ARC received for review

A sweet romance with a girl trying to find herself and an Irish hottie helping her out. Couple great new friends and a really stupid ex.

I've had Kiss of the Irish by Lauren Hawkeye on my TBR since 2017. It was time to read and review it. I'm trying to go through all the books I have on my NetGalley list and reviewing them. I have quite a few, and this book by Lauren Hawkeye is something I need to read to help me get out of my reading slump. I needed some romance and a HEA. 

Female Protagonist: Sarah Mercer is an aspiring artist. She's innocent and sweet and does not expect a sexy Irish man to want to be with her. She's attracted to Cian, though, who is her landlord in Ireland. 

Male Protagonist: Cian Murphy is a bar owner in Ireland who rents out a room to an American woman. He's a tattooed and pierced, sexy Irish man who is a reformed promiscuous man. He's a changed man, though, and proves it in this story. 

Storyline: Sarah ends up taking a three month trip to Ireland to get away from her life in Boston. Her heart has been broken by a jerk that left her for someone else. She wants to start painting again and living her life without any distractions. She gets a much-needed distraction with Cian Murphy, who happens to be her landlord in Ireland. The instant attraction to them is scorching. However, Sarah is hesitant at first to hook up with Cian. I don't know she could resist him, mostly since he's tattooed, pierced, and determined. I loved these two together, but there were times I wanted to smack Sarah on how she reacted to certain situations with Cian. Towards the end, Cian does something for Sarah, but she responds so poorly toward it. It drove me crazy. There was the minor drama that happens at the end, too, with her ex-fiance. I loved the secondary characters in the story because they helped Sarah along the way with her new life in Ireland. 

Steaminess: Steamy. Anytime Cian and Sarah hooked up was hot and heavy between the two. They were complete opposites of each other, but perfect in every way.

Standalone or Series: It's part of a series, but I believe each could be read as a standalone. 

HEA: Yes.

Trope: Opposite's Attract.

Would I recommend this book? I would recommend this book to Contemporary Romance readers who adore books that have characters that are complete opposites of each other and end up together. Though this book only received three stars from me, I did still like it. I didn't love it, though. There was also the issue that the male character had something pierced in this book, but there was no reaction to it from the heroine. It was mentioned, but nothing else. It drove me crazy on the 'no' response from the heroine. You best believe I would react.

Her boyfriend dumped her, so she decides to go on a trip by herself.  Will she have the luck of the Irish?  Sweet romance.

Sexy, flirty, dirty fun….

Who hasn’t felt the burden of family expectations? May have felt cornered and trapped in a job or home that didn’t felt right, didn’t feel true? Sarah may have been dumped but it gave her a reason to evaluate who and what she was. And gave her the courage to go to Ireland and take some time for herself, to work on a future that she wanted for herself… Handsome, sexy, Irishman Cian was not in those plans….

“She wanted to be dirty. Wanted to be filthy with him.”

Cian had travelled the world over, did everything he wanted, including many a beautiful woman. He was back home, successful in business now, including the pub that was his second home. Surrounded by family and friends, he didn’t need Sarah to make him happy but he knew she could….  

“He wanted to make that wildcat purr.”

Tattooed, pierced Cian caught Sarah’s eye – and mine – right away. I wanted to hear that Irish lilt that was so mesmerizing. He said and did all the right things and I could see how Sarah fell under his spell so quickly. They were moth to flame and the heat they generated was easy to feel… Sarah was a fish out of water but soon got used to the easy friendship and camaraderie of the people who lived in her new, adopted home. And Cian was a big part of that.

A passionate, fun read!

Sarah has had enough with life and decides to get away. She moves to Ireland for a few months. Her landlord, Cian, is H-O-T and wants Sarah from day one. Cian has tattoos and piercing, someone Sarah never would have looked at...she's sensible and dates sensible men. But Sarah's ready for something new and Cian is perfect for a fling. This was such a steamy read and well written!

Cian is just the epitome of a handsome Irishman by imagination. Love the tale of the Irish!

