This is a brilliant and unique story which kept me totally hooked. Having previously read and enjoyed the 'Comfort Food Café ' series by Debbie Johnson, I was very intrigued to read A Very Irish Christmas!
While I have to admit that the story is not quite what I expected - it's set in England for the most part - it is nonetheless a fabulous festive read, filled with warm and charismatic characters. Cassie comes across as genuinely likeable and I was totally rooting for her to get her spark back and have a happy ending, preferably with one of the charming gentlemen who are vying for her attention. There are plenty of side stories and diversions along the road to happiness and I would love to read a sequel featuring some of the other characters. Enjoy!
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the review copy.

This was my first read by this author and won't be my last. A super sweet holiday story about the power of love and how a village can really come together to make something beautiful. Most of the story does NOT take place in Ireland...technically...but the Irish characters make the story. While touted as a romantic comedy (and yes there are some amazingly funny parts), there is more depth in this story...loss and pain...than I expected at first and in the end...it was exactly what I needed. Hallmark should come looking for this one.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of A Very Irish Christmas.

Cassie was left at the altar three years ago and ever since then she has felt like her life had stalled. Her Nana Nora passed away six months ago and left her some money and her best friend June tells her she should use the money and travel so she decides to go to a quaint English village. There she meets wonderful people and has two very different men vying for her-Charles is a Lord with a lovely manor and Ryan the sweet handyman. Cassie finds herself and decides to follow her Nana’s advice and follow her heart.

This was such an enjoyable read. It was so easy to connect with Cassie’s character. This book has humor, love, loss, joy, and Christmas!

I loved this! I couldn’t put it down. I loved the whole ‘Irishness’ of it. The small town community, the history and the ‘being more Irish’ for the tourists.

Cassie’s backstory was heartfelt, and the love for her nana Norma was immense. She took a brave step to help heal her heart. I loved her encounter with Ejit and that instant spark with Ryan as he held her hand to protect her. Ryan’s story took a bit longer to uncover and my heart broke when he finally told Cassie what had happened.

However, there was also a third thrown in, Charles. I really enjoyed Cassie’s time at the Manor House and all the family she met there, there was an attraction with Charles and for a while I was unsure who I wanted her to end up with. Learning Charles’ backstory was also heartbreaking, and unlike Ryan he could run away for a fresh start as he had his daughter and mother to look after.

I loved Cassie’s enthusiasm for her job and her energy, you could really see her come alive when she saw the potential in Bancroft house and worked with Charles to promote it. She got the entire village involved and really became connected to everything.

Full of love and Christmas magic, this truly was an amazing read.

4.5 ⭐️
This was the cutest, cosiest, small town Christmas book that felt like a Hallmark movie 🎄

It wasn’t quite 5⭐️ because the romance didn’t quite hit for me (I wasn’t a fan of the main trope and it felt more like a small subplot).

However, I absolutely loved everything else. There were a lot of really emotional moments but they were blended perfectly with some lighthearted really funny moments. I loved all the characters and this small town!! 🥰

What a refreshing beachy read — even tho it’s nearly November. Fun, flirty, and an all around feel good read. What more could a reader ask for! I never thought about traveling to England before but now I’m thinking seriously about it. Ms Johnson made it seem so fun. Now I plan to find the author’s back list and see what else she’s written. Definitely two thumbs up from me.

Debbie Johnson's novel, "A Very Irish Christmas", is a heartwarming and charming Christmas story that explores new beginnings, forgiveness, and the search for true love. Cassie O'Hara is a character who grabs the reader from the first moment: a young, determined event planner from New York who has envisioned her whole life in a perfect world, carefully planned. She'd worked out every detail for her upcoming wedding - until her fiancé decided at the altar at the last minute that he didn't want to be with her.

The story begins two years after the break-up when Cassie feels it's time to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York. A trip to the Irish countryside - inspired by the legacy of her beloved grandmother - promises to be a wonderful place to start. The romantic and mystical atmosphere of the Irish countryside immediately captivates her, and as Christmas approaches, she looks forward to finding new life in this idyllic setting. However, she soon discovers that things don't always turn out the way she plans. When she arrives, instead of a cozy cottage, Christmas pie, and festive atmosphere, she is greeted by a cold and deserted house.

After meeting the local stray dog, from whom Ryan, a handsome Irishman, rescues her, she tells another eye-catching stranger in the pub about what happened. The elegant stranger, however, turns out to be the owner of the house, Charles, who offers Cassie to stay at his family's estate. In the beautiful and huge house, which the family barely makes use of due to its size, Cassie slowly gets to know the whole family, who, despite their noble title, are at the end of the day just an ordinary family with ordinary problems.

