DNF at approximately 30%

Trigger warning: Domestic abuse. I really wish this would have been included in the synopsis of the book or I wouldn't have requested the book. "Escaping a broken marriage" can mean many things, and I was not expecting descriptions of violence upon a woman.
 
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to read the digital ARC. I had read Ann O'Loughlin's last book, which had all sorts of charm.

This book was gripping and extremely Interesting. I love Ann's books and this one didn't disappoint. Set in Ireland in describes the scenery and the rough season. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A tale of found family and romance set in an Irish village. Emma, who moved to Ireland to escape her horrible marriage, is happy working for Judith until her nephew Miles turns up. Fans of the genre know that there's more to the grumpy Miles than meets the eye. This trio as well as the others in the village might feel familiar but that's ok. This is the sort of easy read that's perfect for relaxing.

Where do I start? Ann O’Loughlin’s stories always make me cry but this one turned me into a river of tears as it is such a heart breaking story. So, a box of tissues was my constant companion. I have loved all of Ann’s stories but Escape to the Irish Village is the most moving yet! I fell so deeply into the lives of Judith, Jack, Emma, Miles, Marsha and Hetty that I did not want to say goodbye to them. I did not want this story to end!

I adored and admired flamboyant Judith McCarthy, owner of Killcawley Estate in Ireland. A woman in her seventies with a giant spirit who maintains a youthful outlook and deals with life’s challenges with such fervour and passion – it is infectious. She makes you want to jump into the story and give her a hand! Her vivacious personality colours the pages with such bright and happy hues, you find yourself loudly cheering her on when the trials strike. And sadly, they do strike just when everything seems to come together. The plot’s tension increases so dramatically, I feel as taut as an overly tight bowstring! And when certain sad news surfaces, my heart sinks like a stone to the bottom of that swan-graced pond in the setting. But Judith soldiers on. Her love, kindness and ability to see good in others is an inspiration to everyone around her. She lives life to the max and expresses herself in her designer fashioned clothes, which often mask her delicate emotions. But she is still very much a force to be reckoned with like a wild storm on a vibrant Irish bay.

Although this story is mostly focused on Emma Wilson, who flees a dreadful abusive husband in England and heads to Ireland to escape his wrath, Judith becomes a big part of Emma’s life. She offers Emma a job, without any questions. Emma holds her secrets close and lives in fear of her husband finding her and dragging her back to England. But here at Killcawley Estate, Emma finds acceptance and peace working as Judith’s assistant, making TikTok videos and a scrumptious jam that becomes popular. For a while she relaxes a little and puts her terrible past behind her as much as possible. But, of course, just when she lets down her guard, trouble erupts. And Emma’s life and that of her friends at the Manor, become endangered.

Miles, a lawyer, Judith’s son, lives in New York. He is a grumpy, sharp tongued overly protective man who becomes a real thorn in Emma’s side. He is not happy about her place at the Manor and in his mother’s life. He distrusts her intentions and believes she is getting his mother involved in activities that are too much for her. But as we soon see, nobody makes Judith do anything she does not want. She considers Emma a dear friend and is confident in her skills and advice. And makes it clear to her son that Emma is staying and he cannot run her out of their home.

Marsha and Hetty are two other women who play important roles in the story and in Judith’s life. I quite enjoyed the banter between them and their loyalty when the chips are down.

Besides Emma’s husband, there is another threat in the novel: one that could affect the village, some homes and Killcawley Estate. Judith and Emma’s TikTok work, plus local newspapers and news channels, try to save what could be lost. This is where the value of true friendship and community spirit shines. A common concern weaves together so many people to do good for their neighbours while fighting a corporate nightmare plan. Initially Miles wants his mother to sell the property but once he arrives home, the magic of the estate and his good memories draw him around. And his thoughts of Emma begin to change.

This is a powerful story that touches on some very heavy topics such as cancer, death and abuse. But it also expresses eternal love, selfless sacrifice and a lasting legacy. Charm, joy, family and freedom fill its pages, too. And so much more. (Even the fun of sky walking: something I did a lot as a child and teen!) I have only touched lightly on the splendour therein because I want everyone to read it. But be prepared—it will squeeze your heart fiercely. Escape to the Irish Village is a beautiful tribute to life and living it fully with no regrets. It will also make you look at the importance of family and friends and to cherish what time you have with them. 5 Tear Filled Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.

Even the title is intriguing...this talented author has written a story about women...yes, there are men...in the background at first...then the son...that being said, the main character is looking for a new beginning...there is a mystery there...she discovers Judith...a creative senior citizen who acts anything but...Judith's employees and friends rally around her to make her life interesting...more so because she is a character herself...I liked this story...I liked the setting...the different aspects of the lives of the characters...and the hint of mystery. Enjoy...Thanks Netgalley.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end.

