I'm dying to move to an old manor on the Irish coast after reading this book. The setting sounded absolutely breathtaking, and the nearby town was darling. I honestly enjoyed the story about the manor itself as much as the story of Lily and Dominic. The history combined with the ladies' entrepreneurial vision was lovely. Overall, it was a delightful read!

Lily goes to stay with her grandmother after everything in her life goes south. She and her sisters want to rehab the family property for a wedding venue. Until she hears the family secret that will have the family fighting to keep the property.

This was an enjoyable, easy listen.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for an audio ARC of this book for an honest review.

Lily Fleury returns to her family’s regal home in Kerry, Ireland after a devastating divorce only to find the estate in disrepair and her grandmother’s peaceful life in turmoil. With the help of her sisters, Rose and Violet, Lily works to discover the history of the manor, while harboring her own dreams for the estate’s future.
Grandmother Sophia is a determined lady with her own secrets that Lily must discover. Meanwhile, Dominic, Granny’s handyman, provides plenty of opportunity for Lily to consider that perhaps her chance at happiness isn’t beyond reach.
As hoped, the story’s conclusion provides a satisfyingly happily-ever-after ending with a couple enjoyable surprises thrown in. This book’s setting is beautiful and portrayed by the author with a loving hand. As Lily spends time settling in to Kerry, the reader is treated to evenings at pubs, Irish music and dancing, and walks along the seashore. The elements work together to provide and enjoyable read.

I received an audio version of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

**I received an advanced listening copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I greatly enjoyed listening to this quiet novel set in Ireland. There are elements of mystery and romance as Lily, the main character, returns to her ancestral home and helps her grandmother uncover some damaging secrets. She's also nursing a broken heart, and as the novel progresses, it is good to see her come to terms with her heartache and begin her life anew. The voice actress was wonderful, though I may have enjoyed listening to the Irish accent the most.

This is the first in a new series, and I hope to listen to more by the author and from this series. A great way to escape from reality for a little bit of time.

I felt like this book was missing a major part of it. It just didn’t have a wow factor plot twist or anything memorable. I feel like I’m gonna forget every part of this book in the next month I loved the idea of the story the fact that family comes together to save their home and the strong female characters, I just felt like there was something special missing from this book

If you like Hallmark type movies in book form then you’ll love this book as it reads like a script.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the audio arc of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Personally I typically like Hallmark type movies however, it becomes way too cheesy when you don’t have the visual. This is because the dialogue is so unnatural it’s unsettling.
I expect that the physical book would have sat better with me than the audio book as while I enjoyed the narrators natural voice, her other character voices were really hard to listen to. The French accent used as well as male voices are very caricature and made it hard to remain present in the book.

However the descriptions of the manor house and such are lovely and enjoyable. It is definitely a “slow burn” type of story with a sweet romance that’s full of tropes that are just not realistic. But books can be an escape and some will find it delightful I’m sure.

I’m not sure if I’ll read subsequent books as this appears to be the start of a series. I need to look at the book details but the best way to describe my overall feeling about it is that this read like a self published book. Not that there is anything wrong with that but many times they lack a “polish” on them from a good editor.

If you like clean romances a la Hallmark style and second chance love with a little Irish thrown in, this is the book for you.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This was a sweet, wonderful romance. I adored the Irish setting, and the Irish narrator was so easy to listen to. I typically enjoy dual or duet narration, but I was able to enjoy her voice easily! The characters were sweet and the family was easy to love. I think their flower names was a very cute touch! While I wouldn't teach this in the classroom, I do have some students that would enjoy something like this. Absolutely suitable romance for younger teens. I've never read Susanne O'Leary before, but having enjoyed this, I know I will be reading her in the future!

