The simplicity of the prose in 7 Letters is devastating, beautiful. The emotions have been presented in a beautiful language bringing alive the magic of Ireland and it's legendary myths and passion.

Took a while to get through, lol of random bits of sorry that don't flow together very well, all of a sudden you find yourself elsewhere. Dialogue between characters wasn't very natural.

Seven Letters is a beautiful love story; one that is not all puppy dogs and roses, but is raw and real. The relationship between Kate and Ozzie is intense and emotional, and I could not help but get drawn in and yearn to read more. Monninger has such a brilliant talent with words and telling a story, as well as an amazing ability to provide such detailed and colorful descriptions of the Ireland landscapes, dialect, and spot-on characters! I loved reading these descriptive scenes and could almost picture myself being right there alongside Kate. My husband and I went to Scotland on our honeymoon and I so wish I had journaled like Kate did! I, too, saw such beautiful scenes, met some amazing people, and felt a variety of emotions similar to what Kate felt at times. It would have been wonderful to go back and re-live what I experienced y reading journal entries, though I would not be able to do justice with my words such as Monninger has! So much of Seven Letters reminded me of Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, especially the intense and raw emotions between Kate and Ozzie, as well as the tumultuous relationship between them. That is one of my ultimate all-time favorite books and now Seven Letters is right up there with it.

This novel was a departure from my usual mystery preferences. It took a while for me to really get into the story. The writing style was a bit more wordy than I’m used to and it also took a bit of time to warm up to the characters. I wanted to know more about Ozzie and at times I felt Kate was too quick to give up on working toward a lasting relationship. I eventually found myself wanting to get back to the story because I needed to know how it would end. It was at times frustrating, joyous, sad and ultimately satisfying. Much like life is. I ended up truly enjoying Ozzie and Kate’s journey. 

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this well crafted story.

Seven Letters is so much more than a romance novel; it's a journey to the Blasket Islands in Ireland, to Rome, to Sicily, to Canada and to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. I felt like I was traveling with Kate to all of the places with the vivid descriptions of the landscape.

Kate Moreton travels to the Blasket Islands, the land of her father, to research the people who were relocated from the island, for her dissertation. She meets several interesting characters on her journey including Nora (Gran), Seamus and Nora's grandson, Ozzie, with whom after a rocky start she falls passionately in love with. But what Kate doesn't realize is just how troubled Ozzie's past is. When the aftermath of that troubled past puts them both in harm's way, Kate makes a decision she will come to regret when real tragedy strikes.

I thought I couldn't love a book more than The Map that Leads to You, Monninger's debut novel, but this one had me turning the pages to the wee hours of the night. No spoilers here, but that ending...unexpected but honestly what I was hoping for all along.

J.P. Monninger could write the phone book and make you fall in love with the characters and the places, and I'm excited to read whatever he writes next!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy; all opinions are my own.

Kate Moreton is in Ireland on sabbatical from her teaching position at Dartmouth College when she meets Ozzie Ferriter, a fisherman and a veteran of the American war in Afghanistan. The Ferriter family history dates back centuries on the remote Blasket Islands, and Ozzie—a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States—has retreated to the one place that might offer him peace from a war he cannot seem to leave behind.

    Beside the sea, with Ireland’s beauty as a backdrop, the two fall deeply in love and attempt to live on an island of their own making, away from the pressures of the outside world. Ireland writes its own love stories, the legends claim, and the limits of Kate and Ozzie’s love and faith in each other will be tested. When his demons lead Ozzie to become reckless with his life—and Kate’s—she flees for America rather than watch the man she loves self-destruct. But soon a letter arrives informing Kate that her heroic husband has been lost at sea, and Kate must decide whether it is an act of love to follow him or an act of mercy to forget.

My Thoughts: As I followed along with Kate’s journey in Ireland, I was soon caught up in her unexpected love connection with Ozzie. The two of them were captivating, frustrating, and soon they were broken.

Seven Letters showed us the path to their love, their loss of each other, and how Kate tried to move on.

The story was one that revealed the beauty of Ireland, followed by the lovely cabin Kate bought in New Hampshire after she and Ozzie separated. At times, there were quick leaps between events, and I sometimes felt lost. But overall, I couldn’t stop reading and wondering what would eventually happen to the two of them. In the end, I was pleased by the culmination of events. 4 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

Well, well, well!  This book is such a pleasant surprise.  I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive phrases of Ireland.  While this is not a fast read it certainly was enjoyable.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy.  This book is due to release in October, 2019.

An endearing story of a woman working on her dissertation, goes to Ireland for research, meets a fisherman, falls in love and marries him. They take his boat on a honeymoon around Ireland, but run into very bad weather and put in at Dublin. She leaves him and returns to her research and her life. He leaves on his boat. Then, she gets a call that his boat went down and he is feared dead. She returns to Ireland and then goes in search of him. Read the rest of the story.

A well written story and romance. I personally did not connect with characters and wasn’t as engaged as I I’d hoped.

Welp, I am stumped. 
 
I am going to start by saying I am giving this book three and a half stars.  I enjoyed it.

Was it the best thing I have ever read....no.  You might ask, why is that Amy?   I don't know.  I truly don't know.

