A feel-good love story about taking chances and finding yourself, set under the endless, twinkling stars of the Wild Atlantic Way. When Kate O’Rourke takes up a temporary position as a doctor in Sandy Cove, she hopes spending time in the place where her father was from will help her find herself again. Ever since his passing she has felt lost, but she imagines the calming sound of the sea on the … the Irish coast will allow her to heal.Kate immediately feels at home in the old surgery, and as she takes walks beside the camelia bushes along Wild Rose Bay and meets every resident in the tiny village, she feels like this is where she’s meant to be. And when she’s told about local healer Cormac O’Shea, she’s excited to learn even more about the history of the area, and meet the man who every woman in town says is so charming.But Kate quickly realises that she and Cormac have different ideas about how their patients should be treated. Kate is efficient and well-organized, whilst Cormac is wild and spontaneous, passionate about his ancestors’ reliance on Irish healing. And their differences cause more sparks than Kate is prepared to admit.Just as Kate and Cormac begin to understand one another, Kate’s old life threatens to call her away from Sandy Cove forever. And she is finally forced to decide what life she wants to lead, and what kind of person she wants to be…A beautiful story about finding love in Ireland, Memories of Wild Rose Bay is a gorgeously uplifting read. Fans of Debbie Macomber, Sheila O’Flanagan and Mary Alice Monroe won’t stop turning the pages.What readers are saying about Susanne O’Leary:‘A totally captivating book from the first page, I laughed out loud at many parts and shed a few tears in others, a real hug in a book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘I couldn’t put this down! Absolutely delightful!… Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!! Loved this!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘What a wonderful read this was!… The definition of feel-good – reading it felt like sunshine… The first ‘feel-good’ novel I’ve read this year that actually made me feel good… I just couldn’t put it away.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘Oh, this was a lovely story… A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart… lots of laughter and healing make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget… sure to put a smile on your face.’ I Am, Indeed‘Another enchanting read from Susanne O’Leary and I’m delighted to learn it is the start of a series. I can’t wait to return to Sandy Cove.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars‘I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last. I recommend this book to others. You are going to enjoy it just as much as I did.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘This is the first book that I have read of Susanne O’Learys but it certainly won’t be the last, I loved every word of it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘What an enchanting story, one I really couldn’t put down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘Beautifully and brilliantly written… draws you into the story from the first word and she dangles enough bait in front of your nose to keep your interest all the way through… the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I didn’t want to break… one hell of a read, which is sure to soar to the top.’ Ginger Book Geek, 5 stars
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Memories of Wild Rose Bay by Susanne O’Leary takes place in rural Ireland, County Kerry and is the story, mostly, of a county doctor. It is billed as, “an utterly uplifting and gripping Irish romance,” and that describes it in full. Kate has come to Sandy Cove to complete her training as a general practitioner. She already has years of experience as an Accident and Emergency room doctor but she yearns to connect with her patients, to treat them as people, not just injuries/illnesses passing through. The plan is four months under the guidance of the doctor and then two months on her own. The surgery reminds her of her father, another small town g.p. and she is immediately enthralled. The house is a huge old Victorian, the assistant is a motherly Irish woman named Bridget, who cooks for the doctor as well. They even make house calls, although the doctor explains how that is part of a community effort to make sure not a day passes without human contact for these people, and between the mailman, himself, and the priest, that is what happens. It’s all perfect. There are blips along the way, of course.
Sandy Cove is a place anyone would want to love. O’Leary has drawn it so perfectly that the reader can see it as the story traverses the landscape. The characters are just that, characters. They are real people with all their quirks and oddities, but alive with personality and emotion. The story is subtle. It is not an in-your-face romance, but rather the slow growth of real feelings, at the same time as other things are happening in the village. When the romance comes, it slips in quietly and simply makes the reader smile. It is a lovely book and I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Memories of Wild Rose Bay by Net galley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own.
A doctor and a healer try to find common ground in a small Irish town.
Memories of Wild Rose Bay is book #5 in the Sandy Cove series but can be read as a standalone.
Kate was a doctor that was unhappy with the stressful and detached environment of the large Dublin hospital she worked for. She decided to apply for a job in the countryside, the place where her father’s ancestors came from.
At the village, she met Dr. Pat, the old doctor, a sweet fatherly figure that helped Kate to find her real vocation and connect to the community.
Kate is a little too cerebral for my taste, but it works within the story. She has to face her insecurities, change people’s preconceptions about a young female doctor, and, at the same time, figure out her feelings for Cormac, the local healer.
Cormac is a great character, full of mystery and mysticism. As the seventh son of a seventh son, it was believed that he had special healing powers.
I loved that Cormac and Kate had to deal with their differences, and how they both grew from the experience.
The side characters are lovely, especially Bridget, the nurse, and do-it-all.
The story takes place in beautiful Ireland with its magical beaches and magnificent scenery.
An engaging and light read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Set in the beautiful green hills and beaches of Sandy Cove and complete with characters that are so typical of Ireland it was an easy and enjoyable read!
Kate O’Rourke has decided to opt out of the stressful city hospital life and hopes that her stint as a country doctor will be a laid back one. What she didn’t quite bargain for was the old-fashioned Sandy Cove’s resistance to it’s first female doctor. But Kate manages to overcome these challenges, showing great strength of character.
What she didn’t bargain for was the ‘complication’ of meeting Cormac, the somewhat mysterious alternative healer who has gathered quite a following in Sandy Cove. The medical professional’s and the herbalist’s approach to healing are very different and there’s the inevitable skepticism, but they are strongly drawn to each other.
There is the intriguing Irish ‘myth’ of Cormac being the 7th son of the 7th son and therefore having healing powers. The history of the O’Rourke castle, which is part of Kate’s family history, add that special bit of magic and superstition to the story.
Once again, Susanne O’Leary has managed to create loveable characters. Besides the two main characters, Dr Pat, Bridget, Mick and many of the patients are endearing.
These coupled with the love story of Kate and Cormac make Memories of Wild Rose Bay a delightful read!
Memories of Wild Rose Bay is the fifth book in the Sandy Cove series by Susanne O’Leary but can read as a standalone.
This book is about Kate and her leaving the busy life of the city hospital emergency room. She heads to the country to work more as a GP. There she meets a cast of interesting characters and a new love interest.
It was a quick book which I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy