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Books that give you an Irish fix and transport you to Ireland

Updated: 4 days ago



🍀💚 Get in the St. Patrick's Day mood this month! Books set in Ireland, featuring an Irish main character, or celebrating St. Patrick's Day. 🍀💚



Title: A Match Made in Ireland

Author: E.D. Hackett

Setting: Galway, Ireland

Genres: Sweet Romance

Blurb:

A semester abroad was exactly what she needed, but falling in love with her roommate was not part of the lesson plan. 


Rory, an American college student seeking a much-needed break, lands in Ireland for a semester abroad. She never imagines finding her assigned roommate to be Jaime, the charming yet irksome redhead from her flight.


Relying on her lively roommate to act as her personal tour guide, Rory experiences the breathtaking landscapes and Irish traditions that only a local could provide. She falls for more than the enchanting Irish experience he offers and dreams about a life free from worry with someone like Jaime. From kisses in castles to pints in pubs, Rory escapes from the baggage she left behind and envies the carefree life Jaime leads.


Until Rory's ex-boyfriend unexpectedly arrives and feelings of betrayal and doubt erupt. Pulled by past mistakes and newly discovered feelings, she must decide where her future lies. Does her heart belong in Ireland, or was Jaime merely a dream meant to be left behind?


A Match Made in Ireland is a delightful romantic comedy that delves into the magic of Ireland, the beauty of unforeseen bonds, and the transformative power of self-discovery.


Buckle up for a journey filled with laughter, tears, and love that you won’t want to miss! Grab E.D. Hackett's A Match Made in Ireland today!





Title: The Light Within

Author: Ashley Weston

Genres: Sweet Romance

Blurb:

At the end of the sixteenth century in Ireland, a Scottish clan took over Dunluce Castle, claiming it for their own in hopes of unifying the Irish and the Scottish.


Secrets and lies are held within its walls, but love shook through the cracks, gasping to unleash. Catriona O’Brien is a daughter and a storyteller. Through the tales told by the light of the fire each night, Cat basks in the idea of unseen worlds. When Catriona and her friends share a mystical experience as children, Cat’s life is changed. As she grows older, she frequently ponders the mystery she still doesn’t understand, letting its influence guide her. When a mysterious stranger from the castle comes to hide in her shed, Catriona is forced on a journey that leads her to an understanding of what her heart desires. But her stranger’s secrets run deep. Will their love be enough to break through the deceit? Or will duty and responsibility destroy their love?


An enchanting tale of love through an unlikely turn of events that could alter the history of their clan...




Title: Chasing Her Heart

Author: Allison Gygi

Setting: Dublin, Ireland

Genres: Sweet Romance

Blurb:

A free-spirited artist. A guarded musician. One semester abroad that changes everything.


Art major Elise Abernathy didn't come to Ireland to fall in love. Her study abroad is only the first stop to a life of adventure. She'll let nothing stand in her way of getting her PhD and then traveling to far-off places to study the world's art—not even her growing attraction to the aspiring film composer who keeps invading her thoughts.


To Rory O'Clery, women are nothing but trouble. Still wounded from his ex's infidelity, he's vowed no woman will ever break his heart again. Under no circumstances will he give in to the immediate pull he feels toward the American who moves into his sister's flat.


As resisting a budding romance proves futile, the end of Elise's time in Ireland looms over them, making any chance of a long-term relationship impossible. But neither are looking for a serious commitment, anyway. What could possibly go wrong with having a little fun?


Apparently, everything.


When real feelings start to develop, will Elise realize that what she seeks is already standing in front of her, or will the shiny allure of her dreams pull them apart forever?




Title: Fortune for St. Patrick's Day

Author: Gina Ardito

Genres: Sweet Romance

Blurb:

Money Can’t Buy Happiness… ...Or Can It?


Dog groomer Cara Laskin won the lottery, and her life will never be the same. Dealing with financial planners and tax attorneys leaves her dizzy. Her past, present, and future are all under scrutiny. Despite her best efforts to stay below the radar, she’s besieged by friends, family, and the media.


When she’s finally forced to hide away until the furor dies down, she finds herself turning to historical novelist, Ben Hartwell, to shelter her from all the grasping hands. During their time together, Ben will provide her with a peace she’s never known. In exchange, she opens his eyes to a world he never knew existed and an insight into his heart.







Title: March Shamrocks

Author: Eden Larsen

Setting: New York City

Genres: Sweet Romance

Blurb:

Dreams are worth going after...


