An Irish Country Girl (Irish Country, Book 4)

This is another in the fine books by patrick taylor. It is more background on one of the characters in his other Irish Country books. It is a charming tale.

In the last month or so I have read all of Patrick Taylor's books about Ballybucklebo one after the other on my Kindle. I've enjoyed all of them for the cozy, light reading about a subject I love, Ireland, and the engaging characters. This newest book conveniently became available at just about the time I had finished "An Irish Country Christmas". When I first started to read it, I'll admit I was a bit disappointed to realize that the focus had shifted from the doctors to the housekeeper, Kinky Kinkaid. At first it took me awhile to get into the book because it began so differently than the others I had read so recently, however, this story of Kinky Kinkaid with its characters, settings and supernatural occurrences grew to become my favorite of the four books. I think this book would make a fantastic movie! My only complaint would be over a part in the book where young Maureen (Kinky) is talking to her young love when they are first getting to know each other. Mr. Taylor has the character ask if Maureen is a 'Republican' and she says "no!" and tells him how her father insisted their family would have nothing to do with politics. Then the young man agrees that he has no interest whatsoever either... and this all taking place at around 1925 in County Cork... of all places! I found it a stretch to imagine two people at that time, and especially, in that particular location, would come from families that had no opinion on the War for Independence and the Irish Civil War... and I would expect at least one of them to have Republican sympathies! It was very unrealistic and a bit dismissive of some big issues in Ireland, at that time especially! I get it that Patrick Taylor is from the North and probably didn't want to get into this subject too deeply in this type of book, but then I don't get why he seemed to go to pains to bring it up and then make clear that such a volatile and important current event would be so unimportant to the characters. To me, having the characters bring it up, and then dismiss it showing no Republican fervor or even an opinion... was in itself a political statement.

'An Irish Country Girl' is the 4th book in Patrick Taylor's "Irish Country" series. I strongly recommend reading the first three books first. 'An Irish Country Doctor', 'An Irish Country Village', and 'An Irish Country Christmas', in that order. You should really get to know Kinky Kincaid (the doctor's housekeeper) as the woman she is today, before taking this pause in the stories of Dr. O'Reilly and Dr. Laverty's adventures and misadventures as country doctors back in 1960's Ireland. 'An Irish Country Girl' takes a step away from the doctor's, and gives us the charming tale of Kinky's girlhood, growing up in County Cork before moving to upland County Ulster and settling into Ballybuckleboo. A few questions are answered here, especially Kinky's ability to be fey at times. As Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, Caitlin "Kitty" O'Hallorhan, and young Dr. Barry Laverty make their way out of the house on Christmas day to Ballybuckleboo House for the marquis' Christmas Day Open House, housekeeper Kinky Kincaid welcomes the visiting children with hot black current juice and sweet mince pies ... and the promise of a tale of ghosts and spirits. Therefore, Kinky begins, with a tale from her own youth. She tells of Conner MacTaggart, and how he cuts down a Blackthorn tree, even after being warned by Kinky's mother that the "Doov Shee", or dark fairies, live under Blackthorns. Kinky, known as Maureen back then, knew her older sister Fidelma, was sweet on Conner and planning to marry him. The story isn't a happy one, as Conner angers the Doov Shee and the Queen of the Doov Shee takes her revenge. The children leave satisfied at Kinky's tale, but as Kinky continues to prepare the doctor's Christmas dinner, her thoughts continue to wander back to the time of her girlhood, Fidelma's loss of Conner, and how Kinky met her own young husband Paudeen. It was great to get to know Kinky better, but as I said you'll want to introduce yourself to her in the first books. It's better to know where she is now first, before getting acquainted with her as a girl. There's a lot to the tale, and the book is a fast read just as the previous 'Irish Country' books are. There was a little slowing at the end, drawing out the finale, but that would be the only grouse over the story. Taylor has the ability to absorb you into his world, take you all the way to Ireland and really feel what it was like for Kinky during that timeframe in a sometimes volatile place. Reading about Kinky made me feel young again too! Taylor is a talented and knowledgeable writer, speeding you through the pages with fully fleshed characters that you find yourself caring a great deal about. Included in the back of the book are some of Kinky's recipes and a glossary of the Irish terms used in the book. Now I can't wait for the next book, and get back to Dr's O'Reilly and Laverty with their busy medical practice and budding romances. Thank you, Mr. Taylor, for another great installment in 'Irish

As with Patrick Taylor's other books, the reader is transported to another place, another time. It is a comfort to read a book that is written with such warmth. I can tell you that the ghosty part of this book can be quite believable! It's very enjoyable to get to know Kinky so well as the other characters from his previous books.This book is very easy to recommend to friends. Have a listen to the audiobook - the telling of the tale is very vivid.

In Ballybucklebo, Ireland, Kinky Kincaid serves as housekeeper to small village's two doctors (Dr. Barry Laverty and Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly). On Christmas Day, Kinky turns storyteller as she spins a spellbinder to the children with the tale of the St. Stephen's Day ghost. When she was a child the age of her audience, Kinky was known as Maureen O'Hanlon. She had the unique skill of seeing the future. As Kinky tells about dark fairies to enraptured fans, back then Maureen must choose between her heart and her career. The latest Ballybucklebo Irish County cozy (see An Irish Country Christmas, An Irish Country Doctor and An Irish Country Village) is another superb tale with a neat twist as the previous support player housekeeper takes the lead effortlessly. The story line has two key plots one of which is Kinky's past when she had to make up her mind and choose one of two roads and the present when she tells the ghost tale. Fans will relish this terrific twist as Kinky proves to be a superb storyteller as the top banana title lead character. Harriet Klausner