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Raven of the Sea

The O'Brien Tales, Book 1

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About this listen

Against the backdrop of windswept, coastal Ireland, two people are brought together under unlikely circumstances, one scarred by tragedy, the other by betrayal.

Branna O’Mara never expected to be orphaned at the age of 23. When she lost her father, Major Brian O’Mara, USMC in the Second Battle of Fallujah, she thought she’d taken the worst life had to give. She never imagined she would lose her mother to cancer six years later.

The life of a military child prepared her for the challenges of relocating, but for the first time, she’d be doing it alone. Where do you go when you’re the last man standing? The solution came to her when she received an email with a real estate listing in County Clare, Ireland. Having inherited her parents’ rental properties, she knew the value of a diamond in the rough. A secluded cottage in the land of her ancestors was just the fresh start she needed. What she wasn’t prepared for was another buyer, after the deal had been struck. As she becomes intertwined with the people, the music, and the spirit of the small town, she understands that she’s finally found somewhere to belong. Michael O’Brien and the entire O’Brien clan are a force to be reckoned with, but she will not allow them to take her new home.

Michael O’Brien is a local hero and rescue swimmer for the Irish Coast Guard. He has lived in the small coastal village of Doolin, in County Clare, all of his life. Emerging from the ashes of a failed marriage, and living with his parents, is not where he expected to be at the age of 29. All he really wants is to buy the local Kelly cottage, fix it up, and live in peace. After two years on the market, he never imagined there would be a competing bidder. He certainly didn’t expect some little yank to swoop in to town and try to buy it right out from under him. He finds himself drawn into an unlikely battle with a fiery, young American woman, neither of them willing to bend. But as her secrets unravel and the woman is revealed, will he be able to push her out of the cottage, the town, and out of his life?

Recommended for mature listeners due to some explicit language and adult sexual content.

©2021 Stacey Reynolds (P)2021 Podium Audio Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Romance
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I couldn’t finish the story as I got too bored. Very predictable story but seemed juvenile.

Unremarkable story

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Branna O’Mara leaves the U.S. to buy a cottage in small-town Ireland; having lost her mother to cancer and her father to war, she feels she is all alone in the world and an extreme change of scenery will do her good. Michael O’Brien is one of the many gorgeous O’Brien boys (and one sister) in Doolin: he’s not only a real-life hero, but he believes he’s bought the same adorable little cottage in his quaint hometown. This mix-up leaves these strangers inexplicably as forced housemate for 90 days, while the elderly owner decides who truly should get ownership of the property.

The premise is silly and some of the romantic struggles were trite, but this was—for the most part—a really good book with a cute setup and a lot of interesting characters. This was basically my introduction to big, sweeping romantic epics and I’ve got no issue with the simple “will they, won’t they” and “enemies to lovers” tropes and whatnot. The romance is hot and the story progresses well.

My issue is that the dialogue was repetitive (take a shot every time you hear LOOK AT ME, BRANNA and you’ll die of alcohol poisoning), and maybe there were a few too many characters. By the end there’s 47 O’Brien boys all talking at once and you can’t keep the handsome buggers straight. And in all seriousness, Michael O’Brien’s petty temper is a colossal red flag from start to finish. Just some severe toxic masculinity and Mikey needs to think long and hard about some therapy.

Justine Eyre is an amazing narrator with a great vocal range. She makes this okay book, so much better.

For a debut novel, this showed a ton of promise. Maybe it was too long (500 pages, over 16 hours on Audible), and got lost by the end. It’s the first of 13 books about the dashing men in this family, and while I won’t indulge in them all…a few others look intriguing.

Strong start but weak finish

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I obviously like banal romcom or I wouldn’t have tried this, but I can’t even get though the whole thing it’s so bad. So predictable and lame I can’t stand it. The “misunderstandings” and supposed challenges that meet the main character are all boons. She’s secretly amazing at everything and always the most beautiful woman in the room—but wow, she’s never noticed! It’s a bit creepy because there’s also a focus on her virginity, territorial men, and how “tiny” and childlike she is….. yuck. It’s terrible. And the narrator does a good job with accents and character building, but the nasal and repetitive pattern of her tone and quality of her narration grates.

So much eye rolling I got whiplash

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This story of Whiny 20 something “coming of age” Is predictable and pedantic. Characters are as unbelievable as presented in a many Threepenny opera. … Entire Irish town falls “in love” with a trait American born character in a matter of three weeks. for her many “unique“ talents . And really what the main character is is just a self indulgent spoiled brat. Throw in some milk toast six scenes and the story itself is ultimately predictable. While
the solution to all personal issues is resolved by marriage, babies and attending mass. I’m sure it would make the local priest very proud.

Milk toast and predictable

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