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Ballybeg #5
Love and Shamrocks
A romantic comedy featuring an ex-thief heroine, a cop on a mission, and a dash of suspense.
Clio Havelin needs a lucky break. Desperate to protect her child, Clio accepts her estranged mother’s offer of a refuge in Ballybeg. What can go wrong in a place with more cows than people? Her hope for a fresh start is smashed to smithereens when she’s blackmailed into facilitating the heist of the decade. So the last thing Clio needs is a sexy cop underfoot, especially when she’s one crime away from freedom. Too bad she’s already slept with him.
Seán Mackey wants his life back. The former police detective is now stuck apprehending errant sheep in Ballybeg — population 3968, pubs 35. After months of frustration, he’s finally on the scent of a real case. When he’s sidelined into playing bodyguard for his nemesis, talk show hostess Helen Havelin, he’s pissed. And when his gorgeous one-night stand turns out to be Helen’s daughter, Clio, pissed turns to horrified.
Clio Havelin needs a lucky break. Desperate to protect her child, Clio accepts her estranged mother’s offer of a refuge in Ballybeg. What can go wrong in a place with more cows than people? Her hope for a fresh start is smashed to smithereens when she’s blackmailed into facilitating the heist of the decade. So the last thing Clio needs is a sexy cop underfoot, especially when she’s one crime away from freedom. Too bad she’s already slept with him.
Seán Mackey wants his life back. The former police detective is now stuck apprehending errant sheep in Ballybeg — population 3968, pubs 35. After months of frustration, he’s finally on the scent of a real case. When he’s sidelined into playing bodyguard for his nemesis, talk show hostess Helen Havelin, he’s pissed. And when his gorgeous one-night stand turns out to be Helen’s daughter, Clio, pissed turns to horrified.
385 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2015
46 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Zara Keane
42 books987 followersZara Keane is a USA Today bestselling author of Irish cozy mysteries and romantic comedies.
Zara grew up in Dublin, Ireland, but spent her summers in a small town very similar to the fictitious Ballybeg and Smuggler's Cove.
She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing, Zara loves knitting, running, unplugged gaming, and adding to her insanely large lipstick collection.
Don't miss a new story! For news, giveaways, and TWO free stories, sign up for Zara's Mailing List at https://zarakeane.com/newsletter/
Zara can also be found in her Facebook Reader Group, the Mystery Mavens.
Zara grew up in Dublin, Ireland, but spent her summers in a small town very similar to the fictitious Ballybeg and Smuggler's Cove.
She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing, Zara loves knitting, running, unplugged gaming, and adding to her insanely large lipstick collection.
Don't miss a new story! For news, giveaways, and TWO free stories, sign up for Zara's Mailing List at https://zarakeane.com/newsletter/
Zara can also be found in her Facebook Reader Group, the Mystery Mavens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 12, 2015
I volunteered to read this story and boy am I glad that I did!! I got a free copy of Love and Shamrocks: Ballybeg, Book 5 (The Ballybeg Series) in return for a fair and impartial review, so thanks!
I didn’t realize when I volunteered that it was book five in a series. Once I did I went on a search for the other books as I am just a tad anal in that I don’t like to read series out of order and I also want to know what has happened to other characters who usually pop up in later installments. Well, that is my little foible and so I found books 1 – 4. I have a huge TBR pile and found book one in an anthology that was somewhere in the deep depths of the TBR pile and started with that.
That first book had me in stitches – I still have to get over the dog being called Wiggly Poo – don’t think I ever will because that is the worst name you could ever give a dog, but read the book - there were reasons. Anyway, I quickly plowed through the rest of the stories and I loved them all!! There are characters who pop up in all of the installments in the series, who are hilarious secondary characters in the following stories – the usually drunk and stripping Elvis impersonator and his one-eyed mate, Buck come to mind. One of the pair can swim and the other can’t – this is important in this story because there is a boat involved and you can just imagine how hilarious this is! The elderly ladies/residents of Ballybeg are also a hoot – they either get on with each other or hate each other’s guts and dig and snipe shamelessly at each other.
In book five we finally get to read the story of Seán Mackey. He crops up in the other books and I soon realized there was something about him – a mystery of sorts, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was – there are some asides that piqued my interest, but it didn’t go further than that. I was really wondering what his story was going to be and I wasn’t disappointed!
This book clears up his past and what brought him to Ballybeg and how this all fits in with Clio and her mother. It is quite sad and I won’t reveal what it was so I don’t spoil the reveal of his history, but I did have some issues with a few things. Why didn’t his aunt and uncle look after him and his brother, instead of letting them get split up and Seán ending up with his grandmother and his brother ending up with someone else in the family?? Why did no-one ever think to talk to him about what had transpired – this seemed to be a really long time in coming and they knew, so why not tell him??? Why didn’t he do some research himself, as an adult and also as a cop?? Also, I don’t understand why he didn’t talk to Helen Havelin and confront the devil in the room so to speak, who was so much a part of what happened to his family?? Now these are just questions I had as I was reading but they did in no way impede my satisfaction in reading the story.
If you have read any of Zara Hearnes books, you know that they are a mix of hilarious events that make you laugh out loud, romance, mystery/danger and small town interference, which are a great recipe for any series! I loved her characters – they were human with all of the foibles and issues that go with being who they were and what they had gone through in the past. The romance and sex is hot and sexy and suits the stories and characters perfectly!
Clio had a past – boy did she ever and it is revealed here. Can I just ask if her ex is going to get a story, because that bad boy could do with some redeeming!!! Her reason for coming to Ballybeg is to help her daughter, who believe it or not ‘fell in love’ with a teacher, much much older than she. As a teacher myself, can I just say, they should have thrown the book at him – both the police and the school but I also understand that without any concrete evidence from the victim(s), it was impossible. Clio did the only thing she could to get her daughter out of an abusive situation, no matter how her daughter saw things. I also have to say, that while I didn’t agree what happened to the teacher – what Ray and his goons did, he did get punished for his abuse!
To say that Clio has an interesting past is an understatement and yet she and the right arm of the law in Ballybeg also have this insane sexy attraction to one another, yet both of them keep their secrets hidden and close to their respective chests, so how will this relationship that started based on a lie continue on? Can Seán reconcile what happened to his family and put that behind him and do his job protecting Clio’s mother? What about Clio who is keeping secrets from him? What happens when her secrets are revealed – can the cop in him deal with them?
What about the attacks on the Travellers and the continued tale of the gnomes? How do they fit into the mystery of Clio, the gangster and his goons and her mother’s valuable art collection?
