Irish Moonlight [Paperback]

OK. There's the basic story. The characters were pretty enjoyable and the bare bones of the story were plausible, but there are enough small holes in this plot to collapse the Hoover Dam (maybe I exaggerate a little, but small holes in the logic drive me bonkers!). First of all, if Erin and Con are so close, *why* doesn't Con ever mention Aisling to Erin? Erin's brother, Nolan, has known all along. Con's parents, who appear to regard Erin as their own daughter, never tell her either. And this is over an 18-year period -- never once is Aisling brought up! Secondly, when he saw Erin so determined to stop Con's wedding, *why* didn't Nolan, her "close and caring" twin, say anything? Finally, if Con and Erin are so close, *why* does Con think she is shy, when it is made extremely clear that she is not?

I would also like to know what "nerdy" means in Kate Freiman's mind. The adjective brings to mind the stereotypical glasses, pocket protector, no-sun-exposure skin image for me -- in this story, we have three "nerdy" people, Erin who is beautiful, her twin Nolan who is as handsome as his sister is beautiful, and athletic to boot, and Con, who is never described as handsome, but you get the impression he is, and *he* is also active and athletic! If only all "nerds" could be so lucky....these three aren't nerds. They're intelligent people who have trouble relating to others, but they are definitely not "nerds."

Despite all of this, I still enjoyed IRISH MOONLIGHT. The secondary characters are very sympathetic, and Phelan is one of these wish-they-really-existed heroes (apart from seeming a little full of himself at times, that is!). The sense of connection between Erin and Phelan is very real -- this love story is believable in spite of its holes.

Unlike some other books I've read, I do no regret spending my money on Kate Freiman's charming tale.

When Erin and her twin Nolan arrive from America, Phelan is stunned that Con thinks she is a wallflower. Instead, the very tall American seems more like a lioness that Phelan finds very beautiful. To her surprise, Erin is attracted to the handsome Irishman, but she knows how fickle looks can be. Erin and Phelan fall in love, but neither desires a relationship. Also she worries that Aisligng is marrying Con for his money and plans to insure that her nerdy buddy is not ripped off by his fiancee.

IRISH MOONLIGHT is an entertaining romance that adds a wee bit of magic to propel the tale forward. The story lien is amusing, especially the interplay between the lead characters. The support cast augments the novel by providing insight into the personalities of Phelan and Erin. Kate Freiman has written a genial story that is welcome relief for readers who simply want to peruse a fun to read love story.

Harriet Klausner