3.5 stars

I don’t know why I kept putting this book off!!! Well, I understand why. Life got in the way, and it wasn’t at the top of my priority list, which happens to the best of us. So, when I realized that I missed the publication date (huge oops!!), I took Seven Letters off of the backburner and read it. It was a good read, and I really should have read it sooner.

Seven Letters went between having a fast-paced plotline, and a medium paced one. That did aggravate me while reading. It provoked me because I like my books to have one speed while reading. If I have to adjust my reading speed continuously, then it takes away from my experience. I also didn’t like that several secondary storylines were either ended abruptly or left hanging.

I liked Kate, but she annoyed me during the book. The choices she made were a huge source of irritation for me. Take her relationship with Ozzie, for instance. She knew he had issues (drinking, possible PTSD), and she jetted once the honeymoon phase was over. But, she did change. Her character matured, and she realized that her choices weren’t the right ones. By the end of the book, she was a different woman, and I liked it.

I felt terrible for Ozzie. But at the same time, I wanted to shake him and say, “Dude, get help!!”. He never told Kate about his time in the service (in his defense, though, she never asked). He never told her about his demons from that time. I do think that he was the better person when he let her go. He knew that his demons were too strong, and he couldn’t live with himself. He needed that time apart to heal.

The romance angle of the book got me. Kate and Ozzie burned fast and bright in the beginning. It was almost too quick and bright, and I knew that something was going to happen. By the second half of the book, they were floundering, and I did wonder if they would ever get past everything. But the end of the book, oh my. Talk about deep romance there. I was in tears from the minute Kate landed in Ireland to the very end.

The end of the book was hard to read. It got almost too much for me to read. I did guess at some of the ending details. The last letter, though, made my heart sing (and I did shed a few tears).

Kate and Ozzie have a hard fought love, when Ozzie's demons make loving him difficult Kate leaves. After Ozzie goes missing she has to decide how she will carry on, to remember or to forget.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a decent story. Fairly likable characters (and who doesn’t love the name Gottfried for a dog?). A fairly quick read. My only complaints? Sometimes there are skips of large chunks of time which you don’t immediately realize until you come across something that wouldn’t make sense otherwise. Also, the end seemed to wrap up too quickly and too tidily. A lot of build up and BOOM it was over.

This book was atmospheric and beautiful. I loved the lush descriptions of Ireland. J. P. Monningeris a master storyteller and I hope to see more from him soon.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kate Moreton is a professor at Darthmouth. She is writing about her Irish heritage as a part of her doctoral dissertation and decides to take the semester and spend it in Ireland to do the research she needs to do on the Blasket Islands and the people who used to live there. What she isn't expecting is to fall in love with the place as well as a certain American who also lives there, Ozzie Ferriter. Their romance is fast paced. Will their love be able to last over the oceans or will one of them make a sacrifice for them to be together.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was definitely a slow read for me. Overall the story was very bland. Girl does work in Ireland, girl meets boy, boy is mysterious, boy and girl fall in love, what happens next ... The whole story is very slow paced even though it covers a few years. I didn't find myself investing in the characters or the story as a whole. I have read one other book by JP Monninger, a Map That Leads to You, and that one was a bit more interesting.

What would you do if you met a man who seemed perfect for you, but he lived a world away. Would you give up the life you've known to be with him or would you find a way for you all to be together? That is the dilemma Kate faces when she meets Ozzie. Will she stay in her native land or return to her home? Is Ozzie really the man that she thinks he is or is his past holding him back from being the man he could be? Can you change someone to be the person you want them to be or do you have to accept them for who they are? All of these are questions that will be answered in the book.

What a lovely unexpected tale of life, love and service. I adored this book immensely. It was the first title from JP that I’ve read. I can’t wait for more

In this novel we meet the sensible, Kate, who is a PhD student conducting research on the Blaskets. She has made arrangements and traveled to Ireland in order to get a hands on experience of this beautiful land and to live first hand her research. Kate’s cultural background is Irish but she was raised in America, so this is almost like a homecoming for her.

When she arrives, she is taken away by the beauty of the Blaskets, her research and this new world opening up for her. What she didn’t expect was to meet Ozzie – an Irish-American, who fought for America in Afghanistan and who now is a fisherman. The two quickly fall deeply and madly in love – something you don’t expect from Kate.

The two have the most passionate love and are consumed by each other (and as a reader, you are consumed by their love!). They marry quickly and decide to embark on an unique honeymoon – that ultimately pulls them apart and sets the two adrift from each other.

This is a novel full of raw emotion, of this mad love that consumes two people in their passion and a heart wrenching pain that only love can cause. They see only each other but never really see each other in the present. They love each other with every fibre of their body without really knowing their past and future. When one conflict comes up, Kate runs and the two are torn apart. How do they fix this? How will they ever move forward? And will there be a future?

This is an intense novel that was fantastic from start to finish. I loved watching as Kate grew in her maturity and the understanding of her love and relationship with Ozzie. It is a powerful and moving novel that you just can’t put down.