Zara Hearne brings life in Ballybeg and the lives of the people who live there to life for the reader. It is real and funny, whimsical at times and also sad at times – just like real life! She makes Ballybeg seem quite large, with all of the characters and the events that happen.
This book had everything – I loved the various mysteries, the party that Helen Havelin threw and the Elvis impersonator and what happened – that was hilarious. You could read these books in any order, but I would advise that they be read in order so that you get a clearer picture of the residents of Ballybeg and how they all relate and connect to each other. I am looking forward to reading more in the continuation of the series, with the story of Seán’s brother. I can’t wait! The books in the series are as follows –
Love and Shenanigans (Ballybeg, #1)
Love and Blarney (Ballybeg, #2)
Love and Leprechauns (Ballybeg, #3)
Love and Mistletoe (Ballybeg, #4)
Love and Shamrocks (Ballybeg, #5)
Her Treasure Hunter Ex (Ballybeg Bad Boys, #1) – TBR Summer2015
The Rock Star Next Door (Ballybeg Bad Boys, #2) – TBR Fall 2015
The focus though is on the romance that develops between Clio and Seán. Seán and Clio have a super sexy, and sizzling hot love life, when they do get together, but is Clio’s past going to be the thing that stands between them and their happy ever after? Can they both overcome their demons of the past and move together into a future where they are together? Read Love and Shamrocks: Ballybeg, Book 5 to find out. You won’t regret it!
I didn’t realize when I volunteered that it was book five in a series. Once I did I went on a search for the other books as I am just a tad anal in that I don’t like to read series out of order and I also want to know what has happened to other characters who usually pop up in later installments. Well, that is my little foible and so I found books 1 – 4. I have a huge TBR pile and found book one in an anthology that was somewhere in the deep depths of the TBR pile and started with that.
That first book had me in stitches – I still have to get over the dog being called Wiggly Poo – don’t think I ever will because that is the worst name you could ever give a dog, but read the book - there were reasons. Anyway, I quickly plowed through the rest of the stories and I loved them all!! There are characters who pop up in all of the installments in the series, who are hilarious secondary characters in the following stories – the usually drunk and stripping Elvis impersonator and his one-eyed mate, Buck come to mind. One of the pair can swim and the other can’t – this is important in this story because there is a boat involved and you can just imagine how hilarious this is! The elderly ladies/residents of Ballybeg are also a hoot – they either get on with each other or hate each other’s guts and dig and snipe shamelessly at each other.
In book five we finally get to read the story of Seán Mackey. He crops up in the other books and I soon realized there was something about him – a mystery of sorts, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was – there are some asides that piqued my interest, but it didn’t go further than that. I was really wondering what his story was going to be and I wasn’t disappointed!
This book clears up his past and what brought him to Ballybeg and how this all fits in with Clio and her mother. It is quite sad and I won’t reveal what it was so I don’t spoil the reveal of his history, but I did have some issues with a few things. Why didn’t his aunt and uncle look after him and his brother, instead of letting them get split up and Seán ending up with his grandmother and his brother ending up with someone else in the family?? Why did no-one ever think to talk to him about what had transpired – this seemed to be a really long time in coming and they knew, so why not tell him??? Why didn’t he do some research himself, as an adult and also as a cop?? Also, I don’t understand why he didn’t talk to Helen Havelin and confront the devil in the room so to speak, who was so much a part of what happened to his family?? Now these are just questions I had as I was reading but they did in no way impede my satisfaction in reading the story.
If you have read any of Zara Hearnes books, you know that they are a mix of hilarious events that make you laugh out loud, romance, mystery/danger and small town interference, which are a great recipe for any series! I loved her characters – they were human with all of the foibles and issues that go with being who they were and what they had gone through in the past. The romance and sex is hot and sexy and suits the stories and characters perfectly!
Clio had a past – boy did she ever and it is revealed here. Can I just ask if her ex is going to get a story, because that bad boy could do with some redeeming!!! Her reason for coming to Ballybeg is to help her daughter, who believe it or not ‘fell in love’ with a teacher, much much older than she. As a teacher myself, can I just say, they should have thrown the book at him – both the police and the school but I also understand that without any concrete evidence from the victim(s), it was impossible. Clio did the only thing she could to get her daughter out of an abusive situation, no matter how her daughter saw things. I also have to say, that while I didn’t agree what happened to the teacher – what Ray and his goons did, he did get punished for his abuse!
To say that Clio has an interesting past is an understatement and yet she and the right arm of the law in Ballybeg also have this insane sexy attraction to one another, yet both of them keep their secrets hidden and close to their respective chests, so how will this relationship that started based on a lie continue on? Can Seán reconcile what happened to his family and put that behind him and do his job protecting Clio’s mother? What about Clio who is keeping secrets from him? What happens when her secrets are revealed – can the cop in him deal with them?
What about the attacks on the Travellers and the continued tale of the gnomes? How do they fit into the mystery of Clio, the gangster and his goons and her mother’s valuable art collection?
Zara Hearne brings life in Ballybeg and the lives of the people who live there to life for the reader. It is real and funny, whimsical at times and also sad at times – just like real life! She makes Ballybeg seem quite large, with all of the characters and the events that happen.
This book had everything – I loved the various mysteries, the party that Helen Havelin threw and the Elvis impersonator and what happened – that was hilarious. You could read these books in any order, but I would advise that they be read in order so that you get a clearer picture of the residents of Ballybeg and how they all relate and connect to each other. I am looking forward to reading more in the continuation of the series, with the story of Seán’s brother. I can’t wait! The books in the series are as follows –
Love and Shenanigans (Ballybeg, #1)
Love and Blarney (Ballybeg, #2)
Love and Leprechauns (Ballybeg, #3)
Love and Mistletoe (Ballybeg, #4)
Love and Shamrocks (Ballybeg, #5)
Her Treasure Hunter Ex (Ballybeg Bad Boys, #1) – TBR Summer2015
The Rock Star Next Door (Ballybeg Bad Boys, #2) – TBR Fall 2015
The focus though is on the romance that develops between Clio and Seán. Seán and Clio have a super sexy, and sizzling hot love life, when they do get together, but is Clio’s past going to be the thing that stands between them and their happy ever after? Can they both overcome their demons of the past and move together into a future where they are together? Read Love and Shamrocks: Ballybeg, Book 5 to find out. You won’t regret it!
May 21, 2015
Review originally posted at SmexyBooks
http://smexybooks.com/2015/05/review-...
