Fresh Fiction Blog | Loucinda McGary | The Wild Irish Sea...Top Ten

My third romantic suspense with paranormal elements, The Wild Irish Sea, hit the shelves this week. I certainly had quite a time mixing together the plot, characters, mental telepathy, beautiful Irish scenery and a few Celtic legends. I'm thrilled that readers and reviewers are enjoying this story.

If you haven’t heard about or picked up your own copy of the book yet, I’d like to give you a brief glimpse of some of the things you can look forward to when you read The Wild Irish Sea. Being a late night person, I occasionally tune in the various talk shows, so with a nod to David Letterman, here are my Top Ten Things You Will Love About The Wild Irish Sea:

1.The cover - I really can’t take much credit for this. I love all my covers and they are all the work of the fantastic Sourcebooks Art Department. I will say that I did suggest the seascape on the bottom of The Wild Irish Sea. I’ve always loved... seascapes! Yes, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it!

2.Kevin Hennessey -- Okay, what's not to love about a tough, but vulnerable Irish hunk of a hero? Kevin is my most tortured hero thus far. Watching him earn his happily-ever-after was a very rewarding experience!

3.Amber O’Neill - She’s spunky, brave, and determined, as every good heroine should be. But sometimes she’s also scared and wants to run and hide. Plus she has a tendency to be clumsy, and her hair is usually a mess. These very human and oh-so-familiar traits make her easy to identify with and cheer on when the things don’t go her way.

4.Parker O'Neill -- I knew the heroine's twin brother was going to steal some hearts as soon as he burst onto the pages of the story and started stealing scenes. I think his snarky comments, even in the face of danger, are one of his endearing qualities.

5.Ronan Lafferty -- This wee little lad may be only eight years old, but he already shows the makings of a potential Irish hunk, just give him another dozen years or so... I’m not terribly keen on stories with children, who tend to put a real damper on the romance sometimes. But Ronan and his sister Meriol, and Connor Magee popped into The Wild Irish Sea and insisted I let them stay. I tried to portray them as realistically as possible.

6.Those big brown eyed seals -- What can I say? I'm a sucker for adorable animals, almost as much as I am tough but vulnerable hunks. Seals have always been a favorite of mine, and I decided to put my own spin of some of those Celtic legends about selkies

7.That adorable cottage by the sea -- I always wanted to live in one of those, so putting my hero and heroine in one was the next closest thing. This one might not have all the modern conveniences but the sound of the waves hitting the shore more than compensates.

8.All those cute Irish sayings and scrumptious brogues -- Honestly, even curse words sound good with an Irish lilt!

9.Lots of steamy love scenes - I have to admit, this is the sexiest story I’ve written to date. Go ahead, pretend you are the heroine while you’re reading, and that the hero is your favorite celeb. I’ll never tell, after all, I did the same thing.

10.The Happily-Ever-After - C’mon, it’s a romance, you know it has to end happily, but if it’s not a dangerous and bumpy road, then did the characters really earn their HEA? Trust me, in The Wild Irish Sea they most certainly DID!

I'll stop for now, but I hope these ten things intrigued you and gave you something to look forward to when you read The Wild Irish Sea.

THE WILD IRISH SEA BY LOUCINDA MCGARY-IN STORES JULY 2010

Drawn together by a force they can’t resist... The telepathic image of her twin brother fighting for his life sends Amber O’Neill rushing to the rocky shores of Ireland. Desperate to find him, she turns to reclusive local inspector, Kevin Hennessy.

Bound together with a passion as relentless as the tide... His past full of pain, Kevin has withdrawn from the world. But when the rain-drenched American appears on his doorstep with her wild tales of danger, something more than her sensuous beauty makes it impossible for him to turn her away.

The wildness of the sea, the mystery of a selkie prince, and a dangerous band of ruthless smugglers bring two lost souls together in a connection of mind, body, and spirit that can’t be denied...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Loucinda McGary took early retirement from her managerial career to pursue her twin passions of travel and writing. She sets her novels of romantic suspense in some of the fascinating places she has visited. She was a finalist in the 2006 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest in Romantic Suspense with the manuscript that eventually became her second published novel, The Treasures of Venice. Her first published novel, The Wild Sight won the Best First Book category in the 2009 More Than Magic contest. She lives in Sacramento, CA. For more information, please visit her website.