After she travels to Ireland on a sabbatical from her position at Dartmouth College, Kate Moreton meets Ozzie Ferriter, a fisherman and veteran of the American War in Afghanistan. A dual citizen of both countries, Ozzie has retreated to the one place he thinks he can find peace and forget the war that seems to never leave him. The setting lends well to their immediate attraction, as they fall deeper into a love that may or may not save them both. Finally, after Ozzie makes some reckless choices, at her wits end, Kate flees Ireland for the US, trying to leave behind the demons that seem to possess Ozzie. Then, a letter arrives telling Kate of Ozzie’s death, so now she must figure out whether or how to survive this great loss.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the country and the islands in this book, as they made me feel as if I was there and part of this love story. However, enamored by the islands and the country, Kate seemed all too eager to fall in love. The story is told from Kate’s perspective, so we get a good insight into her thought and mind. I would have liked to get into Ozzie’s a bit more. It was interesting that she fell so completely in love so quickly, as she had not planned to stay in Ireland all that long and would ultimately face some profound decisions about her life. The romance between Kate and Ozzie was intense and great, but I really fell in love with the descriptions and history of the country and the remote Blasket Islands. This is a solid romance for eager romance readers and a good picture of this remote area of Ireland for those who like this sort of thing. I received this form NetGalley to read and review.

This was quite a well written book. I enjoyed the history and setting that came with this read. It really kept me reading until the very end.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This was my first read by J. P. Monninger. This is the story of Kate, who is in Ireland on a sabbatical from her position at Dartmouth. It’s here where she meets Ozzie, who is a fisherman. He is also a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and has retreated to a solitary life since leaving the war. Kate and Ozzie fall in love. As their relationship deepens, Kate realizes that Ozzie is tormented by his own demons. Their relationship is tested heavily and Kate finally leaves for America when Ozzie becomes self-destructive. It’s only after leaving that she receives a letter saying he is lost at sea. Now she has to decide if she wants to go back and attempt at searching for him-or does she simply move on?
I liked this story, but there were times when the style dragged a little. I do recommend this book.

Beautifully written

I found The Seven Letters to be one of the most beautifully written novels I have read. That says a lot because I read a LOT. I found the word usage to be so very lyrical, the sense of place to be first rate and the plot to have enough twists and romance to set my heart a flutter.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the loan of an e-arc. I am under no obligation to post a review and my opinion is my own.

WOW! This is a beautiful beautiful book. The way it was written was extraordinary. I could see what the author wanted us to see, I could feel what she wanted us to feel.

I loved this book, and can't wait to read more from this author.

4 1/2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My first book by this author and I am definitely a fan! A beautiful romance set in the beautiful, magical setting of Ireland. beautifully written romance with very likable and endearing characters. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

J.P. Monninger sweeps us to Ireland in this love story. Kate Moreton spends a semester in Ireland researching the Blasket Islands for her dissertation. While in Ireland, she quickly falls in love with Ozzie Ferriter, a veteran of Afghanistan and dual citizen of both American and Ireland. Their initial love story is a whirlwind, with Kate and Ozzie secluding themselves on his property above the ocean, living in a yurt and basically off the grid.

When they decide to take a tour around the coast of Ireland, things become shaky. Kate realizes there’s much to Ozzie she still doesn’t know. Only that the war left him with demons he refuses to speak of, creating a rift that seems impossible to cross. What starts out as a love fest ends with Kate returning to the United States, separated from Ozzie.

Fast forward a few years and Kate is ready to move on from her relationship with Ozzie. Yet his world beckons her back to Ireland. The second half of the story centers on Kate as she puts back together the pieces of their story, with or without Ozzie.

One thing I would have liked to have seen more of is deeper character development of Ozzie. I often had no idea what Ozzie was thinking or how he truly felt. Why he behaved in the manner he did. This hole left me yearning for more, especially since the story pulled me in and kept me engaged until the end.

We were able to understand the thinking of Kate but Ozzie remains a mystery. Even at the end, I’m still wishing I knew more. Perhaps this was the direction J.P. Monninger wanted the reader to experience. Leaving the opportunity for the reader to fill in the holes while still providing a page-turning story.

However, the seven letters throughout the story lend color and intrigue, sometimes foreshadowing of what’s to come. Basically nutritional food for thought. Despite wanting to know more about Ozzie and why their relationship materialized so quickly, I still enjoyed this story and was sad to see it end.

Romantic story about love and loss. Told beautifully in the most poetic fashion.

I had trouble connecting with characters but overall I liked the book.

Thank you @netgalley and St.Martins Press for proving me with an e-Arc of this book. I loved the book. It was so beautiful and atmospheric in its setting that I really want to visit Ireland, like right now if it was possible. I have to say the way the book is written, the style, the characters will make you feel all the feels for it. The story is romantic, poignant, heartbreaking at times. The author provides us with a descriptive and vivid picture that it makes you yearn for it, to experience it yourself. I loved the way the author made the setting of all the places and people so detailed and picturesque. This book talks about the tale of two people meeting and finding themselves drawn to one another by their passion and love only to lose it to frivolous nature and tossing aside the bond they shared. They were young and they went in too deep too early without a firm foundation for their relationship. The peace and tranquility they had at the beginning of their relationship fizzle to disappointment and uncertainties and expectations unfulfilled. I gave this book 4 stars. This was a delight to read. The mixture of lore and love and tiny nuggets of the Islanders gives you all the feels. Definitely check it out.

