Review of 'The Irish Lake House' by Colleen Coleman

Review of 'The Irish Lake House' by Colleen Coleman

Release date: Nov 13th, 2023

Publisher: Bookouture

🌼 🌼 🌼 🌼

REVIEW

Wow, where do I begin! The Irish Lake House really seized and inspired my heart! It echoed so many of my own feelings about Irish roots (which I have), connection to family, sense of belonging, kindred spirits, soul-mates, the purging effects of the elements, the important matters of the soul. And in it all, it showcases how identity is unveiled through stepping outside of one’s comfort zone to find the answers. How to receive and provide forgiveness and healing. And the importance of passing on the ingredients for restoration to the next generation. There must be change to move forward—to break bad cycles. I could go on forever saying all the things I saw in this story which is a stunning piece of work. It flows flawlessly with both silence and thunder from the heart. Passion at its core—making it real and lasting.

This is my first experience with Colleen Coleman’s writing and I am now dying to read more of her works! She has captured the Irish landscape, Irish psyche and the pull of this gorgeous island on many hearts who have a thread woven in them—a connection that once encountered will bring completeness. Ireland has some very rich creative history. It has inspired poets, novelists, photographers, artists, architects, musicians, etc. It is a glorious hotbed of talent. The aura, spirit and feel of the place is stellar. On my own visits there I would just sit in the fields, on the cliffs and sense all the voices from the past. Intriguing history would just fall around me like a centuries old blanket and I could feel the love, anguish, tears, triumphs and tragedies and I would write like mad caught in its spell. So, I can relate to character Daisy, the artist, who was deeply moved by the landscape and its spiritual essence. Of course, not all of its history was grand and glorious. These people underwent much pain and suffering through the wars and famine. Untold separation and loss. But under that quiet broken beauty is the flaming colour of passion and an unquenchable drive of perseverance. And a thirst among the creative to keep telling Ireland’s story.

The cover of this novel is gorgeous and its title tells us it is set in Ireland in a residence by a lake. The descriptions made me long to visit its location. But this story begins in London with Daisy Clarke who had a rough start in life. Her mother fled Ireland and never went back. She never wanted to talk about it, nor tell Daisy who is her father. Daisy knows nothing really of her mother’s past except that she cherished a special postcard from Ireland. Sadly, her mother was killed in an accident when Daisy was young. Daisy grew up in foster care as a result but became close friends with another girl named Kayla. They clung to each other like sisters and got through the hard times.

Today Daisy is an artist and working on a very important project for a famous children’s writer. She has a boyfriend, Ash, who I would call pushy, career aggressive and always seeking how to make his wealth. He works in real estate and dabbles in cryptocurrency. Daisy has convinced herself she is sort of happy with him but when a handsome lawyer named James shows up and tells her she has inherited a home in Ireland from a man she does not know, she is shocked and challenged to begin a different path. The house was left to her mother but since she has died, it goes to Daisy. After getting over the shock, Daisy decides to make that journey to Ireland (with her best friend as emotional support) to discover or uncover her roots—her mother’s past life and why she has inherited a house. And in doing so understand herself better. She soon becomes involved in a community that on the surface is close knit and friendly but there are some dark secrets and flames of jealousy lurking underneath. This whole experience will radically alter her life and her love focus. She will be challenged in many areas but also will encounter a kindred spirit in her new lawyer friend.

I loved the relationship between Daisy and James. How they affect each other in some unexpected ways. Daisy has to make some difficult decisions when she is standing on the brink of change. Which way will she go? Innisfree, Ireland has so much to offer her but her life has been tied up in London, England. Will her mother’s intriguing best friend help her decide which path to take? It is a full, exciting journey with positives, negatives, challenges and loss. But love and completeness are waiting for her if she makes the right choice. 

A warm, exceptional, huge hug of a story that left a special clover imprint on my heart. Memorable and mesmerising, magical and more-ish. It deserves more than 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.