Morgan Carey and The Curse of the Corpse Bride

Morgan Carey and The Curse of the Corpse Bride
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 47
Release: 2011-10-11
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0981607772

A Halloween and Day of the Dead story for tweens, with an ancient curse, an old book of magic spells, and lots Dia de los Muertos myths and legends! Halloween is just around the corner, and fifth grader Morgan chooses the coolest costume ever—a dead bride. Preparing for a fun night of trick-or-treating with her best friend Claire, she definitely did not expect a trip to the costume store to set off a series of strange encounters… Like the snarky, mysterious clerk at the store, a shabby bridal veil, and a weird fortune-telling machine that actually works…when it’s not plugged in! But Halloween quickly takes a spooky turn... Morgan discovers she is doomed to be cursed by the Corpse Bride forever--unless she has the courage to confront the powerful magic of Dia de los Muertos! This family-friendly Halloween adventure, suitable for all ages, tells Morgan's story with humor, drama and just the right touch of scariness...the print book makes a perfect Halloween or Day of the Dead party favor too! Other Morgan Carey books include Book 2, Morgan Carey and The Mystery of the Christmas Fairies, and Book 3, The Secret Astoria Scavenger Hunt!

Becoming Emma

Becoming Emma
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 233
Release: 2023-01-03
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1952470048

Dublin girl Emma Carey has just embarked on another fresh start—the job of her dreams at Ireland Place, a quirky Irish arts center in a picturesque Victorian mansion near Seattle. At thirty-one, sweet, plucky Emma is finally poised for career success. That is, if she can only avoid her fatal flaw, the one that’s ruined every other job: falling for her boss. A dedicated family man, Declan O’Donoghue is an Irish dad devoted to his children, the lights of his life—so as the new manager at Ireland Place, he could never have guessed his earnest, endearing colleague could take his breath away. Yet Declan knows he and Emma can never be more than friends... Hazel Carey has always been protective of her elder sister—at twenty, she’s the practical one, while Emma is a dreamer. But seeing her sister’s heart-melting fancy for her new boss, Hazel wonders: how to keep Emma from real heartbreak this time? With humor and tenderness, Becoming Emma continues Emma’s journey from America back to Ireland, toward her own happily-ever-after. This heartfelt, charming page-turner, the sequel to The Little Irish Gift Shop, is part of Susan Colleen Browne’s Village of Ballydara series, set in a quaint little community in the West of Ireland... Emma and Declan’s love story continues in the next Ballydara novel, The Fairy Cottage of Ballydara!

The Hopeful Romantic

The Hopeful Romantic
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2015-05-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0981607799

Escape to the cozy Irish village of Ballydara, where you'll discover the strength of family bonds, a warm community, and enduring love... In this heartfelt, deeply romantic novel, Kerry McCormack, a young Dublin wife and mother, longs to trade her office job for a simpler life. At 33, she has an outwardly successful marriage to steady, quiet Stephen. A devoted father to her son, he's had an abiding passion for her since the first time he saw her. Yet after a recent, shattering loss, Kerry and Stephen have grown apart. Immersed in his high-powered career to bury his grief, Stephen struggles with his secret fear that he'll never be the love of her life. And Kerry's lifelong dream to live in the country, and flee her predictable city routine, is only creating more tension between them. When Kerry gets the chance to visit a lovely little farm, she anticipates an idyllic country holiday. Instead, her marriage--and everything she knows about herself--is turned upside down. As the winter holidays approach, Kerry will risk everything to give her family a second chance—but can she and Stephen recapture the passion they once shared in time for Christmas? Susan Colleen Browne's Village of Ballydara series, set in a quaint little Irish village, features warmhearted, feel-good novels about love, friendship and family! “The Hopeful Romantic was a pleasure to read for its engaging characters, its authenticity, and its unforgettable moments…a poignant and sometimes humorous, old-fashioned romantic story.” —Chanticleer Reviews

It Only Takes Once

It Only Takes Once
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2011-03-10
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0981607721

