Welcome to the Once Upon an Irish Summer Blog Tour. I’ve been reading – and loving – Lisa T. Bergren’s novels since she first started writing fiction many moons ago. She writes across a wide variety of genres, including contemporary and historical romance, women’s fiction, YA, and even a highly successful series of gorgeous picture books for children. Her Once Upon a Summer series of standalone contemporary romance novels is just what we need right now with travel restrictions what they are! She will take you to Montana, Alaska, the Caribbean, and now Ireland in her delightful romantic adventure, Once Upon an Irish Summer.
I’m excited to share Necee’s thoughts on this story, a FANTASTIC giveaway, and news of Lisa’s upcoming Once Upon an Irish Summer FB Live event, so be sure to read all the way to the end of this post!
Necee’s Review
You Can’t Embrace Your Future Until You Deal With Your Past…
Fiona Burke has long been obsessed with Ireland’s famed, sixteenth-century pirate queen, Grace O’Malley. Now that she’s on the final stretch of earning her PhD in history, all she needs to do is finish her dissertation—with Grace O’Malley as her subject—then return home to Boston to defend it. Once that’s done she can compete for a highly coveted history professor position.
Fiona arrives in western Ireland aiming to interview the locals and find additional folklore to flesh out her work. But when she encounters Grace’s distant relative—the handsome, commanding Rory O’Malley—she gets seriously distracted. Rory shares her passion for history and Ireland, and cares for his grandfather and great-uncle in a winsome way. Unfortunately he also carries wounds beyond his injured leg…wounds that threaten to dismantle every little bit of a relationship that he and Fiona begin to build.
As a famed TV host becomes intrigued with Fiona—as well as convinced she should do guest appearances on his show—Rory starts to figure out that he might be as interested in his own personal romantic future as he is in Ireland’s epic past. But can he take the steps toward the healing he needs before it’s too late? It all remains to be seen…Once Upon an Irish Summer.
Necee’s take:~
“It really was a beautiful island, Fiona thought, with broad, deep-green hills sweeping down to the silver-blue sea, crashing with some gusto against the gray rocks below. The hills were dotted with white sheep…”
Ohhh, how this book makes me want to visit Ireland! With the poetic Irish lilt of the people and the majestic scenery, Bergren paints a picturesque beauty of Ireland in her latest novel Once Upon an Irish Summer. One of the things I enjoy about this author is how well she pens her locations. I found myself wanting to look up all the sites Fiona visits with Rory in her search for information on the Pirate Queen and treasure.
“I have way too much to do to get wrapped up in some summer romance…”
Then there is the romance, a sweet story of an American finding love in Ireland. She made me feel like a character in the book. Not only is the location romantic, but I really loved Rory and Fiona’s adventures together. Neither are looking for a relationship. Both have a past making them want to flee from love. However, a meddling grandpa interferes with that…
“Patrick, just so we’re clear. I’m here to finish my dissertation. Not find a boyfriend.”
Rory’s grandpa cracks me up with his matchmaking skills. It sure looks like love is brewing between these two who are determined not to fall in love. The sweetness of their growing relationship was beautiful and had me hoping for their happy ending. Bergren has a way with drawing adventure, romance, and history and entangling it all with a mystery that comes together in this beautiful setting making it a riveting read. If you want to travel from your couch, or just want to experience moving to Ireland for the summer, this is a great way to travel through the pages of a book…and a lot less expensive, too.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author. All my opinions are given honestly in this review.
