Romantic, light, and mushy. Loved everything about this story. Bridget is perfect and forget about Finn... the best!

I love a good romance and this book was no different. Watching Bridget and Finn grow their connection is just the dose of happiness I needed at the time!

I liked Finn but was a bit put off by her. The grandmother was my favorite throughout the book. Really? green beer in a legit Irish bar?

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Romance and Jo McNally for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
First off: Hot. Irish. Professor. Do I have your attention now?
Barefoot on a Starlit Night is a heartwarming, slow burn romance that leaves you wanting to visit your local Irish pub and call your grandmother. Or if she’s anything like Maura McKinnen, you invite your grandma to the pub with you! My grandmother O’Connor has always been proud of her heritage and shared much of her family’s culture with us grandchildren growing up. Maura McKinnen was an instant favorite of mine with her sharp wit and strong personality.
The main female lead, Bridget McKinnon has a lot on her plate. She just took over her family’s pub, which needs a lot of work. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt because i’ve totally been the type to get stressed and get mean, but ick. Her attitude SUCKED for the first 1/4 and I really wondered if I was going to be able to like her at all. I ended up really enjoying her personal journey to learn how to let go of the things she cannot control. One of my biggest anxiety triggers is a plan not going the way it should or not knowing what’s going on. I completely understood Bridget’s struggles and why she made the choices she did, but I’m happy she ended up being a nice person.
The male lead, Finn O’Hearn comes to the scene with some heavy baggage of his own. The synopsis made me expect this fake engagement would be to get him a visa but Jo McNally took a totally different route. I always appreciate reading a vulnerable male POV, but there was some F-boy tendencies thrown in there a few times. The whole “It’s me not you” crap made me want to kick him in the shins.
This is actually number 3 in the Rendezvous Falls series, but I read this as a standalone with no issues! Now I can look forward to going back and reading the stories of the side characters I loved in this one.

I absolutely adore a good romance now and then and this one was particularly lovable and got me all mushy inside. Bridget is a perfect woman for a spicy fling to love type of story!! Who can resist a woman with a full head of curly red hair?!?! And Finn.... Lets just say if I weren’t already married, I’d be in search of my very own bookish Irish lover husband right now!!!

This was fun, and I got hooked on all the characters right away. I was laughing, sucking in my breath when something bad happened, and biting my lips when other fun things happened. I loved every minute of it!!! Reading Finn’s Irish accept was adorable and I can totally picture this as a movie. Hint, Hint, oh movie gods, grant me my wish of making this into a movie!!!!!

I recommend this to those who adore a light romantic read with heart, a little bit of drama, and some hot times too. Soooo good!!!!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HQN Books for a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion!!

I've enjoyed this series from the beginning. McNally does not disappoint. Solid writing and storytelling. I interviewed her over on Frolic. Thanks for the read, will recommend.

I have never read anything by Jo McNally but I am very familiar with her name. McNally is a prolific writer of romances and I see her books often at the local bookstore and supermarkets.

When this book came up for review I had no problem agreeing to it because with a name as long standing as Jo McNally, it proves she has staying power as well as a big fan base.

I was fortunate enough to have an opening on my summer calendar thanks to so many books being put off for publication until fall, so this book was an easy yeas for me.

Summary
With a little luck, this fake engagement just might become the real deal…

Bridget McKinnon would do anything for her feisty ailing grandma Maura. She’ll even stay close to home and serve up green beer in the Purple Shamrock instead of pursuing her own culinary dreams. But money’s tight. So when a stranger with a sexy brogue asks about the apartment she’s renting out, Bridget hopes she’s landed a little piece of Irish luck…only to find she’s knee-deep in a crazy plan that’s turning her life upside down.

College professor Finn O’Hearn needs this job in Rendezvous Falls—his visa may depend on it. If he can convince his beautiful but tightly wound landlord to be his pretend fiancée, his boss will be happy—as will Bridget’s matchmaking grandma and her meddling book club. Finn and Bridget fool (almost) everyone with their sizzling glances and toe-curling kisses…even as they tell themselves it’s only make-believe.

Playing a part has never been so easy. But when love is real, it’s time to find the courage to start playing by heart (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book is part of the Rendezvous Falls series but you do not need to have read the other books in this series before reading this one. It easily read as a stand alone for me. This was a quick read for me and I probably could have read it in one sitting but instead I chose to read a few chapters before bed each night to savor it a little longer.

Both of the characters, Bridget and Finn, were likable and I loved that they had more of a tedious road than some of the other contemporary characters in other similar books. Their journey was full of tension and challenges and I enjoyed watching them come together. Plus marriage of convenience is one of my fav troupes.

But for me what stole the show in this book was the family. Oh lordy I was laughing out loud a couple of times at the family and I thought it added a lot of charm and humor to the book.

As expected this book delivered a fitting HEA and I found myself feeling satisfied and content with the ending and smiling as the plot lines wrapped up. Reading this very first book by McNally has me curious about some of her others so I would say that this is an author I would definitely read again. She is a tried and true author and after reading this one, I can see why she has so many fans. This was a delight to read and I am so glad I finally got to experience her books.