Favorite Quote: “It adds a certain je-ne-say-whatsit to the vessel.”
Sean Mackey just wants his life back. A former guard (policeman) in Dublin, a series of unfortunate circumstances has him cooling his heels back in his hometown of Ballybeg. While on a holiday weekend, he meets a gorgeous young woman and indulges in an incredible one night stand only to discover that she is the daughter of his nemesis, Helen Havelin.
Clio Havelin hasn’t had an easy life. Pregnant at seventeen, she was tossed out by her family and ended up falling into a life of drugs and crime. Clean now, she grabs onto the lifeline her mother offers her, desperate to give her daughter a better life. When her past comes back to haunt her, Clio finds herself the unwilling participant in the heist of a decade. And the last thing she needs is her sexy one night stand watching her every move.
Zara Keane’s Ballybeg series is a humorous romance contemporary series that revolves around a small Irish town and its gregarious and very nosy inhabitants. Love, laughter, and mystery makes this series a fast engaging read. Heavily character driven, the story is firmly set around our protagonists Sean MacKey and Clio Havlin – though fans will be pleased to see updates on the lives of previous characters. The romance and a series of small multiple subplots intertwine and feed off each other as our hero and heroine try to figure out their lives and hearts. The true appeal of this series is the hint of seriousness Keane imparts to the various character situations; showing us the foibles we all possess without offering a quick fix to their problems in order to make the story more ‘happy’.
Sean has been a casual player in this series up until now; popping up here and there with hints towards a mysterious past. Keane addresses that mystery, giving us Sean’s full background story which goes far in explaining his reasons for being in Ballybeg and the demons that he carries on his back. A hard working man committed to his job, his childhood was steeped in tragedy. Ballybeg brings back memories he’d rather keep buried but it also rips off the makeshift bandage he slapped on his pain, finally allowing him closure.
Clio is a heroine most will identify with. A fighter who made some seriously bad choices early on in life but chose to pull herself out of the muck instead of using her past to justify her mistakes. She loves her daughter and wants a better life for her; even if it means making up with her mother who abandoned her when she needed her most. Meeting Sean and sleeping with him was an anomaly for her but it was a physical connection she and him both sorely needed.
The slow burning romance flows well with the suspenseful storyline; backdropped by various subplots that play out to try to solve Sean and Clio’s separate issues. There are certain events that weren’t solved but Keane does her best to at least give some peace. Clio and Sean’s attraction to one another is plausible with some nice smouldering looks and weighted glancing touches. I liked that while Sean got upset over Clio’s lies, he didn’t use it as a way to punish Clio. He gets over it fairly easy once he gets the full story. An ongoing mystery revolving around the Travelers gets some air time though no resolution which clues us into the subject being revisited in coming books.
Keane’s stories wouldn’t be complete without the various town folks whose eccentricities will leave you giggling-Sean’s always drunk swimming Elvis impersonating uncle or swooning over Clio’s super sexy, bad boy, baby daddy-Lars Delaney. I certainly hope he gets his own story. *waggles eyebrows* Clio’s daughter hold a viable place in the story without coming off as a plot device. As always, the town knows everything and gossips like mad. Familiar faces pop in to add to the overall small town appeal and update us on where their lives.
A quick realistic ending wraps up mostly everything and leaves us with a sweet happily ever after for our protagonists. Fans of international small town romance contemporaries with bits of romance, mystery, and comedic drama are sure to enjoy Zara Keane’s Ballybeg series.
Overall Rating: B
http://smexybooks.com/2015/05/review-...
Favorite Quote: “It adds a certain je-ne-say-whatsit to the vessel.”
Sean Mackey just wants his life back. A former guard (policeman) in Dublin, a series of unfortunate circumstances has him cooling his heels back in his hometown of Ballybeg. While on a holiday weekend, he meets a gorgeous young woman and indulges in an incredible one night stand only to discover that she is the daughter of his nemesis, Helen Havelin.
Clio Havelin hasn’t had an easy life. Pregnant at seventeen, she was tossed out by her family and ended up falling into a life of drugs and crime. Clean now, she grabs onto the lifeline her mother offers her, desperate to give her daughter a better life. When her past comes back to haunt her, Clio finds herself the unwilling participant in the heist of a decade. And the last thing she needs is her sexy one night stand watching her every move.
Zara Keane’s Ballybeg series is a humorous romance contemporary series that revolves around a small Irish town and its gregarious and very nosy inhabitants. Love, laughter, and mystery makes this series a fast engaging read. Heavily character driven, the story is firmly set around our protagonists Sean MacKey and Clio Havlin – though fans will be pleased to see updates on the lives of previous characters. The romance and a series of small multiple subplots intertwine and feed off each other as our hero and heroine try to figure out their lives and hearts. The true appeal of this series is the hint of seriousness Keane imparts to the various character situations; showing us the foibles we all possess without offering a quick fix to their problems in order to make the story more ‘happy’.
Sean has been a casual player in this series up until now; popping up here and there with hints towards a mysterious past. Keane addresses that mystery, giving us Sean’s full background story which goes far in explaining his reasons for being in Ballybeg and the demons that he carries on his back. A hard working man committed to his job, his childhood was steeped in tragedy. Ballybeg brings back memories he’d rather keep buried but it also rips off the makeshift bandage he slapped on his pain, finally allowing him closure.
Clio is a heroine most will identify with. A fighter who made some seriously bad choices early on in life but chose to pull herself out of the muck instead of using her past to justify her mistakes. She loves her daughter and wants a better life for her; even if it means making up with her mother who abandoned her when she needed her most. Meeting Sean and sleeping with him was an anomaly for her but it was a physical connection she and him both sorely needed.
The slow burning romance flows well with the suspenseful storyline; backdropped by various subplots that play out to try to solve Sean and Clio’s separate issues. There are certain events that weren’t solved but Keane does her best to at least give some peace. Clio and Sean’s attraction to one another is plausible with some nice smouldering looks and weighted glancing touches. I liked that while Sean got upset over Clio’s lies, he didn’t use it as a way to punish Clio. He gets over it fairly easy once he gets the full story. An ongoing mystery revolving around the Travelers gets some air time though no resolution which clues us into the subject being revisited in coming books.
Keane’s stories wouldn’t be complete without the various town folks whose eccentricities will leave you giggling-Sean’s always drunk swimming Elvis impersonating uncle or swooning over Clio’s super sexy, bad boy, baby daddy-Lars Delaney. I certainly hope he gets his own story. *waggles eyebrows* Clio’s daughter hold a viable place in the story without coming off as a plot device. As always, the town knows everything and gossips like mad. Familiar faces pop in to add to the overall small town appeal and update us on where their lives.
