4 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever met a leprechaun? Would you like to? In The Wild Mountain Thyme, you will be steeped in all things 'Irish'. Written by Kathryn Scarborough, this book is a romantic adventure with a touch of mystery thrown in!
Seamus was a leprechaun in Heaven who's task mainly involved polishing stars, that is, until the day he was given a new (and somewhat tricky) task. Now he has to restore a man's faith by arranging a meeting (and then a marriage) with an Irish girl (Megan Kennedy). It made it even more significant for Seamus to get this right after finding out that this man (James O'Flannery) was his great-grandnephew, (six times removed on his sister's side). He has six months to be successful, and he'll also win his wings and sing with St. Patrick's Choir. Can Seamus bring James and Megan together? More importantly, can he help James and Megan solve the mysterious murders happening to Irish-American tourists visiting Ireland?
Just leaving a relationship, James O'Flannery was more than a little jaded about women. The last thing he wanted was a new one. Megan was in the same boat. She had no intention of getting involved with a man right now; she needed to concentrate on her career. Neither of them could have foreseen the way they would be thrown together by events!
The first scene in this book reminded me a little of It's a Wonderful Life produced by Frank Capra. The similarity ended there though, and from that point on it was a unique adventure of its own. Set against the history and beauty of Ireland, the reader gets to go on a vacation in this book. The character interaction within the setting of the surrounding Irish countryside brings this book to life.
The cover for this book is well-designed. The colors are beautiful, and the way the lettering in the title is made to look like Celtic crosses is artistic. The Irish mountains in the background are a perfect backdrop for the standing stone in the foreground, drawing the mind to the history and mystery of the land of the Celt.
I liked the way this author writes about Ireland. This author's style of writing brings the settings and background out of the shadows while entertaining with a great story. I loved the genuine feeling of devotion with which the author described The Emerald Isles.
The character development in this book was exceptional. Seamus was the perfect leprechaun in his actions and way of speaking, even going so far as to volunteer little bits of Irish history to James along the way. That element alone shows that the author put a good deal of research into this work. What I liked the most about this book was the humor that was sprinkled throughout the thoughts and conversations of the three main characters. Their bantering back and forth created an easy camaraderie that made this book an enjoyable read.
This book emphasizes faith and believing in things you can't always see. I think that will be part of its appeal to readers. There was a good deal of suspense in this novel, and I liked that scenes never felt contrived. The flow of the story was excellent, and the element of romance was present throughout. I was unable to predict events in the book, and the end was a surprise to me.
I couldn't find anything to dislike in this book, and I found only one error. I did notice a formatting issue in the PDF; every line is numbered on the left side of the page. Aside from this issue (which may only be present in the PDF), this book seems exceptionally well-edited. I believe it will appeal the most to readers who love stories set in, and around, Ireland. It will also appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, and romance! For these reasons, I am rating this book with 4 out of 4 stars. I would give it more if it were possible. I recommend this as a highly enjoyable read! If you don't enjoy a good romance, this may not be the book for you.
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The Wild Mountian Thyme
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I'm not a fan of a romance story, but this one seems different, and I might give it a try. Thank you for your wonderful review!