Comments

I grew up with a Scottish Nana and love the stories of her youth and romantasize Ireland bigtime. Making your hero work for his happily ever after is fantastic, I think it would be an awesome read
(Darci Paice 12:59pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Darci,
Nice to see another night owl haunting the blogs. :-)

I always make my characters earn their HEA. I'm a harsh task-mistress that way. Just ask anyone. LOL!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 2:55am July 8, 2010)

Hi Aunty Cindy,
Congrats on the new release. I love your Top Ten list, especially number nine. I think you know which celebrity I'll be thinking of when I read those scenes.
(Jane Cheung 3:55am July 8, 2010)

10 very good reasons. Haven't heard of this book till now.
(Robyn Lee 4:26am July 8, 2010)

Sounds like a great book, can't wait to buy it.
(Barbara Hanson 8:36am July 8, 2010)

This is my kind of book. I can't wait to read it!
(Cheryl Lynne 9:34am July 8, 2010)

You Top Ten list is spot on..
My mother was just made being an American and was born in New York. Her folks are from County Mayo. When my dad did his first tour in Viet Nam - Mom packed us up and we went to live in Ireland (Carrick on Shannon and I was 6). It was interesting year - but I wish that I was older so I could appreciate the expierence more. I can't wait to read this book... I really really love brogues!
(Kimberley Coover 10:25am July 8, 2010)

I have always loved celtic
stories and I look forward to
reading this series. Thank you
for sharing!
(Pamela Alder 10:50am July 8, 2010)

Well, I love your top ten and it sure does make me want to read the book!
(Deborah Lary 10:51am July 8, 2010)

Looks like a great book - and, I love happy endings! Thanks for the giveaway.
(Cheryl Snyder 11:45am July 8, 2010)

Hi Jane!
(Aunty waves at her most loyal fan.) Yup, I know you'll be picturing our ever-lovin Eric, even if he doesn't have one drop of Irish blook. ;-) That's okay, imagination is a GREAT thing!

HUGS,
AC
(Loucinda McGary 12:13pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Robyn and Joanne,
Glad you liked my reasons and hope you will enjoy reading The Wild Irish Sea!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 12:18pm July 8, 2010)

Barbara and Cheryl,
Thanks for stopping by today, I appreciate it. And I hope you enjoy my book.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 12:19pm July 8, 2010)

Kimberley,
Lucky you to get to live in Ireland for a year. I hope reading The Wild Irish will stir up some pleasant memories for you. And ah yes, who doesn't love a man with a brogue?!?

AC
(Loucinda McGary 12:21pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Pam,
Unfortunately, all my books as stand alones. I have yet to write a series. I'd definitely be willing to turn this one into more than one book, if my editor were willing.

Hope you enjoy it,
AC
(Loucinda McGary 12:23pm July 8, 2010)

Deborah and Cheryl S.,
Thanks for reading my top 10 and for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate both of you and best of luck in the contest. ;-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 12:25pm July 8, 2010)

love the top ten - really makes it easy to find a new story/author that interests me!!
(Teresa Alexander 12:36pm July 8, 2010)

This book sounds like it has all of the elements needed for a great summer read!! It will be on my top 10 of my Must Read List!! Thank you for sharing it in such an interesting manner!! I am definately intrigued!!
(Peggy Roberson 12:38pm July 8, 2010)

Hello Loucinda, Please enter me in your fantastic contest and please let me know when I am a winner too! May God bless you with success always, Cecilia
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 12:39pm July 8, 2010)

Sounds like a great read! I'll have to pick it up!!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 12:57pm July 8, 2010)

I love the ocean/sea/beaches and Irish accents (would love to visit Ireland someday)...
(Shannon Scott 1:12pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Teresa,
Glad you liked my salute to David Letterman with a top ten. :-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 1:19pm July 8, 2010)

Peggy,
BIG THANX for putting me and The Wild Irish Sea on your Top Ten! Hope you enjoy it.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 1:20pm July 8, 2010)

Cecilia,
Best of luck in the contest. I really appreciate you dropping by to comment today!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 1:21pm July 8, 2010)

Kelli Jo,
Thanks for reading my guest blog and I hope you enjoy my book.

Shannon,
I appreciate your support today also. With a name like Shannon you'd be right at home in Ireland. I hope you get to visit there someday soon!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 1:23pm July 8, 2010)

Wild Irish and paranormal seemed to go together easily. Maybe your number 11???
(Karin Tillotson 1:46pm July 8, 2010)

This sounds fabulous, I love book set in Ireland!
(Gail Hurt 1:58pm July 8, 2010)

Wonderful Top Ten List!!! Sounds like a great book! :)
(Colleen Conklin 2:05pm July 8, 2010)

Marjana,
Thanks for your support! I hope you enjoy all of my books.

Debbi,
I hope you enjoy The Wild Irish Sea. Thank you for popping by to comment.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 2:13pm July 8, 2010)

Karin,
I LIKE your #11. Yes, things that are wild, Irish, and paranormal are definitely something I would look forward to reading (or writing)! ;-)

Gail,
I LOVE hearing from readers who like my settings. Both The Wild Irish Sea and The Wild Sight (my first book) are set in Ireland. I hope you enjoy reading both of them!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 2:21pm July 8, 2010)

Glad you enjoyed my Top Ten, Colleen (another great Irish name)! I hope you enjoy reading the story.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 2:22pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Rebekah,
Glad you enjoyed my post and hope you also enjoy The Wild Irish Sea.

