I love Debbie Johnson's books and 'A Very Irish Christmas' lived up to expectations. Cassie is the main character and we find her heartbroken in New York on the approach to Christmas. She is inspired to use money left to her by her grandmother and rents a cottage in England and plans to spend Christmas there alone. She doesn't expect to find a cold damp uninhabitable holiday home when she arrives but that what she gets, Luckily the locals are friendly and a few of them are ridiculously attractive and one of them happens to own the stately home and offers to put her up.

Soon Cassie is fitting right into life in the little village is making herself invaluable and is finding it hard to think about going home.

If you love funny romantic comedies and Hallmark movies then this is the book for you. Give it a go, you won't regret it!

I have been looking forward to reading this Christmas book from one of my favourite authors. She writes brilliant romantic comedies in wonderful settings. I just knew that once I started reading this one I wouldn’t want to put it down. It reminded me a little of the Christmas film the Holiday. I particularly liked this book’s cover, so striking in green, linking in with the Irish theme.

The heroine of the story is event planner Cassie O’Hara, who has decided to use the inheritance left to her by her beloved Irish grandmother to leave behind her native New York and spend Christmas in the UK. Searching online, she finds the perfect little cottage in a small English village where she pictures herself relaxing by the fire surrounded by Christmas spirit. The reality is quite different when she opens the door of the cottage to find dust and decay. Turning to find the village pub in the hope of a meal, she is intercepted by a small dog barring her way, but her fortunes improve when she is rescued from the whole situation by not one but two handsome men. The first is Irish handyman Ryan and the other is local landowner Charles, who offers her alternative accommodation in the local manor house that has been his family’s home for generations. While Ryan fixes up Cassie’s holiday cottage, she helps Charles with advice on activities that will bring in some income for his floundering estate. During Cassie’s stay, she also finds out some facts about her own family history. As time passes, she becomes attracted to both Ryan and Charles and they to her, but who will she choose or will she in fact return to New York?

What a marvellous Christmassy romance this was, filled with humorous situations and characters in an unusual setting. I loved the idea of the quaint English village that is so very Irish, filled as it is with families with Irish backgrounds. Cassie was a great character, so kind and helpful and not at all fazed by anything thrown at her. She has been unlucky in love in the past and then two lovely men are there before her - she certainly had a quandary. I loved the little stray dog who turned up mysteriously all over the place. The story was not all laughs. There were some serious issues dealt with and I was reduced to tears at times. I can thoroughly recommend this heartwarming Christmas book; charming setting, likeable characters and romance - what more could you want?

I've read a few of this author's books and have loved them all. This one though, for me, didn't quite hit the high note that I expected. We meet Cassie O'Hara - New York born, but with Irish family connections. She decides to use some of her inheritance from her late grandmother to holiday over Christmas in England. She picks a small village unknowingly with lots of Irish roots and finds herself getting close to Charles, an English Aristocrat who owns the cottage she is due to be staying in.

The storyline started off well and I enjoyed Cassie arriving in England and meeting the villagers in the affectionately known village of Little Ireland! I loved meeting Charles and his home and family and thought the relationship building between him and Cassie was lovely! However, as the storyline moved on, I found myself losing interest, especially when Cassie heads over to Ireland. To be honest, it already felt that Cassie was in Ireland, because the village she was staying in had so many Irish connections, so it felt a bit strange when she did actually go to Ireland! I found this part of the story a little unnecessary if I'm being completely honest, and I would have much preferred for the storyline to stay in England and focussed on her time there.

However, I did enjoy the beginning, and I liked the ending. It was obvious where it was heading, but I enjoyed seeing what happened between her and the man of her dreams! It was a cute seasonal read with some likeable characters.

I loved this book. It slowly winds the backstories of Cassie, Charles and Ryan into a sweet story of love, heartbreak, hope and finding joy. I really loved how each person's story interrelated and combined.

Closed door, slow burn, great friendships.

It finishes off with the perfect Christmas project that the whole town gets involved in. Loved it!

Thank you to the author and Netgalley.

3/5

Overall, the story was good. A woman trying to find herself goes on holiday to England. However, she ends up in the Little Ireland of England, which is wonderful considering her grandmother who just passed was Irish.

I just didn't like the love triangle and who Cassie ends up with. I felt let down with the ending. I felt like you were really rooting for one particular man and then she just up and goes completely the opposite.

