O'Mara's. (The Guesthouse on The Green #1)

Another novel that’s been around for a while but attracted me due to its synopsis, as it is set in a guesthouse opposite St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin. Having once stayed a few nights at a similar small hotel facing The Green which has an uncannily similar layout and rooms, I could immediately visualise the setting and even some of the characters working there. And as Dublin is one of my favourite cities, how could I resist!
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Aisling O’Mara has come home to Ireland after travelling and working around the world to take up the management of the family’s guesthouse. Her father has recently died and her mother has decided to call it quits. Aisling has an older brother, Patrick, who lives in America, and two sisters, Roisin and Moira. The eldest sister, Roisin, is busy with a family and the youngest, Moira, is leading the self-indulgent lifestyle of the young.

Aisling is still getting over being ditched at the altar by her intended, Marcus, who hightailed it to Cork just two weeks prior to the event. Her family is fiercely protective of Aisling and their reaction is predictable when he unexpectedly pops back into her life and she is torn between sending him packing, or forgiving him and letting him have a second chance.

This is a delightful novel that is a bit more than just fluffy chick-lit, as it has a secondary more serious story featuring an prickly middle-aged guest called Una who has come to Dublin also on a quest for forgiveness.

I really liked all of these characters. Mammy O’Mara is a joy. Moira is sassy and tends to drink and party too much. Aisling is energetic and has a weakness for teeteringly high heels and an ongoing battle with her waistline as she loves to eat, especially food created by her old friend, Quinn, who runs a nearby restaurant. Quinn carries a secret torch for Aisling and is not impressed by the return of Marcus. The Irish dialogue, expressions and patter are spot on, and some of it is very funny.

There are quite a number of books in the Guesthouse series available on Kindle and I’ll probably read more of them when looking for something light-hearted about endearing people who are sure to give a lift to any heart.

Four 1/2 stars.
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amazon.com

amazon.co.uk
 
bookdepository  (Print copies don't seem to be available from Australian booksellers.)
 
(Coincidentally, in my TBR pile is a new book about the history of St. Stephen’s Green which will be reviewed at a later date.)

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