A quick realistic ending wraps up mostly everything and leaves us with a sweet happily ever after for our protagonists. Fans of international small town romance contemporaries with bits of romance, mystery, and comedic drama are sure to enjoy Zara Keane’s Ballybeg series.
Overall Rating: B
July 3, 2015
In Love and Shamrocks, there's a whole lot more about Sean Mackey, a character we've seen in previous books in the series. He still whines about being stuck in Ballybeg, longing for career advancement and freedom from the bad memories brought on by the town and it's inhabitants. One weekend he goes to the city to escape small town life for a bit, and he meets a gorgeous woman in a bar and nature takes it's course.
Clio's had a rough life. Kicked out of her house at seventeen, she's been on her own and sometimes in with the very wrong crowd. But when her daughter's well being is in danger, she's willing to do whatever she must to take care of her. She can't resist the handsome stranger she meets at the bar on the eve before she returns to the tiny town of Ballybeg.
There's quite a bit of heat between Sean and Clio from the start. But he gets called away on a case before she finds out he's a cop, and so that becomes the first point of tension between them. Turns out there's even more connections between them, too.
There are a few different crimes to solve in Ballybeg, one involving the harassment of a particular group in town, and the potential stalking of one of the town's celebrities and another involving the burglary that ties it to one of the other crimes.
There's a lot of crime investigation and characters from previous books involved in some of these mysteries. This book really felt more like suspense than romance and while I didn't mind that, I did miss the romantic aspects of love in this little town that I felt in the previous books in the series.
There were some very bright spots among the darker backdrop of the crime stories. I loved the scenes between Sean and Clio and Clio getting familiar with the rest of Ballybeg. But I had to say that even my e-reader felt hot when I was introduced to a new character, Lar Delaney. He lit up the pages in his few scenes and I really need more of him, like now!
This is one of my favorite contemporary romance series. While I liked Love and Shamrocks, I thought at something was off here. The writing felt rushed, and I would have liked a bit more romance and humor. Okay, the swimming Elvis was funny, but I thought this book lacked the lightness of some of the previous in the series.
I really like this series, and continue to recommend it.I'm very interested in reading the spin-offs and hope for some more Lar Delaney in the future.
ARC provided for review.
This review also appears on my blog:
http://redhotbluereads.blogspot.com/2015/04/reviewlove-and-shamrocks-ballybeg-5-by.html
Clio's had a rough life. Kicked out of her house at seventeen, she's been on her own and sometimes in with the very wrong crowd. But when her daughter's well being is in danger, she's willing to do whatever she must to take care of her. She can't resist the handsome stranger she meets at the bar on the eve before she returns to the tiny town of Ballybeg.
There's quite a bit of heat between Sean and Clio from the start. But he gets called away on a case before she finds out he's a cop, and so that becomes the first point of tension between them. Turns out there's even more connections between them, too.
There are a few different crimes to solve in Ballybeg, one involving the harassment of a particular group in town, and the potential stalking of one of the town's celebrities and another involving the burglary that ties it to one of the other crimes.
There's a lot of crime investigation and characters from previous books involved in some of these mysteries. This book really felt more like suspense than romance and while I didn't mind that, I did miss the romantic aspects of love in this little town that I felt in the previous books in the series.
There were some very bright spots among the darker backdrop of the crime stories. I loved the scenes between Sean and Clio and Clio getting familiar with the rest of Ballybeg. But I had to say that even my e-reader felt hot when I was introduced to a new character, Lar Delaney. He lit up the pages in his few scenes and I really need more of him, like now!
This is one of my favorite contemporary romance series. While I liked Love and Shamrocks, I thought at something was off here. The writing felt rushed, and I would have liked a bit more romance and humor. Okay, the swimming Elvis was funny, but I thought this book lacked the lightness of some of the previous in the series.
I really like this series, and continue to recommend it.I'm very interested in reading the spin-offs and hope for some more Lar Delaney in the future.
ARC provided for review.
This review also appears on my blog:
http://redhotbluereads.blogspot.com/2015/04/reviewlove-and-shamrocks-ballybeg-5-by.html
July 8, 2015
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I actually give this book 4.5 stars. There were some plot devices I just couldn't believe. Overall I loved the book. Having just binged on the Galleger's of Ardmore Trilogy by Nora Roberts, I found Love and Shamrocks (Ballybeg, #5) to be down to earth and realistic, but not gritty. As this is my first book by Zara Keane, I will read others in the series. That brings me to reading out of order in a series. I try to avoid that and anytime I don't I always mention if that impacted the book. In this case, it didn't. Characters from previous books appeared, but we were spared the repeat of their story lines. Hero, Sean, and heroine, Clio, meet fresh, having not met before this book. The suspense plot has many different twists and turns, but takes a backseat to the romance.
What do you do when the one night stand from the night before shows up on your doorstep the next day? This is especially troubling as you gave him a false name and phone number. Clio Havelin has some explaining to do to Garda Sean Mackey when he shows up as her mother's police bodyguard. But explanations are exactly what Clio needs to avoid, especially with a policeman. She has a lot of secrets and some of them could land her in big trouble.
Sean is shocked to find Clio is not only the woman he had wild, passionate sex with the night before, but is also the daughter of Helen Havelin (in the US think Dr. Laura), a woman that Sean has hated for over 20 years. When he is assigned to guard her from a stalker, he is not pleased as this prevents him from working on a case that would get him transferred out of Ballybeg and back to Dublin. These two have a lot to work through and trust is only one of the issues they have.
I actually give this book 4.5 stars. There were some plot devices I just couldn't believe. Overall I loved the book. Having just binged on the Galleger's of Ardmore Trilogy by Nora Roberts, I found Love and Shamrocks (Ballybeg, #5) to be down to earth and realistic, but not gritty. As this is my first book by Zara Keane, I will read others in the series. That brings me to reading out of order in a series. I try to avoid that and anytime I don't I always mention if that impacted the book. In this case, it didn't. Characters from previous books appeared, but we were spared the repeat of their story lines. Hero, Sean, and heroine, Clio, meet fresh, having not met before this book. The suspense plot has many different twists and turns, but takes a backseat to the romance.
