Hello again everyone. I have decided it's my turn to take a peek into the Hobbit Library and give my sister the month off. So, this month it's all Celtic themed and that instantly means Ireland to me. I have a thing called an iPad... do not judge or Cissarose will not be happy... and I had the perfect book in mind. I am talking about Tricia O'Malley's Mystic Cove series and the first book in the series Wild Irish: Heart. I have been meaning to read it for a while and there was no better time to read it.
We are introduced to Keelin O' Brien who lives in Boston, in North-East America and she feels a bit stuck in her life. I can relate to that and I know that so many of us can relate to that as well, that and being unsure of what we want to do in life. Keelin's mother, Margaret, is keeping secrets from her daughter, not least the truth about why she fled Ireland with a young Keelin but then a book arrives in the post that changes everything.
Keelin goes to instantly confront her mother and I really don't blame her for doing that. Imagine your mother had kept secrets and then something arrives that changes everything you know... I'd be extremely angry and want answers as well. Keelin appears the polar opposite to her mother and she's OK with that. My dad doesn't like or agree with some of the things I wear or say but that's OK. Everyone is their own person.
Anyway, Margaret asks her daughter what she knows about Grace's Cove. Now bear in mind the book is part of the Mystic Cove series so Grace's Cove does play a part in the story. We learn more about Keelin's past and Margaret's move to Boston. It makes for rather interesting reading... powers... Grace O' Malley and the possibility that Keelin is related to Grace. All this sends Keelin towards the Emerald Isle as she needs answers to what she has found out from her mother.
The first thing Keelin discovers is that her grandmother, who she thought was dead, was actually alive. That really must have been a shock for her as she arrived at the little cottage that was to become her home. It also appears that Fiona knows exactly what Keelin holds within her.
Beginning to settle down into her new life, Keelin has to discover who she is and decide whether to accept her 'gift' or lose part of her. She instantly hits it off with local Flynn and it appears the two have a connection that both fascinates and terrifies Keelin as she begins to learn who she is. I can't begin to imagine how hard it was for Keelin to not only move towns but countries based on a shock parcel through the post. She appears to take it all in her stride though and settles down in Grace's Cove.
She finds a friend in Cait, a local pub owner and descendant of Grace's as well, and the two make me wish I had such a friendship as theirs. I don't have many friends so to have a friend that wants to go shopping with me or gossip about things. I hope one day to have that. She also meets her half-twin siblings as well and they all have to learn to get on with each other. It must be awkward but a relief in some ways. What made it interesting was that Keelin didn't know about the twins but the twins knew all about Keelin.
Now I really do not want to give too many more spoilers so you will have to read the book for yourself and enjoy it as much as I have. I wish I'd read the book sooner. I love Ireland so I really am not sure why I never read the book sooner. It perfectly describes Ireland in a way that I could imagine the town and rolling hills being real... oh wait they do in the Shire of course. Anyway, I really love the book and want to read the series now. I do own the first four in a box set so that helps for sure. If you want to find out how it ends you'll have to get your hands on the book to read that. No spoilers here.
Might see you next month or one of my sisters will be taking over.
Lots of love,
Briellerose xx