A delightful British closed door romance. Cassie organises to stay over Christmas in the charmingly named Whimsy Cottage to investigate her Irish nonna's background. Trouble is, the cottage is nowhere near Ireland, and it's certainly not ready for her to rent. She meets locals Charles and Ryan and a cast of village characters. It's a low key love triangle with Charles a member of the minor aristocracy, and Ryan the gorgeous - if closed off - local handyman. They all have secrets and messy pasts which Cassie needs to navigate, not least of all her own insecurities. Ryan is a player, or not, and Charles is overwhelmed by his complicated family.

No spoilers, this is charming and messy and light as a feather - such good value Christmas reading 🎄 There's so much to enjoy - a cosy setting, friendly and nosy locals, kids and dogs, and best of all, festivities that are meaningful for everyone.

This has a little bit of everything and it was lovely to see Cassie grow into herself and regain some of her lost confidence. And she gets the guy!

Thank you Debbie Johnson, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are all my own.

This was the first book from Debbie Johnson that I read.
To be honest I did not really cared about Charles' story. I wanted to know more about Ryan.
The pace was too slow and I got bored easily...

The ending was nice and what I was waiting for! Loved the epilogue.
It was a cute cosy Christmas romance but the pacing was too slow for me and the book was too long to my taste.

This was a great read. I loved following Cassie's story on her journey to the UK using the money her beloved Nana left her. It was a lovely, heartwarming and eventful. It certainly brought a smile to my face.

A Debbie Johnson Christmas story? Sign me up! I am quickly making my way through all of Ms Johnson’s books and I am super excited to be granted this review copy by Netgalley and the publisher.

Thirty-something New Yorker Cassie was jilted at the altar a couple of years ago and is still feeling heartbroken when she decides to travel to England. Her Nanna passed away and had left her some money and she decides to book a holiday cottage in a small English village for a month.
In true Debbie Johnson style, this village turns out to be a place everyone would like to visit with cute cottages and tearooms, a wonderful pub, lovely people, a stray dog to love and even a manorhouse.
In England, Cassie finds out more about herself and her Irish Nanna Nora’s past.

This was a wonderful book. Again. Unputdownable. Debbie Johnson is up there with my favourite authors. This book is great for curling up near the Christmas tree with a cup of tea and a blanket!

Well, this was very cute! It's a warm, inviting, fluffy, feel-good story. Whether you're dreaming of a manor house or a cozy cottage this Christmas, this book delivers both charming settings!

After being jilted at the altar, Cassie has been feeling down. Using some of her inherited money, she decides to book a month-long stay at Whimsy Cottage, nestled in a quaint, Irish-influenced town. Soon, two men enter her life—Ryan, the handsome Irish handyman, and Charles, the charming viscount from Bancroft Manor.

I liked seeing Cassie rediscover happiness through her event-planning skills and helping those around her, but the romance itself felt a bit lacking for me. Without giving away any spoilers, the story seemed to lean heavily toward one man, even though it was clear she'd end up with the other. Both men were great— that certainly wasn't the issue here—I just didn’t feel an overwhelming spark between Cassie and either of them.

Cassie O’Hara, a New York events planner, is going through a rough patch. After being left at the altar, losing her beloved Nana Nora, and coping with the fallout of COVID, she’s demoted to organizing children’s parties and is dreading the Christmas season, especially since her wedding was supposed to happen on Christmas Eve. To avoid her critical family, her best friend June suggests she escape to Ireland, Nana’s homeland.

Instead, Cassie ends up in the Cotswolds just weeks before Christmas. Her rented cottage is in poor shape, but at a local pub, she meets a charming Irishman named Ryan, a kind elderly woman named Eileen, and unexpectedly, her landlord, Charles, Lord Bancroft. Charles, apologizing for the cottage’s condition, offers her a stay at his manor, which is in financial distress.

Throughout the story, Cassie bonds with both Charles and Ryan, using her event-planning skills to help Charles revive the manor while finding healing from her heartbreak. Though her journey is full of challenges, Cassie blossoms into the person she was always meant to be.

This heartwarming Christmas story is about self-discovery and finding where you truly belong. With plenty of humor and touching moments, it’s a book you’ll want to revisit time and again.

A Very Irish Christmas
Debbie Johnson
Publication date: October 30,2024 (kindle unlimited)
5/5 stars

I LOVED this book!! This was my first book by Debbie Johnson, and I’m already planning my next one. Cassie feels lost after a break up and decides to use the money her Irish Nana Nora left her to take a trip. This book reminded me of The Holiday, but with two Jude Laws. It was funny, cozy and a feel good story. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Debbie Johnson and Storm Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

It's been a really long time since I read a swoon-worthy happily-ever-after romance written with just a few simple, sweet characters. The backdrop of England (Ireland), the characters, the town were all so beautifully portrayed that it feels as if we're also traveling with them. The way Charles, Ryan, and Cassie's characters were written in an intertwined way was really very sweet. I really enjoyed it and so I'm giving it a 4-star.