What do you do when the one night stand from the night before shows up on your doorstep the next day? This is especially troubling as you gave him a false name and phone number. Clio Havelin has some explaining to do to Garda Sean Mackey when he shows up as her mother's police bodyguard. But explanations are exactly what Clio needs to avoid, especially with a policeman. She has a lot of secrets and some of them could land her in big trouble.
Sean is shocked to find Clio is not only the woman he had wild, passionate sex with the night before, but is also the daughter of Helen Havelin (in the US think Dr. Laura), a woman that Sean has hated for over 20 years. When he is assigned to guard her from a stalker, he is not pleased as this prevents him from working on a case that would get him transferred out of Ballybeg and back to Dublin. These two have a lot to work through and trust is only one of the issues they have.
August 1, 2015
OK. That’s it! I’m moving to Ballybeg!
Hard hitting topics rule the day from the beginning to the end of this fantastic novel. Keane approaches them with a straightforward flair that makes them palatable yet still very daunting. Tempered with the true romance between two fantastic characters, life really shines through. Keane’s explicitly vivid descriptions transport her readers to the heart of Ballybeg. They bring the suspense of the tale to the forefront.
I’ll admit that I’ve been dying for Sean’s story since we first met him earlier in the series. Keane definitely didn’t disappoint. I loved finding out more about Sean’s hidden past. Getting to know him so intimately made the entire story so much more real for me. I felt as if I’d lived it rather than simply read it. Combined with Clio’s past and present, this couple had me on pins and needles. They were fantastic together. The supporting cast was quite varied. The vast array of character types was fantastic.
This story is shockingly hard hitting yet wildly romantic. Keane takes readers deep into the lives of her characters and leaves you with a sense of happiness at the end.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Hard hitting topics rule the day from the beginning to the end of this fantastic novel. Keane approaches them with a straightforward flair that makes them palatable yet still very daunting. Tempered with the true romance between two fantastic characters, life really shines through. Keane’s explicitly vivid descriptions transport her readers to the heart of Ballybeg. They bring the suspense of the tale to the forefront.
I’ll admit that I’ve been dying for Sean’s story since we first met him earlier in the series. Keane definitely didn’t disappoint. I loved finding out more about Sean’s hidden past. Getting to know him so intimately made the entire story so much more real for me. I felt as if I’d lived it rather than simply read it. Combined with Clio’s past and present, this couple had me on pins and needles. They were fantastic together. The supporting cast was quite varied. The vast array of character types was fantastic.
This story is shockingly hard hitting yet wildly romantic. Keane takes readers deep into the lives of her characters and leaves you with a sense of happiness at the end.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2015
Received an ARC for an honest review. This is the first story that I have read by this author. I found it to be very humorous, adventurous, mysterious, and unbelievably crazy with a little bit of romance. In other words it had a little bit of everything for everybody.
Clio Havelin is a single mother who has just found out that her daughter's music teacher took advantage of her daughter and she won't help her mother press charges against him because she is in love with him even with him being eighteen years older than her. So Clio does the only thing that she thinks she can do and that is to pay her old boss from when she was a thief to have some of his guys scare him so he will stay away from her daughter. She has already uprooted her and her daughter and moved them to Ballybeg to live with her mother who she dislikes in order to put distance between them. The day she is to pay off this favor is the day that she meets Seam Mackey.
Sean is a policeman who made a mistake when he was a police detective in Dublin, which resulted in him getting demoted as well as reassigned to Ballybeg. A town he thought he had left for good as a youth, and which holds a lot of tragic memories for him and his family. There really isn't a lot to do in Ballybeg except recently someone has been causing problems with the Travellers (gypsy's).
After Clio is knocked into at the Sheldon Hotel Sean comes to her rescue and the sparks fly between them. After a few drinks Clio throws caution to the wind and hooks up with Sean in his hotel room where they both have a sizzling hot time until Sean is called out on a case and when he leaves she gives him a wrong phone number to go along with the fake name that she gave him. A few days later Sean is given orders that he is to be the body guard of Helen Havelin who he hates since he blames her for his family's tragedy. When he arrives to watch Helen Havelin he is pleasantly surprised when Clio opens the door, but sickened when he then finds out that she is Helen Havelin's daughter. This is just the start of a very entertaining as well as unbelievably crazy story with lots of twists and turns as well as plots of mystery and blackmail that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What else will Clio have to do for her boss when blackmails her? Will Clio and Sean ever be on the same side of the law? Will they find a HEA? You will just have to read this to find out.
Clio Havelin is a single mother who has just found out that her daughter's music teacher took advantage of her daughter and she won't help her mother press charges against him because she is in love with him even with him being eighteen years older than her. So Clio does the only thing that she thinks she can do and that is to pay her old boss from when she was a thief to have some of his guys scare him so he will stay away from her daughter. She has already uprooted her and her daughter and moved them to Ballybeg to live with her mother who she dislikes in order to put distance between them. The day she is to pay off this favor is the day that she meets Seam Mackey.
Sean is a policeman who made a mistake when he was a police detective in Dublin, which resulted in him getting demoted as well as reassigned to Ballybeg. A town he thought he had left for good as a youth, and which holds a lot of tragic memories for him and his family. There really isn't a lot to do in Ballybeg except recently someone has been causing problems with the Travellers (gypsy's).
After Clio is knocked into at the Sheldon Hotel Sean comes to her rescue and the sparks fly between them. After a few drinks Clio throws caution to the wind and hooks up with Sean in his hotel room where they both have a sizzling hot time until Sean is called out on a case and when he leaves she gives him a wrong phone number to go along with the fake name that she gave him. A few days later Sean is given orders that he is to be the body guard of Helen Havelin who he hates since he blames her for his family's tragedy. When he arrives to watch Helen Havelin he is pleasantly surprised when Clio opens the door, but sickened when he then finds out that she is Helen Havelin's daughter. This is just the start of a very entertaining as well as unbelievably crazy story with lots of twists and turns as well as plots of mystery and blackmail that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What else will Clio have to do for her boss when blackmails her? Will Clio and Sean ever be on the same side of the law? Will they find a HEA? You will just have to read this to find out.
April 25, 2015
Holy Moly, I have no idea how I missed this series. When I saw this on Net Galley, I thought Zara Keane must be a new author. Boy, was I wrong! Love and Shamrocks is book five in the Irish series. Now, I can’t wait read the first four. The other misconception is I had is I thought this book would be a flirty, fun read. However, it is more like an edgier PBS Mystery. In fact, it would make a great adaption for television. I like Love and Shamrocks as much as any P D James or Martha Grimes book that I have read. Maybe even better since it’s Irish instead of British.
