3/17 (Book) - 10/23/2010 8:16:54 PM
Pass on the corned beef, but DEFINITELY read 3/17!!!
I have just finished reading Mary Pat Hyland's new book, 3/17, and am once again already missing her characters! Hyland has another winner to add to her collection...3/17 is a humorously brilliant tale of the trials and tribulations of a traditional band from Ireland trapped in pre-St. Patrick's Day festivities in upstate NY. A parody of Dante's inferno, this clever book leads readers through the 9 circles of St. Patrick's Day hell in America. For anyone who has witnessed some of the scenes described in the book, you will understand the utter terror of the band! As usual, Hyland's mastery of believable conversations and endearing characters make it very hard to put the book down. You will laugh, you will wince, and you will be unable to wait to hear what happens next...all the makings of a GREAT book!
You do not have to be Irish to love this book...St. Patrick's Day revelry is a part of all of us. Grab a corned beef sandwich & a pint & sit back for a wild ride...3/17 will get your toes tapping and your shamrock bobbers bobbing!!!
A Sudden Gift of Fate: Book 2 Maeve Kenny Series (Book) - 12/1/2009 8:59:34 PM
(NOTE: These have been e-mailed to me by my readers.)
Ingrid Jordak, upstate NY:
A Sudden Gift of Fate, Mary Pat Hyland’s sequel to The Cyber Miracles, continues the stories of Maeve, Andy, Fergal and Bridgeen in the beautiful setting of upstate New York. This endearing foursome, that so many readers of the first book fell in love with, face new challenges with Irish wit and a generally upbeat outlook on life. They’re a group of friends that anyone would want to hang out with.
Set largely in Binghamton and on Keuka Lake, the novel takes the reader through the trials and tribulations of starting up a winery and an organic bakery with a pro-small-business environmental consciousness and an emphasis on the local agriculture and organic food movements. The dialogue sometimes makes you laugh out loud and often makes you smile.
A Sudden Gift of Fate is a fun and fast read. The next step is for both novels to appear on the silver screen where they can give My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Under the Tuscan Sun a run for the money.
Mary Pat Tuxbury, author, Florence, Montana:
Pour a glass of wine and sit down by the fire; the scéalaí, (storyteller), is in the house.
A Sudden Gift of Fate, by Mary Pat Hyland, is pure dead brilliant. Hyland takes you on a read from the west of Ireland to New York state in this fast-paced novel.
Fergal and Brídgeen Griffin are newlyweds planning a quiet life in Ireland, when wealthy cousin Colm, gifts them a failed winery in upstate New York. With only their Irish charm, they arrive at the Finger Lakes to start anew.
Maeve Kenny, on the other hand, has a life of uncertainty. Her love interest, Andy Krall, is not only younger, but is wheelchair-bound from a spinal cord injury. Brídgeen and Maeve share a long-standing friendship. Their sisterhood keeps them hopeful for tomorrow as they make their way through each day.
Maeve's stormy highs and lows give her cause to cross paths with multifarious characters, who give her insights about life. Each story brings something to her soul which she adds to her knowledge to find the strength and inner peace to carry on.
A Sudden Gift of Fate is a sequel to Hyland's novel, The Cyber Miracles. The author's fast-paced journalistic style keeps the reader turning pages. The use of Irish language brings the lilt needed to round out the persistent dark humor and pragmatism found in Irish speakers.
A Sudden Gift of Fate: Book 2 Maeve Kenny Series (Book) - 10/18/2009 7:55:33 PM
A Sudden Gift of Fate - A (Grape) Smashing Success!
I have eagerly been awaiting the arrival of "A Sudden Gift of Fate", the sequel to Mary Pat Hyland's first novel, "The Cyber Miracles"! I especially was interested in finding out how she would weave New York's Finger Lakes wine country into her new book. Not only has she successfully captured the spirit and excitement of the Finger Lakes wine industry, she has given us a glimpse as to what goes on behind the scenes in producing award winning wines! Each chapter starts with a short description of the grapes used in winemaking and their history!
With the beautiful Finger Lakes setting as a backdrop, Hyland weaves stories of the 2 main couples from her first novel into 2 compelling story lines that gracefully move in and out of each other as they follow each couple through their joys, frustrations, and celebrations. The theme of HOPE is central to both storylines and blends the stories together as if they were ingredients in one of Maeve's bakery treats.
As many of the characters in this book are from Ireland, Hyland's command of Gaelic is a definite plus in her book, and conversations flow easily and natually. Her knowledge of Irish customs provides a great source of backdrops for various scenes in the book. This coupled with her hands on knowledge of the Finger Lakes region makes for very believable situations and conversations!
I literally could not put this book down. It moved at a good pace, and held my interest from start to finish. I loved the characters, both the new and the old, and genuinely missed reading about them when the book was done. This book is another stellar offering from Hyland...I can't wait for the next book in the series!!!
The Cyber Miracles: Book 1 Maeve Kenny Series (Book) - 8/30/2008 8:02:04 PM
The Cyber Miracles, Mary Pat Hyland's debut novel, is an incredible read! I absolutely LOVED the characters and could not wait to read the book as I raced home from work each day. When I was done, I really, really missed them!
This book has something for everyone...romance, spirituality, humor, mystery...you can't help but love it! Mary Pat's characters' dialogues are natural and delightful, flowing easily like the NY FingerLakes region's famous waterfalls. You thirst for more as you eagerly devour each page, and you are not disappointed. Maeve, Andy, and the rest of her characters are believable friends who you thoroughly enjoy. I often laughed out loud at their predicaments as I could easily identify with them!
I hope we hear more from this talented author! I am eagerly awaiting her sequel, and hope that the right person will read this book and make it into a movie!!! I'll be first in line! :-)
The Cyber Miracles: Book 1 Maeve Kenny Series (Book) - 8/30/2008 4:52:40 PM
A full disclosure – I am Mary Pat’s niece-in-law and friend. I would, however, enthusiastically recommend The Cyber Miracles whether or not I knew the author personally. The novel is just the sort of book I would be naturally drawn if I saw it on display at a bookstore or library. The title sparks interest, combining the reality of technology-driven world in which we live with the real need for spiritual guidance. As I begin to read the novel, I feel a connection with the main character, Maeve Kenny. Perhaps this connection is due to my age, faith, background, or the incredible period of transition I have been experiencing in my own life. More probably it is because Maeve is someone that any reader can relate to. Similarly, the other characters in the book reach out and grab you. They remind you of people you know, admire, love, and in some cases, just can’t stand! The author sets these characters in a world of interesting environments, captivating stories, and nail-biting suspense, but still, a world that is very much our own. The Cyber Miracles is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to make some new friends, laugh out loud, and think deeply about the miracles that are just waiting to happen in our own backyard.
