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A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal #Review

  Michelle Vernal's A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village was published on September 27th by Bookoutre . Ava Kelly loves returning to Emerald Bay for Christmas. Snowflakes fall on the green rolling hills and mulled wine fills The Shamrock Inn with the smell of winter spice. But this year, the Kelly family is hoping for a miracle… When twenty-four-year-old Ava Kelly and her adventurous twin Grace return home to The Shamrock Inn, their Ma’s favourite baubles bring back so many memories of Christmases past. They have always done everything together, even leaving their little Irish village for the excitement of London. But with the locket her handsome ex Shane gave her hanging just above her heart, Ava has just one wish this festive season… After a year stuck in a job she can’t stand and going on dreadful dates, Ava longs to be back with Shane. Curling up in front of the fire with him, the brooding fisherman everyone else sees melts away as his blue eyes meet hers.

My Map of You by Isabelle Broom

    My Map of You strikes me as the ultimate summer read. Mainly set on the Greek island of sun drenched Zakynthos, we follow Holly, a rather emotionally detached young woman, after she has found out that she inherited a house there, from an aunt who she had never met and was unaware of. We find out the reasons why Holly has built an invisible wall around herself and uncover family secrets along the way. 

    The supporting cast of characters are warm and varied. There is a romance to unravel but what is interesting is that all of the characters are flawed and completely human. You can see the principal characters grow and develop, especially Holly who gains a greater understanding of her place in life. For me, the settings steal the show. Metropolitan London is a good contrast to the shimmering island of Zakynthos which is described in such detail. The pace of the story never flags and for an escapist read, this fits the bill.

In short: a descriptive, evocative, heart warming summer read. 

My thanks to the publisher, Penguin Random House, for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
     

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