Barefoot on a Starlit Night by Jo McNallyis the third book in her Rendezvous Falls series.
Bridget McKinnon inherited the Purple Shamrock after her father died. Well she inherited the majority stake in the Irish pub. Her McKinnon cousins each received a portion of the ownership.Bridget is determined to find a way to buy them out. She had gone to culinary school and wanted to open her own restaurant. What she has now though is the Purple Shamrock. Not exactly her life’s dream. Then there’s the ex-boyfriend back in California. It only took him a couple weeks to replace her. What a blow to her ego! Guess his “forever love” was just short-term.
Her dad had let the pub start to slide downhill so it’s up to her now to renovate and get things up to par so she can make a decent living. She lives next door to the Purple Shamrock in one of the Victorian houses Rendezvous Falls is know for where her father converted the downstairs into an apartment. He always rented to college students and she continued that track but the latest student left her high and dry after fall semester. She needs the rent money to help pay the mortgage on the house. Enter Professor Finn O’Hearn, a true Irishman, with the sexiest Irish brogue who needs to find an apartment. She reluctantly rents the apartment to him.
Finn O’Hearn has lived in the USA for ten years. Until two years ago he was happily married. When his wife had an affair with his best friend and colleague Finn “lost it” and punched the guy – on the stage at the university where he was teaching – during Commencement. That lost him his job. He is lucky to have this new job at Brady College. Now his goal is to satisfy the college president’s requirements for a steady life in his new town of Rendezvous Falls. Getting his Green Card depends on it. Since he is still hurting from the betrayal of his ex-wife and ex-best friend he is not looking for a permanent relationship. Plus he doesn’t trust his judgement anymore. But Bridget McKinnon sure makes him very aware that he is missing out on life. Can he overcome his trust issues and make Bridget a part of his life?
This series is centered around a small town where the local book club members have decided they are more into matchmaking than the books they are reading. In this story their mission turns out to be more repairing a messed-up relationship with their trying-to-be helpful, interfering ways. I liked how the group found ways to achieve success. This was a fun read. Both the heroine and hero had past broken relationships to overcome and I think this author did a great job getting them through to their HEA.
Book Info:
Publication: July 28th 2020 | HQN | Rendezvous Falls #3
With a little luck, this fake engagement just might become the real deal…
Bridget McKinnon would do anything for her feisty ailing grandma Maura. She’ll even stay close to home and serve up green beer in the Purple Shamrock instead of pursuing her own culinary dreams. But money’s tight. So when a stranger with a sexy brogue asks about the apartment she’s renting out, Bridget hopes she’s landed a little piece of Irish luck…only to find she’s knee-deep in a crazy plan that’s turning her life upside down.
College professor Finn O’Hearn needs this job in Rendezvous Falls—his visa may depend on it. If he can convince his beautiful but tightly wound landlord to be his pretend fiancée, his boss will be happy—as will Bridget’s matchmaking grandma and her meddling book club. Finn and Bridget fool (almost) everyone with their sizzling glances and toe-curling kisses…even as they tell themselves it’s only make-believe.
Playing a part has never been so easy. But when love is real, it’s time to find the courage to start playing by heart…