If you are looking for a feel good book with romance, laughs, and a guaranteed HEA with an author who writes with a practiced hand then look no further than this book!

Book Info and Rating
Kindle Edition, 384 pages
Published May 26th 2020 by HQN Books
ASIN B07WWP8FNM
Free review copy provided by publisher, Harlequin, in partnership with Kaye Publicity, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: romance, chick lit

Another great story from Jo McNally. When Iris history professor Finn heard about an apartment for rent and realizes the landlord is Brdget, the overbearing manager at the local Irish Pub he's not hopeful it will work out.

Having lost his last position due to a personal issue with his former wife and best friend, he's on thin ice at the new college, having to prove his worth and dedication. That's how he finds himself in an unenviable position after telling the College President (his boss), that he's dedicated to staying and even has a fiance! What a surprise as Bridget only just met him, but goes along with the charade to help him out.

What follows is a story of friendship, family, love and the realization that true love can work if you trust in the process. A great summer read!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

A sweet predictable romance from a new to me author. Bridget McKinnon has returned home to run the family American Irish pub even as she licks the wounds from her broken romance that she left behind. She's definitely not looking for a romantic relationship when Finn O Hearn comes into her life.
Finn has his own baggage. He's getting over a nasty divorce, punching a colleague in a public forum which has cost him his job. All he wants is space to lick his wounds and recover. He'll do what it takes to prove to his current boss that he wants this job even renting a tiny apartment from Bridget and pretending to be a in fake engagement with her.
Poor guy he's so afraid of his past that he almost loses the best thing that happens to be but thanks to the literary club and Bridget's vast family all is not lost. I enjoyed reading this feel good love story that reminds me why I read romance.

Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. This book had several of my favorite elements in a romance novel; two characters who are total opposites, and a fake engagement. This was a very enjoyable, but slightly predictable, book!

At first glance, Bridget and Finn don't have much in common. At second glance they don't have much in common! However, they find that their unlikely partnership will benefit them both in ways they didn't expect. This book loosely connects to the others in the Rendezvous Falls series, but easily can be read as a stand alone title.

I have reviewed this book for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted the evening before the release date.


"Barefoot on a Starlit Night" by Jo McNally
HQN
July 28, 2020
10-1335136959
Contemporary Romance

In this third installment of the Rendezvous Falls series, Bridget McKinnon is stressed. She has inherited the Purple Shamrock Pub and her childhood home from her deceased father, but living in California with Clark, the man she is supposed to marry, she wants no part of it. Nevertheless, it is now hers. Her dad included her cousins in the will, but she holds the controlling share, so with no choice, she returns to New York, only to find Clark now has someone new.

This must be an omen as Bridget discovers Clark’s true feelings for her, and now her beloved nana, Maura, is going through chemo for breast cancer, so Bridget needs to be with her to support her through this trying time. Maura, who practically raised Bridget, is a typical Irish grandmother, feisty and honored by her heritage and most of all, her crowning glory of red hair. Unfortunately, the poison coursing through her system to cure her is causing her luxurious mane to fall out in clumps, and Maura, too proud to wear a wig, sinks into depression.

Not only anxious about her nana, Bridget also worries because business is slow, and the second mortgage her father got to break up the family home into two apartments for extra income needs to be paid. It’s currently vacant, and Bridget requires a tenant to rent the first-floor unit to help with her debt.

The devilishly handsome Finn O'Hearn, a professor in the local college, desperately needs a permanent residence. Fired from his last job in North Carolina, after hitting his best friend upon learning he and Finn's wife were having an affair, he now needs to prove himself, amend his past, and attain tenure so he can keep his visa and stay in the states.

When Finn hears Bridget is looking to rent an apartment, he wants it. And Bridget is astounded by the handsome Irishman with the thick brogue, and though she does not want him living downstairs from her, she has no choice. The unit is decorated with a female in mind, and she hopes he won't want it, though her bills are piling up. At this point, Finn would rent a storage shed with an address to show his good faith and intention to make the town his home.

Finn insists he'll take the small apartment even when Bridget offers him a list of conditions to live there, hoping he'll turn it down, but he isn't fazed by them. His job and visa are more important. After he moves in, sparks start to fly as he and Bridget become better acquainted, and she lets down her guard by telling him things she normally wouldn't tell another guy. She's been burned once, why would she look to be burned again?

In a meeting with his boss, Dr. Greer, Finn is questioned on his likelihood of sticking around:

"Greer pointed at him. 'The other candidate for your job may not have been as qualified, but he was more stable, with a wife and a family. He reached out to me last week to see how things were going.'

"Yeah, Finn could just bet he did. His jaw tightened, 'Are you threatening to give my job to someone else?'

"'No. But I am reminding you that I have options. I like you, O'Hearn, but eventually, the bigger schools will forget about your little . . . situation . . . in North Carolina. You'll get offers. I'm just skeptical that you'll want to stay at Brady College if you get a call from Yale or something."