Title: Kiss of the Irish
Series:  Foreign Fling Book #1
Author:  Lauren Hawkeye
Genre:  Romance
Blurb: If Sarah Mercer had ever been asked to describe herself in one word, it would be sensible. After all, she had a steady job. Made prudent decisions. Was in what she though was a logical relationship. But when her fiance dumps her for an exotic dancer, Sarah decides it’s time to change…everything! The first thing on her agenda? To get out of town and take a three month trip to Ireland. She’d always been captivated by the Emerald Isle. And she’d heard that there was nothing like an Irishman with a sexy accent and eyes as devastatingly green as the country’s rolling hills to make a girl feel better.  
But maybe she shouldn’t have hooked up with her new landlord on the first night in town. Cian Murphy wasn’t supposed to be her type. His arms and chest were tattooed, and he had piercings everywhere. Still, he made her feel beautiful, sexy…alive for the first time in years. Falling for the Irish hottie was as natural as breathing. But figuring out what she’d do when it came time to leave? Not so easy... 

Favorite quotes:  ”Well, we can play doctor the fun way later, if you’re so inclined.”

“I suppose this is a good moment to tell you that I’m not going to let go of you without a fight.”
Thoughts:  Kiss of the Irish reminded me a little bit of the old Loveswept titles and it was just a great romance.  Period.  I really enjoyed the chemistry between these two characters and the whole story in general.  I loved how Cian immediately sets his sights on Sarah and how brave and honest Sarah was with herself which inspires her whole trip to Ireland.  I loved how these different characters came together and it just…worked.  A very enjoyable read, and one that sticks out in mind when it comes to great romantic reads.
Rate:  A

This book is comical and engaging from the beginning and the sweet and sexy along with comical and engaging the rest of the way through.  

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't feel any connection to either character and found them very hard to relate to which was a major turn off for me.

Received an Arc for my fair review for netgalley. Sarah decides to go to Ireland, when her boyfriend/fiance dumps her for his younger dancer. There she meets a hot Irish dude by the name of Cian. He is pierced an tatted up, and totally her opposites however,  there an attraction, but for me, there was a little bit too much back and forth, come on you were on vaca, you were dumped, go for it.. I think Cian, his sister and her best friend, made the story for me.. Sarah, needed a couple of drinks and needed to loosen up more..Hey but that is just me.

3 meh stars from me. This one was kinda bland... nothing really happened. I liked Cian, but I thought he was going to be a little edgier. Tattoos and piercings are hot, but he was  kinda not as exciting as I thought he would be. 

I thought the Irish adventure Sarah  was on was going to be exciting. She took classes and painted!?!?! That was as exciting as it got!

Book received from NetGalley.

This book was just ok, it was short and it amused me, but it was mostly forgettable when I finished.  Parts of it reminded quite a bit of other books I have read by more popular authors.  I will say I did like that she used something like AirBnB to set the background to the story.  I think there will be many out there who would love the book, but it definitely wasn't a favorite for me.

Those of you in the Scandalicious Vault group on Facebook, may or may not know that I had my DNA tested last year through Ancestry.com. Being adopted, I was intrigued to find out about my biological roots, and even more fascinated to learn that I am 39% Irish. You can, therefore, understand my attraction to this title, particularly when the synopsis talks of sexy Irish accents, repairing a broken heart with said sexy Irishman, stepping out of your comfort zone and taking chances, and fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a full-time artist.

Sarah has just been unceremoniously dumped by her cheating fiance and is in the process of organising a trip to Ireland. Sarah was a people pleaser to her own detriment, not wanting to disappoint anyone around her, always taking the safe option. In the process, she had ended up in a rut of sensibility, living with the feeling of unfulfilled dreams. Hence, her trip to Ireland, and the idea of wiping away the cobwebs and changing her outlook on life.

I felt for Sarah, the weight of everyone’s expectations had stifled her, and I was glad that she finally saw that and took control of her own choices, took a chance on following her dream. Her self-esteem had taken a hit, not only with her ex, but with her parent’s attitudes and constant admonishments for anything other than what they deem sensible. They incessantly chipped away at her self-worth. I held this in mind when she was guarded and reactive to Cian’s attempts to help her. She was, for the first time, autonomous in her choices, finding her feet, and I understood the time she needed to adjust to her new found freedom.

