Sisters of Willow House: Utterly heartwarming, feel good Irish fiction

Many years ago when I lived in Ireland the only books I read was from Irish authors. This is a great story that brought me back to those amazing authors. Maeve asks her sister Roisin to help her restore their aunts mansion Willow House. Is a break from her husband what Roisin needs? Great story with some really likeable characters. A feel good holiday read that I’ll certainly be recommending to others. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Roisin and Cian were married during university, and now with three teenaged sons, selling up their very successful business and an unexpected inheritance have plenty of time on their hands and enough disposable income to take a break. It’s been non-stop work and organization for the past twenty or so years, and while both needed a break – they are getting under one another’s feet. The extra money allowed for the boys to go to the boarding school they wanted, and the allure of “ladies who lunch” falls flat at Roisin’s feet. But, shortly after the new year, Cian arrives with his dream idea – a new campervan and plans to travel up the west coast of Ireland (a trip they have never done), while living ‘glamorously rough’. One problem: Roisin hates camping and since Cian had never told her about the plan for the campervan, and then named it Rita after his first girlfriend, her nose is most certainly out of joint. But relief comes in the form of Maeve, living at Sandy Cove with her husband Paschal and overseeing the renovations at Willow House while Aunt Phil is on a book tour in the states. Maeve is now pregnant, much to their delight, and he doctors have told her to stay off her feet and stay away from stress. The renovations are the perfect project for Roisin to get stuck into: her penchant for timelines, deadlines and spreadsheets, and her ability to get people working to those deadlines will be the key to having the house completed. But Cian isn’t so keen. They decide that he and his friend Andrew will go off and explore the wilds of Ireland, seeing the sights while Roisin goes to Sandy Cove to manage construction and look after Maeve. And here things go left – as Sandy Cove villagers are more attuned to the goings on in town than one would expect, and Roisin has to both chase down the builder and find a way to get him to actually show up. With a new arrival in town: Declan, former RTE investigative reporter now under a cloud of ‘shame’ due to his expose on government officials. A favorite of Roisin’s – the two have an instant spark, which she passes off as friendship – Declan is interested in what she has to say, listens, challenges and intrigues her. And while he claims to only want friendship – she’s happy to fill that void. Of course, there is no such thing as privacy when the paparazzi are around, and soon photos of Declan and Roisin, as well as the story of her ‘split’ with Cian and being in the company of womanizer Declan all lead to some sketchy stories and plenty of angst. Actually enough angst to have Cian contacting her for the first time in a while, although maintaining contact with his sons. A nasty winter storm, the boys on half-term break and Declan declaring both his interest and Roisin discovering his secrets, she’s feeling pretty low. Until the surprise arrival of Cian, a long talk, and ideas that flow like water as the two realize that the break they had, added to a rediscovering of their own needs, desires and commitment as a couple give them a lovely second chance at life. When you add in the ‘discovery’ of a new and unknown cousin, the imminent arrival of Maeve and Paschal’s baby, and the soon to be open boutique B & B at Willow House, the story held all of the charm of Ireland and family as the first, and promises so much more to come in the future. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.