Rating: 
Summary: thanks for taking me home...
Review: I don't read romance novels, but in the case of Dorien Kelly's "The Last Bride of Ballymuir," I made an exception. To my great joy I found a tale of haunting truth told honestly, a message of hope forged into being, where none should exist, and a new writer of whom I shall expect much. The lion's share of the action in this tale is internal: that of the struggle of its two main characters. Both seek to overcome reputations earned, rightly or wrongly, find the courage to stand for themselves, one another, and the right to eek out a bit of happiness in a small town which holds staunchly to its quirky ways. Michael Kilbride's evolution throughout this novel is nothing short of heartwrenching. He is a "throw away" child who must learn not to give up on himself. Kylie O'Shea, in classic Irish form, is fighting the ghost of a past not of her making. She is a true heroine, willing the carry the cross of her shame, rather than run from her home. One could compare this work the the epic Irish classic "Deirdre of the Sorrows," wherein two lovers must run the risk of tearing apart the very fabric of thier lives for the hope of a love that will stand for all time. Dorien Kelly's Ireland is the one I remember, the one I ache for, and through her writing, the one I can find myself standing upon once more. Only twice have I read a novel in which I have missed the characters for days afterwards. The Last Bride in Ballymuir is one of those two.
I sense, the next two in Kelly's triolgy will do likewise.Sean OTuathal
Writer, Poet, Literature Teacher
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Read
Review: I loved THE LAST BRIDE OF BALLYMUIR. Great Irish setting. A terrific read!!!
Rating:
Summary: A get away from it all romance
Review: I loved this book. I read it in 3 days, then turned back to page one and read it again. The characters are so alive, with such deep scars, and the way Michael and Kylie reach for each other is so poignant, I didn't want to leave them behind. Michael is one of the best heroes I've ever read, with flaws and no excuses for past mistakes, and Kylie is the perfect match for him. The Irish setting only adds to the appeal. This is a perfect, get away from it all romance.
Rating:
Summary: More please!
Review: I picked up this book at the airport because it had an intriguing title. For once, I lucked out and found an excellent book. This is an author worth pursuing. I was delighted to find that this is the first in a trilogy. It was a beautifully written book. The main characters are very human. Their tragic pasts are overcome by the end of the book without syrupy prose and syrupy sweet or too-quaint characterizations of small town village people. The description of life in West Ireland felt realistic. The main and supporting characters had flaws and shared an ironic sense of humor which I found refreshing. Beware, this is a very quick read. You will be left wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: The Last Bride in Ballymuir
Review: I rarely read romance novels, but in the case of Dorien Kelly's "The Last Bride of Ballymuir," I made an exception. To my great joy I found a tale of haunting truth told honestly, a message of hope forged into being where none should exist, and a new writer of whom I shall expect much. The lion's share of the action in this tale is internal: that of the struggle of its two main characters. Both seek to overcome reputations earned, rightly or wrongly, find the courage to stand for themselves, one another, and the right to eek out a bit of happiness in a small town which holds staunchly to its quirky ways. Michael Kilbride's evolution throughout this novel is nothing short of heartwrenching. He is a "throw away" child who must learn not to give up on himself. Kylie O'Shea, in classic Irish form, is fighting the ghost of a past not of her making. She is a true heroine, willing the carry the cross of her shame, rather than run from her home. One could compare this work the the epic Irish classic "Deirdre of the Sorrows," wherein two lovers must run the risk of tearing apart the very fabric of thier lives for the hope of a love that will stand for all time. Dorien Kelly's Ireland is the one I remember, the one I ache for, and through her writing, the one I can find myself standing upon once more. Only twice have I read a novel in which I have missed the characters for days afterwards. The Last Bride in Ballymuir is one of those two.
