Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough

by Claire Cook

“Must Love Dogs has already been a major motion picture, and now New York Times bestselling author Claire Cook’s hilarious and heartwarming book series is begging to hit the screen again.”—New York Journal of Books

If you live in Marshbury, Massachusetts, that picture postcard perfect seaside town an hour south of Boston and the epicenter of the Irish Riviera, it’s pretty much mandatory to be a little bit Irish for the whole month of March. Preschool teacher Sarah probably should have warned John about that once they bought the Hurlihy family house. And she definitely should have told him that half the town would be watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade from their front yard.

In her defense, Sarah has a lot on her plate. Hormones are flying every which way as she and John ramp up their fertility journey, their five rescue cats get spayed and neutered, and assistant teacher-slash-housemate Polly gets ready to give birth with Sarah’s bossy big sister as her labor coach. To add to the chaos, a new garage addition with a secret exit is about to go up, Sarah’s dad is still living and dating away in his mancave, they can’t seem to get that canned ham trailer removed from the yard, and one of the dogs needs a name change. And like that’s not enough, Bayberry Preschool is filled with malarkey and shenanigans and a wily green leprechaun is on the loose.
If you’re lucky enough to enjoy another fun adventure with Must Love Dogs' loveably quirky cast of characters, you really are lucky enough. Jump right in—you’ll be wagging your tail in no time.

The Must Love Dogs series:
Must Love Dogs (#1)
Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life (#2)
Must Love Dogs: Fetch You Later (#3)
Must Love Dogs: Bark & Roll Forever (#4)
Must Love Dogs: Who Let the Cats In? (#5)
Must Love Dogs: A Howliday Tail (#6)
Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7)
Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough (#8)

“Reading about how life goes for this wacky marvelously lovable family becomes addictive.”— Examiner

“A beach tote couldn’t ask for more.”—Kirkus

“The exuberant and charming Claire Cook is one of the sassiest and funniest creators of contemporary women’s fiction.”—The Times-Picayune

"Claire Cook (Must Love Dogs) has built a brand writing light-hearted women’s fiction blending kernels of the absurd and comedic in compulsively readable combinations.—Shelf Awareness

“Wildly witty."—USA Today

"Cook dishes up plenty of charm."—San Francisco Chronicle

"Funny and pitch perfect."—Chicago Tribune

"A HOOT."—The Boston Globe

"A hilariously original tale about dating and its place in a modern woman's life."—Book Page

"[Cook's] poignancy and sassy humor resonate with readers; her theme of reinvention uplifts and inspires." -Savannah Magazine

CLAIRE COOK wrote her first novel in her minivan at 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the movie adaptation of her novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now an 8-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of 22 fun and inspiring books. If you have a buried dream, take it from Claire, it is NEVER too late!

Go to ClaireCook.com for your free gift, 41 Essential Quotes To Get Your Glow On, exclusively for newsletter subscribers. You’ll also be the first to find out when Claire's next book comes out and stay in the loop for giveaways and insider extras.

290 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2022

About the author

CLAIRE COOK wrote her first book in her minivan at 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her novel Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now an 8-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 25 books for 40-to-forever women, including her latest series, Bonus Time.

If you have a buried dream, take it from Claire, It's Never Too Late to Shine On!

Stay in the loop for new releases, giveaways, inspiration and insider extras at ClaireCook.com.

Read excerpts at ClaireCook.com/books/

Connect with Claire:
Instagram.com/ClaireCookwrite
Facebook.com/ClaireCookauthorpage
Linkedin.com/in/clairecookwrite/
BookBub.com/authors/claire-cook
Goodreads.com/clairecook

Reviews

[Candace Hammond]

While reading the 8th book, “Lucky Enough,” in the “Must Love Dogs” series by Claire Cook, I decided two things: One, I want to be an honorary member of the Hurlihy family, be invited to Marshbury for all holidays, and, two, that she can never stop writing them! This big, noisy, nosy, and funny crew are characters I just love curling up and catching up with.

A book series can sometimes feel frozen in time; the time when the first book was published, making them feel a little…dated. Claire Cook does a fantastic job of having her plots and characters ever-evolving- they feel like the old friends they are but are also friends in 2022. She does this with such great grace and ease, and so subtly that it doesn’t jump out at you or feel forced, yet you are aware of how it feels completely contemporary. As our culture has evolved so have her characters and stories, and it’s all completely natural.

