A Christmas Miracle In The Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal (Audiobook)

 

Ava Kelly has left the confines of the village she grew up in and moved to London. In doing so she ended her five-year relationship with her boyfriend Shane. When she hears that Shane has fallen overboard from the trawler he works on and is missing at sea her immediate reaction is to return home.

A Christmas Miracle In The Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal is the third book in the Little Irish Village series. Fans of the series will be familiar with the village of Emerald Bay, along with its residents, particularly the Kelly clan. This time around the focus of the story is Ava Kelly, one of the twins.

We quickly learn that twins Ava and Grace have left Emerald Bay and settled in London. The aim was to save money and travel but things haven't quite worked out that way and Ava is beginning to doubt her decision to move. Her doubt is amplified when she gets the distressing news that her ex-boyfriend, Shane, is missing at sea. Without a moment's hesitation she books a flight and returns home.

The first half of the story focuses on Ava's memories of her relationship with Shane. The listener shares in the highs of young love and the lows of breaking up. We discover that Ava didn't want the relationship to end, it was Shane who decided a long-distance relationship wouldn't work, and Ava has always felt guilty about her decision to leave. This guilt is now compounded with Shane missing.

This is a spoiler-free review but you can probably guess what happens from the title of the book. Yes, it's predictable, but for light relief the storyline works well. The fact that we know the characters makes the story feel as if we're visiting old friends and catching up on how their lives are developing. Alongside this, a Christmas setting makes it ideal for a December read/listen. I'll be more than happy to pay another visit to the Kelly family of Emerald Bay in the future.

A Christmas Miracle In The Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a review copy.