Michelle Vernal

Good addition to the Emerald Bay series. This is the story of Hannah, the middle daughter of the Kelly family. In previous books, Hannah stands out as the environmentally conscious activist member of the family. The book opens with Hannah's first foray into protesting for a cause at the age of eight, then moves on to the present day. Hannah works for the non-profit group Feed the World with Bees, where she also has a massive crush on her boss, Dylan. When Dylan shows her an article about a show more huge garden center planned for her hometown, Hannah rushes home to rally the community. She doesn't expect to find a guest staying in the house. Tom Flynn, an architectural project manager from Dublin, was sent to do the advanced work for the proposed development. Hannah takes an instant dislike to him because of it.

The initial meeting between Tom and Hannah was hilarious, leaving Hannah at a slight disadvantage. In addition, she is so focused on her mission that she comes across as very judgmental. I liked seeing Tom call her out on it. They are thrown together on several occasions, and Hannah discovers that there is more to Tom than she realizes. I liked Tom. He is charming and has a sense of humor even in difficult moments. Neither Tom nor Hannah expected the sparks that flared between them, complicating their interactions. A few bumps along the road to their happy ever after are mainly caused by Hannah's distrust. Fortunately, Hannah's journey includes some self-examination and rethinking of her priorities. I loved the scene of Tom and Hannah at the cottage as they finally cleared the air. The ending was sweet, and I loved seeing the whole family together.

I love the Kelly family, and this book is full of Kellyisms. The teasing among the sisters is hilarious, but they have each other's backs when support is needed. Kitty Kelly, the grandmother, shows a different side of herself when the proposed development intrudes on a special place in her history. I loved the history she revealed and how it brought her past to life for the sisters. There is also a bit of intrigue involving an American woman who appears to be stalking Hannah's mother, Nora. The resolution of that mystery was a shock to everyone.

The village residents add humor and depth to the story. I especially enjoyed Eileen and how she roped Hannah into helping with her latest project. The scenes with the teenagers were funny and moving. show less

Good Christmas story that takes place in a small village in Ireland. It is full of family, quirky villagers, vivid descriptions, and a bit of a mystery. After a heartbreaking break-up with her French boyfriend, Shannon heads home to Emerald Bay and her family. One thing she is sure of - she's off men for the foreseeable future. This is reinforced by two embarrassing encounters with a handsome American man.

Shannon's relationship with James feels like a slow burn until you realize that the show more entire book takes place over four days. The chemistry between them is evident to everyone around them though Shannon does her best to deny it. I could feel Shannon's frustration as her family seemed determined to push them together. When Shannon gets roped into playing tour guide for James, she doesn't expect to find herself liking him. James makes his interest known with his charming smiles, sense of humor, and johnny-on-the-spot rescues. I liked how Shannon's family drew him into their circle, much to Shannon's chagrin. She also received quite a bit of teasing and significant looks from her sisters, including Hannah's comparison to courting baboons! I ached a little for James because Shannon is still letting her breakup affect her outlook. Once she realizes that life is too short to live in the past, she permits herself to embrace the possibilities. I liked that there were no insta-love declarations, just an admission of mutual liking and an interest in seeing where it goes. With Shannon in Ireland and James due to go back to America, the book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. I hope to see more of them in the next book.

There is a bit of a mystery surrounding James's presence in the town in the beginning. When Shannon finds he's been visiting the older woman, Maeve, she is suspicious of his motives. As a visiting nurse who has known Maeve all her life, Shannon is protective of her favorite patient. Maeve's secretiveness is worrying, but she's still mentally sharp, so Shannon bides her time. While I suspected the truth, the background of Maeve's story was heartbreaking. I loved seeing the happiness that the truth brought to her. There was some drama caused by her son, who was a selfish prig, but it all worked out in an emotional scene that tugged at the heartstrings.