Seán and Clio are two complex characters that cross paths. It is interesting the ways that they connect; first personal then through Seán’s police work. Both of these characters are prickly but endearing at the same time. Makes for complications galore! Added to their relationship is a confused daughter, aging TV personality (Clio’s mother from hell), Irish gangsters, small town corrupt political intrigue and modern day gypsies. Wow, it is one dynamic suspenseful story. Somehow, Ms. Keane expertly juggles all of these plotlines and characters so that it all fits together nicely by the end.
I don’t want to forget to mention Lar Delaney. There is just enough of Lar, Tammy’s father, in this story to get my interest up. There is more to him than meets the eye, I’m thinking.
Copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.
Seán and Clio are two complex characters that cross paths. It is interesting the ways that they connect; first personal then through Seán’s police work. Both of these characters are prickly but endearing at the same time. Makes for complications galore! Added to their relationship is a confused daughter, aging TV personality (Clio’s mother from hell), Irish gangsters, small town corrupt political intrigue and modern day gypsies. Wow, it is one dynamic suspenseful story. Somehow, Ms. Keane expertly juggles all of these plotlines and characters so that it all fits together nicely by the end.
I don’t want to forget to mention Lar Delaney. There is just enough of Lar, Tammy’s father, in this story to get my interest up. There is more to him than meets the eye, I’m thinking.
Copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.
April 19, 2015
I love Zara Keane’s Ballybeg Series. Love and Shamrocks is book 5 in this series I received as an ARC, I recommend if you haven’t read the other I suggest you do.
Clio Havelin is a single mother and ex-thief who is trying to keep her daughter safe by asking for help from her ex-boss. After she paid him, he tries to blackmail her into a heist and pull her back into the world that she left. She will do anything for her daughter to keep her safe even if that means moving back in with her mother Helen Havelin, and the person whom her ex-boss wants to rob.
Seán Mackey was happy when he was a police detective, however one mistake which wasn’t his own has move him down in the ranks and he is stuck in Ballybeg. Not much crime going on there to keep him busy. Now he is stuck playing bodyguard for the woman Helen Havelin who ruined his life and made him change his name.
A chance meeting Seán and Clio meet at the Sheldon Hotel and the sparks fly. Clio gives Seán a fake name because she doesn’t like the way people react when they hear her name and link her with her mother and a fake number. Seán can’t get Orla aka Clio out of his head until he shows up for protection duty and realizes that she is Helen’s daughter. Will being Helen’s daughter ruin any chances Clio has with Seán? Will Clio follow through and rob her mother?
Clio Havelin is a single mother and ex-thief who is trying to keep her daughter safe by asking for help from her ex-boss. After she paid him, he tries to blackmail her into a heist and pull her back into the world that she left. She will do anything for her daughter to keep her safe even if that means moving back in with her mother Helen Havelin, and the person whom her ex-boss wants to rob.
Seán Mackey was happy when he was a police detective, however one mistake which wasn’t his own has move him down in the ranks and he is stuck in Ballybeg. Not much crime going on there to keep him busy. Now he is stuck playing bodyguard for the woman Helen Havelin who ruined his life and made him change his name.
A chance meeting Seán and Clio meet at the Sheldon Hotel and the sparks fly. Clio gives Seán a fake name because she doesn’t like the way people react when they hear her name and link her with her mother and a fake number. Seán can’t get Orla aka Clio out of his head until he shows up for protection duty and realizes that she is Helen’s daughter. Will being Helen’s daughter ruin any chances Clio has with Seán? Will Clio follow through and rob her mother?
April 17, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but all opinions are my own.*
Inebriated idiots, murderous mobsters, fraught families, sexy sergeants, and loads of laughs--this book's got it all.
Clio and Sean--a woman with a sketchy past and a member of the Guard--seem like polar opposites. He follows (and enforces) the law, and she has a history of breaking it. Sometimes, though, love is above the law. The question is, will their burning attraction and growing feelings be enough to overcome their heavy pasts and the gangster holding a tab on Clio?
Of all the Ballybeg men
, Sean is my absolute favorite. Maybe it's the uniform, or maybe it's the quiet strength and sharp wit--whatever the case, he just does it for me. And Clio is absolutely real and relatable, and I admired her spunk and strength in the face of adversity.
There was one thing this book left me wanting: more!
Inebriated idiots, murderous mobsters, fraught families, sexy sergeants, and loads of laughs--this book's got it all.
Clio and Sean--a woman with a sketchy past and a member of the Guard--seem like polar opposites. He follows (and enforces) the law, and she has a history of breaking it. Sometimes, though, love is above the law. The question is, will their burning attraction and growing feelings be enough to overcome their heavy pasts and the gangster holding a tab on Clio?
Of all the Ballybeg men
, Sean is my absolute favorite. Maybe it's the uniform, or maybe it's the quiet strength and sharp wit--whatever the case, he just does it for me. And Clio is absolutely real and relatable, and I admired her spunk and strength in the face of adversity.
There was one thing this book left me wanting: more!
April 25, 2015
I have been reading the Ballybeg Series and have loved the contemporary Irish stories so much. Zara Keane has such skill at writing with an Irish flare but American readers can still understand and thoroughly enjoy the stories. The story is intense, sexy, and filled with emotion that will engage readers.
Love and Shamrocks features Clio and Sean. Both have their baggage from life and both are trying to change their circumstances. Clio is trying to get rid of her criminal ways and contacts and Sean is trying to get back to Dublin and a "real" guard job. The story follows their lives and we get to see how they relate with family, job, and small town circumstance.
I love the Ballybeg as the setting. The quaint town will surprise you with engaging characters and a realistic and engaging story.
Love and Shamrocks features Clio and Sean. Both have their baggage from life and both are trying to change their circumstances. Clio is trying to get rid of her criminal ways and contacts and Sean is trying to get back to Dublin and a "real" guard job. The story follows their lives and we get to see how they relate with family, job, and small town circumstance.
I love the Ballybeg as the setting. The quaint town will surprise you with engaging characters and a realistic and engaging story.
April 17, 2015
Love and Shamrocks is book 5 in the Ballybeg series and revolves around Clio and Sean. As soon as Clio and Sean met, the attraction was almost immediate. They both give in to the attraction and a one night stand ensures....only Clio doesn't give her real name and when Sean wants to meet up again, she gives him a wrong number. But don't worry he finds her again and the reaction is priceless....for both of them. Clio and Sean are a good match, but in order to be great they need to trust each other. They both have secrets, but with time and the right circumstances they are able to confide in each other and be there for one another. I enjoyed this story and will definitely check out more from this author.