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | CHRISTIANBOOK | INDIEBOUND
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER
“Lisa Bergen has penned an immersive read laced with intelligence and steeped in the myths of Ireland. Transportive and warm, Once Upon an Irish Summer is a thoughtful escapist romance featuring a clever, relatable heroine, an unforgettable hero and intercepted by the history of legendary pirate queen Grace O’Malley. With just enough vulnerability to loan it a deft human touch and backed by impressive research, this is a treatise on quiet heroism and finding home in lush, new places.”—Rachel McMillan, author of Dream, Plan, Go and The London Restoration
“Lisa Bergren took me on a glorious trip to Ireland…and I didn’t want to come home! Wonderful characters, a beautifully painted setting, and an intriguing mystery were only the beginning. But it was the romance simmering between Fiona and Rory that truly stole my heart and made me turn the last page with a contented sigh. Highly recommended.”—Deborah Raney, author of the Chandler Sisters Novels and A Nest of Sparrows
“Ireland comes alive – the history, the scenery, the people – in this delightful contemporary romance from Lisa T. Bergren. Rory’s vulnerability and Fiona’s tenacity had me celebrating every gentle step and stumble in their blossoming love story, all while enjoying the historical mystery they hope to solve.” —Rel Mollet, RelzReviewz.com
Lisa T. Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books in a variety of genres, that have sold over three million copies combined. She lives in Colorado Springs, CO with her husband and three big kids. You can find out more about her at LisaTawnBergren.com.
Relz Reviewz Extras
All Things Bergren @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Lisa’s website
Buy at Amazon: Once Upon an Irish SummerConnect with Lisa:
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Be sure to RSVP to Lisa’s FB LIVE and you will be entered into the draw for a fabulous door prize, even if you are unable to attend on the night!
ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER REVIEW BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
Each blog has a chance to win!
June 15 All of a Kind Mom
June 17 Relz Reviewz
June 19 Among the Reads
June 22 Fiction Aficionado
June 24 Woven by Words
June 26 The Green Mockingbird
June 29 Books, Life, and Christ
July 1 Hallie Reads
July 3 Christian Chick’s Thoughts
July 6 Bringing Up Books
July 8 Christian Bookshelf Reviews
July 10 The Writer’s Soul
June 17, 2020 at 11:49 pm
How cruel to limit it to only one destination…but since I’ll never be able to afford to go myself I’ll say Maldives. Have you seen the water there??
June 18, 2020 at 12:24 am
Hawaii.
June 18, 2020 at 4:52 am
Alaska
June 18, 2020 at 7:25 am
France, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Italy and Wales comes to mind.
June 18, 2020 at 8:42 am
If it had to be international, I would say the British Isles. But the one place my husband and I would really love to go is Hawaii!
June 18, 2020 at 12:24 pm
I’d come visit you and Sherlock.
June 18, 2020 at 9:36 pm
I would love to go to Ireland one day.
June 18, 2020 at 10:34 pm
I would go to Ireland, I’ve always wanted to see it.
June 19, 2020 at 2:05 am
I’d travel to Australia.
June 19, 2020 at 5:20 am
I’m not sure where I would go. Maybe England to see where my ancestors came from.
June 19, 2020 at 6:42 am
I’d go to visit my mom who lives in New Zealand. She moved there in 2011 and I would love to go!
Thank you for the giveaway chance to win a copy of Once Upon an Irish Summer, Rel!
June 19, 2020 at 7:57 am
The book sounds good. I think it would be interesting to go to another county and study their history while in school.
June 19, 2020 at 10:25 am
New Zealand or Australia.
June 19, 2020 at 10:10 pm
I’d like to visit England and/or Ireland
June 20, 2020 at 11:25 pm
Ireland!!!
June 21, 2020 at 1:34 am
London, How fun it would be to explore where my ancestors are from! Plus I am a huge Paddington Bear fan 😁
June 21, 2020 at 1:57 am
That’s a tough one! There are a ton of places I’d love to go. My to destinations are Alaska, the U.K. and Israel.
June 21, 2020 at 2:04 am
I think I would like to go to Ireland and Scotland, or travel thru Europe on their fabulous train system.
June 24, 2020 at 9:37 am
These all sound great. I’ve been to Montana & the Caribbean. Would love to visit Europe, specifically Italy, Franch & Greece.
June 24, 2020 at 9:37 pm
Oh my goodness this is a hard choice. I think I’d choose Fiji…or maybe Australia…or Hawaii! 😉