Cassie soon settles into the village community and uses her professional skills to help boost the marketing of Charles' estate. Meanwhile, she not only grows closer to the handsome gentleman but is also drawn to the mysterious Irish ladies' man, Ryan. The question remains whether Cassie is ready to open her heart again after her disappointment and allow herself to love again.

The only thing I could mention as a negative is that at this point in the story, it would have been interesting to see more of a gradual building of affection and sexual tension between them, for me this relationship felt a little lacking. However, this could be because my expectations are too high, given that I've been reading a lot of Lisa Renee Jones books lately, who is (in my opinion) a master of creating that certain tension in her books, regardless of genre.

Overall, "A Very Irish Christmas" is a lovely and heartwarming read that is a perfect choice for the holiday season, especially for those who believe in the possibility of new beginnings and the healing power of love. Cassie's story can be an encouragement to all those who have lost faith in love and a reminder that sometimes true happiness is found in the most unexpected places.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author Debbie Johnson for this eARC

I love Johnsons Starshine Cove series, so when I saw that she had written a christmas romance I had to read it. And I was not disappointed!
As always Johnson writes mature, well rounded characters that you can't help but fall in love with.
It gave me "The Holiday" vibes, which I loved, as it's my favorite christmas movie and I watch it every year.
It's a heartwarming, fluffy feel-good story with lots of charm and christmas cheer and I loved every second of reading it.

This was such a fast, fun, cozy and sweet read.
I love the small-town trope!
The FMC Cassie is someone I could easily relate to and I enjoyed her journey. Every character is likeable and I especially loved Nana Nora (who passed away, but still plays a wonderful part in the story). I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between Cassie and her love interest(s) but that was the only thing lacking. It didn't take away the joy tho.
The scene settings were wonderful and give you that extra cozy feeling. I found myself smiling throughout the story and loved the Irish humour. It isn't the most spectacular read, but I definitely enjoyed the light-hearted, fun story.
If you are looking for a quick read that warms your heart this season, look no further!!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Cassie decides she needs a break from New York and decides to use the money left to her by her beloved nanna for a month's stay in a quaint English village. There she meets Charles, the local aristocrat complete with manor house, and Ryan, the local handyman.
The setting, in the lovely Cotswolds, sounds wonderful even if the weather leaves a bit to be desired. The village is known as little Ireland , with the local population including a large proportion of Irish. Charles is the epitome of an English aristocrat, but with a strong sense of responsibility towards his tenants in the village. Ryan has the reputation of being a ladies man, but doesn't get along with Charles. When Cassie, who is an events planner, offers to help come up with a plan to save the family estate she is torn between attraction towards the two men.
Debbie always writes stories that give the reader that warm fuzzy feeling that I enjoy so much and this story is no exception.. Read it and enjoy.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

3.5 ⭐️

This was a solid Hallmark Christmas story in the form of a book, and I appreciated that and enjoyed.

In this book, we follow our FMC who has been living the past few years literally in the past and wallowing in the fact that she was jilted at the alter by her then groom. After being talked into it by her best friend, she cashes in the inheritance she got from her late grandmother and goes on a journey of finding herself to Little Ireland.

I enjoyed the writing of this book.
The setting is a small town in England called Little Ireland where all Irish people go and make it home after they leave Ireland.
It was very cozy and had exquisite cozy Christmas vibes.

The characters we meet in this story feel like actual people you would meet.
The characters also have their own problems. Some are dealing with trauma in their own way, others are dealing with grief. There is also representation for Alzheimer's patients. There is also mention of death in multiple instances, so do check TW on these topics.

What made me rate this book 3.5 ⭐️ is the fact that I did not feel the chemistry between our FMC and either of the two love interests. I felt that it lacked. I would have liked to get a little more on the romance front.

As someone who loves Christmas Hallmark movies, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this as a Holiday read by the fire.

3.5 rounded up because I'm nice and would now also like to visit the Cotswolds. This is a fun novel but the romance kind of springs from nowhere. Would like to be friends with all the townsfolk, though. Definitely one where you can't think too hard about the plot or the loose ends.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley.

Such cozy village, and a charming community vibes with Christmas to boot! While this book didnt have as much romance as I was anticipating the sense of community and heartwarming story-telling made up for it.

Cassie was still reeling from being jilted at the altar three years ago by her boyfriend of sixteen years. Her grandmother had also died six months before present day and left her a nest egg which she didn't want to touch.