In this breezy Irish tale, twenty-six-year-old Aislin is at a crossroads. As a Dublin single mammy, a lot of her life needs improvement, yet what she really needs is a father. Not for herself--she so does not need a father--but for her young son, daddy-hungry Kevin. And she’s determined to succeed at motherhood, if nothing else. So Aislin follows the mad impulse to track down the perfect father-figure for her little boy. Who else but her first love, Ben Carpenter? Ben is great dad material, and has a lovely manor house tucked away in County Galway. All the same, after her truly awful breakup with him seven years ago, commitment-shy Aislin is determined to keep Ben at arm's length. Besides, surely friends-to-lovers only happens in films, right? Not...always! And now, along with this sizzling attraction, Aislin has other family complications to sort out. In this heartfelt novel of secrets, second chances and forgiveness, will Aislin find her own fairy-tale ending? Susan Colleen Browne's Village of Ballydara series includes more heartwarming Irish novels of love, friendship and family! “Browne has done wonderful work in capturing Ireland’s language, socioeconomic picture and current cultural milieu from pubs to puddings.” —The Bellingham Herald

The Galway Girls

The Galway Girls
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 349
Release: 2017-11-18
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0996740856

Two friends search for their heart’s desire in this small-town romantic story set in Ireland. Kerry McCormack has fallen in love all over again with her husband Stephen, and after a heartbreaking loss, she longs for another child. But will her lifelong quest of having a farm bring an end to her marriage? Her best friend Fiona Whelan has left her free-spirited life behind her. Or so she thinks—until she finds herself caught between Dublin artist Colm, the man she was once mad about, and the sweet, youthful passion of Davie, who can see the woman she’s meant to be. A fun read for gardeners and country-lovers, The Galway Girls is a warmhearted tale of women’s friendship and love lost and love found among the misty green hills of the Irish countryside! Susan Colleen Browne's Village of Ballydara series, set in a sleepy Irish village, features heartfelt novels of love, friendship and family...The Galway Girls is the sequel to The Hopeful Romantic, Book 3 of the series--here's praise for The Hopeful Romantic: “The pages of this engaging story explores many facets about marriage, relationships, and family life… We certainly do hope that the author will continue to transport us to the Emerald Isle in her next novel in the Village of Ballydara series.” —Chanticleer Reviews

Mother Love

Mother Love
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2013-04-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0981607748

For her thirtieth birthday, Grainne wants three things: her mother's love, a baby, and her old flame Rafe Byrne—not necessarily in that order. On Rafe’s wedding day—a business tycoon, he’s marrying a gorgeous, wealthy American blonde to please his family—Grainne is keen for a fresh start. Why not settle for the nice guy in the wings who’s successful, and mad about her too? Yet the Larkin family, as usual, complicates her plans…Grainne's oldest sister pressures her to leave Dublin for the quaint little village of Ballydara, to help their mother Eileen launch a B&B. Given her turbulent relationship with her mam, the last thing Grainne wants to do is live with her. But when Rafe turns up in Ballydara a free man, Grainne takes a page from her favorite heroine Scarlett O’Hara and plunges into a no-holds-barred pursuit of her lifelong dream. But Grainne may discover that opening her heart—to Rafe, to the prospect of motherhood, and to her mother—is the biggest risk of all… Sparkling banter, family secrets, big lies…Mother Love is a deeply romantic Irish beach read! Susan Colleen Browne's Village of Ballydara series, set in a sleepy Irish village, features heartfelt novels of love, friendship and family. "Mother Love... is a story of love, growth, and healing, with good dose of Irish humor to make it a fun and entertaining read." --Chanticleer Book Reviews

Little Farm in the Garden

Little Farm in the Garden
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 103
Release: 2020-04-06
Genre: Gardening
ISBN: 1952470005

From the author of the "Little Farm" homesteading memoirs comes a friendly, down-to-earth little guide for starting and maintaining a thriving food garden. In Little Farm in the Garden, Susan Colleen Browne shares the evolution of her own homestead garden with warmth and humor. Whether you’re starting with a pot, a small plot, or dedicated garden beds, she covers how to start growing your own food with basic nut-and-bolts like selecting crops, raising food without chemicals, and creating healthy soil. If you've read Susan's Little Farm memoirs, this booklet can be a handy addition to the homesteading experiences she's shared in her books. But Little Farm in the Garden also works as a stand-alone manual for simple ways to approach creating your own food supply, focusing on easy-to-grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit, and building a balanced garden for the long-term. In these uncertain times, producing your own food supply can give you confidence in the future—and as all gardening fans know, a sense of pleasure and accomplishment. Wherever you are in your gardening journey, Little Farm in the Garden offers a lively, heartfelt approach for gardeners, nature-lovers, and dreamers of all ages! And if you like fiction with a gardening theme, you might look at Susan's novel, The Galway Girls—the story has some intriguing tie-ins with her real-life experiences in Book 2 of the Little Farm series, Little Farm Homegrown... Susan's upcoming release is her latest Irish novel, The Fairy Cottage of Ballydara!