Emma Wilson left England in hopes escaping to Ireland would put enough distance from her past. She chose the village of Killcawley and felt excited and relieved to gain employment working for Judith McCarthy at Killcawley Estate. Judith had her quirks, but she was kind, and kindness was welcome after Emma’s most recent experiences. However, Judith’s son Miles, who is calling from New York, challenges Emma’s presence in Judith’s life. Little did Emma or Miles realize that more significant challenges were ahead, which would cause Judith, Miles, and Emma to risk everything they held most dear.

Meaningful second chances are only one of the many aspects I love within this story. The story acknowledges that women can be competitive with one another, but it beautifully illustrates the magical bond that women can share in friendship, in times of joy and times of sorrow, accepting and complementing each other’s personalities, strengthening one another, inspiring one another, and loving one another.

The atmospheric writing immersed me in the setting of the estate grounds, the village, and all the activities. The description that touched my heart the most was Emma’s remembrance of sky-walking and beginning to enjoy it again on the estate. I loved her mother’s advice about clouds as I’ve always loved clouds, but never more during a shared joyful experience on a trip abroad with my mother. Some days, I look at the sky, and for a moment, I remember with gratitude.

Thank you to Ann O’Loughlin, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "Escape to the Irish Village" in exchange for my honest review.

This most important thing to know about this book is that you will need a box of tissues close by. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It will teach the reader about the enduring power of friendship and how to treasure good friends if you are fortunate to have them. Also that age is no barrier to enjoying a full and rich life.

The story takes place between May and September in Killcawley Village, County Wicklow in Ireland. We meet Emma Wilson who has fled from her home in the UK to Ireland and she does not want to be found.

Judith McCarthy has advertised for an assistant. Emma finds the ad at the Post Office and even though as a legal secretary she is over qualified for the job she is eager to 'disappear' on the estate. Judith has a son Miles who wants to sell the estate and put her in a care home because he feels running an estate is too much for her. Judith is fun, flamboyant and is not letting her age slow her down one bit. It turns out that Judith knew Emma's grandmother Kitty Shanahan.

Judith and her friends learn that a motorway is proposed to cut through the Killcawley estate meaning they will lose land and villagers will lose their homes. They decide to start a campaign to save the estate.

We learn why Emma is hiding out and Judith and her friends rally around her and offer to protect her as family. We meet Miles who is overbearing and rude and tries to do everything in his power to run Emma off thinking that she's taking advantage of his mother. In reality Emma is very loyal to Judith and thinks of her as family even though they have only known each other a short time.

Emma finds peace in making the Killcawley Estate jams, which Miles thinks covers an ulterior motive.

The reader will learn that there are a lot of people keeping secrets in this story, some will create a lot of suspense, some will cause the tears to flow. This is an incredible story which I was sad to see end. It was so beautifully written and the characters were so well defined that you could almost feel that they were real and you were sitting down to the Supper Club with them. Deserving of at least 10 stars.

Enjoyed it, although it wasn't my favorite book by the author. Parts of it reminded me of previous books. The beginning was a bit slow, didn't love the motorway storyline. The best part of the book centered around Judith, her friends and Emma. I would have rather read about Judith's younger years and Emma's grandma than the lawsuit. I thought there might be more issues with Henry. He didn't seem like the type of person to give up so easily. It took Miles way to long to make an appearance. Loved how Emma was able to create her own family. Judith's friends were so welcoming of her. The friendship between the ladies was wonderful. They bickered and argued but they were always there for each other. Between all the hats and clothes, Judith could wear a different outfit everyday for years.

Definitely recommend the book. The story was an emotional rollercoaster. My eyes welled up through most of the book, especially the end. Who am I kidding, Ann O'Loughlin's books always cause me to cry. Killcawley Estates sounded like a beautiful place to live. Between the gardens, lake and feeding the swans and ducks, I would be in heaven. I enjoyed the characters, writing style and story. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

There was a lot I liked about this novel and some things I didn’t love, so I’m rating it 3 stars. I really enjoyed Emma’s found family at the Estate; their relationships with each other seemed genuine. Emma was a character that was easy to root for and I definitely caught myself wishing things were going to turn out well for her! Emma’s journey to finding peace and how her found family helped her move forward with confidence in life was well done. The common goal of saving the Estate linked all of the characters together nicely and showed the realistic portions of their relationships to each other and the Estate/village.

The story had a lot of suspense which was well written with all of the different storylines. I was definitely interested in what was going to happen and who would show up or what was going to happen next! The addition of Judith’s quirky fashion sense and her TikTok videos were sweet and made me love Judith even more. Judith and Emma bonded so quickly over social media and how they used it to their advantage in the story was great.

The dialogue did feel stiff and I had a hard time reading through it at times. It felt like the story moved on very quickly from big plot points and didn’t give them any space to breathe or for the reader to recover from them.

Additionally, this book covered a lot of really serious topics and I really, really wish there were trigger warnings attached to the novel as this can be overwhelming and triggering for some readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the opportunity to read Escape to the Irish Village by Ann O'Loughlin. A sweet novel showcasing the spirit of community, friendship and family.