An impulsive decision had her going to England for Christmas with the inheritance to find herself. The tiny town filled with mostly Irish residents was a wonderful place to be.

There was a love triangle. Cassie was torn between Ryan, the flirty Irish handyman who was a self-proclaimed player, and Charles, the charming British aristocrat and owner of a failing manor.

I wasn't really invested in either of the potential romances but found myself leaning towards one simply because the feelings were clearly communicated. I guess at the end, it all came down to bravery for Cassie to face the unknown.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It releases on 30th October.

Rating: 3⭐
Steam level: 1🌶️ Kissing only

A very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson

This is a fun romantic comedy focusing on New Yorker, Cassie O'Hara, who following a bad break up goes to "little Ireland" in England for a month. While there Cassie becomes part of community and is charmed by aristocrat Charles and the handyman Ryan. From the title I expected it all to be set in Ireland but perhaps that is a lesson not to judge a book by it's title. I found some of the Irish stereotypes a bit grating but once I let that go I enjoyed the storyline. There were some serious themes in the book but overall it felt like a lighthearted romance.

Thank you to negalleyuk, the publishers and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very Irish Christmas is out on 30th October.

#Scottishreader #irishbookstagram #netgalley

This was truly adorable, a cozy christmassy read. Loved Cassie and Ryan and Charles and crew. It was all very sweet and lovely. Very 90s rom com nostalgic. No spice but tons of adorable moments. Definitely would’ve loved more interactions between Ryan & Cassie together to justify ”love” being thrown down but it was truly so sweet. Enjoyed it!

Free courtesy of netgalley

Cassie O'Hara is in a slump, she had an awful experience 3 years ago and just doesn't seem to be able to get over it and all her confidence has gone. On top of this her beloved Grandmother Nora has passed away, a few weeks before her 100th Birthday.

Encouraged by her best friend she decides not to go to her sister's house for Christmas and face being ridiculed by her, or staying in New York on her own she books a beautiful cottage in England instead. She just wants to be closer to her Irish Grandmother Nora, who left her a nest egg she will use to travel.

When she gets to the cottage not everything is how she dreamed it would be as Whimsy Cottage is a damp and unloved dump and she doesn't know what to do, so she decides to decamp to the local pub to think about it. She is then waylaid by the local stray dog Eejit and landing on her ass in a puddle she receives help from the local Casanova and the lord of the Manor. The village helps her to get back on her feet and put the last 3 years behind her but is she brave enough to find Love again

This felt very much like a short story, but it was very well written and I would have preferred it to be a much longer book. I would recommend this lovely Christmas book, to get into the spirit of community and Christmas 🎄

This was a heartwarming feel good Christmas story with plenty of Irish humour and a lovely romance I really enjoyed it and would recommend

A Very Irish Christmas is a heartwarming journey of healing, self-discovery, and festive magic wrapped up in Debbie Johnson’s signature warmth and wit. Cassie O’Hara, a New Yorker with Irish roots, finds herself heartbroken and burned out. After a disastrous end to her last relationship and career setbacks, she decides it’s finally time to take a break. With her late Nanna Nora’s inheritance, she books a holiday in a quaint UK village known as “Little Ireland”—an escape that’s supposed to be peaceful but instead kicks off with quite a few surprises.

Arriving at Whimsy Cottage, Cassie finds a run-down, chilly spot rather than the cozy retreat she’d envisioned. This mix-up leads her to Charles, the dapper English lord, and Ryan, a lively Irishman with charm to spare. With an invitation to stay at a local manor while her cottage is sorted, Cassie is drawn into the lives of the community, forming new friendships and even learning more about her beloved Nanna’s past. Between snowy landscapes, Irish charm, and moments of humor, Cassie slowly rediscovers what truly matters.

Johnson has created a vibrant cast of characters with genuine warmth, charm, and banter that feel like real friends. The wintry English village and Cassie’s later journey to Ireland beautifully capture the spirit of the holidays, making this novel both cozy and festive. Cassie’s story is a delightful blend of laughter, romance, and emotional depth, especially as she finds the courage to follow her heart and embrace new beginnings.

For fans of holiday tales with romance, humor, and a touch of Irish magic, A Very Irish Christmas is an uplifting read that feels like a warm, festive hug.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy.

Oh I loved this book so much. Full of wit and charm. And a delightful seasonal read. This is exactly the type of book us romance lovers want.
Not too cheesy it makes you giddy or thinking about it's believability. Just the right level of cheese, lol.
Such a cosy read. And the main characters all had my heart in different ways.