It’s been two years since a drunk driving accident claimed the life of Elinor Walsh’s fiancé. Though she’s forged on to create a thriving design business for herself, the past still haunts her. Prompted by her friends, she finally capitulates and schedules a flight to Ireland—a trip that should have been her honeymoon. Armed with just a list her fiancé wrote and the keys to a rental car, Elinor heads to Galway, never dreaming that the people she meets there will change her life forever. Confronted with a choice—her past with an old friend or her future with a new one—will she finally be able to move beyond her grief? Or will she cut her losses, and her trip short, and miss out on the one thing she never expected?

I’m in a lot of reading groups online, and every year people as for Christmas story recommendations, but I never have any. Even though it’s after Christmas, I decided to read a few. I stumbled upon this book and new-to-me author Elizabeth Ludwig.

Ludwig’s style is easy to read and engaging. She immediately pulled me in and kept my attention with just enough tension without making me read to the very end of the book to figure out why.

Two minor sniffs about this book:
1. She travels to Ireland and meets … two Texans. Why not Irishmen?
2. This isn’t really a romance. Though there is romance, I’d classify it as women’s fiction. I recommend reading it with that expectation.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and Ludwig’s style. I’ll definitely read more!

Rated PG for thematic elements. Get your copy here!