I enjoyed the book because it was set in Ireland and I really like the main character. It was a very easy to pick up and get into kind of read. I enjoyed the back and forth between the characters and the seeming in Ireland was just beautifully written.. Yes the ending was obvious but I like how it came to the conclusion. A very enjoyable Christmas read! Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting romantic, feel good festive tale. Your classic love triangle, I thought this was an interesting trope - and I genuinely couldn’t see which way she was going to go and who she would pick. I enjoyed that the story wasn’t just about her finding romance, she also worked on finding herself. A great array of characters to provide some really lighthearted and fun craic!

I loved this very sweet story. It was such a a feel good book and I really enjoyed all the characters in the village. I guessed the outcome but, it didn't spoil my enjoyment. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cozy, wonderful Christmas novel. It really helped me get into the Christmas spirit!

I enjoyed this Christmas read set in Ireland I loved the heroine, though it took me a bit to warm up to the English hero. Which was a bit of let down while reading a book set in Ireland.

I have to be honest—this book wasn’t for me. I’ve seen so many amazing reviews, and while we all have different tastes, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. It wasn’t a bad read; I actually finished it in one day because the love triangle kept me hooked, and I was eager to see how it would play out. But I didn’t love how it was resolved—it took too long for her to choose between them, even though the choice felt obvious. My biggest complaint is that I wanted more focus on the main couple; since the love triangle dragged on, I didn’t feel a strong connection between them. That said, this might just be my personal issue, so if the book catches your eye, give it a shot—it might work for you! I’d love to hear others’ thoughts if anyone wants to discuss!

A Very Irish Christmas follows the story of Cassie O’Hara as she decides to use the money her Irish nana Nora left her in her will to book a month-long stay in a cozy cottage in a quaint village in England dubbed, Little Ireland. However, when she gets there, the cottage is not what she expected. Luckily, Charles, an English aristocrat, comes to her rescue and offers her to stay at his family’s estate. Ryan, an Irish handyman with a mysterious past, works to get the cottage in a livable state. With her return flight home looming and her heart being pulled in two directions, will Carrie find where she belongs like her nana always wanted for her?

It took me a bit to get into the story, I wasn’t too interested when Cassie was going through the process of debating going on the trip and then booking it. However, once she was in the little village, it reminded me of a Hallmark movie, and I couldn’t stop reading. I kept rooting for the guy I was more interested in and kept trying to figure out who she belonged with.

Having Charles require Cassie’s help with event planning was such a good idea. It made me more interested in her character as I could see how passionate and talented she was at event planning. I also loved seeing how a small town can come together to help each other. It made me dream of living in a small town myself.

Overall, it was a really cute story and a fun read. I recommend this to people who love small towns, love triangles, and grumpy Irishmen with a fondness for stray dogs. Thank you, Debbie Johnson and NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy for my honest opinion.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶️

If you are a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, this is the perfect book for you! It is a cozy Christmas story that follows a leading lady, who faces multiple losses, as she goes on a solo adventure for Christmas. There are elements of found family in the wide range of characters she encounters during her stay across the pond. The love story is more of a background to the main focus which is our MC finding herself again.

Thank you to NetGalley, Debbie Johnson & Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC!

I very festive story which starts out in America with Cassie who has been nursing a broken heart for many years.
When her friend June persuades her to go to find her roots she finds a whole new life in England.
Very quickly cassie finds there is life beyond Being jilted.
Set in the beautiful English countryside a warm cozy read.

Thanks to the publsihers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I do love a Debbie Johnson book and this one is no exception. A perfect Christmas holiday read.

My favourite holiday read of 2024!
A Very Irish Christmas is exactly what I was looking for in a holiday book. It's so warm and cozy, and all the characters make you feel like you're right there in their little town. This was my first Debbie Johnson book, and I'll be looking for more.

A very cute coma great festival book it very good easy to read love the plot it hooks you a small time girl she a great characters u did enjoy the book I recommend to you all

Cassie needs a change to heal. She’s still grieving the cancellation of her wedding, on the day, at the altar of, and she’s stuck. After her grandmother passes away, leaving her some money, Cassie gets talked into traveling to the UK.

What Cassie winds up finding is a new version of herself, some of her family heritage, and possibly a love interest or two! I enjoyed this book, it moved fast, and I was invested in the outcome. Recommend!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This adorable story of a girl finding herself in a small town in Ireland at Christmas. Cassie has had a really bad year but she decides to take her inheritance from her late Irish Nana and go on an adventure to a town in the UK for a month. Cassie finds herself in a love triangle with two great locals. In the end, she follows her heart and finds love. This was such a cute, feel good story. I really enjoyed this book!

There was a lot of cute moments in this book, but I think it was more of a "finding home" story that a romance. It was cute, had great characters and some heart-warming moments. But, for me, the romance was the secondary plot. If you enjoy a bit of a Hallmark style love triangle, this is the perfect book for you!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.