Cian was the local pub owner and landlord to the flat that Sarah had rented, tatted and pierced, a sexy, handsome Irishman. Well travelled, he had sampled all the delights that the world has to offer, up close and personal if you get my drift.  He was back in his hometown to focus on his business ventures and be closer to his sister, with no thought of pursuing a long-term relationship, until Sarah arrives. Immediately he sees the sadness behind her smile and in her eyes, he was perceptive to her needs and this really endeared him to me. He was so personable and I enjoyed being privy to his POV as well as Sarah’s. He was obviously a loyal friend and brother, always looking out for those he cared about, always encouraging Sarah to do what was in her heart.

Our introduction to this couple was via flirtatious emails sent back and forth between Sarah and Cian, and I thought they set the tone beautifully, illustrating this couple’s easy-going banter and connection. Their relationship developed at a realistic pace, considering Sarah’s time frame with no gratuitous angst, and there was some sexy fun romance as they find their HEA. The only gripe I had with this story was that there was much ado made about Cian and his piercings, and Sarah’s fascination with them. Cian mused about what her reaction would be to a certain piercing he had below the belt, but when it came to unveiling ‘the’ piercing, there was no mention of it, at all. I found that strange and seemed like it was forgotten by the author. Apart from that, I enjoyed this story. The secondary characters were a hoot, particularly Cian’s sister and best friend. They helped create the community feel in the pub and the village, and can’t wait till I visit Ireland to sit in a friendly, welcoming pub like the one in Cianmore.

What’s it About? Sarah Mercer has decided to take an impulsive trip to Ireland after her fiance dumps her so she rents a place to live online. When she gets to her temporary home she finds that her landlord/local pub owner Cian Murphy is not only tall, dark, tattooed, and pierced but also intent on pursuing her. Temporarily of course. Sarah sees Cian as a chance to unleash all her curiousity and have some fun for once in her life. But what happens when it's time to go back to reality?



Overall reaction to the story? Kiss of the Irish was big on promises but short on delivery. You have a heroine who wants to indulge sexually but doesn't really follow through, and a hero who has tats and piercings yet they play no part in the couple's physical relationship. I loved the setup though, a getaway in Ireland that leads to a hot hookup with an even hotter Irishman who happens to have a heart of gold? Utterly delicious and fun, it just needed a bit more from the heroine and the sex scenes.


Describe the hero in five words: Delicious. Kind. Intelligent. Fun. Sexy.
Did you like him? Yup.
Why? Cian is a ladies man, or at least he was when he was younger but when the story begins he's matured and become a responsible business owner. That doesn't mean he's not fun though, he has a quick sense of humor and is genuine towards the people in his inner circle. I loved his dedication to his inner circle and his interactions with his sister and her best friend. He was confident without being cocky, smart without making other people feel dumb, and encouraging in a way that just felt natural.


Describe the heroine in five words: Boring. Mousy. Smart. Wimpy. Kind.
Did you like her? She was so bland so no.
Why? Sarah had all the promise of a broken woman who gets in touch with her inner warrior woman but she just... Didn't. Sarah was so boring. Her personality was constantly overshadowed by pretty much anyone else who was in the scene with her and there wasn't anything remotely unique about her unless you count her ability to constantly compare herself to any and all other women around her. It got annoying after awhile. Sarah never really became more to me. She was mousy when she got to Ireland, and she was mousy when she fell in love. Bottom line? Sarah was super vanilla, especially when you look at Cian's sister Ainsley and her best friend Nell. I expected more from this heroine instead of an over the top case of nerves who balked at anything remotely fun.


Let’s talk about the romance: Cian and Sarah have an electric attraction that happens even before they meet in person and that was pretty consistent throughout the story. I loved the buildup of tension and the verbal foreplay that seemed so natural whenever they were in the same scene. However, the buildup didn't quite match up to the actual bedroom scenes. It seems that the author took cues from the vanilla Sarah rather than the dynamic Cian because the sexy times were a bit lacking. Sarah never became a "dirty girl" like she supposedly wanted to and Cian's numerous piercings were never mentioned much less utilized, if you know what I mean. There was a lot of potential for some hot and dirty sex but nope, it didn't happen. Sarah was so jittery and nervous every time things got heated between her and Cian that she killed the fun and the passion in those scenes. The only saving grace for this couple was that I did feel there was a good, solid connection between them without the sex which to me made their relationship believable and strong.