A Very Irish Christmas by Debbie Johnson is a heartwarming tale that beautifully captures the magic of the holiday season in an enchanting Irish setting. Johnson’s charming writing and delightful characters make the story feel like a cozy embrace, perfect for anyone seeking a festive escape. This book is a wonderful blend of love, laughter, and the spirit of Christmas, sure to leave readers with a warm glow.

In A Very Irish Christmas, Debbie Johnson crafts a heartwarming tale centered on Cassie O’Hara, a New York native who embarks on a month-long journey to a quaint Irish village using her late nana’s inheritance. Expecting a cozy retreat, she instead finds herself in a charming yet dilapidated cottage, a spirited stray dog, and complications from two handsomely captivating men—dashing English aristocrat Charles and enigmatic handyman Ryan. As she navigates village life and the challenges of reviving Bancroft Manor, Cassie embarks on a journey of self-discovery that intertwines love, family secrets, and the true meaning of belonging.

With delightful humor and richly drawn characters, Johnson immerses readers in the enchanting landscapes of Ireland while skillfully balancing romance and personal growth. As Cassie grapples with her heart’s desires and the return ticket looming, A Very Irish Christmas serves as a joyful reminder that home is not just a place but a feeling. Perfect for those seeking a festive escape that captures the spirit of love and new beginnings, this charming novel is a must-read for the holiday season.

This was a great light hearted book focusing on taking the time to find yourself and opening back up to the possibility of romance. A nice easy book for the holiday season.

Just like a warm bath this book is filled with festive spirit and exciting romance. The cute dog made me laugh out loud as did the characters sense of humour. A enticing plot that tickles all your senses!

Cassie inherits some money and decides to use it on a month long vacation to the Irish countryside. What a genius! How could you not love this book? Cassie spends the month in snowy, christmasy Ireland, and has so many adventures, many of which include a very handsome man!

A 4.5/5 holiday romance!

Wow I thought this one was so cute! The perfect amount of heartwarming and charming with a light and cozy romance. Perfect for a snowy day in December.

This was a sweet story about Cassie O'Hara, a woman trying to recover after her fiancé left her at the altar.
I find it a little weird that it's called an Irish Christmas, but set mostly in England. I get the town is very Irish, but still.
I would have liked to see more interactions with Ryan throughout the story. I felt there was a lot of time with Charles and his family, but not much with Ryan, making the story rather unbalanced.
Overall though, it was a cute, quick read!

I absolutely loved this book! Debbie’s writing is exactly what I enjoy about reading, and this book was a delight. I loved the story of Cassie and watching her journey was wonderful; even though her specific circumstances were unique, I think a lot of women will relate to how she felt; I certainly did, and watching her grow felt special and in a way helped me. Also loved Ryan and Charles, and Georgie. Amazing characters, amazing setting, amazing book - highly recommend!

This was such a fun Christmas read! I do wish we would have gotten more interactions between the two main characters because I didn’t buy the romance too much at the end.
The setting was perfect: Irish culture set in England. It felt they put too much emphasis on the planning factor and her career so character development was lacking a bit. But overall I really enjoyed it! 💕

A very enjoyable and cozy read, perfect for the Christmas time
I definitely recommend it and can't wait to read other books by this writer.
I liked Cassie very much and all the characters are adorable and very charming, I especially loved Nanna Nora.
The spicy level is very low and for this reason I liked the book even more.

A Very Irish Christmas is a fun and wistful holiday romance filled with witty banter and Gaelic jargon. Cassie has been down in love and life after a devastating and quite frankly traumatic holiday experience. Following the passing of her favorite Nanna Nora, Cassie sets out on an adventure to find herself and happiness again. Little does Cassie know that her holiday away will change her life forever. Debbie Johnson does a beautiful job of intricately weaving charming characters and stories together to make this cozy holiday read. A Very Irish Christmas is a heartwarming story that will have you pining for Christmas and the holiday season.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Overall Enjoyment: 5 stars ⭐️
Christmas vibes: 5 stars⭐️
Romance: 4.5 stars⭐️
Plot: 4.5 stars⭐️

I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. I expected to read a typical Christmas story with all its predictable plot points. And it is a typical Christmas story and probably a bit predictable, but it never took me out of the story. I loved the mental health rep in this book and felt very connected to the characters. And it had all the Christmas magic you want from a story like this. The romance was heartwarming.
If I'm going to be nick picky about the story then I would have wanted a more dragged-out ending, so I just wanted more of the story.
And I even teared up a little at the end, as I never cry or get too emotional when reading that's saying a lot.
If you want a heartwarming romance with all the feels to get in the Christmas spirit, this is the one!
The perfect november/december read!

#AVeryIrishChristmas #NetGalley