Friday, July 31, 2026

BLOG TOUR - The Secret Bookshop in Ireland



DESCRIPTION:

It devastates me that this will be the first you’re hearing of the bookshop. But it’s yours now, and I hope it can heal you despite everything you might hear about our family. Good luck, dear Ciara, and remember to never give up…’


Standing amongst the wildflowers that border the abandoned bookshop, Ciara’s heart begins to swell. She never met her mysterious distant relative Martha, but there’s no denying that this place, filled with beautiful old books, is captivating. Trapped in a dead-end job and a tiny apartment in Dublin, this inheritance could change everything for her.


As visitors from Cherrywood village arrive to welcome Ciara, and she learns to love each priceless edition she now owns, it’s Ronan, the handsome lawyer with hazel eyes and husky voice who makes a lasting impression. Can he help her learn more about Martha? Why was Ciara chosen to protect the bookshop’s legacy, and why all the secrecy? The only certainty is the butterflies Ciara feels every time she locks eyes with Ronan. Is it crazy to imagine herself re-opening the bookshop and staying forever?


But nothing prepares Ciara for the letter she finds hidden high on the rickety shelves, for the heart shattering story of an abandoned baby and a devastating family secret. The truth about Martha could mean Ciara loses the bookshop forever.


Ciara is faced with an impossible choice: close the doors of her new home and return to her old life in Dublin, or stay to find out the truth and risk everything for a new life in Cherrywood…


An utterly gorgeous and romantic story about second chances that will sweep you away to Ireland. Fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Mary Kay Andrews and Rachel Hanna will devour this feel-good read. 



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Title:   The Secret Bookshop in Ireland
Author:  Susanne O’Leary
Series: The Sisters of Cherrywood #1
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  265
Date of Publication:  July 31, 2026
My Rating:   5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Ciara Doyle has a good life in Dublin. She has a great job, good friends, and a pretty good relationship with her mother. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she is notified that she has inherited a property and an inheritance in Cherrywood Village. When she arrives at the village, tucked away in the Irish countryside, she is surprised by what she finds.

With her mother by her side, Ciara takes some time off from work to get the house in order to sell. She has plenty of work ahead of her, especially since the property also contains a bookshop. But the charming village and its friendly neighbors might just change her mind about what she wants to do with her future. As Ciara considers her options, she is accompanied by her best friend, Brian, a lovable Irish Wolfhound who adores her unconditionally.

Ciara is a wonderful protagonist in this beautifully written story by Sheryl Browne. She is very much her own person, and I loved that she sports a Cleopatra haircut. I could picture her so clearly in my mind’s eye, and that visual made me feel even more connected to her as I followed her journey. I also found her relationship with her mother especially relatable. Her mother wants what many mothers want for their daughters: for Ciara to ‘find the right man and settle down’. I love how naturally this expectation is woven into the story. Ciara has a mind of her own, and as she begins to consider what she truly wants, a sweet romance starts to show real promise.

What a lovely story! Just as with every book I have read by Susanne O’Leary, I was completely captivated. There is something so heartwarming about watching Ciara discover that the life she thought she wanted may not be the life that ultimately makes her happiest. I loved seeing the possibilities open up before her and imagining that her life could take a completely unexpected and wonderfully positive turn.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than 30 novels, mainly romantic fiction set in Ireland. Her many books set in County Kerry have been hugely popular with readers all over the world. She shares her time between Dublin and Kerry, where she and
her husband have a little cottage near the beach. The wild, beautiful landscape, the small villages and the friendly people of that county have inspired her to write her feel-good stories. She's been inspired to write about people of all ages and walks of life, with lots of romance, and more than a dash of humour.
When she is not writing or reading by the fire, Susanne loves heading for the great outdoors, walking on the beaches or scaling the green hills of her favourite county. 


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