The Widow's Irish Secret (Magnolia Manor Book 4) by Susanne O'Leary is a story of reconciliation, reconnection, past secrets contain in a past tragedy and a brighter day. Having lost two husbands in her life, Patricia Fleury has much to reflect and ponder as well as to grieve as she returns to the West Coast of Ireland.

West Coast of Ireland gives Patricia Fleury a strong period of growth as she reunites with her daughters, grandchildren and even her former mother-in-law. In her sixties she still has much life to live so here the future begins to look brighter. She is a character who is easy to understand and relate to in her life. She must come to terms with the past to move forward, not always easy in this book. Beautiful story but have a box of tissues handy too.

Patricia Fleury, who had believed she had found her forever home, was now forced to return to the West Coast of Ireland. Her loving daughters and grandchildren would be her source of support during her grief over the loss of her husband.

Despite her family’s presence, Patricia felt utterly lost and her grief was overwhelming. Determined to occupy her mind, she spent every moment she had with her grandchildren. Suddenly, she encountered an old friend, Cillian O’Malley. They reminisced about their past, and the reconnection felt comforting. Cillian proved to be exactly what she needed to heal her broken heart.

However, Cillian’s visit took an unexpected turn when he discovered a child’s drawing in an old wardrobe. Instinctively, he left, leaving Patricia wondering if he knew the secret she had kept hidden for so many years.

“The Widow’s Irish Secret,” a heartwarming and inspiring tale by Susanne O’Leary, is filled with the hope of life’s second chances. It’s a story that weaves mystery and intrigue, which I had never anticipated. I was delighted to return to Ireland, with its breathtaking coastline and sparkling waters.

I cherished the precious time Patricia spent with her daughters and grandchildren. The story tugged at my heartstrings multiple times, evoking empathy for Patricia and the trials she had endured. It was an unputdownable read, a rapid-fire journey that I devoured in one sitting. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a delightful escape.

Fabulous author Susanne O’Leary presents the fourth installment of the Magnolia Manor series, *The Widow’s Irish Secret*.

Tricia Fleury is in mourning after losing two husbands and decides to leave Dublin to return to the place where she lived with her first husband, where her daughters and grandchildren still reside. To her surprise, she reconnects with an old friend, Cillian, who helps her with the cottage she has purchased. However, Tricia harbours a secret. Will she find her path?

I must admit that while I related to Tricia, I didn’t connect with Cillian at all! I found him to be aloof and obnoxious, while Ted was kind and welcoming, making him a much better match for Tricia. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and highly recommend you pick up a copy. Although it is part of a series, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.

It's so good to be back in Magnolia Manor and this time it’s the turn of Tricia, the girls mother, who we've not heard much about in the previous 3 books. All the rest of the Fleury women are here too and its like catching up with old friends. This book works perfectly well as a standalone read, but I urge you to read the previous books to get the most out of the history of the family, and I envy you the binge-read. As before the plot is predictable and all the more enjoyable because of it. Another wonderful hug of a book and I'm feeling bereft now I've finished it.

The Widow's Irish Secret (Magnolia Manor Book 4)
by Susanne O'Leary

I have had the pleasure of immersing myself in several works by Susanne O'Leary, including the captivating first instalment of this series, where we first encounter the intriguing Fleury women of Magnolia Manor.

In this latest instalment, we follow Patricia Fleury as she embarks on a poignant journey back to her roots, burdened by the cherished memories of her one true love and the promise of a new beginning with her growing family. With hope in her heart, she purchases a dilapidated cottage nestled within the enchanting grounds of Magnolia Manor on the breathtaking West Coast of Ireland.

To her astonishment, the last person she ever expected to see back in this hauntingly beautiful place is Cillian O'Malley, her late husband’s closest friend. Cillian, a world-travelling archaeologist who has unearthed countless treasures from the depths of history, finds himself seeking something far more elusive than artifacts: the warmth of love that has always evaded him.

This book unfolds with a tapestry woven from secrets, deceit, and heartfelt revelations, inviting readers to unravel the complexities of family ties and the mysteries of the past. I relished the opportunity to reconnect with familiar characters from the first book, delving deeper into their lives and uncovering more layers of this captivating family saga.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to both the Publisher and the Author for generously providing me with a complimentary audio Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel through NetGalley. This review is my sincere, unbiased reflection of the book, shaped solely by my own thoughts and experiences.

