"Irish Moonlight" by Kate
Freiman is another installment in the Jove Irish Eyes
Series of Irish set romances. However it's actually
the second book to "Lady Moonlight"
published earlier in the year. This contemporary story is set
in Ireland's west count, Sligo, which is a rarely used setting.
Hero and heroine from "Lady Moonlight", Con and Aisling,
are to be wed in this story and the American friends and business
partners of the groom are invited to attend. However, it's partner
Erin McKeogh who will try to stop the marriage under the belief
that true love cannot be found in such a short time.
Erin is considerably upset when her long time
friend and business partner informs her he's getting married.
Not only getting married but to a woman he met while on holiday
in Ireland who has designs on his fortune. So she takes it
upon herself to keep him from marrying. When she finally meets
this bride to be and her family Erin finds it difficult, to
say the least, to separate her own newfound feelings from
the old ones. Enter Phelan McDermott and her whole world is
thrown topsy-turvy and she's forced to re-evaluate the possibilities
of falling in love in such a short time.
Phelan is a mysterious man. Being associated
with him, if you're a woman, could mean your death. So it's
understandable that he would fight Con's request to look after
Erin once she reaches Ireland. Con knows what Erin has in
mind and hopes to keep her occupied while he and Aisling finalize
the last details so that they can be married. Hesitantly,
Phelan agrees though finds it challenging not only to keep
her safe but also to keep his own growing feelings in check.
He can't afford to fall in love knowing that it could mean
her death. It had happened before.
I was not overly impressed with "Lady Moonlight"
but I found "Irish Moonlight" a very entertaining
story. I wouldn't call it a truly Irish book, as the characters
are mainly of Anglo-Irish descent, but the story itself was
quite charming. There were a few inaccuracies where Ireland
is concerned, but reading the book for the story itself was
enjoyable. I found the characters likeable, though not entirely
deep. And the atmosphere at O'Hara House was a good example
of how some of the few Anglo-Irish landowners have survived
into modern times. I didn't get a great sense for the surrounding
countryside so had to use a bit more imagination, but the story
as a whole, as I said, was quite enjoyable. "Irish Moonlight"
is a sweet story with quick turning pages.