Cara Walsh is an graphic designer from Ireland. With the luck of her Irish heritage, she lands an interview at a firm in New York City. It has been Cara's dream to live in the Big Apple! Her cousin, Rachel Turner, lives in the city and is excited to have Cara come for a quick two-week trip. During her stay, Rachel and Chad take Cara to a bar where they serve real American cheeseburgers and beer.


Ryan Murphy meets Cara on her first night in the city. Intrigued by her lovely Irish accent, he offers to buy her a drink - one she's never tried before. Through their conversations they learn about each other's dreams and aspirations. Their shared love of art and music deepens their connection and soon they become inseparable.


Will Cara's anxiety for her future overshadow all the good luck she's had in New York or can she overcome the sinking fear of failure?






Title: Lucky Leap Year

Author: Ann Marie Walker

Setting: Dublin, Ireland

Genres:  Sweet Romance

Blurb:

Up-and-coming screenwriter Cara Kennedy has the biggest meeting of her career in two days—but for now, she's on vacation. Her short trip to Ireland is all planned out:


  1. See the sites around Dublin

  2. Don't think about her jerk of an ex she was supposed to spend this trip with

  3. Relax with some Irish whiskey

  4. Propose to a sexy Irish musician on Leap Day

  5. Wake up married


Wait, those last two things weren't on her list…


A whirlwind trip to Ireland is supposed to end with a suitcase full of wool sweaters and souvenir pint glasses—not a husband you only just met!


After one-too-many whiskeys, fledgling screenwriter Cara Kennedy takes a page out of someone else's script when she gets caught up in the Irish tradition of women proposing on Leap Day. She wakes the next morning with a hot guy in her bed and a tin foil ring on her finger. Her flight is in four hours, and she has the most important meeting of her career in exactly two days—nothing she can do except take her new husband (and his adorable dog) back to LA with her and try to untangle the mess she's made of her life…




Title: That Thing You Brew

Author: Kerry Evelyn

Setting: Denver, CO

Genres:  Sweet Romance

Blurb:


𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙙, 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚…


Every Denver Edge fan thinks they know the secret behind my goal-scoring streak. The truth is, it’s not the pre-game toffee coffee from the Bevvie Bar that brings me luck—it’s Penny, the shy harp-playing barista who makes it for me.


But my winning streak is threatened when I learn that the coffee shop may be closing and I could lose her forever. On top of that, I’m hit with the news that if I don’t get married, I’ll lose my inheritance.


Can my favorite barista whip up an inheritance-saving recipe before time runs out?


Time isn’t on my side. With the deadline looming, I’ll have to skate fast to earn her affection, and if I mess up, I could lose everything—my inheritance, my career, and most of all, my heart.




Title: Love Comes to Clover Cove

Author: Maggie Finn

Setting: West Coast Village of Ireland

Genres:  Sweet Romance

Blurb:

Fall in love with Clover Cove, a gorgeous Irish coastal village full of love and warmth with feel-good romance around every corner.


Being posted from Manhattan to the gorgeous Emerald Isle should be a welcome time-out for heartbroken executive Kate O’Riordan. But Kate’s job is to persuade the West Coast village of Clover Cove to sell their picture-perfect harbour to her employer.


Her mission brings her into conflict with local innkeeper Connor James, a man who seems to make every woman’s heart do backflips, but who is hiding his own secret heartache. For a woman used to knowing exactly what she wants, Kate's loyalties and ambitions start to change the longer she stays in Clover Cove, and when Kate’s ex-boyfriend flies out to Ireland to ask for a second chance, she has to question her true feelings for Connor - and for the village which has stolen her heart.


In this warm-hearted, feel-good love story, Kate must choose between a life she's always dreamt of and a different sort of happy-ever-after in Clover Cove.


Love Comes To Clover Cove is the first book in an uplifting new series of romance, family and friendship set on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jenny Colgan and the hit movie Leap Year.






Title: The Cosy Cottage in Ireland

Author: Julie Caplin

Setting: Dublin and Kerry, Ireland

Genres:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Snuggle up in your favourite armchair and take a trip across the Irish sea for comfort food, cosy cottage nights and a heartwarming romance…


Talented lawyer Hannah Campbell wants a change in her workaholic Manchester life – so she books herself a place at the world-renowned Killorgally Cookery School in County Kerry. But on her first night In Ireland, sampling the delights of Dublin, Hannah can’t resist falling for the charms of handsome stranger Conor. It’s only when Hannah arrives at her postcard-pretty home at Killorgally for the next six weeks that she discovers what happens in Dublin doesn’t quite stay in Dublin…


Nestled amongst rolling green hills and breathtaking countryside, the cookery school throws Hannah and Conor together again–for better or worse.




Title: Thank You for Listening

Author: Julia Whelan

Setting: Vegas to Venice

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.