With so much stress and hardship in the world, Claire Cook’s “Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough” (#8), has once again delivered to us a perfect respite from it all. It is a wonderful comfort read, one with great humor and heart and substance. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Nancy Lepri]

"Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough" by Claire Cook
March 2022
Marshbury Beach Books
10: 1-942671-32-9

278 pages
Contemporary Women's Fiction

Reviewed by Nancy Carty Lepri

Claire Cook's novel Must Love Dogs, released in 2002, was made into a major motion movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack in 2005. Since then, Must Love Dogs has become a bestselling book series. Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough, book eight, brings us back to Marshbury, Massachusetts, to enjoy the humorous antics and affection within the Hurlihy family. This heartwarming collection is sure to become a much-watched television series.

Sara and John have bought Sarah's childhood home and are in the process of doing renovations. They convert the garage for Sarah's dad, who goes by "Billy Boy," into an apartment he calls his "man cave." They built this hoping to achieve some privacy for themselves. But with this family, privacy is hard to attain!

In addition to remodeling the house, Sarah is busy as a preschool teacher while caring for a mother cat and her four kittens, two dogs, and finding time to be alone with John. There is never a dull moment with pets and people always in attendance, and now since Sarah's brother Johnny has returned home. He is residing "canned ham trailer" parked on the driveway. And Polly, Sarah's teaching assistant, hugely pregnant and single, has become their roommate after a hurricane forced her out of her rental. Sarah takes this all-in stride, being used to always having people around.

Sarah, who loves her family, home, and students, couldn't be happier. The only thing missing in Sarah's life is a child of her own. A second marriage for both, Sarah is a bit older to start a family. She is considered a "geriatric mom" by her physician, which, of course, doesn't go over well with her. Still, they are determined to do what they can to have a baby, including dealing with embarrassing medical appointments and fertility pills, making Sarah an emotional wreck as she prepares for in-vitro fertilization. It doesn't help that Polly, now an honorary family member, is sporting a belly growing larger every day. Though thrilled for her friend, this causes Sarah some anguish about her situation.

St. Patrick's Day approaches—and Marshbury's residents primarily of Irish descent—lovingly term the area "The Irish Riviera." Well-known for hosting a spectacular parade on the holiday, Billy Boy runs for the title of parade mayor. Family members pitch in to help in his campaign, but things get out of hand when his rival, Sweater McShaggy, constantly puts obstacles in his way—like removing the sign from their front yard and replacing them with his own. Billy Boy doesn't let anything unsettle him, and he retaliates though not in a mean way.

The boisterous, congenial senior citizen and proud father of six children and several grandchildren, Billy Boy, offers many endearing quirks. The Boston dialect is used with terms like "evah," and "thickah," etc., to give the setting more credibility, along with some chuckles. Billy Boy loves using a play on words, as shown in the following:

"He patted me on the back, looked over my shoulder. 'Well, I'll be jiggered and jitterbugged. That's quite the hullabaloo you've got going on in my yard.'"

Things become tense in the household with Polly's upcoming birth, Billy Boy's race for the parade mayor, the neutering of feral felines, and Sarah's anxiety about her fertility treatments. Yet, they all band together to offer love, comfort, and understanding.

As the gloomy winter days pass with the promise of Spring, Sarah is praying to receive some good news. Will she be able to conceive? What will happen when Polly has her baby if she can't? Will Polly continue to live with Sarah and John or move to her own place?

Be prepared to be welcomed by the loving, lively, and amusing Hurlihy family in Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough, as with previous novels in this series. Though this stands alone, you will want to read the other seven books to not miss out on any part of this humorous and devoted group. Written in the first person, the reader feels part of the clan. Though they all endure problems, pain, and sorrow, the joys of this close-knit family and friends cannot help but be a feel-good read. Though the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger, it leaves one looking forward to what book number nine will bring.

[Pamela Kramer]

Some books you read because they teach you something, some books are read for lengthy book club discussions, and some books, like "Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough," the eighth book in this engaging and humorous series, you read simply to escape from reality and jump into the life of Sarah Hurlihy as she navigates her at-times fraught relationship with John, with their ever-growing menagerie of pets, and with her often-crazy extended Irish family. Sarah's life is never dull, and when you factor in her job as a preschool teacher with some very precocious children and their very suburban parents, you get lots of humor as well as many touching moments.

