Review: Kiss Me I'm Irish by Roxanne St. Clair, Jill Shalvis, Maureen Child

Review: Kiss Me I'm Irish by Roxanne St. Clair, Jill Shalvis, and Maureen Child

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

For back cover blurb and more information on this book visit this website.

Looking for a book to get you ready for the upcoming Irish Holiday? Then look no further as this anthology will have you aching for a little Irish brogue and leprechaun luck.


Kiss Me I’m Irish is a compilation of three contemporary romance stories all featuring a hunk with a four-leaf clover background. All three were previously released by the authors some years ago, but the added bonus is you get a little explanation from each author—a behind the scenes look at the inspiration for the story.

First up is The Sins of His Past by Roxanne St. Claire. Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Deuce Monroe is back in town! Having lost his baseball contract, he’s ready to take over running the family bar. Yet, the bar is no more replaced with an Internet café and ran by the woman he’d left behind, Kendra Locke. I love stories of re-discovered romance. This one hits the bill. There’s a ton of playful, witty banter and emotionally charged moments that will make you feel for both Deuce and Kendra.

Next up, Tangling with Ty by Jill Shalvis. Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars

Nicole Mann, doctor extraordinaire, has never been good with relationships. She’s focused on work alone until she meets sexy architect, Ty O’Grady. His Irish accent, and genuine smiles keep her thoughts drifting to uncharted territory. She’s not so sure she wants to get involved, but Ty’s determined that he and Nicole should tango.

This story was probably my least favorite. While I like the bad boy, Ty, he’s built up to have some big dark secret. When in reality his secret wasn’t all that big or dark. The entire thing was a bit like false advertising, but I guess how horrible a secret can be is in the ear of the listener. Shalvis does have a wonderful villain in this story, and I did enjoy seeing him get his just desserts from the heroine. Nicole is definitely a tough cookie, and from the heroine perspective she’s strong. So if strong heroines are your thing then this story will be probably be a fav.

And finally…Whatever Reilly Wants by Maureen Child. Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars

Conner O’Reilly is supposed to be steering clear of sex for 90 days. That’s the wager, and he’s bound and determined not to lose out to his other brothers. Deciding he needs to stick to non-tempting territory, Conner plans on spending most of his time at his friend Emma’s shop. A great idea until Emma becomes offended by Conner’s dismissal of her female anatomy. Emma won’t be treated that way and she’s gonna prove it, one short skirt and sultry glance at a time! I liked this story a bunch. Child’s character development is awesome and the story left me wondering what happens to Conner’s other brothers. I really wanted to know the entire family’s story by the time I was done. The unfortunate part is that Conner doesn’t put up much a fight. He comes off a bit weak and easily distracted, especially when dealing with a bombshell dressed Emma.

Overall the stories are good and of course if you’re a fan of anything Irish then you’ll enjoy the hero’s. The best part is the note from each author with the story background and the intentions behind each tale.

Review: Christmas in Lucky Harber by Jill Shalvis

Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis
4 out of 5 stars

For backcover info visit Jill Shalvis' website-- Christmas in Lucky Harbor

Shalvis delivers a double shot of romance right in time for the Holidays.

First up is Simply Irresistible, the first book in the Lucky Harbor Series. When Maddie arrives in Lucky Harbor, unemployed and recovering from a break-up, she’s hoping to make the best of the inn willed to her and her sisters. She doesn’t expect to find herself intimately drawn to Jax, a local contractor that seems to read her mind. Maddie doesn’t know what to think of this handsome man that desires to help her, and her heart’s falling fast.

Followed by The Sweetest Thing— the story of Maddie’s older sister, Tara. She ran away from Lucky Harbor years ago on the heels of the biggest mistake of her life, only to return to help her sister with their inherited inn. Tara’s using the project as a way to move beyond her failed marriage, and focus on finding herself again. Unfortunately, a sexy sailor wants to join her on the soul-searching journey, and ignites a sensual passion Tara hasn’t felt in years. Too bad her ex-husband has shown up wanting to win her back. The competition is on and Tara has one more life changing decision to make.

I was hooked from the first pages, and I can’t wait for the additional books in this series. Shalvis does an amazing job of building a town and characters that you can’t help but love. The focus of these stories is healing and relationships with a ton of sensual tension and action thrown in. Humor plays a big role too. There were multiple instances in both books where the lead females found themselves in awkward positions, and I was laughing aloud.

My favorite of the two books was the first. Maddie and Jax were phenomenal, even the emotional baggage that both characters carried held appeal. I enjoyed the back stories of both characters and how the weakness they had were supported by the opposite strengths. The second story is good in its own right. I had a little trouble getting moved by sub-plots, and felt that both Tara and her hunk of sailor made some odd decisions at times. Also, Tara’s character is also a little harder to love because she kept fighting what she wanted instead of grabbing a hold of it with both hands.

The secondary characters are phenomenal, and without them the stories wouldn’t have been as entertaining. Of course stories based in small towns rarely leave their characters separate from the community, and private knowledge is quickly public. As far as villains go there are a couple, but most of the villainy comes from the personal demons each of the main characters suffer from.

Overall, if you’re looking for a little humor, romance, and a great cast Christmas in Lucky Harbor should be the top of your buy list.