For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger. 


On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her. 


As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.


If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.





Title: Off the Map

Author: Trish Doller

Setting: Dublin, Ireland

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

On the road to love, you don't need a GPS...


Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been traveling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.


Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.


Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love - if only they choose it.





Title: Float Plan

Author: Trish Doller

Setting: Out at Sea

Genres:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Heartbroken by the loss of her fiancé, adventurous Anna finds a second chance at love with an Irish sailor in this riveting, emotional romance.


After a reminder goes off for the Caribbean sailing trip Anna was supposed to take with her fiancé, she impulsively goes to sea in the sailboat he left her, intending to complete the voyage alone.


But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.


In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn't mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.





Title: Sweet Dreams

Author: Nanette Littlestone

Setting: Claremore, Ireland

Genres:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Get swept away to Claremore, Ireland, where the people are welcoming, the grass sparkles with morning dew, and an ancient legend leads to magical experiences.


Claire Francis has worked in the family bakery since she was a wee girl. Now at 27 she longs for her own shop, a place to make her culinary dreams come true. But her traditional mother has no plans to retire and forbids Claire to explore her creative talents.


With Brigid Cleary’s wedding just around the corner, Claire’s life takes a dramatic turn. Used to a quiet routine, she’s now embroiled in pre-wedding dilemmas. Plus Brigid’s handsome brother, Finn, pushes Claire to question her safe, uneventful life and take a chance on their attraction. But he’s only in town for a week, and worse, he spends his life on the water, the very thing Claire fears the most.


Impetuous and daring, Finn encourages Claire to shed her personal and professional inhibitions. But Claire has a past she can’t escape. As she grows closer to Finn, her secret looms ever bigger, and love and success feel as likely as that imaginary pot of gold. Until a magical gift unlocks a path to her dreams, one sweet taste at a time.


Fall in love with this feel-good, delicious, heartwarming romance. Perfect for fans of Emma Bennet, Holly Martin, Jenny Colgan, and Jenny Hale.







Title: Love at First Book

Author: Jenn McKinlay

Setting: Irish Village

Genres:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:


When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.


Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence.


Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around.


Emily persists, and spending her days bantering with the annoyingly handsome mercurial Irishman only makes her fall more deeply in love with the new life she’s built – and for the man who seems to soften toward her with every quip she throws at him. But when she discovers the reason for Kieran's initial resistance, Em finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her now undeniable feelings for Kier. As Siobhan's novel progresses, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.






Title: Last Call at the Local

Author: Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Setting: Small Town Ireland

Genres:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family's pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.


Raine Hart is used to the challenges of living with ADHD. It’s why she ditched her life in Boston to busk around Europe as a traveling musician. No boss. No schedule. No one to disappoint but herself. But when a careless mistake in Ireland leaves her unable to perform, she sees no other option but to give up her nomadic life.


Since inheriting the Local, Jack Dunne has wanted to make the pub his own. But the baggage of running a family business and the intrusive thoughts that stem from his OCD make changing things a challenge.


Over a pint with handsome, tattooed Jack, Raine accidentally insults him and the pub. Instead of taking offense, Jack, impressed by her vision of what the pub could be, offers her a job bringing it to life.


But when Raine and Jack develop feelings for one another their opposite lifestyles won’t accommodate, it becomes clear the pub isn’t the only thing that needs reinventing. As the end of their business collaboration draws near, they’ll have to find a way past the limits they’ve placed on themselves or let go of a love that could last a lifetime.







Title: Paris is Always a Good Idea

Author: Jenn McKinlay

Setting: Paris to Ireland

Genres:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

A thirty-year-old woman retraces her gap year through Ireland, France, and Italy to find love—and herself—in this hilarious and heartfelt novel.


It's been seven years since Chelsea Martin embarked on her yearlong postcollege European adventure. Since then, she's lost her mother to cancer and watched her sister marry twice, while Chelsea's thrown herself into work, becoming one of the most talented fundraisers for the American Cancer Coalition, and with the exception of one annoyingly competent coworker, Jason Knightley, her status as most successful moneymaker is unquestioned.


When her introverted mathematician father announces he's getting remarried, Chelsea is forced to acknowledge that her life stopped after her mother died and that the last time she can remember being happy, in love, or enjoying her life was on her year abroad. Inspired to retrace her steps—to find Colin in Ireland, Jean Claude in France, and Marcelino in Italy—Chelsea hopes that one of these three men who stole her heart so many years ago can help her find it again. 


From the start of her journey nothing goes as planned, but as Chelsea reconnects with her old self, she also finds love in the very last place she expected.




