Room on the Shelf

*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but all opinions are my own.* “It adds a certain je-ne-say-whatsit…”  —Buck Inebriated idiots, murderous mobsters, fraught families, sexy sergeants, and loads of laughs–this book’s got it all. Clio and Sean–a woman with a sketchy past and a member of the Guard–seem like polar opposites. He follows (and enforces) the law, and she has a history of breaking it. Sometimes, though, love is above the law. The question is, will their burning attraction and growing feelings be enough to overcome their heavy pasts and the gangster holding a tab on Clio? “I love you,” he said, and meant it with an earnest intensity he’d never experienced before.  “Now dry your eyes and don’t get shot.” Of all the Ballybeg men, Sean is my absolute favorite. Maybe it’s the uniform, or maybe it’s the quiet strength and sharp wit–whatever the case, he just does it for me. And Clio is absolutely real and relatable, and I admired her spunk and strength in the face of adversity.  Keane crafts their romance with a nice realism and lack of mushiness that suits a somewhat jaded policeman and…

After falling head over heels for Ballybeg in Love and Shenanigans, I was both stoked and a little scared to read Love and Leprechauns (I skipped Love and Blarney, #2 and a stand-alone novella). I loved the world and Zara Keane‘s writing style so much in the first installation that I was afraid the next full novel wouldn’t live up to the first.  But let me tell you:  this one was just as good! The setting of this installation is the same Ballybeg as in Love and Shenanigans (read my review here), but the hero and heroine, Jonas and Olivia, are quite different from Fiona and Gavin–and from each other. We meet Olivia and Jonas in Love and Shenanigans, but we really get to know them in this book.  Jonas is a single father and writer, struggling to balance his writing career with parenting a special needs child.  Olivia dreams of starting a cafe and obtaining financial independence from her abusive husband.  When Jonas has the space Olivia needs for her business, and rent money from Olivia can help keep Jonas’s boat afloat, the two warily join together and sparks fly!  But can new feelings overcome past hurts? I loved the artful blend…

If you’re looking for a fun romance with a little mystery, lots of laughs, and sexy Irishmen, you should definitely pick up this first installment in Zara Keane‘s Ballybeg series. The heroine, Fiona, is a supremely likeable and “real” character.  She’s not model thin or fashionable, and she doesn’t give a feck.  When she’s wrangled into the wedding party (in chartreuse, no less!) for her snotty cousin, and discovers that the groom, Gavin is, in fact, already married (to HER!), Fiona’s life is thrown for a loop. Follow along as Fiona and Gavin navigate the curves, rises and dips (pun totally intended) of the road to love.  Will they hang on until the end, or will roadblocks stop them in their tracks? I literally laughed out loud from the beginning.  Keane’s writing is fresh, and her portrayal of Irish culture masterful.  Why are you still reading this review?! Buy the book and read it now (I’ve even put a handy little link to the book on Amazon just below)! You won’t regret it.  And if you do, you’re an eejit. Love and Shenanigans (Ballybeg, Book 1) (The Ballybeg Series)