Finn discloses he's settling into a permanent residence and plans to make Rendezvous Falls his home, though Greer fears he'll leave for a more prestigious university or head back to Ireland. When Finn jokingly states he and Bridget are engaged, to have the man realize he is stable, Greer picks up on this, believing it to be the truth. Shocked by Greer's acceptance of this, Finn pleads with him to keep this new quiet for they haven't announced it to anyone, and they don’t want Maura to know yet due to her health.

Does his boss keep his confidence? Heck no! He tells Vickie, Maura's best friend, so of course, Vickie runs over to Maura to ask why she is keeping this a secret. Bridget, when it comes to her attention, and knowing nothing of Finn’s lies, becomes livid. Ready to deny such rumors, Finn begs her to go along with him, stating he'll explain his faux pas to her later.

Before long, Maura and the rest of the family start planning an engagement party, a bridal shower, and the wedding. Maura is thrilled and now has a glow on her face and regains her energy and excitement, looking well for the first time in a long time. How can Bridget refute this "fake engagement" without crushing her nana's hopes and maybe causing a relapse?

Surprisingly, Bridget and Finn share a chemistry they cannot deny. Bridget is falling in love with Finn, and he is with her, but neither of them can learn to trust again. Finn, thinking his marriage was for life, burns with the pain of his ex's infidelity and is afraid. He can't envision a life without Bridget, but what if he gets hurt again?

Meanwhile, everyone can see the attraction between them, yet Maura has some doubts. How did Bridget become engaged in such a short time? What is going on with her granddaughter? She proposes she and her book club members do some sleuthing to find answers. While Bridget falls more deeply for Finn she wonders if a fake engagement can turn into a real one. Is this relationship a sham or can their love be genuine?

Finn's ex shows up and announces she is pregnant, making Finn feel like a knife is thrust into his heart. He ascertains he will not go through this pain again and breaks things off with Bridget:

"'We started on a lie, Bridget, and I won't continue on one.'

"'I don't know what you mean.'

"'It's my fault. I made you think I could do this. That I could fall in love again.' His head fell back, and he stared up at the sky. 'Shit, I thought I could do that. But I can't.' . . .

. . . "'You're saying you don't love me?'

"He huffed out a dry laugh.

"'That's the problem. I do love you.' She started to smile, feeling hope, seeing a future with this man. But his next words sent it crashing down. 'But I loved Dori too, and she shattered me. I thought I'd put the pieces back together, but Dori's little visit proves I haven't. I may never be whole again.' He looked straight into her eyes, his own dark with heavy emotion. 'I don't know if I'll ever be able to able trust again. And I don't mean trust you, I mean trust myself. My judgment. My choices.'”

A sweet, somewhat sensuous love story, this novel shows how faith and communication play a big part in a relationship. Can unlikely partners with many similarities and heart-breaking pasts come together and learn to trust, especially with the wholehearted endorsement of a close-knit and devoted family? Filled with tension and raw emotion, Barefoot on a Starlight Night is sure to please readers of contemporary romance.

I've been a fan of this series since the begining and I really enjoyed this latest installment.

I thought Bridget was a great main character and I loved how she was willing to fight for what she wanted. Finn was an interesting counter point to Bridget and while he made me mad several times (which was the point) I enjoyed the ending of the book.

The secondary characters really shined and Bridget's family added so much fun to the book.

I appreciated getting to see and learn more about past main characters and as always the book club members had me laughing while I read.

I really struggled with liking the heroine. She seemed mean and rude a lot. She toned down once she was in a relationship. It was also hard to keep up with all of the characters. When everyone was together at the book club or the bar there were so many names to follow. Maybe if I'd read the series, this would have been easier to remember. Overall, a well-fought for HEA.

A sweet and predictable romance following the engagement of convenience leading to true love trope. Maura was the grandmother we all want to have. There is a lot of dialogue about chemotherapy, cancer, etc. and I think it's worth noting this to let other readers know ahead of time.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bridget McKinnon is just too tightly bound. She’s stressed out about every aspect of her life to the point that she’s annoying to her family and, frankly, to the reader. She wants to control everything from running the tavern that her father left her to her grandmother’s chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Into her stressful life comes handsome Irish history professor, Finn O’Hearn, who needs to rent the apartment in her house.

Neither is interested in a relationship; they’ve both suffered painful betrayals. But they start building a tentatively friendship until Finn babbles to the dean of his college that he and Bridget are actually engaged. Bridget agrees to go along with the lie in order to make her sick grandmother happy.

You can predict what will happen after that. They grow closer but have troubles determining if what is real and what isn’t.

I liked the different POVs for both main characters as well as Bridget’s grandmother who is trying to retain her sense of identity when everyone seems to see her cancer first. Her circle of old friends is really delightful. I liked Finn - but maybe that is because I’m a history teacher and the idea of a hunky, Irish professor of Medieval history sounds just lovely, even with his personal problems. It was Bridget who got on my nerves. There is a difference between being a strong woman dealing with financial and personal problems and being a know-it-all pain-in-the rear. And she leaned more to the latter.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.