Lily is searching for a fresh start after her divorce. She goes back to her home- town and to her grandmother, Sylvia's, house. Lily and her sisters have plans for renovating Sylvia's manor home that has been in the family for generations, but their grandmother seems shocked by Lily's arrival and is less than welcoming. Lily needs to find out what is troubling her grandmother, find a job, and discover if she can trust the handsome man, Dominic, that has been helping care for the property.
The story was good, if a bit predictable. A nice, gentle read to enjoy when you're wanting something entertaining but not too heavy or graphic. I liked all of the characters, but I do wish that they had been fleshed out a bit more.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Dreamscape Media for an advanced audio copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This story is just full to the brim of Irish charm!
The first book in the Magnolia Manor series, Susanne O’Leary’s writing is beautifully descriptive and rich in detail. I sensed all of it whilst listening to this audiobook - the Irish food and drink, the music and dancing, the coastal breeze and the sound of the waves, and the pride the characters have in their Irish roots and traditions.

The audio narration from Aoife McMahon is superb. She eloquently brings to life the wonderful array of characters regardless of the gender or age. The authentic Irish accent makes this a really enjoyable listening experience.

Thank you to the audio publisher, Dreamscape Media, for an audio copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Keeper of the Irish Secret is the first book in a new series - the Magnolia Manor series - and looks set to be just as much fun as Susanne’s previous books. Magnolia Manor, in Dingle, County Kerry, has been in the Fleury family for generations but has fallen into disrepair. Lily is heading back to Dublin, Ireland to her family home. She absolutely loved the time she would spend there, as a child, at her grandmother Sylvia’s house. She has fond memories of walks on the beach, and exploring Magnolia Manor, like it was yesterday. When she arrives at Magnolia Manor, she sees how dilapidated it has become, with its overgrown gardens and unkept house in need of repair. Sylvia is “well-to-do” so the condition of Magnolia Manor takes Lily by surprise. Lily takes on some of the repairs but can’t seem to keep up with them all. While rummaging through the gatehouse she discovers a trunk full of old letters. After reading through the letters, she uncovers a devastating family secret that Sylvia has been hiding about the family home. Lovely characters, Lily, Dominic, Rose, Violet and their grandmother, and Nora , they all are wonderful. Family and relationships are defined thoroughly. A sweet and easy to read, relaxing book. Would love to read next in the series, Rose's story. Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

A sweet tale of family secrets and second chances. I adore the Granny, Sylvia, and each of the granddaughters. This is part one of the series and Lily is the first granddaughter to share her story. I love Lily’s brave determination to try something new while returning to her roots. She’s fiercely loyal and protective of her granny and their estate. The secret that threatens to destroy all that they hold dear is well crafted. Dominick assimilates perfectly into the story and is a welcome companion to Lily and her family. I enjoyed the coastal descriptions and small town depictions. A sweet, closed door romance with plenty of feels.
The narration to this story was brilliant. The narrator perfectly captured each character and brought the charming story to life.
I received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher and NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

At its core this is a story of family, love new and old, broken hearts, emotional recovery, secrets, a little bit of subterfuge, truths coming to light and ultimately everyone getting their own version of happily ever after or at least discovering what they want. When Lily makes a surprise return to Magnolia Manor, the family home there are more surprises that she anticipated. She expects to be welcomed with open arms and yet feels like her grandmother is hiding something. Something big. She made all kinds of plans for her grandmothers home and cannot fathom why her cannot do exactly as she wants. Let the snooping begin. When the truth is revealed, they ultimately work together for what is best for everyone. A thoroughly enjoyable listen with enjoyable narration. I’ll be on the lookout for the next in the series.

Sisters return to their childhood home after their grandmother becomes ill. The old Irish estate is in rough shape and while attempting to restore it, one of the girls stumbles on a devastating secret he grandmother has been keeping from the girls

This is my first book by Susanne O'Leary and I really enjoyed it. I loved being transported to Ireland, to a lovely estate called Magnolia Manor. The story begins with Lily Fleury who returns to her grandmother's home, hoping for a life reset after a divorce. Lily and her sisters have big plans that would keep them close to their grandmother Sylvia, and renew Magnolia mansion. However Sylvia does not seem to like this plan, she doesn't wan Lily to make long term plans for staying at Magnolia Manor. Sylvia is keeping a secret, and Lily unwinds the mystery of her grandmothers evasiveness. This story kept me interested throughout. It is filled with wonderful characters and places.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listener copy. The Aofie McMahon has such a lovely Irish accent, it was so nice to listen to. This whole book felt like a big hug, I highly recommend this if you're looking for a comfort read. There will be two more books, for the two remaining sisters and I look forward to them.