Sarah and John live in the large family house she grew up in. It's located in the quiet, coastal (fictitious) town of Marshbury, Massachusetts. Their house is home to many, including the single, pregnant Polly, who works at Sarah's preschool as an assistant teacher, Sarah's brother, who resides in the trailer perpetually parked outside the house, and the collection of dogs and cats they've collected and rescued in past novels. Pebbles and her kittens are actually based on a real incident when Cook and her husband rescued a feral mama cat and her kittens from their front steps. Pet lovers will understand the time and responsibility involved as they watch Sarah and John walk the dogs, feed the cats, and responsibly have the cats sterilized—humorous antics included.

But this story really centers around St. Patrick's Day, because in this part of the Irish Riviera where the Hurlihys live, it's a huge holiday. In fact, as Cook writes, "it's pretty much mandatory to be a little bit Irish for the whole month of March." Sarah's father, whose capers and malapropisms never fail to elicit a smile, is running for St. Patrick's Day mayor, and their large corner property is enveloped in green signs announcing his candidacy. At Sarah's school, the young students are assigned the project of making a leprechaun trap. One of the many engaging aspects of Cook's writing is that she really brings to life the preschool where Sarah works. We see how important that time is and how hard the teachers work (and play) in order to provide an enriching experience for the children. And we love reading about the precocious kids. When two kids do something funny, Cook offers another student's response, "Pandora rolled her eyes at them, demonstrating both kindergarten readiness and that she'd make a great teenager one day." She describes a preschool activity as a perfect STEM project, and then brilliantly explains to readers who might not understand that acronym what it is and why that is important for students. Teachers and parents will chuckle at the preschool depictions.

Read the whole review at: PamelaKramer.com

[Raelene Best]

In book 8, of the Must Love Dog series, Lucky Enough, Claire continues the story of the rollicking, humorous antics of the Hurlihy family along with sharing the realities of life. Sarah and John are seriously trying for a baby and have to resort to using IVF which sets Sarah’s hormones on blast, along with the insult of being told she and John are considered to be geriatrics. To add insult to injury, her current daycare assistant teacher, Polly, seems to have gotten pregnant without even trying and is soon to deliver. Sarah is also dealing with a new assistant, in training, who has a lot of serious issues of his own. It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day and the Bayberry Preschool has a wily leprechaun creating havoc and if that isn’t enough the city of Marshberry which considers itself to be the Irish Riviera will soon be host to the parade of all parades. Dad, Billy, is running for St. Patrick’s Day Mayor and this creates its own special chaos with her dad’s rivals making mischief that keeps Sarah and her siblings busy and on sign stealing patrol. Between helping to keep her dad’s rivals signs out of their yard, contending with the weather while trying to get a new garage built that will give her and John a private entrance to the house, having to get all the cats spayed at the same time and dealing with her family that knows no boundaries, ever, to hosting not one but two baby showers for Polly, Sarah is feeling frazzled to say the least. Between the hormones, dogs, cats, bossy and nosy brothers and sisters and her dad who always finds and drinks the good wine, will life ever settle down for Sarah and John? Let’s hope not, so this wonderful series will continue. Claire Cook knows how to write a story that will make you wish you could be a part of this hilarious but also real-life ride that is the Must Love Dog series.

[Carolyn Mcdonough]

Whether you grew up in a large, boisterous Irish family, where everyone knows (and cares about) everyone else's business, or not, you will easily identify and fall in love with the Hurlihy family. If you have already met them in Books 1-7, you will fall in love all over again. In Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough, we find Sarah and John struggling with the challenges of desperately wanting a baby and the reality that a "geriatric pregnancy" just may not be in their future. Meanwhile, they are surrounded by children, from Sarah's nieces and nephews, to the littles she works with at the local preschool (including her "wasband"'s two children from his second marriage), to the pending arrival of her co-teacher, friend, and tenant, Polly's baby. Surrounded by preparations for St. Patrick's Day - arguably the biggest holiday of the year in the Irish Riviera, Marshbury - we follow, and feel for, Sarah as she struggles to stay strong, and as she so aptly puts it, tries to find the perfect wave to ride through life. In the end, she realizes that you can't wait for what you think is your perfect wave, because you simply have to figure out how to "ride the wave you get." One of the joys of any Claire Cook book is, along with the laughs and light-hearted reading, there are so many life lessons to take away, and in Lucky Enough, she brings it home once again.