April 5, 2015
I'd like to thank Zara for an advance copy of Love and Shamrocks.
This is the Story of Sean and Clio. Each of them has their own secrets, plus
add in the sexual chemistry and tension, it makes for an exciting story.
You can always count on the residents of Ballybeg to round out the story with
their antics.
This story has plenty of plot twists and turns, plus a mystery from earlier on
in the series is solved.
We are also introduced to Lars, who I understand will be getting his own book.
I highly recommend this book and the series as they way Zara tells the story
you can really picture yourself there.
This is the Story of Sean and Clio. Each of them has their own secrets, plus
add in the sexual chemistry and tension, it makes for an exciting story.
You can always count on the residents of Ballybeg to round out the story with
their antics.
This story has plenty of plot twists and turns, plus a mystery from earlier on
in the series is solved.
We are also introduced to Lars, who I understand will be getting his own book.
I highly recommend this book and the series as they way Zara tells the story
you can really picture yourself there.
April 6, 2015
Sergeant Sean Mackey is the focus of this latest journey to Ballybeg. His love interest is a newcomer- Clio Havelin.
I love Ballybeg and get very excited for every new installment. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I felt like it was a little less "Ballybeg" than the other books in the series. Some of the citizens of Ballybeg felt forced into the story at times. This story has a bit of a different focus (it both ties up some loose ends and opens new doors), and I can see how it is setting up for Lar's story and the whole "Bad Boys" spin-off.
I received an ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review. (Thanks!!)
I love Ballybeg and get very excited for every new installment. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I felt like it was a little less "Ballybeg" than the other books in the series. Some of the citizens of Ballybeg felt forced into the story at times. This story has a bit of a different focus (it both ties up some loose ends and opens new doors), and I can see how it is setting up for Lar's story and the whole "Bad Boys" spin-off.
I received an ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review. (Thanks!!)
April 15, 2015
Sean we've read of in previous books in the Ballybeg series. His often serious demeanor has his character at arms length but always hovering in the background. Sean's persona shines in Love and Shamrocks. It was good to read Sean's happy ever after :)
Clios character has a big heart. Protective and loving in a life portrayed as full of hard knocks. Clio is a good match for Sean and together in the story they were often hilarious in their dialogue and their chemistry was evident throughout the story.
The Ballybeg series has just been non-stop wonderful reading and Love and Shamrocks was another good addition to the series.
*ARC received from the Author
4 stars
Clios character has a big heart. Protective and loving in a life portrayed as full of hard knocks. Clio is a good match for Sean and together in the story they were often hilarious in their dialogue and their chemistry was evident throughout the story.
The Ballybeg series has just been non-stop wonderful reading and Love and Shamrocks was another good addition to the series.
*ARC received from the Author
4 stars
April 21, 2015
Great Series!
This is a great series; this is the fifth book in the Ballybeg. series by Zara Keane. Clio needs to protect her child so she jumps at the offer from her estranged mother offering her and her child refuge in Ballybeg. But things change when she is blackmailed into helping with a heist. Sean is a former police detective who has been asked to play bodyguard to Clio, his one night stand. If you love a good romance, which will keep you reading long into the night then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
This is a great series; this is the fifth book in the Ballybeg. series by Zara Keane. Clio needs to protect her child so she jumps at the offer from her estranged mother offering her and her child refuge in Ballybeg. But things change when she is blackmailed into helping with a heist. Sean is a former police detective who has been asked to play bodyguard to Clio, his one night stand. If you love a good romance, which will keep you reading long into the night then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
April 21, 2015
Another stunning addition to a fun series. I love balleybeg. I like ve the characters, good and evil.I love the language and the crazy situations they find themselves in.
Cilo and Sean's story is no different. We have a reformed bad girl making a knee jerk reaction landing her back on the questionable side of the law, a Guardia in charge of protecting a women he detest and a sullen teenager. All leading us through a plot that is humorous, adventurous , unbelievable, crazy and down right fun to follow.
Enjoy another look at the citizens of Ballybeg in this wonderful book!
Bonus is the knowledge we will see more of Ballybeg with the bad boys series!
Cilo and Sean's story is no different. We have a reformed bad girl making a knee jerk reaction landing her back on the questionable side of the law, a Guardia in charge of protecting a women he detest and a sullen teenager. All leading us through a plot that is humorous, adventurous , unbelievable, crazy and down right fun to follow.
Enjoy another look at the citizens of Ballybeg in this wonderful book!
Bonus is the knowledge we will see more of Ballybeg with the bad boys series!
April 23, 2015
I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book I've read by this author and was introduced to her via another author that I follow. I went into the book with almost no expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. I thought this book would be in the romance category and there is definitely a romance element but it really is so much more. There's humor, mystery and drama too all rolled into one. It's a very entertaining book that has me now wanting to read more in the series. Because there's a little something for everyone in this book I would encourage people to give it a try and I bet you won't be disappointed.
April 24, 2015
*I received this book free in exchange for an honest review*
I love this series. The little town of Ballybeg seems fun and interesting.
Sean and Clio are no exception. The story is exciting and full of fun, twists and more. It's a sweet little romance that you watch develop and strengthen over some real drama.
Clio wasn't exactly my favorite female from this town, but she certainly had some redeeming qualities about her. I enjoyed her more as the story progressed. If you're a fan of this town and series as I am, you're going to enjoy this next installment of the series!
I love this series. The little town of Ballybeg seems fun and interesting.
Sean and Clio are no exception. The story is exciting and full of fun, twists and more. It's a sweet little romance that you watch develop and strengthen over some real drama.
Clio wasn't exactly my favorite female from this town, but she certainly had some redeeming qualities about her. I enjoyed her more as the story progressed. If you're a fan of this town and series as I am, you're going to enjoy this next installment of the series!
April 5, 2015
Zara Keane has done it again!!! 'Love and Shamrocks'. is an awesome book!!! I was given this ARC to read and review. In true Ballybeg fashion, this book does not disappoint. Sean and Clio's story will captivate you and take you on a journey of love, choices we make in our lives(good and bad), dealing with those choices, parenting, and starting over!!! I have enjoyed all of Zara's books and so will you!!! Can't wait for more to read!!!
April 7, 2015
Zara Keane has done it again! This book was amazing. I couldn't put it down. This book is a stand alone but I do recommend that you read the others first as they are mentioned in this book. I recommend that you read this and hope you love it as much as I did.