Some books take you on a slow journey into the life of a novel. The book becomes the lifeline for you to read despite the highs and lows of the story, and the actions of the characters. Seven Letters by J P Monninger is such a book. A book that brings you to the heart of the characters, allowing you to join their journey.

Kate Moreton teaches at Dartmouth College. She is presently working on her research into the Blasket Islands where her family once came from. It is while in Ireland doing her research, she meets Ozzie Ferriter, a fisherman. Both fall into the relationship and into love with each other. Until his demons and her fear run into each other.

I loved the characters of Kate and Ozzie, with their flaws and foibles. Thinking that they were able to live on an island of their love without recognizing each person is much more complex. The book did not grab me right away and I needed to give it a bit of time. I love how the Irish legends and poetry are woven within the story. I think this story, while not my traditional love story, is such a powerful and beautiful story. Seven Letters by J P Monninger is a fabulous book.

Kate Moreton is fulfilling a lifelong dream – to travel to the Blasket Islands of Ireland for her dissertation studies. Though exhausted from the long journey from New Hampshire, she immediately hops onto the tour bus that takes her to Dingle so she can be close to her beloved Blaskets. On the bus, she befriends an old woman called Gran, and is stunned when the woman invites her on an excursion her first day in Dingle. Kate accepts, and travels by private boat to the islands, with a tour given by Ozzie, Gran’s grandson, a decorated soldier carrying a heavy weight of guilt at his wartime decisions. Kate and Ozzie fall in love, and have a storybook romance while Kate remains in Ireland.

Though Kate leaves Ozzie in Ireland to return to her teaching at Dartmouth, she remains married to him, and is devastated when he is lost at sea. I kept waiting for the Seven Letters, but no letters appeared until about halfway through. I felt the story moved too slowly, and that Kate, while focused on her career, seemingly forgot about the man she married. Overall, the story was all right, but I thought the ending was too neatly packaged.

This book is very well written. It’s as if you're or you’ve been there in Ireland smelling the air in Blasket Island and the flowers. The descriptions were so realistic that I became transported, but it took a long time for me to relate to the lead characters. However, in the end I still fell in love with their story. What a wonderful novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley, J. P. Monninger and the publisher for the ARC.

Fans of Cecelia Aherne and Nicholas Sparks are going to love this beautifully written and richly atmospheric tale by J.P. Monninger: Seven Letters. A book that will touch your heart and lift your spirits, keep a box of tissues nearby because you are certainly going to need them!

Kate Moreton is on a sabbatical in Ireland, where she is taking a break from all the stress of her teaching job at Dartmouth College. A majestic land full of poetry, music, breath-taking vistas and charming people, Ireland has the power to heal and the ability to mend broken souls. While in Ireland, Kate comes across Ozzie Ferriter, a fisherman and veteran of the American war in Afghanistan who has his own ghosts to vanquish and demons to battle. The hardship and conflicts that have marked Ozzie’s life for so long have certainly left their toll on him and he has come to Ireland seeking sanctuary and peace from the war still raging within him. All Ozzie wants is to be left alone to learn to cope with all the challenges that lie ahead of him, but a chance encounter with Kate ends up changing his life forever.

Kate and Ozzie quickly find themselves drawn to one another and soon they find themselves giving into temptation and acting upon their attraction for each other. As their relationship gives way to a love that simply cannot be denied, Kate and Ozzie begin to create a life for themselves away from the pressures and stresses of the real world. But their idyllic paradise will soon end up jeopardised by the intrusion of the real world that sees Ozzie become reckless with his life and endanger not just Kate’s safety, but also their relationship.

Unable to see the man she loves with all of her heart self-destruct, Kate realizes that she cannot stand by and watch him throw his life away, so she makes the most difficult decision of her life and returns back to the United States, heartbroken, devastated and completely and utterly alone. Kate realizes that she will never love another man in the same way she loved Ozzie, however, when she receives news that Ozzie has been lost at sea, she finds herself forced to make yet another heart-breaking decision: she can either forget him and move on with her life or she can return back to the one place where she felt safe and loved- Ireland.

A hypnotic, seductive and searingly emotional page-turner, Seven Letters is a book about hope, love, loss and the ties that bind that will grab a hold of you and simply not let you go. Dramatic, uplifting, hopeful yet devastating, in Seven Letters, J.P. Monninger effortlessly and deftly plumbs the depths of the human heart with a story that will linger in your mind long after the last page is turned.

A book that will make you fall deeply in love and one that will make you want to board the first plane to Ireland, Seven Letters is a sensational read that is as hard to put down as it is to forget!