*The setting was lovely.  
*The characters were explained well.  
*I liked the characters.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  

I did not, however fall in love with the story. 
I also did not enjoy the ending it wrapped up a little too nicely for me. 
Ok, one more thing if you are going to name a book Seven Letters....those letters do not need to be introduced at the half way point.  That is a lot of letters to get through.

I think maybe part of it was I kept waiting for something to happen...and then when I did, I kinda already knew what was going to happen...I know.  Super clear lol.

I am going to conclude that the synopsis gave away too much.  If you are planning on reading this...go in blind.  Very, very blind.

Overall.  I would read the author again.  .

An American academic on a research trip t o Ireland meets and falls in love with a compelling if troubled man. A well-wrought story but essentially not very involving.

My first J.P. Monninger title was "The Map that Leads to You" and yes, I sing the Maroon 5 song in my head every time I think of it.  I was delighted to see his name and couldn't wait to read.  "Seven Letters" did not disappoint.  Kate is a flawed character who is true to live, which is what I loved most about her.  Ozzie, what can I say about Ozzie.  We all have our demons and having lived through this time in my life of uncertainty and learning to trust and figuring out who I am as a person and in the context of a relationship, I enjoyed watching this story unfold.  I have already recommended it to friends.

Endearing story of a doctoral researcher in Ireland who finds much more than she came for. Sensitive and poignant writing, a plot that keeps you reading and guessing, and how grace, redemption and salvation can come to rational people making irrational decisions. Definitely upped my interest in Irish history and desire to visit the land and legends. Thank you to Netgalley, Ms. Monninger, and the publisher for the ARC.

Kate Moreton is in Ireland on sabbatical from her teaching position at Dartmouth College when she meets Ozzie Ferriter, a fisherman and a veteran of the American war in Afghanistan. 
The story was romantic and heart wrenching at times. It's one of those stories where you're literally pages from the end thinking despite everything it's ending one way but then you're surprised. If romance is your genre I definitely recommend giving this a read and even if it isn't if you were interested enough to read this review I'd give it a go, like me you might find yourself pleasantly surprised at how much you like this book!
Seven Letters is a heart wrenching, nailbiting, pageturner. I was captivated from start and read the book, cover to cover, in one sitting. I simply couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed this book. The feeling of belonging to a place that one has never been is one that I truly understand. A wonderful story.

I enjoyed the story and it kept me turning the pages.
I’m not too sure about the relationship between Ozzie and Kate. I loved the description of Ireland, made me want to go.  If your looking for a romantic book, definitely check this one out. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the early copy

After this book disappeared off my Kindle, I downloaded it again.  I had already read it and loved it!

I very much enjoyed this book; 4.5 stars.  This will probably not be the selling point for most readers, but one of the aspects of the book I enjoyed the most was the research on, history of, and exploration of the Blasket Islands off the west coast of Ireland, as Kate Moreton, the protagonist, learns more about her family history and works on her dissertation, which focuses on narratives of the former residents of the islands, especially the women who lived there. [Of course, having Irish ancestry, a degree in History, and having enjoyed the time I have spent in Ireland (though never on the west coast), that aspect of the story was a perfect fit for me.]  The author created wonderful characters to assist Kate in her research and to really experience Ireland at its purest with Nora Crean (Gran), Seamus, Ozzie (the grandson of Gran and the eventual love interest of Kate), Bertie, and some of the University of Limerick staff, especially Daijeet.  The burgeoning relationship between Ozzie and Kate, which does not get off to the most propitious start, is entertaining, enjoyable, romantic, and passionate.

Of course, the happiness cannot last, and Kate begins to realize that there are aspects of Ozzie's personality (which is shaped in part by his service in Afghanistan) that she does not really understand and possibly cannot handle; their marriage is not what she imagined.  The second half of the book focuses on their separation, Kate trying to figure herself out, and her life becoming undone again when Ozzie re-enters her life in a most unexpected and unfortunate way, but the unexpected event gives her the opportunity to better understand her husband and herself.  The book explores love, loss, expectations, how we really don't know each other or even truly know ourselves, and the power and grace of being vulnerable with someone.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This is one of the best books I've read this year. It's a love story full of adventure and characters that come alive in the most wonderful way. It's definitely not a run of the mill love story. I was at times surprised and heartbroken as the story progressed. 

Kate is a college professor who is studying the people who once lived on Blasket Isand off the coast of Ireland. Once landed in Ireland, Kate is looking for a seat on a crowded bus and just as she sees a vacant bench Kate is invited to sit with an older gentleman. He tells her the vacant seats must be reserved for someone important. A well appointed elderly lady is helped into those seats. Kate helps this woman and is given a card with her phone number. Nora or Gran wants to repay Kate's kindness with a visit to her home. This is where she meets Ozzie Nora's grandson.

Don't miss the chance to read this book. It's great! I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the author and  St Martin's through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
#SevenLetters #NetGalley

A sweeping saga of love and loss.  From the halls of Dartmouth to deserted islands in Ireland you will follow the beautiful and tragic relationship of Ozzie and Kate.  The prose is beautiful and you can almost feel the chill of the wind and taste a drink by a peat fire.  Misunderstandings and skewed expectations can take a toll on any relationship, and this new relationship is no exception.  Sometimes you really don't know what you had until it is gone.  Many issues are explored in this book and you will find it on your mind long after you finish reading,