I love all things Ireland, mysteries, and multi generational women's stories, so this had my name written all over it. It pains me to say it, but I was disappointed. I wasn't invested in the characters. It was too predictable, and the whole story could have been written in 4 chapters. The narrator did not shine in this audio book either.

The Keeper of the Irish Secret
Susanne O’Leary
This is the tale of Lily Fleury. Lily loved visiting her grandmother Sylvia at Magnolia Manor in Ireland. She loved spending time with her grandmother, she also loved walking along the beach as the sunset. It had been a few years since she had visited her grandmother but when her heart was broken, she ran home to her grandmother’s arms. She was shocked to see the condition of the estate. Eighty-two-year-old, Sylvia is an independent woman, but she could have contacted her granddaughters or friends for assistance. Lily applied for a position at a local law office and was hired on the spot. Lily and her sisters have a plan but doubt their grandmother will go along with it. Their desire is to turn the estate into a beautiful thriving place. Dominic is the local handyman/contractor/builder; he agrees to assist Lily in any way he can. He is also a talented singer. Lily finds herself drawn to the attractive man. However, she isn’t ready for a new relationship; her heart was broken by her ex-husband. A trunk of old letters reveals a secret that could devastate Sylvia and the estate.
Author Susanne O’Leary offers readers a beautiful story filled with love, challenges, and family. I love the setting; Ireland is a beautiful place. This is a beautiful read. This is the first book in a new series. I eagerly await the second book in this series. While Lily the oldest granddaughter was featured in this installment, Rose the middle granddaughter will be featured in book 2.
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy of this book.

Thank you to Susanne O'Leary, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shrug. This was okay. Not bad but not memorable either. Same for the main character, Lily--not bad but not memorable. To me the grandmother came off like an asshole, avoiding her granddaughters and withholding important information from them, for the sake of the plot, of course. Dominic wasn't anything special as the love interest. Overall a romance that checks the boxes but isn't remarkable.

Nothing wrong with the narrator, though! Aoife McMahon is great.

Book Title: The Keeper of Irish Secret
Series: Magnolia Manor
Author: Susanne O’Leary
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Aolfe McMahon
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Family Drama, Women’s Fiction
Audiobook Pub Date: May 21, 2024
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 260

There is no doubt that I was drawn to this cover; although Ireland and not England, Magnolia Manor reminded me of Downton Abby.
Lily Fleury her sisters Rose and Violet always love visiting their grandmother at Magnolia Manor near Dublin - walks on the beach, as well as exploring the Manor created many great memories.
Lily is healing from a divorce and is looking forward to a job interview as well as seeing her eighty-two –year-old grandmother Sylvia. However, when she arrives at Magnolia Manor, she is surprised at its dilapidated condition.
Lily has some great ideas regarding renovation of the Manor. It is so large it can easily be turned into a B&B, the garden would be perfect for wedding, She even contacts Dominic who has does other repairs etc for Grandmother.
In the meantime, Lily is staying in the Gatehouse – which is charming but like the rest of the property needs repairs. When she is settling in she finds a trunk with old letters. Her curiously gets the best of her and she starts reading what looks like a journal – it appears Grandmother is hiding a family secret.

I have a suspicious nature so I thought one of the clues was easy to figure out. In fact, I found myself shouting look behind the . . . . . .

This was a nice enjoyable read. I love the ending as well as the characters and the descriptions of the Ireland made me want to go!

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media/Bookouture for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 21, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Susanne O'Leary, and Dreamscape Media for this ARC/ARL!

"The Keeper of the Irish Secret" was an absolute delight to listen to. It's a tale brimming with wholesomeness and love, and I found myself utterly captivated by the interplay between the characters and, of course, by Magnolia Manor.

A special mention must go to the narrator, Aoife McMahon, whose talent truly brought the story to life. McMahon's narration was nothing short of amazing, and her ability to infuse each character with depth and emotion added an extra layer of magic to the listening experience.

Having savoured "The Keeper of the Irish Secret," I eagerly await more books in the Magnolia Manor series.

Both the story and the narration were enchanting. I am looking forward to the second installment of the series. Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of the audio recording.