May 4, 2015
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Loved this cute, quick read from Zara Keane! I must start at number one!! Don't let that stop you from reading this though, I think they can be read in any order.
April 24, 2015
3.5 stars
This was cute,sweet, a little sassy,with a small dab of intrigue. Cute addition to this series but it was very simple.
This was cute,sweet, a little sassy,with a small dab of intrigue. Cute addition to this series but it was very simple.
March 12, 2018
I absolutely adored the last book in Zara Keane's final book of the Ballybeg series!
I loved exploring Seán Mackey further after reading about him periodically in the previous books and I adored that he was finally able to get his own happy ending!
Clio's character was very interesting and I honestly found myself wanting to know even more about her background, it'd be awesome if Zara could write Clio her own book from when she was seventeen and even to after Tammy's birth! I found myself wanting to know what exactly drew her to her ex but that may be because I'm a sucker for the "how they met" storylines.
I loved exploring Seán Mackey further after reading about him periodically in the previous books and I adored that he was finally able to get his own happy ending!
Clio's character was very interesting and I honestly found myself wanting to know even more about her background, it'd be awesome if Zara could write Clio her own book from when she was seventeen and even to after Tammy's birth! I found myself wanting to know what exactly drew her to her ex but that may be because I'm a sucker for the "how they met" storylines.
January 25, 2018
So glad to get's Sean's story, and to finally know just what lead to him being in Ballybeg. Familiar faces from the previous books make and appearance, and all is good with this read.
June 24, 2020
An ex thief and the local thief's courtship, family issues/drama,past hurts, fun ballybeg community moments make this a story i could not put down
February 14, 2021
Sean Mackey has been a favourite character through this series and I was very happy to have his story told at last. I liked this series very much and I think this was my favourite.
June 23, 2022
Ballybeg’s residents are full of life, craziness, and fun. LOVE AND SHAMROCKS,Sean and Clio’s story, is great!
September 15, 2022
I am going to miss the characters of Ballybeg!
March 7, 2017
Not the silly bit of fluff I expected.
July 8, 2015
I was kindly gifted a copy if this wonderful book in exchange for my honest opinion and a review.
We are back again with another first class romance from the wonderful Zara Keane, This is the fifth book in the Ballybeg Series.
Clio Havelin has not had an easy life pregnant at seventeen she made allot of stupid mistakes, Now all she needs is a break and a stroke of luck. Desperate to protect her child, Clio's only choice is to accept her mother’s offer of a place to lay low.... in Ballybeg.
What could ever go wrong? in a quiet place like Ballybeg? But danger and fear is closer to home than she thinks as Clio's hope for a nice quiet fresh start is dashed when she is blackmailed into Assisting the planned heist of the decade.
Just about the last thing Clio really needs is a smoking hot cop underfoot, especially now that she is one crime away from freedom for herself and her child. Too bad though as she has already had a hot one night stand with him.
All Seán Mackey wants is his life back the way it use to be. This former police detective is stuck in a rut his days are spent apprehending errant sheep in Ballybeg ….
After all the many months of frustration, he is finally put on to a real case. But then he finds out that he has been sidelined into playing babysitter ….. or bodyguard as they keep calling it for his arch nemesis, talk show hostess Helen Havelin, he is beyond annoyed. And on top of it he finds out that his gorgeous one-night stand is Helen’s daughter, Clio, Annoyance soon turns to horrified.
Another fantastic witty humours yet sinfully romantic book from Zara Keane. She always brings us the best out in her books and more they always have a bit of everything in them. I adored the party Helen threw and the Elvis impersonator ….. serious lol moment, I also love how character driven Zara books are and how you see old and new characters popping in and out.
Clio is an amazing character she has gone through so much struggled to get on the right path with little to no help. I loved her wit her growth as a character and how she interacted with her mum there were a few moments where I was like omg did her mum say that ...
Seán wow he is a complicated fellow with plenty of pain in his past, I felt real bad for him he has had allot thrown at him and some more. Can he reconcile with his past and move on with Clio?
The chemistry between them is electric I love there instant attraction and how just that one night is not enough.
Im left wondering Zara will Clio's Ex get a book ? as we all love a reformed bad boy.
Zara Keane is one those writers you no that any book you pick up will be amazing.
5 Out Of 5 Hearts From Cariad Books
We are back again with another first class romance from the wonderful Zara Keane, This is the fifth book in the Ballybeg Series.
Clio Havelin has not had an easy life pregnant at seventeen she made allot of stupid mistakes, Now all she needs is a break and a stroke of luck. Desperate to protect her child, Clio's only choice is to accept her mother’s offer of a place to lay low.... in Ballybeg.
What could ever go wrong? in a quiet place like Ballybeg? But danger and fear is closer to home than she thinks as Clio's hope for a nice quiet fresh start is dashed when she is blackmailed into Assisting the planned heist of the decade.
Just about the last thing Clio really needs is a smoking hot cop underfoot, especially now that she is one crime away from freedom for herself and her child. Too bad though as she has already had a hot one night stand with him.
All Seán Mackey wants is his life back the way it use to be. This former police detective is stuck in a rut his days are spent apprehending errant sheep in Ballybeg ….
After all the many months of frustration, he is finally put on to a real case. But then he finds out that he has been sidelined into playing babysitter ….. or bodyguard as they keep calling it for his arch nemesis, talk show hostess Helen Havelin, he is beyond annoyed. And on top of it he finds out that his gorgeous one-night stand is Helen’s daughter, Clio, Annoyance soon turns to horrified.
Another fantastic witty humours yet sinfully romantic book from Zara Keane. She always brings us the best out in her books and more they always have a bit of everything in them. I adored the party Helen threw and the Elvis impersonator ….. serious lol moment, I also love how character driven Zara books are and how you see old and new characters popping in and out.
Clio is an amazing character she has gone through so much struggled to get on the right path with little to no help. I loved her wit her growth as a character and how she interacted with her mum there were a few moments where I was like omg did her mum say that ...
Seán wow he is a complicated fellow with plenty of pain in his past, I felt real bad for him he has had allot thrown at him and some more. Can he reconcile with his past and move on with Clio?
The chemistry between them is electric I love there instant attraction and how just that one night is not enough.
Im left wondering Zara will Clio's Ex get a book ? as we all love a reformed bad boy.
Zara Keane is one those writers you no that any book you pick up will be amazing.
5 Out Of 5 Hearts From Cariad Books
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