I sense, the next two in Kelly's triolgy will do likewise. Sean OTuathal
Writer, Poet, Literature Teacher
Rating:
Summary: The Last Bride in Ballymuir
Review: I rarely read romance novels, but in the case of Dorien Kelly's "The Last Bride of Ballymuir," I made an exception. To my great joy I found a tale of haunting truth told honestly, a message of hope forged into being where none should exist, and a new writer of whom I shall expect much. The lion's share of the action in this tale is internal: that of the struggle of its two main characters. Both seek to overcome reputations earned, rightly or wrongly, find the courage to stand for themselves, one another, and the right to eek out a bit of happiness in a small town which holds staunchly to its quirky ways. Michael Kilbride's evolution throughout this novel is nothing short of heartwrenching. He is a "throw away" child who must learn not to give up on himself. Kylie O'Shea, in classic Irish form, is fighting the ghost of a past not of her making. She is a true heroine, willing the carry the cross of her shame, rather than run from her home. One could compare this work the the epic Irish classic "Deirdre of the Sorrows," wherein two lovers must run the risk of tearing apart the very fabric of thier lives for the hope of a love that will stand for all time. Dorien Kelly's Ireland is the one I remember, the one I ache for, and through her writing, the one I can find myself standing upon once more. Only twice have I read a novel in which I have missed the characters for days afterwards. The Last Bride in Ballymuir is one of those two.
I sense, the next two in Kelly's triolgy will do likewise. Sean OTuathal
Writer, Poet, Literature Teacher
Rating:
Summary: The Last Bride in Ballymuir
Review: I rarely read romance novels, but in the case of Dorien Kelly's "The Last Bride of Ballymuir," I made an exception. To my great joy I found a tale of haunting truth told honestly, a message of hope forged into being where none should exist, and a new writer of whom I shall expect much. The lion's share of the action in this tale is internal: that of the struggle of its two main characters. Both seek to overcome reputations earned, rightly or wrongly, find the courage to stand for themselves, one another, and the right to eek out a bit of happiness in a small town which holds staunchly to its quirky ways. Michael Kilbride's evolution throughout this novel is nothing short of heartwrenching. He is a "throw away" child who must learn not to give up on himself. Kylie O'Shea, in classic Irish form, is fighting the ghost of a past not of her making. She is a true heroine, willing the carry the cross of her shame, rather than run from her home. One could compare this work the the epic Irish classic "Deirdre of the Sorrows," wherein two lovers must run the risk of tearing apart the very fabric of thier lives for the hope of a love that will stand for all time. Dorien Kelly's Ireland is the one I remember, the one I ache for, and through her writing, the one I can find myself standing upon once more. Only twice have I read a novel in which I have missed the characters for days afterwards. The Last Bride in Ballymuir is one of those two.
I sense, the next two in Kelly's triolgy will do likewise. Sean OTuathal
Writer, Poet, Literature Teacher
Rating: 
Summary: Hope this is Really the Last Bride of Ballymuir
Review: I rarely read, what my step-daughter calls, "bodice rippers" but I was seduced by the title of this romance and the cover which promised a romantic tale set in Ireland. What I discovered was a thin plot peopled with stock characters, and stilted dialogue which made an effort to mimic the Irish twist on the English language. The back cover of the paperback promised immersion into a world of "age-old beauty and tradition," and deep passions, but what I discovered was essentially episodes of soft porn mechanically placed so as to whet the reader's appetite for a true Irish romance while delivering a formula for commercial success. The language of the novel was simplistic, ..., and the pace excruciatingly slow.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, wonderful book
Review: I'm just sorry it took me this long to get to Dorien Kelly's wonderful book. This is a book to be savored -- beyond the setting and a real (and not always rosy) depiction of small-town living, she gives us a hero to die for in Michael, and a near-saintly woman who is still someone you can sympathize with in Kylie. And the conflict is both believable and heart-breaking. I can't wait until the sequel in March!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, wonderful book
Review: I'm just sorry it took me this long to get to Dorien Kelly's wonderful book. This is a book to be savored -- beyond the setting and a real (and not always rosy) depiction of small-town living, she gives us a hero to die for in Michael, and a near-saintly woman who is still someone you can sympathize with in Kylie. And the conflict is both believable and heart-breaking. I can't wait until the sequel in March!
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