[Donna]

I love the new book! This is the eighth in the series, but it is fresh and original. I laughed out loud five minutes in, and it felt great to be back with the quirky Hurlihy family. The characters always seem so alive, so human, it's hard to believe it's fiction. Lucky Enough deals with a weighty subject matter with great tenderness. Of course, this being a Claire Cook book, there is acerbic and witty commentary on current culture, funny pop culture references, and scenes which will have you tear up. In other words, a wonderful reading experience. The title became so meaningful to me once I finished reading. I'll leave it to you to discover. This is a great book, treat yourself and buy it today. Lucky you!
I'll be waiting for the next one!

[Kathie Cook]

Whenever I pick up a new Claire Cook book I know I am in for a fun adventure and words of wisdom. She never disappoints.
In, Lucky Enough, we land in the “Irish Rivera” aka Marshbury, Massachusetts. It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day and, as my parents would say, we see the “Hoople House” of a large family that descends on John and Sarah. Not only do they have family fun and drama, John and Sarah are now using IVF to have a baby. I have a family member that went through this process and Claire deals with it in a sensitive but realistic way. I found this dimension of the book deeply moving.
Whenever I read any book I look for, The Golden Line. I thought I found it half way through when Sarah is talking to her brother about life’s hardships and he says, “Even a broken crayon still colors.”
But the end of the book blew me away. You’ll have to read it for yourself.
Sarah says, “Because here is the truth: We have to ride the wave we get.”
Sarah talks about what she means by this and her comments truly spoke to me. So HERE is where I found my Golden Lines and great wisdom.
Excellent read.

[Katharine A Pate]

Equal parts heartwarming, heartrending and full of hidden bits of wisdom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the crazy Irish family whose shenanigans will keep you smiling. It's a great book for the beach or a long, rainy weekend with a furry friend - or 5 - in your lap.

[Vicky]

Book 8 of the Must Love Dogs Series, Lucky Enough, features the quirky, fun-loving Hurlihy clan and does not disappoint. Claire Cook has once again successfully written an entertaining, heartwarming, lively account of the Hurlihy's latest escapades. St. Patrick's Day shenanigans are at the heart of this story and the family antics are priceless. Must Love Dogs Lucky Enough is the perfect read for boosting one's mood. As a fan, I can honestly say, this series has me hooked. I am already looking forward to the next installment.

[Mary]

What could be better while on my first vacation in forever than having Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough as my beach read. It is so lovely to fall back in to the funny, kind and oh so real Hurlihy family adventures.

Claire always delivers humor and authenticity in her books, and this is no exception. If anything the books in this series keep getting even better.

So thank you Claire Cook!

[Ali]

What a binge worthy book series! Turn off the Netflix and immerse yourself in the world of the Hurlihy Family. This crazy group will take you on a roller coaster adventure and leave you wanting more. In this edition join Sarah, John and the rest of the fun loving and endearing crew for St. Patrick's Day. Warning: just like the preceding books it is a quick read, so kick back and enjoy every page!

[Susan]

I was so excited to read the next book in the Must Love Dogs series. Lucky Enough was a quick witted dive into the large Hurlily family. The characters were relatable and the story read beautifully. Claire Cook is one of my favorite authors and she has set the stage for the St. Patrick's Day parade amidst the chaos of the shared family home. Enjoy book #8 in the Must Love Dogs series!

[Sharon Duran]

This is the eighth book in the Must Love Dogs series and I think it’s my favorite. I always love to catch up with the Hurlihys, but there’s no better time than St. Patrick’s Day.
I love this fun, quirky and at times crazy family headed by Bill, Sr. who is completely unpredictable. You know it’s a fun read when you have a smile on your face throughout the read. Get this book, read it and let the warm fuzzies take over.

[Trish Anderson]

Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough is a fabulous addition to the best selling Must Love Dogs series by Claire Cook. The Hurlihy's continue to entertain with their hilarity and humility. Can't get enough of this series - looking forward to Book #9!

[Ken Harvey]

I consider myself so much more than "Lucky Enough" to have read yet another delightful novel about the Hurlihy family from Claire Cook's "Must Love Dogs" series. Do yourself a favour and celebrate the coming of spring (and St. Patrick's Day!) with these funny, moving, sometimes zany but always human characters of Marshfield. What a balm to read this novel in challenging times!