How about that supporting cast? Cian's sister Ainsley and her best friend Nell were a hoot. They're everything Sarah should have been: Outgoing, fun, and blunt with a side of vulnerability. They really brightened things up whenever they appeared and I hope they each get their own stories soon.

Click It or Skip It? Click It but only if you can handle bland heroines. On the other hand, Cian is pretty darn sexy and on top of that he's a good guy so that might overshadow the lack of a good heroine. Kiss of the Irish had the right idea, it just needed more from the heroine. And more attention to sex scenes.

A short, fun read! Kiss of the Irish was my first exposure to Lauren Hawkeye, but it certainly won’t be my last. 

Kiss of the Irish introduces to readers to Sarah as she finds herself in a small Irish town after a horrible breakup from her fiance back in Boston. Her new landlord, Cian, happens to be devilishly handsome and a real charmer. These two might not have a lot in common on the surface, but deep down they're looking for acceptance and someone to call “home”.

I loved Sarah’s re-exploration of a previous passion, art, in this book and Cian’s support of her exploration. This book had sinfully sexy scenes and really sweet declarations of love. I couldn’t get enough of these two! I can only hope Hawkeye gives us more foreign flings in the future!

This book is HELL YES. I couldnt read it fast enough. I love a well written romance. I love when there is conflict and it isnt exactly smooth sailing. This author is a new one for me but not for long. Lauren got me into the story within the first couple of pages. Cian was my love. I hurt and craved just as much as our lead female did.

Sarah is an art curator from Boston and has decided she needs to take a break from it all, so she decides to rent a flat over in Ireland from Cian Murphy. Cian had originally decided to swap homes, but he changes his mind and keeps firmly planted in his hometown of Ceanmore. He owns the apartment building Sarah is going to be staying in, along with a bar and a few other businesses.
 
Sarah falls in lust at first site, but she prefers to stay in her apartment. She’s led a life where everyone has told her what to do and her choices haven’t been her own. Cian is madly attracted to her, and the tatted and pierced Irishman is determined to help Sarah come out of her shell. He does some pretty amazing things for her, and she slowly becomes the Sarah she’s always wanted to become. But will Cian go too far?

I love me a good opposites attract storyline! Sarah is everything Cian isn’t and vice versa, yet together they bring our each other’s bests. Not to mention they share some explosive chemistry. Sarah is in Emerald Isle to get away from a nasty break up from her former fiancé and she’s hoping to revap herself. Cian is her new landlord and the perfectly imperfect vacation hookup candidate. Things soon get tricky when feeling get involved and the time to return home begins approaching. I loved this story! I would recommend it and give it 4.5 stars.

It's about personal growth, love, friendship and excepting who you really are, instead of who everybody else wants you to be. This book is part of the Foreign Fling series and it features Sarah Mercer and Cian Murphy. I mean really, who wouldn't want to go to Ireland and have a steamy affair with a large, gorgeous, tattooed and pierced Irishman? Cian is the whole package. Break out the fan because it's getting HOT in here! I adore the fact that he wants Sarah to feel as beautiful as he sees her.

Fantastic story! It's full of self discovery for both of them. I can't wait to read more from this fabulous author.

This one fell short for me. The book started with emails between the two main characters, and the hero (Cian) was so forward in his come-on lines that I was immediately put off. And the heroine's (Sarah) constant reminders to the reader as to her fragile emotional state was a bit too "and remember, my fiancé dumped me, so I'm kind of broken inside!"

Can did get better throughout the story. He was sweet, and quite thoughtful, but it was his piercings that the author paid most attention to...in the beginning, anyway. His piercings were a big deal to Sarah because she hadn't really ever come across guys with piercings before. Cian had them everywhere - his face, nipples, and penis being the most talked about. But when it came to the sex scenes (a little more than halfway through the book), the piercings didn't even come into play. For someone who made such a huge deal about them, Sarah certainly wasn't giving any insight into how they made sex with Clan better/worse/stranger than sex with anyone else.

Sarah remained kind of wishy-washy throughout the novel. She was strong, then weak, then strong again, then weak again. It grated. The ending felt contrived as Cian did something sweet for Sarah, and she went overboard with her overreaction to him. I felt the author was using it as a way to being conflict to a rather conflict-less story, and I again found myself underwhelmed by it all.



Two stars.