An Irish Country Courtship: A Novel (Irish Country Books)
Set in the 1965, this gentle slice-of-life novel is the fifth in a series about life in the colorful Ulster village of Ballybucklebo. The only doctor in town, Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, is looking for a partner and welcomes younger doctor Barry Laverty into his home and his practice. After being suddenly and publicly dumped by his girlfriend of a few months, Laverty is unsure if he wants to stay in the small town. Trying to convince him to stay, O’Reilly involves Laverty in various town intrigues, including a complicated horse-betting swindle being run by a local politician on a group of tradesmen. At the same time, the widowed O’Reilly attempts to rekindle a romance from his youth. O’Reilly’s stoic, painful attempt to build a new life for himself contrasts sharply with Laverty and his excessive whining about the breakup of a relatively short-term relationship. The town is stocked with a Hollywood-worthy cast of supporting characters, including busybodies, eccentrics, and a beautiful schoolteacher. Appendixes include a glossary for readers not familiar with Gaelic slang and recipes for dishes made in the book. --Marta Segal Block