Little Farm Homegrown

Little Farm Homegrown
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2018-06-21
Genre: Gardening
ISBN: 0996740872

A gardening book for anyone who has dreamed of going back to the land and living a simpler life… After two city-bred Boomers weather their first, tumultuous year on their rural backyard farm, the couple foresees smooth sailing for the future…only to discover their homesteading journey has just begun. The sequel to Susan Colleen Browne's award-winning memoir, Little Farm in the Foothills, Little Farm Homegrown follows modern homesteaders Susan and her husband John creating a hands-on life in the foothills of the Pacific Northwest. As they experience the joys and challenges—and sometimes life-changing adversity—of living closer to the land, they labor to transform an old clearcut into a working homestead. In this lively true story, John and Susan cope with the demands of their middle years while raising chickens, creating a self-sufficient lifestyle, and adapting to—and often battling—nature. As Susan writes, “The Gardening School of Hard Knocks is actually a super-effective way to get an education, but I’d like to save you from learning everything the hard way.” With that in mind, Little Farm Homegrown includes tips for caring for your laying hens, maintaining your homestead, and growing your food crops sustainably. Like the first Little Farm in the Foothills memoir, Little Farm Homegrown is a warmhearted tale for gardeners, nature-lovers, and dreamers of all ages! Praise for the first Little Farm book, Little Farm in the Foothills: “The Browne’s foray into slower living…is an enjoyable read. Their delightful, yet very real, experiences in making the big leap toward their dreams make for a humorous and charming book.” —Washington State Librarian Jan Walsh

The Fairy Cottage of Ballydara

The Fairy Cottage of Ballydara
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 319
Release: 2022-09-20
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1952470080

An uplifting romantic tale, a nanny-boss love story, a ramshackle cottage in a quaint Irish village… With her career going down the tubes, Dublin girl Emma Carey vows to fulfill her one, simple New Year's resolution: make a quick journey to rural County Galway, to do a small favor for her former colleague, Declan O'Donoghue—who had almost been a friend. And who, for a lovely little while, had been more than a friend. And then suddenly…hadn't. Yet when a week-long nanny gig falls into her lap, Emma figures a friendly, picturesque little spot like Ballydara would be a great place to quickly lick her career wounds before she makes a fresh start. Problem: it's not just any nanny gig—it's working for Declan. In his house. Luckily, one of Declan's kids is absolutely darling. But the others are a real handful—and the narky cottage next door makes Emma's job even more complicated. She has to wonder, exactly what has she gotten herself into? Single dad Declan has been going it alone far too long…and he's completely gobsmacked to find Emma in Ballydara—the woman he’s yearned for and never forgotten. When she accepts his very temporary offer to mind his daughters, his life, and Emma's, takes a new and completely unexpected turn… Caring for Declan's kids in a lovable, close-knit community, will Emma finally find the life and love she's dreamed of at the Fairy Cottage of Ballydara? Wise and warmhearted, The Fairy Cottage of Ballydara is the third novel of the Emma trilogy, and the sequel to Becoming Emma, part of Susan Colleen Browne's Irish Village of Ballydara series!

The Little Irish Gift Shop

The Little Irish Gift Shop
Author: Susan Colleen Browne
Publisher: Whitethorn Press
Total Pages: 141
Release: 2023-01-02
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1952470021

A summer in Seattle, a charming little shop, and the once-in-a-lifetime chance at a new life... In this sparkling novella, Dublin girl Emma Carey jumps at the opportunity to start fresh in America—her old friend Fitzwilliam has offered her a job running a picturesque Irish shop in Seattle. At 30, she's always played it safe, but the shop sounds perfect—and Emma’s wise younger sister Hazel thinks Emma is overdue for a grand adventure. Arriving in Seattle, Emma discovers the shop isn’t at all what she imagined…and actually needs a makeover in the worst way. Yet the place is full of potential—and surprises. Just like the future that awaits Emma… Brimming with heart and humor, The Little Irish Gift Shop is a lighthearted chick lit story, and just the beginning of Emma’s unforgettable journey to her heart’s desire. This prequel spinoff may start in Seattle, but the story is very much part of the cozy world of Ballydara, in County Galway, Ireland!