[Sheilah]

During these uncertain times, it is comforting to know we can count on Claire Cook to cheer us up! The Hurlihy family is back in Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough (#8 in the series). Sarah and John are trying to have a baby, even though Sarah feels she is in the “geriatric” years of motherhood. Sarah’s hormones and love life are all over the place, and she’s constantly trying to hold it together in front of her *itch of a boss and her new teaching assistant Damien, who has his own past to work through. Those precocious preschool children are guaranteed to have you laughing out loud! “Billy Boy” Hurlihy is still dating the casserole women, working with the Bark & Roll Forever ladies, and now, he is running for St. Patrick’s Day Mayor of Marshbury, in grand fashion. Sarah and John are surrounded by the antics of Sarah’s irrepressible siblings, mama cat Pebbles and her four growing sons, and two – make that three – dogs. While it’s not necessary to read the prior books to enjoy the story of the close-knit family and friends, you’ll want to enjoy their exploits from beginning to end. With gas prices going up and up, you will definitely want to spend some time at home enjoying the Must Love Dogs series by Claire Cook.

[Joan Lang]

All fans of Claire Cook know the extraordinary gift she has of drawing her readers in like a big hug. In her latest of the Must Love Dog series, Lucky Enough, she has done it again.
The latest saga in the Hurlihy family brings us near to the biggest event of the year in the seaside town of Marshbury - the St Patrick’s Day Parade. In the weeks leading up to it, the patriarch, Billy Sr, is on a major campaign trail to become the Honorary Mayor for the day . Along with help from his lady friends, his shenanigans are showing up all over town, with his adversaries at his heels.
The Hurlihy home is spot on the parade route, where traditionally people come to park early and stay long. How does the family deal with that ? In a good old Irish fun way. The home now is owned by Sarah and John , but of course Billy H still maintains his mancave there .
Sarah and her assistant, Polly, (pregnant and also living in the family home) , are busy as usual at Bayberry Preschool, keeping the excitement down a bit for their three and four year olds but doing all things leprechaun in anticipation for the day. All you lovers of crafty and fun things to do with young ones, look no further .
At home Sarah and John are wrestling with fertility pissues. Not an easy subject, but in true Cook fashion, is treated with sensitivity, honesty and as always, humor .
We can’t leave out the felines and canines in the family . The canines here have their usual moments of smiles and heart, but the felines have come to the end of their fertility days . To watch and read how Sarah and John deal with four going to the vet and home to recuperate captures the heart - and funny bone . They are family, after all.
Cook is unique in her ability to combine common sense, great life tips, empathy without judgment - and warmth . Again - like a big hug.

I was fortunate to be an early reader. I am more than “lucky enough “.
Readers, you will love this book.

[Stephanie B]

If you’re in need of some laughter and the comfort of old friends, you’re in luck. Claire Cook is back with the eighth installment of her beloved Must Love Dogs series, and Lucky Enough is as bright and wonderful as a glimmering pot o’ gold.

Told with the wit, charm, and laugh-out-loud humor that has made Must Love Dogs a fan favorite, Lucky Enough will remind you of all the things you love about this series and will have you begging for the next installment. To borrow from the Irish blessing, this novel will make your heart light and happy and your smile big and wide. Claire Cook is the kind of gifted storyteller who can perfectly blend hilarious hijinks with poignant emotion in the span of one page. She perfectly captures the perplexing messiness of life—how a day plagued with worry about the future can also be a day when you discover that your dog’s fur has been dyed green. Each book in this series is somehow funnier and more heartfelt than the one before it, and the characters feel more and more like home. I loved the Hurlihy family the moment I met them in Must Love Dogs, and eight books later, I’m even more excited to pull up a chair and join them for Sunday dinner.

While Lucky Enough stands on its own, you’ll appreciate it even more if you’ve read the previous installments. These books are even more bingeable than your favorite TV show, so whether you’re new to the series or consider the Hurlihys old friends, settle in and get ready for a doggone good time. You’re truly in for a treat.

[Sherry C.]