I loved Shannon's family. It is big and boisterous, and they clearly love each other. That's not to say there aren't squabbles and moments of drama. Hannah is a blunt-spoken social activist who doesn't hesitate to get in their faces about the causes she feels are essential. She is also a bit of a pot-stirrer and delights in making things awkward for Shannon when it comes to James. Imogen is the sophisticated sister who is also something of a drama queen. Her reaction to Shannon's cat Napoleon and his presence in their room was hilarious. The twins, Ava and Grace, don't have as much page time, but their differing personalities are evident. Shannon's grandmother, or nan as she is called, is a force of nature. I loved how she and Shannon's mom, Nora, could bring the family under control with just a few words. Shannon's dad was the quintessential pub owner with his outgoing nature and sense of humor. But my favorite family member was Shannon's cat, Napoleon. He has a regal personality mixed with adorable antics. I laughed out loud at how he seemed to stalk Shannon's dad.

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When Kitty Sorensen's mother, Rosa, dies, she receives an invitation from a famous photographer in France to take part in recreating a well known photo entitled 'Midsummer Lovers', the original just happening to be of Rosa as a teenager looking up into the eyes of a handsome young man. This sets off a series of events and the discovery of a journal which is the key to the life Rosa had kept secret for 50 years.

I thought this was a very enjoyable story with some fascinating characters. I show more liked the way it was written, it had a lovely, vivid writing style. The different parts and times of the tale were drawn together seamlessly. I thought the Irish proverbs at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch! I found the insight into the travelling way of life interesting but did think it was a little romanticised at times.

A couple of niggles, although they don't detract from the rest of the story! I thought some parts of the book, for example a wasp sting situation, were superfluous to the plot. I think they were supposed to be amusing asides. I like to think I have a good sense of humour but these didn't really work for me. I thought they were at odds to the rest of the tale and weren't really needed. I also thought the ending was a little too neatly tied up but that could just be me!

At the end of the day, I thought The Traveller's Daughter was an engaging, absorbing and compelling read, just right to accompany a glass of wine and a cupcake!

Reviewed for TBC on Facebook. show less

Terrific story of love and family. I loved returning to Emerald Bay and spending time with the Kelly family at the Shamrock Inn. This book focuses mainly on Ava, Grace's twin and the youngest of the family. Ava has always been quieter, while Grace is outgoing and adventurous. The story opens with Ava and Grace leaving Emerald Bay to live and work in London. They are looking forward to life outside their quiet village. There are glimpses of their relationships with their sisters and various show more community members. While Grace is bubbling with enthusiasm, Ava is more contemplative, thinking about how her move ended her relationship with Shane.

Fast forward a year. Ava's enthusiasm for the move is all but gone. She dislikes her job, her plans for traveling have never happened, and she is homesick for Emerald Bay and Shane. The description of her date with Tyson is hilarious and painful and is just about the last straw regarding her life in London. Then she gets a call from her mother back in Emerald Bay, telling her that Shane is missing, having been swept overboard while working his family's fishing boat. Ava immediately hops on a plane home. During the flight, she remembers how she and Shane met. She realizes she still loves Shane and hopes for a chance to repair their relationship.

I was thoroughly immersed in the story as the village rallied around Shane's family during the search. I loved the sense of community and seeing how everyone pitched in. But there are bumps in the road ahead. Grace has never been a fan of Shane and their relationship, and her attitude is jarring when she arrives on the scene. She pushes Ava about returning to London and resuming their life there. Ava, who has been a follower when it comes to Grace, puts her foot down about staying in Emerald Bay. This drives a wedge between her and Grace.

There were times when I wanted to shake both of them. While each made valid points, the delivery was antagonistic, and neither was willing to give an inch. I could feel Ava's unhappiness over the break, but she stubbornly held on to her hurt and anger. Grace was also disinclined to make the first move. I liked watching their other sisters, mom, and grandmother try to break the impasse. I loved seeing them all collaborate to bring the stalemate to an end.

The intensity of the search for Shane and Ava's refusal to give up kept me glued to the pages. I was as hopeful as Ava that he would be found safe and sound (he is, of course). I liked how Ava and Shane talked honestly with each other about what drove them apart and their reasons. I ached for Shane when he revealed why he refused to leave Emerald Bay. It was sweet to see them rekindle their romance now that each has gained a little more maturity. I loved the ending and look forward to seeing more of them in the future.

I liked getting reacquainted with the residents of Emerald Bay. Each one is unique in their quirkiness, and it is always fun to see their interactions with members of the Kelly family and each other. show less