Review: Black-Irish Setter

Caitlyn O'Rourke was an Olympic athlete until sidelined by a knee injury. Now she owns an Irish bar in Nashville that is run by her brother Seamus and his wife Mary Grace. At the moment Caitlyn is contemplating leaving Nashville and taking a job as a volleyball coach in Wisconsin.

But this is before Matt and Delane Denning come into her life. Following an attack on Delane, Matt asks Caitlyn to stay with her for a few days while he is out of town. The two women, though from different social circles, form a bond during their stay together. As a result, when Delane is gunned down Caitlyn is determined to do what she can to help identify the killer.

When I first heard the premise of this book, I was very interested in reading it. I really enjoy books with strong female protagonists so this one sounded right up my alley. Overall I did enjoy the book, but that enjoyment was tinged by frustration at some of the weaknesses in character depiction and plot development. My first hint of this was when Caitlyn commented on her nightly ritual of brushing her hair 100 strokes. This sounds like a comment you would hear in an old movie, not something that a modern woman would say. I also found it surprising that a female Olympic basketball/volleyball player would be so famous, even locally. About the only female athletes that your average person can identify are the top figure skaters and maybe the occasional soccer player. Caitlyn just gets recognized in public too often. My other problem was with the plot twists.

While I appreciated the fact that there were some twists and turns, I didn't like being able to see them coming for a mile. And there is one plot development that reads like something out of a soap opera. Just a bit too over the top.

That being said, I think there is a lot of potential in the story and in the protagonist. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. The supporting characters are more completely developed than in many books. I think that Stackhouse could really develop the character of Caitlyn. He just needs to be a bit more realistic when trying to get inside the head of a female character.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Mary R - RAM

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.

Book Review: Black-Irish Setter

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.