Sure and it warms the cockles of my Irish-American heart to read a lovely romance set in the green hills of Eire. When the lass involved has a tongue and temper to match the fire of her hair, and the fella's got to scramble to keep his wits about him long enough to make her fall in love with him, well, then, it's bound to hold my interest. It did, and it's certain I am it'll hold yours, too. It's a grand story!
Moya Mahoney is grieving the death of her friend Angus O'Brien, the elderly gentleman who was the official storyteller in the village of Gormloch. Half-hoping that Angus has left her the village pub in his will, Moya is crushed to learn it's to go to his American nephew Rory. Her sorrow is not only for herself, but also for the community: if a stranger takes over the pub, there's no telling what will happen. When she meets the nephew, her worst fears seem to be confirmed. Who is he to be talking of tearing down the pub, and changing the whole pattern and fabric of life in Gormloch? She'll have none of that!
Rory O'Brien is ready to leave Ireland and never return. Having made a mad dash for his uncle's funeral and missed it, and fed up with the snail's pace of Irish life, he shows up in a torrential downpour at the only bed-and-breakfast in the village - the one owned and operated by Miss Moya Mahoney. Although both feel drawn to each other, there's too much separating them. Moya is a strict traditionalist, intent on preserving the past, while Rory is charging into the future at full speed, willing to sacrifice tradition for progress. What he proposes to do with the pub is completely unacceptable to Moya, who tries to persuade him to change his mind. While Rory won't deny his feelings for Moya, he stands firm with his plans. Something - someone - will have to bend, because neither is open to compromise.
These two definitely grow as characters, and watching them do so is rewarding. Rory has to learn that he's not in Manhattan anymore, and that things don't happen in a New York minute, or even a New York hour, in Ireland. Moya must come to grips that there's a world outside village boundaries, and that sometimes progress and tradition can exist side by side. This couple engages in some very spirited dialogue, and it's a pleasure reading the zings they get in on each other. But they don't spend all their time bickering. When they can call a truce, they're both surprised - and a little scared, at first - by how well they get along.
Ms. Massie certainly has an ear for the lilt of Irish speech patterns. The dialogue really sounds authentic, even down to one-line responses from various characters (although I must admit I got a bit tired of readin' all the participles with dropped g's. Once or twice for flavor would have suited.). She puts the setting to good use, too. Part of the villagers' reluctance to change anything has to do with the location of a fairy fort, and Rory just can't understand why they cling to old superstitions like this. The comeuppance he suffers for his impatient dismissal is truly ironic.
I appreciate encountering a character who's spiritual in what might be considered a "mainstream" romance, as opposed to an inspirational. Moya goes to her priest for advice, and she even goes into church and prays. This made the character just that more credible for me. All the characters are real, from nosy busybody Norah and Gill who runs the pub, to the children who flock to Moya to hear stories of the Ireland of long ago.
Moya's resistance went on just a tad too long for me; I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and say, "Moya, darlin', ye can't be stoppin' progress single-handed. 'Tis a grand fight ye've put up, but now's the time for compromise, or ye'll lose the love of yer life." Just as I reached my limit, what do you know? It's as if the lass heard me and came to her senses, guaranteeing herself and Rory the happy ending they so richly deserved. I liked taking this little trip to the Ould Sod, and I bet you will, too.
Sensuality: Warm
Publication Date: 2000
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