ♥!!!



This is a fantastically written book that has vivid descriptions which will make you feel that you are breathing the Irish air, hearing the construction noise and seeing the fireworks!! It takes you on a journey to Ireland and I was devastated when I had to pack my case to come back home and leave Ireland behind 😭 The title, synopsis and cover suit the storyline perfectly.



The storyline itself is romantically charged and filled with love, friendship, community, family, comedy, romance, arguments, stubbornness, fun and absolutely everything you could want in an absolutely stunning rom com!!! It made me laugh, cry, scream, shout, angry and jump for joy!! It is a gorgeous story about returning home, of family and new beginnings. Imogen moved to Dublin from her home village of Emerald Bay (how stunning is that name!!) and has a very successful interior design business. She is surrounded by her friends and her boyfriend Nevin but feels that there is still something missing in her life. Imogen is offered a job in Benmore House back in Emerald Bay redesigning several rooms and jumps at the chance! Imogen hopes to bump into her childhood sweetheart in order to finally close the door on that chapter in her life. However, on the way to Benmore House she is almost hit by Ryan O'Malley, who was a prankster and nemesis in school, when she tries to avoid hitting ducks crossing the road! To find out what happens in this stunning book next you will just have to grab your copy today!! What i will tell you is that while reading this amazing book you will encounter tears, meltdowns, disasters, secrets, romance, friendship and sparks flying everywhere!! Michelle's evocative writing skills brings the story life and one minute you are chilling at home with the book in your hand and the next you've been sucked straight into Emerald Bay . The atmosphere was gorgeous and I was completely swept away!! This book had me in stitches on several occasions and at other times left me sitting there going awww and getting some very strange looks!! There was plenty going on and I absolutely loved every moment of it. The storyline is unique and I think it is such a fantastic plot I really would love to see this turned into a movie!! I would be the first barging their way in front to get tickets!! I would absolutely love to visit Emerald Bay again to see how everyone gets on!! I have got to add that I absolutely adored the gorgeous Irish Blessing's that count the reader down to St Patrick's Day!!



DO NOT START THIS UNTIL YOU CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!!


There were so many large and unique personalities in this book and thanks to Michelle's amazing writing skills each and every one of them came alive. I was completely invested in Imogen who I found to be likeable, fun and realistic. I really enjoyed watching her having to go from the busy city of Dublin and then having to readjust to the complete opposite in the beautiful Emerald Bay and village lif. It was so fun watching her take part in different activities and working with Ryan. Imogen has a heart of gold and so much empathy that she is just the typer of person that I am gutted is only fictional although Michelle really did make her jump out of the pages when I was reading them. She is the type of friend that everybody would feel a lot better having around!!! I absolutely LOVED watching all the separate relationships develop and change between the characters and I would love to see where each goes and what they get up to next!! I also loved meeting so many other characters such as Ryan and his family and I just have to give the adorable Napoleon the cat a mention. However, not everyone was such a pleasure to get to know and that included Lachlan and Nevin but I wont waste any more words on them!! This book was filled with a lovely range of characters and I would absolutely love to meet them all again!! Hint hint Michelle 😉 Regardless of whether you love or hate the characters they all worked perfectly together to make an absolutely gorgeous storyline so a huge WELL done to Michelle for bringing them to life!!


An absolutely stunning read by Michelle!! If you are looking for that perfect read to lift your spirits, and keep you hooked then what are you waiting for??



Well done Michell on a stunning page turner and for making me laugh, swoon and smile!!! I'm looking forward to your next success!!! This is exactly why I would like to welcome you to my top 3 rom com authors list ♥


Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Michelle's 'Christmas In the Little Irish Village' which promises to be just as stunning a read as this book is!



Overall an absolutely gorgeous, festive, feel good, page turning novel filled with friendships, love, community and family that will keep you up late at night.



Genres covered in this book include Women's Romance Fiction, British & Irish Contemporary Literature, British & Irish Humor & Satire, Humour, Romance Novel, Family Life Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance Fiction, Holiday Romance, Humorous Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Women's Contemporary Fiction, General Humorous Fiction, General Fiction, Love, Sex & Marriage Humour and Contemporary Romance amongst others.




I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Debbie Macomber, Kristen Bailey, Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Mhari McFarlane, Christina Lauren and anyone who is looking for a lift me up page turner that is perfect to get you in the festive spirit!!




322 pages.



This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £8.24 in paperback 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.



Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews




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Author Bio


Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories that will take you onto the page with her characters and make you feel part of their lives. She writes with humour and warmth, and her readers describe her books as unputdownable, feel good and funny. Her writing has been likened to Maeve Binchy but with a modern-day vernacular. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the Love Stories Award. In 2020 she won the Reader's Favorite Gold Medal Award for Chick lit, and in 2021 was shortlisted for the Page Turner Book Awards.



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