Newly single father Colin McKinnon works in Dublin and keeps in touch with his teenaged kids, less so with their mother. Early marriage destroyed his dreams of seeing the world and he has settled into a rut. Now he's forty. Maggie Spencer is an American travel writer who arrives to do Dublin, so when they meet in a comfortable pub, they are fated for LOVE IN DUBLIN.
Parts of this book have the feel of being set a decade ago. Everyone who writes in pubs -- actually it's usually coffee shops in Dublin, pubs are too noisy -- uses a laptop or netbook, not paper and pen. The travel writer is up to date as a blogger, for a travel blog site... not that we ever see her with a laptop. Neither of the couple asks to connect on their social media pages. The careful Colin does find a YouTube video of Maggie.
The tale is mostly told through lengthy conversations, rather than actions, as Colin and Maggie get to know each other and Maggie explains the dangers that await single women on the road. I like that even when they spend time visiting scenic locations such as the Cliffs of Moher, they don't fall into bed or do anything physical until Maggie is quite, quite ready. Colin has not been dating since his divorce, so while we can't call this a rebound, he has to get back in the swing of a relationship.
This is part of a series called The McKinnon Brothers by Jennifer Gracen, but we do not meet any other brothers, so a new reader can jump right in to the story. The contrast between one person who travels too much and another who travels too little, is nicely turned around from the past when men did the traveling and women stayed at home. I did think it was odd that Colin had never been anywhere, not even with his family. Irish kids are usually going off on gap year travels to Australia.
This is an adult romance for those who like their fictional women to make their own decisions and their men to be gentlemen. LOVE IN DUBLIN (and other places) will show you the benefits of life experience and remind you that second chance love may be just around the corner.
Single father Colin McKinnon has roots and obligations that have kept him firmly in Dublin his entire life. He once planned to explore the world, but he was bound by duty and gave up on his dreams long ago. When he meets free-spirited American travel writer Maggie in a pub, he’s intrigued. She could help him get a taste of what he lost, rattle the chains of his self-imposed isolation. Instantly drawn to her light, beauty, and sense of adventure, Colin can’t stay away. Maggie Spencer doesn’t just crave the open road, she needs it to survive. After a harrowing accident and life- changing loss, she rebuilt her life by exploring new places on her own. When she accepts a temporary job writing about day tours in Ireland, she falls in love with Dublin and the man she teaches to explore it. Through their daily adventures, they learn opposites do more than just attract—they can also help each other heal. But can a man with deep roots keep a woman with wings by his side?
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