Kindle Edition Amazon Amazon the Empress of Ireland Category:  Romance Publisher: Booka to Go Now Type: Fiction Pages: 75 Copyright: March 2, 2014 Price: $1.99 (eBook) The first story in a sweet romance series, Places to See.  Laila Byrne made a final promise to her friend. She will travel more and work less. After sticking a pin in a map of the world, she heads off to Ireland.  Laila's trip doesn't work out as planned, but the mix-up results in a chance encounter with a handsome Irishman, Alasdair.  Alasdair spends all his waking hours trying to figure out how to keep his family’s century old pub, The Empress of Ireland, open for business. He doesn’t have time for anything. But when the lovely American comes across his path, will he find time?  Once you come to Ireland, you may never leave.       Excerpt “Please, it’s a terrible night. It’s Sunday and there’s nothing else open. Except this umbrella.” He held it out to her. “Is this a peace offering, since I was the dummy who forgot mine?” “Call it what you will. Is this your first night in Ireland?” “Yes. I flew in today.” “Then it can’t start out like this. But I have to warn ya, most people who come, never leave.” He gave her a wink that made his eyes sparkle under the dim streetlights. He was kind of cute, and what else could she do? “This is Kinsale not Brigadoon,” she said with a chuckle. “Let me take your bag,” he offered. “By the way, the name’s Alasdair. You can’t be walking the streets at night with a complete stranger.” He smiled again. Okay, he was really cute with ebony tousled hair and emerald green eyes. She popped open the umbrella and raised it above their heads. He stepped close and put a tentative hand around her back to join her under the cover. He was warm, solid and smelled like firewood. Her stomach did a little flip. “Shall we?” he asked. She smiled. “Sure.”

What a great love story!
Wow!
What a great story. I love Ireland and this story is full of vivid picturesque scenery. The relationship between Laila Byrne and Alasdair, (what a great name) is sweet and special. They both share the love of good food and a great restaurant. What a perfect match.

Everything about this book I immensely enjoyed.

Travel to Ireland
This is the first in the series, Places To See, and after reading this fun story, I look forward to the next in the series!

After the death of their friend, Chef Laila Byrne and four of her friends vow to travel in memory of Janelle, who has written in her last wishes to them: "I want all of you to experience something in your lives other than your jobs. You need to have adventures, see the world and look for love. Stick a pin in the map of the world and then travel there."

Laila’s pin lands on Kinsale, Ireland.

When she reaches the small village, she’s tired and hungry, cold and wet from lugging her bags through the rain, and then learns that the bed and breakfast she’d booked is closed for a week while the forgetful elderly owner is away.

When he learns there’s nowhere else for her to stay, the kind—and handsome—Alasdair, owner of the Empress of Ireland, offers to let her spend the night in the rooms above the pub where his grandmother lives. And the next day, when the cook quits in exchange for Laila’s offer to help out, he promises her a personally guided tour of Kinsale.

Read more to find out what kind of adventures Laila experiences on her vacation in Ireland...and then stay tuned for the next in the series!

Love can bloom in the most unexpected situations
Laila Byrne is a chef in a posh upscale restaurant - she finally has her dream job, but nothing else. Laila spends her time with her girlfriends, all have no children and no life outside of their careers. Every one of them are married to their jobs. Shocked at the sudden loss of one of their group,the women gather to mourn and honor, Janelle. Janelle's last request is that each of the women take a vacation and explore somewhere new.

Laila sets off to fulfill her promise to Janelle and goes to Kinsale, Ireland. She finds herself without a place to stay and wanders into a local pub to warm herself and eat a meal. Alasdair, the pub's owner, is struggling to keep his family business afloat. His cook walks out on him to take another job, and he is left with no one, except his elderly grandmother to keep his kitchen going.

Feeling sorry for the two, Laila offers to help in the kitchen. This was not the vacation Laila had planned - it's better. She finds that she still loves cooking, and that love can bloom from the most unexpected situations.