I have a love/hate relationship with this darn book. On one hand, I absolutely loved the setting of this story. I adore the backdrops of Ireland and the people you read about. But, on the other hand, I'm not a fan of wishy washy characters, and I found both Trisha and Cillian beyond annoying. Lots of mystery, lies and secrets, some were okay for the premise of the book, but others not so much. I definitely would have preferred Ted and Trisha together, but i think she would have still been irritating. Overall an okay book, really enjoyed the ending.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this story about Tricia O'Malley , after the death of her husband goes back home to Magnolia Harbor where she buys them old cottage she and her first husband Fred were going to move before he died in a boating accident along with his father. They had 3 girls Lily, Rose and Violet. Violet is getting married this summer and Tricia wants to be near her girls and grandchildren. Of course she has her work cut out for her with the cottage. she meets up with her old friends and goes with them to speed dating where she meets up with an old time friend Cillian o"malley. Thus the story begins and also , there is Tricia's secret. Saying anything would spoil the whole story. A VERY GOOD READ

oh it was great to be back at Magnolia Manor. i love it when series follow a group of people and or families and we slowly get told their stories. in each book we bounce back and find old friends and people we come to actually care about. this is certainly the case with this family and i am so glad to have the opportunity to be back with them. each book also manages to tell a bit more of the others stories but also holds focus to one remember in particular. and this time we have Patricia. shes been going through alot. and it doesnt look like it will end very soon. having lost two husbands she finds herself in trouble with a relative of her lost husband. she doesnt feel like she can cope anymore to escapes home. home where her daughters and grandchildren are. there she rents a cottage she vows to do up again. which in itself isnt going to be easy. with time and support and love of her family around her she is slowly building herself up again.
but things in her past dont feel buried and dont feel like they will be going away anytime soon. when someone from her past comes back in her life is this going to be a good things or not? can she learn to trust? does she want to give up her new found freedom? does he? and just what is Cillian hiding from her.
when she stumbles across some old drawing in the wardrobe of her new home the mystery could spell some answer. or just a distraction at least.
this was a book so full of everything you could wish for. add to that its part of my much loves series and i was in as soon as i saw it was available. i loved this book. i loved the characters. i loved the scene setting that Susanna always always does to perfection. i feel like im there amongst the grasses,breeze and wild flowers. i can see the cottage and see the family interactions. i can feel all the feels from the book.
oh ans of course we are back with Grandmother Sophie who is that wise but quick and witty grandmother we all want or certainly need in our lives. she is back to her best and you will love what she gets up to in this book. she doesnt hold back our Sophie.
my emotions were given a full run around with this book in all the best possible ways. loved it. more please!

I received a free copy of, The Widow's Irish Secret, by Susanne O'Leary, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book four in the Magnolia Manor series. Patricia Fleury is still grieving her husband, she decides to return to Ireland, to her family to recover. This was a really good story, I love the location.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Susanne O'Leary for this ARC.

A true second chance romance in a beautiful cozy setting. I enjoyed Tricia and following along with her journey. I especially loved seeing her discover herself and find her place with family and friends. I did feel a little lost at times having not read the prior books in the series. There were a few gaps for me from her early life but I still felt invested in her outcome.

I will say I did not really care for her love interest. I did not really feel any chemistry and Cillian felt unkind and selfish, more than once. I am a Ted gal. Their friendship was more enjoyable and had more potential in my opinion. Also, the secrets were a little meh.

Overall, this later in life story is worth a ready. I intend to go back and read the girls stories. It might make me like this book more.

The Widow's Irish Secret is a poignant and emotional tale of love, loss, and the burden of secrets. Patricia’s return to her old cottage in Ireland, trying to heal from the death of her husband, is beautifully described with the rugged landscape and her family’s warmth providing a comforting backdrop. The slow burn romance between Patricia and Cillian adds depth to the story, especially as old memories and buried secrets resurface. The tension around Patricia’s hidden past is gripping, and I was hooked on uncovering the truth. However, the pacing of the middle section felt a little slow, and at times, I wanted the story to move forward a bit quicker. The ending was satisfying but could’ve used a little more resolution. Overall, a lovely read with well-developed characters and a strong sense of place, though it could have been tighter in places.

A good new story of the women of Magnolia Manor. Can you return to your roots and still keep your secrets? Or can you find the trust and love with someone from your past? Enjoy this view of the cove from the windows of the cottage as it gets refurbished and the hearts are healed.

After the loss of two husbands Patrica decides she needs to move closer to her daughters and grandchildren back to were her life began.
she buys a house that needs a lot of work doing to it and once was the house she dreamed of living in with her first husband.
When a old friend of her and her first husbands turns up she is pleased to see him and a friendship begins again.
But they are both hiding things from each other.
Patricia is having legal problems due to things that happened while her second husband ill and Cillian is hiding things about work that connect to her new home.

3.5 stars

This book was absolutely beautiful.
I loved that it followed the same trail of family secrets as the rest of the Magnolia Manor series.

I found this captivated how long & how deep these secrets can run, and how much of an impact it can have on an entire families life.

I also enjoyed the fact that this book touched on finding love not only after loss, but later in life too.

As a huge fan of Suzanne O’Leary and The Magnolia Manor series, I have to say this was my least favorite it the series. The book focuses on Tricia, the daughter in law of Sylvia and the mother of the Fleury girls. Tricia moves back to a cottage at Magnolia Manor to start over.

The book brings back many of the characters we have grown to love, but it left this reader wanting to see more of them. I did not enjoy the tense feelings Tricia had for Sylvia. Sylvia is such a central character who often helps the Fleury women with her wisdom. This wisdom was not shown until 80 percent of the book had passed.