Thanks for stopping by today,
AC
(Loucinda McGary 2:41pm July 8, 2010)

I am 7/8 Irish , love the accent of irish people, love stories of Irish people even my great grand-father told the story of coming to U.S. and signs saying Irish need not apply , so sad, history is history. How much they had to over come to live here, Agatha Townsend
(Agatha Townsend 2:54pm July 8, 2010)

I love just about any Irish romance and yours sounds GREAT I will be down loading it in the next week or so.
(Vickie Hightower 3:04pm July 8, 2010)

Your top ten had everything I love in a romance. 'The Wild Irish Sea' is on my summer vacation reading list. Thank you.
(Rosemary Krejsa 3:05pm July 8, 2010)

I've wanted one of those cottages by the sea also. Reading about it will be the next best thing for me. Thanks.
(DeeAnn Szymanski 3:42pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Agatha,
I think I'm about 3/4 Irish myself. ;-) How lucky you are to have your great grandfather's stories. Yes, the days of NINA (no Irish need apply) were a sad part of history. And even sadder, they didn't need to change the signs for the next wave of immigrants (no Italians need apply). :-(

I hope you "hear" a bit of Irish brogue when my characters speak. I tried hard to replicate Irish diction and syntax.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 4:13pm July 8, 2010)

Thank you Vickie!

I hope you enjoy The Wild Irish Sea, and don't forget my first book, The Wild Sight is also set in Ireland.

Happy reading!
AC
(Loucinda McGary 4:14pm July 8, 2010)

Enjoy your summer reading vacation, Rosemary!

I really appreciate you including my book on your list.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 4:15pm July 8, 2010)

Thank you for popping by today, DeeAnn!

I hope you enjoy The Wild Irish Sea. Kevin's cottage by the sea is actually based on a real cottage. One of my DH's cousins lives in a very similar place. Unfortunately it is not overlooking the sea, but the peat fire and most of the other things are in her cottage. :-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 4:18pm July 8, 2010)

Your 10 things have definitely whetted my appetite for this book. I'm not a huge paranormal fan, at least not of the vampire kind which are just too gory for me. But I do enjoy the fey kind, or people sensing things that I can't. Both my mother and a friend had this type of, not precognition, but rather that something had happened to a loved one. I'm entirely too logical, I think, to be able to have this kind of sensitivity.
(Sigrun Schulz 4:32pm July 8, 2010)

I was very lucky to hear the stories from my grand-father Sherry(MC Sherry)in Ireland. Looking forward to reading your book, thank you fro answering me, Agatha Townsend
(Agatha Townsend 4:59pm July 8, 2010)

Congrats on your release! I love seals, too. :) I like the cute little harbor seals more than those enormous elephant seals (I see them at the local beaches sometimes). But I digress. Your book is going on my list for my next visit to the bookstores, that's for sure.

I must admit that whenever I read a novel near the sea in Ireland or Britain, I shiver in sympathy because it must be so cold there.
(S Tieh 4:59pm July 8, 2010)

I would love to read the books! The top ten list is great!
(Brenda Rupp 5:36pm July 8, 2010)

Just read the top ten reasons and you sold me.
(Gladys Paradowski 6:01pm July 8, 2010)

Sigrun,
Thank you for coming by to read and comment on my post. I'm glad you enjoy the "softer" paranormal as those are the ones I like best and so I write about them.

My DH's Irish grandmother and his mother both had that precognition your mother and friend had. Spooky! I'm actually kind of glad I don't have it! ;-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 6:29pm July 8, 2010)

Hey Agatha,
My pleasure to "talk" to you today!

Who knows, we could be distantly related. McGary (often spelled McGarry) and McSherry are really close... ;-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 6:31pm July 8, 2010)

S. Tieh,
I agree about harbor seal being MUCH cuter than elephant seals. Thanks so much for putting The Wild Irish Sea on your buy-list. I really appreciate your support!

And you're also right about it being pretty darn cold near the sea in Ireland most of the time. You'd never catch me going in the water there! But then, I seldom go in the ocean here in California either. BRRR! Give me Hawaii or Florida. ;-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 6:34pm July 8, 2010)

A wonderful list of 10. I will be pleased to read more. The books sounds brilliant. Fingers crossed.
(Mary Preston 6:34pm July 8, 2010)

Cathie V,
Glad you enjoyed my Top Ten and I hope you enjoy my book also!

Brenda,
Thanks so much for stopping by to leave a comment today. Best of luck in the contest.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 6:37pm July 8, 2010)

Hi, Cindy!

