by Patrick Taylor
What Amazon Says
Patrick Taylor’s New York Times and USA Today bestseller, An Irish Country Christmas, celebrates the season in this third novel of his beloved series.
Barry Laverty, M.B., is looking forward to his first Christmas in the cozy village of Ballybucklebo, at least until he learns that his sweetheart, Patricia, might not be coming home for the holidays. That unhappy prospect dampens his spirits somewhat, but Barry has little time to dwell on his romantic disappointments. Christmas may be drawing nigh, but there is little peace to be found on Earth, especially for a young doctor plying his trade in the emerald hills and glens of rural Ireland.
Along with his senior partner, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, Barry has his hands full dealing with seasonal coughs and colds, as well as the occasional medical emergency. To add to the doctors’ worries, competition arrives in the form of a patient-poaching new physician whose quackery threatens the health and well-being of the good people of Ballybucklebo. Can one territory support three hungry doctors? Barry has his doubts.
But the wintry days and nights are not without a few tidings of comfort and joy. Between their hectic medical practice, Rugby Club parties, and the kiddies’ Christmas Pageant, the two doctors still find time to play Santa Claus to a struggling single mother with a sick child and not enough money in the bank. Snow is rare in Ulster, and so are miracles, but that doesn’t mean they never happen.
My Thoughts
I had the pleasure of meeting Patrick Taylor last year when he appeared as a guest on Writing Works Wonders. I found him just as delightful as his books.
An Irish Country Christmas didn’t disappoint me. Like An Irish Country Cottage, one of the later books in the series that I read a couple of years ago, it made me long for the good old days when doctors made house calls and were readily available to answer questions and address concerns about medical conditions.
Despite the hassle of the doctors’ busy practice, the consternation caused by the new doctor’s presence and unorthodox methods, and the hardships patients faced, I found myself laughing many times while reading it. Patrick Taylor’s characters are well-developed, and the way he draws readers into his story makes this another hard book to put down.
One nice thing about this series is that you can read each book as a stand-alone because plenty of background information is given. The down side is that if you, like me, have already read An Irish Country Cottage, , you might think the endingto An Irish Country Christmas will be different. Nevertheless, it will surprise and delight you.
I know it’s Christmas Eve, and the last thing on your mind right now is reading another holiday book. But I assure you this is a worthwhile read. You can put it on your list for next year’s holiday season. Merry Christmas!
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In case you missed my interview on local radio station KROE that took place on Monday, you can click here to listen to a recording. My actual interview starts about four minutes and 18 seconds into it. Enjoy!
Now, I have one exciting event to announce, and I hope you’ll be able to take advantage of it. Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me, The Red Dress, and My Ideal Partner are now absolutely free as part of the Smashwords end-of-year sale, which will run until December 31st. You can click here for more information and to download these books.
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
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