The secrets Tricia and Cillian had were blown out of proportion and got too repetitive. It was unrealistic and quite annoying that Tricia got so upset over Cillian not being able to disclose the details of a confidential project he was working at every encounter. Likewise, Cillian came across as an adolescent every time he got upset Tricia wanted to spend time with the family or had to attend to another matter. Both Tricia and Cillian were unlikable. I would have liked to see Tricia have another love interest, maybe one focused on the mystery of the art discovery instead of the lack of trust issues between Tricia and Cillian.

Overall, a nice read. Fans of the Magnolia series are sure to like visiting these characters again. It also works as a standalone.

It is a well written novel, with punchy dialogue that rings true, and the descriptive writing brings the scenes to life.
A book that stands out from the crowd. The characters and the setting are written exceptionally well. For all romance readers out there!

It was so lovely to glide back into another uplifting Irish mystery romance from Susanne O’Leary! Reading one of her books is like meeting up with an old friend. You chat around a warming fire, drink your hot beverage and reminisce. As with all her series, it is a real pleasure to return to the families at the core of the dramas that stoke the heart’s flames. The setting is unquestionably vibrant and vividly described, so you get a real sense of the environment that often sets the mood and reflects the changing tones of the characters. The writing style of The Widow’s Irish Secret not only helped me smell the crisp salt air and get lost in the delicate aroma of wildflowers that blanket the rugged coastline but it left me gazing on dreamy sunsets and bathing in the soft morning light! There are plenty of stunning cliffs, clouds and coastline on the pages to explore that transported me to Ireland’s beautiful western shores.

The Widow’s Irish Secret is the fourth book in the Magnolia Manor series. It was pure delight to meet up again with familiar characters and see where their lives have taken them in new twists and turns. The Fleury family has many branches and as their lives continue to expand from book to book, we learn more about them. The focal point in this novel is the upcoming wedding of Tricia’s daughter Vi and her fiance actor Jack. They want a simple wedding but they face a few challenges as expectations from certain family members cause a bit of conflict. It was good to see feisty Grandmother Sophie again, who always causes some excitement in the plot. She stirs things up but often offers amazing support and fantastic advice to her loved ones and friends. As an event’s organiser, she goes all out, and this time it is for her beloved granddaughter’s engagement to Jack. She certainly created a terrific themed party that nobody would forget!

Aside from family activities (such as engagements and weddings) each novel singles out one main character to tell his/her story. This time it is Tricia’s. We learn of her tragic losses— including two husbands. This story is particularly focused on the death of her last husband, Sean. She has struggled with her grief, but also is dealing with a legal drama. Her late husband’s nephew is causing her trouble. Plagued by worry and guilt, she leaves Dublin to return to her children’s and grandchildren’s home in the West Coast of Ireland. Near Magnolia Manor, she buys a run-down cottage on the property and sets about restoring it. This gives her a fresh start but she carries a secret that she fears will be unveiled and turn family and friends against her. She tries hard to forget about it. Then during her renovations, she stumbles across a mystery that the old place renders up. And she is determined to solve it for it may offer her the ticket of freedom she needs. I found this part of the plot absolutely fascinating!

As mentioned, Tricia has lost two husbands in her lifetime. She was fully committed to each of them. She has always given so much of herself to marriage, her children, grandchildren and relatives. Now that she is older, she wonders about taking time for herself. She becomes caught in a conflict of whether to embark on another relationship, when a special man from her past reappears. Cillian travels the world as an archaeologist and although she has feelings for him, she would never want to slow him down. Nor does she really want to give up her own new freedom either. So, they come up with a solution that really works for them. Personally I thought it was a great recipe for an older couple who have already fulfilled many past life commitments and done the hard yards!

This is a beautiful story about family, secrets, discoveries, fresh starts, romances, restoration and a recipe for a hope-filled future. It also contains a captivating historical mystery that must be solved! I loved it all and appreciated the fun, festivities and relationship tangles, but I particularly enjoyed the wisdom that was offered by matriarch Sophie about modern day romantic arrangements which could work for many couples. Get a copy, grab a mug and your favourite food, curl up on your comfy sofa and enjoy going back to Magnolia Manor! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

Tricia Fleury is running away, running to her daughters and grandchildren. With her daughter, Vi, marrying Jack, she uses this as an excuse to flee from trouble.

What she didn’t expect when going back to where her first husband died, was to meet his best friend, Cillian O’Murphy again.

With sparks flying between the two of them, can they get past their mistrust of each other to have any kind of friendship or relationship?

With their grandmother, Sylvia, still ruling the Fleury family, can Vi and Jack have the wedding they want, or will Sylvia take over, as usual?

Oh, how I loved being back with the Fleury’s! I love everything about this series and devour the book when a new one comes out.

Set on the west coast of Ireland, I enjoy picturing the area from the descriptive writing from the author.

A will they, won’t they story, but also a tale of friendships, past and present.

I found I had a smile on my face throughout this story, I felt as though I was back with family.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.