I just had to pop over from the Romance Bandits Lair to say whoooooppppttteeee on the release of your third book. I adore the Irish hero and Amber's smartass brother. When, oh, when am I going to read HIS book?? Hmmmm.

I got to read this book in manuscript form so I can assure everyone you're in for a delightfully dangerous read.
(Jo Robertson 6:37pm July 8, 2010)

Gladys,
Thanks for stopping by and reading my Top Ten. I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you like the books too.

Joelle,
I really appreciate you putting The Wild Irish Sea on your summer reading list!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 6:40pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Mary!

Thank you for popping by and thank you for the kudos on my book.

Best of luck in the contest!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 6:41pm July 8, 2010)

HI JO!!!
(Aunty waves madly at her most excellent critique partner!) Thanks for stopping by today, and as always, THANK YOU for all your help on making this book the very best I could write. :-)

You aren't the only reader who would like to read Parker's story. But you and I both know the "hang up" on that one. ;-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 6:45pm July 8, 2010)

My TBR pile is extremely low and I've been looking for something new to read. Your new book looks like it will fit the bill. I can't wait to read it. Thank you for sharing your top ten list.
(Maude Allen 6:53pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Loucinda, I like the 10 reasons. This helps us make our mind up about the book. I know I will enjoy reading The Wild Irish Sea. I love water so a cottage by the sea would be wonderful. I hope to go to Ireland some day soon.
Thanks for introducing me to your work.
(Brenda Hill 7:08pm July 8, 2010)

Maude,
A LOW TBR pile?!?! That absolutely will not do! :-) I'm afraid mine is more of a mountain than a pile...

Thank you for putting The Wild Irish Sea on yours.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 7:31pm July 8, 2010)

Brenda H,
Thank you for dropping by today and reading my post. I would dearly love to live near the ocean, but around here (California) that is a very expensive proposition, so I'll just settle for occasionally going to a motel there. ;-)

I hope you get to Ireland someday soon. It really is a gorgeous country and the people are very friendly. Plus their accents are adorable!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 7:33pm July 8, 2010)

How wonderful it must be to
travel and then write these
amazing stories that take place
in the areas you have visited.
(Lisa Richards 8:59pm July 8, 2010)

I'd love to win a copy of this book! Ireland
is my most favorite place in the whole
world. :D
(MaryAnne Banks 9:24pm July 8, 2010)

The cottage on the Irish coast is a
dream of mine. I know it idealized,
but I could certainly handle it. I have
my own hero to take along, so we are
all set.
Sounds like a great story. I like the
romances I read to have mystery and
suspense. It makes them that much
better.
Congratulations on the book and good
luck with the release.
(Patricia Barraclough 9:53pm July 8, 2010)

I love Top 10 lists - I have ever since
college watching David Letterman 25
years ago... Your book sounds wonderful.
I just love Irish scenery and Celtic
legends!
(Molly Wilsbacher 10:12pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Back when I first started traveling, I never dreamed I'd be able to write and publish books about some of those places, so it really has been even more than a dream come true!

AC
(Loucinda McGary 10:42pm July 8, 2010)

Good luck in the contest, MaryAnne! I hope you enjoy reading about Ireland in one of my books.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 10:43pm July 8, 2010)

Patricia,
I hope you and your hero find your cottage on the Irish coast. When you do, can I come visit you? I promise not to make you a murder victim in one of my books... unless you want me to! ;-)

AC
(Loucinda McGary 10:44pm July 8, 2010)

Hi Molly!
Nice to find another long-time Letterman fan. :-) There's plenty of Irish scenery and a few Celtic legends in The Wild Irish Sea, so I hope you enjoy reading it.

AC
(Loucinda McGary 10:46pm July 8, 2010)

I love the cottage by the sea, would love live in one as I love the sea. Couldn't give up my modern conveniences though,lol.The top 10 is a great idea . Loved that.
(Christine Schultz 10:52pm July 8, 2010)

Loved the top 10. Thanks so much for this giveaway. The book sounds really good.
(Cathy Phillips 11:10pm July 8, 2010)

I love the cover. Even if I don't have information regarding the book, I would have bought the book for the cover and the burp summary on the back of the book. I always did have a thing for the sea.
(Kai Wong 12:12pm July 9, 2010)

Congratulations on the release of The
Wild Irish Sea! The next time I see a seal
on the coast of California I'm going to be
thinking about selkies.
(Sue Ahn 12:14pm July 9, 2010)

I don't read books with a sad ending - life is short I like to read about happy endings.
(Barbara Hanson 10:38am July 9, 2010)

Would love to have a copy of this book The Wild Irish Sea -sounds so intriguing
(Chris Burd 2:13pm July 9, 2010)

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