If I had to summarize this book in one sentence, I'd say it's a book about connections, both with family and others. Maeve and Therese Dunigan may be sisters but they're nothing alike. Or, are they? Brought together again after their mother's death, they squabble but agree to their mother's last request, that they travel to Ireland to investigate their family heritage. There's also the question of an old, maybe valuable, maybe not, portrait of their supposed grandmother. One of the background stories involves their mother having squandered their inheritance, basically, to take out a second mortgage on their family home, the money going to a fast talking televangelist who solicited money constantly. There's also a sexy distiller at Tarrymore Mansion, which was their mother's childhood home until she mysteriously sailed to America. And, well, more, but those are the highlights of the sister's journey with them, first, learning to tolerate each other than, gradually, connect in more ways than they'd ever thought possible.
I liked both sisters, to be honest, though probably related more to cautious, do-the-right-thing Maeve more than Theresa, the wild child of the two. A wannabe actress, she's rarely settled in one spot for long and lived, let's call it, life in the fast lane. Liam, the Irish romantic interest of Maeve, is substitute tour guide the day Maeve and Therese arrive and Maeve feels an immediate attraction, so you know this will be part of the big story. Even some of the characters that initially appear a bit, well, off-putting, turn out to be simply quirky and are ultimately relatively likable....sorta. Not saying more about that as you'll see how it plays into the plot. The plot flows fairly well, with interesting side trips to share the countryside with us or even offer a bit of insight into not just the current day but flashbacks to not just the sisters' mother's Irish life but her arrival at Ellis Island and how those coming through the island as immigrants were treated and the uncertainty of what lay before them. The former history major in me was intrigued, particularly knowing some of my own ancestors surely traveled those same walkways. Just as the two sisters are learning and reflecting on past events while trying to sort out their futures, readers may find such pertinent personal moments to also reflect upon. Oh, and there's a dog, too. Grin.
Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The sisters, while connected by blood didn't feel close but found out they had more in common than they knew. The bits of mystery connected to the portrait and what really happened to make their mother leave Ireland so suddenly were an intriguing part of the story, as were the point of view from their mother of her early days in America. It was fun to see both Maeve and Therese not just come together as sisters but find romance, too, Maeve, with her long tendency to play things safe, after a shove from Therese. Thanks #StMartin'sPress for introducing me to them and giving me an early peek into their lives via a fun, virtual trip to Ireland. Some of those pubs are wild!
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