Title: The Irish Goodbye

Author: Amy Ewing

Setting: Inishmore, Ireland

Genres:  Steamy Romance

Blurb:

It’s hate-at-first-sight when a jilted Irish chef returns home to Inishmore and immediately clashes with a mouthy American tourist.


This steamy romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Amy Ewing is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Tessa Bailey.


Cordelia James was once at the top of her game—a renowned street photographer with a massive social media following, gallery showings in Chelsea, and a lucrative book deal. But after the sudden death of her father, Cordelia can barely force herself to leave her apartment. That is, until she sees an ad for a summer gig at a cozy cottage on Ireland’s picturesque Inishmore island. Cordelia is on a plane before she can talk herself out of it.


The moment she steps off the boat, she crashes—literally—into Niall O’Connor, a grumpy local who’s just returned home to Inishmore from Dublin. Niall is nursing a broken heart and trying to patch up a broken life, and he has no time for posh American tourists. The more Cordelia’s and Niall’s paths cross, the more they make each other’s lives hell. But as with all rivalries, their hatred is about to reach a tipping point—and it’s going to heat up their cool coastal nights.


Featuring a lovable band of quirky supporting characters, The Irish Goodbye is a steamy, emotionally gripping tale of love, passion, art, food, and finding where you belong.





Title: Morbidly Yours

Author: Ivy Fairbanks

Setting: Galway, Ireland

Genres:  Steamy Romance

Blurb:

Falling for the wrong person? Bury your feelings.


Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. So it’s out of the mortuary and into the dating scene. Lark Thompson came to Galway, Ireland to embrace life, not be reminded of losing her husband by moving in next to a funeral home. 


     Then the vivacious Texan animator learns of painfully shy Callum’s dilemma and makes it her mission to help him find The One.  Although sworn off love herself, she’s certain Callum will find his match. But as the dating project progresses and their friendship grows, their attraction is undeniable. Spending time with serious, sarcastic Callum starts to crack the ice around Lark’s heart, and the more color Lark brings to Callum’s monochrome existence, the less he can imagine life without her.


     If they think they can ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.





Title: The Irish Fall

Author: Brooke Gilbert

Setting: Doolin and Galway, Ireland

Genres: Sweet Romance

Blurb:

A woman goes to find her heart in Ireland. What she doesn’t realize is she will leave it there.


Him


It was just another rainy day in Ireland. Another day giving a tour to a bunch of overzealous tourists at the Cliffs of Moher . . . until I saw her. The most beautiful woman with the saddest eyes, standing so close to the edge. Not even my jaded heart could ignore her. Without a second to lose, I went to her. And when I heard that first sarcastic remark, I think my fate was sealed. 

Her


With nothing left to lose, I bought the first appealing plane ticket out of town. And there I stood, staring out at the beautifully ethereal, enigmatic cliffs of Ireland. After the events of the past twenty-four hours, I had completely closed my heart. Maybe that’s why I was so annoyed when this handsome Irishman insisted I join his tour. Not that Darby’s dry humor or opposing opinions helped, but there was just something about him. I had this deep feeling that he would understand me. Maybe that’s why I agreed to let him take me back to his hometown. But I never imagined his grandfather would offer me a place to stay with them. And I really never would have believed I'd say yes. 

But Darby has his own demons, ones that make him guard his heart, too. They might open their hearts to each other, but will she choose to stay in Ireland? 





Title: Dancing on a Heartstring

Author: Brooke Gilbert

Setting: Doolin, Lahinch, and Lisdoonvarna, Ireland

Genres: Sweet Romance

Blurb:

This is one tango neither of them will forget . . .

Her

My best friend moved to Ireland when she met the love of her life and opened up a dance studio. Now, she's throwing a ballroom dance competition to coincide with the Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival to help her business, and she's asked me to compete. How can I say no? Plus, it is Ireland, after all. But I didn't have the heart to tell her I don't have a partner to bring. Yet another one backed out on me. Apparently, a partner who dances with a cane is just a too much for them. 

Him 


How did I get roped into this? I drive the tour bus for the company beneath the dance shop. I keep to myself. Better yet, I don't even have to talk since my Scottish accent messes up the Irish aesthetics of the tour. And I like it that way. But the owner is so bloody sweet, and I have to admit when I came up those studio steps to back out, it only took one look at my 'partner' to change my mind. I have no dance experience, but I'm sure going to do everything in my power to stay in this competition. Who knew the Argentine Tango was going to be my undoing. I just hope she doesn't want to take part in the matchmaking festival.

But will she want to take part in the matchmaking festival herself, or will she be happy with her newfound partnership? She came for an Irish matchmaking festival after all, not a Scottish one. 



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