A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. Claire Cook is our clover. It’s always great to visit with the Must Love Dogs characters. Claire helps to guide us through the IVF process Sarah is experiencing. Seeing the world through Sarah’s eyes is comforting. She tells us the good and the bad of her life. I enjoy how Claire gives us quotes and songs throughout her books. Claire has written another great book. I’d love to see these characters in a show. Netflix… are you listening? I’m ready for book 9 Claire!
I’m glad Claire shared her COVID-19 encounter. Thank goodness she and her husband survived. If you haven’t read any of her other books you should. One of my favorite series is the WILD WATER WALKING CLUB. You’ll love those ladies. I’m glad Claire Cook didn’t give up on her dream of writing! She’s an inspiration for us all to keep reaching for our dreams. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

[Cathy]

I love the Hurlihy family; love the Must Dogs Love series, but if I'm being honest, I loved this installement a teensy bit less than some of the others. Sarah's emotional pendumlum, which always has a wide arc, swung even wider than usual; some informative parts of the book on the topics of construction and infertility - if this book had been written by a male - could only be described as mansplaining; finally, there were some forays into political correctness for kids topics that came across as awkward. Then again, when doesn't political correctness come across as awkward?

Still, it's the Hurlihys, and all these flaws combined still only dampened my enthusiasm for their antics a little bit. I also appreciated the Easter egg nods to the Must Love Dogs movie. This book, more than others, ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm hoping it's not too long before #9 comes out.

[Beth]

“Must Love Dogs: Lucky Enough” is another fun and uplifting gem in the “Must Love Dogs” series. With so many stressors in the world coming from all directions, Claire Cook offers her readers a great escape into the lives of the Hurlihy family and those who orbit their individual and collective worlds. There’s a lot going on in Sarah’s life: she’s desperate to have a baby, her father is on a toot to become Marshbury’s St. Patrick’s Day mayor, her friend/teaching assistant, Polly, is about to give birth, and Sarah’s pre-school class is as funny as ever. There’s enough chaos, love, uncertainty, mischief, and surprises to keep you reading (and laughing) late into the night. And though this can easily be read as a stand-alone book, I highly recommend starting from book one.

[Austine Frawley]

Fun quick read - I'm "Lucky Enough" to be from "Marshbury" & loved all the familiar places, events and names! and they say you can’t go home again - wrong! Loved my trip down memory lane! Thanks Claire Cook ☘️

[Cara Achterberg]

Claire Cook's style is refreshing and fun - clever dialogue and quirky characters (plus dogs and cats, of course!) create a lovely escape from the stress of life. Enjoyed the heart of this novel, and all her writing.

[Christopher Lane]

Great book, and Great Series

Can’t wait for the next one, will it all end when she is pregnant? Now I realized even a secondary character hasn’t had her baby

[Jeanne King]

Wish I had those kind of witty conversations with my family!! Just so heart warming.... I can't wait to find out the answer to the big question!

[Helynne]

St Patrick’ Day is coming soon on the “Italian Riviera” of Marshbury, Massachussetts, and Sarah’s dad “Billy Boy Hurlihy” is running for mayor of the local St. Paddy’s Day parade. He has a rival, “Sweater McShaggy,” and the competition will get fierce (well, more goofy than anything).

If all this were not enough, it's time to get the five cats spayed or neutered. What a project that is!

Meanwhile, Sarah is preparing for a March 17 celebration at her preschool that involves “leprechaun traps,” and there are lots of fun facts about Irish customs and lore. Unfortunately, Sarah’s ex-husband whose twins go to the school, keeps popping up at the worst moments. He even has the audacity to ask Sarah and John to be the godparents of the baby he and second wife Nikki are expecting. (Sarah really puts him in his place. Her response is a joy to read). I also love Sarah’s philosophy about her job: “I think being a preschool teacher is just who I am, right through to the bottom of my soul.”

The preschool also has a new teacher, Damien, a handsome black man, who is a widower with two small sons. He just may be a rival (along with Ethan —another male teacher—plus Sarah’s brother, and her father) for the affections of pregnant teacher aide, Polly. Sarah and John are still longing for a child of their own and facing some decisions about infertility treatments. I won’t reveal anything about their doctor visits, but it is the usual stuff, and all described in pretty stark detail.

I rather like the way the story ends without giving away the outcome. That choice leaves me hoping for another sequel. Or, if, as I had thought, that this is the last book of the series, we readers can be left to our own imagination and hopes for Sarah and John’s future.

[Susan Schneider]

Fun to be with the Irish family at St. Patricks! Humorous and Light. It really doesn't matter if you read them in a different order. I accidentally read the Christmas book which is the next before this one.