Scan barcode
kebreads's review against another edition
4.0
I was really looking forward to reading this book. It was not quite as good as I expected or hoped, but it was still quite good. I loved the main characters: Caroline, Niall, Fiona, and the boys. I liked all the Irish tales that were told as well. Pearl has been a beloved character in the other novels I have read in the series, but I did not really like her part in this story. In many ways I feel the story would have been better without her part in the story. At the very first it was okay, but as the story progressed, her element of the story had me wondering how things would turn out and it distanced me from the story. And the ending felt a bit deus ex machina despite the fact that I expected something like it because of her involvement. Pearl isn't in the story much at all, but I feel I would have enjoyed this story better without her in it. Over all, I did enjoy the story, and I love the cover.
Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy
Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy
reenelim's review against another edition
1.0
honestly what even was this book. it felt slow and uninteresting.
rosannelortz's review against another edition
4.0
After Niall Doherty's father loses the family fortune, Niall is forced to rely on his professor's generosity to finish his studies, and his reduced circumstances compel him to take a post as a tutor to two mischievous young lads at an estate in Ireland. On his way there, a mysterious matchmaker promises that he will meet his true love on the bridge o'er the River Liffey. At his new post, Niall is in the awkward position of being neither servant nor gentleman. But when a house party thrown by his employers ends up having an odd number of ladies and gentlemen, his presence is required at dinner to make up the number. There he comes face to face with the beautiful Caroline Fulton, an heiress who shares his love for Irish lore. Unfortunately, however, Miss Fulton has only been included in the house party because the eldest son of the house has matrimonial designs on her and her fortune. Is it presumption on Niall's part to think that she could ever care for him? And if he did not meet her on the bridge o'er the River Liffey, is it possible that she could be his one true love?
Niall Doherty was a charming hero in this slow-moving tale. I empathized with his awkward position as a young man shut out of a world he used to occupy because of his impoverishment. His impish charges, and his feeble attempts to make them behave, were amusing, and the Irish tales he told to keep the fine ladies entertained were enough to make the reader fall in love with him as well.
The heroine, Caroline Fulton, was less endearing, and one could quite understand why her father would be annoyed with her for her fickleness. I confess that it took me nearly halfway through the book before I began to enjoy her--during which time I wondered whether her friend Fiona was the true heroine just waiting in the wings to capture Niall's attention! She did grow on me by the end, however, and seeing her interact with Niall's pupils raised her character in my estimation.
O'er the River Liffey is a novel with a hero more nuanced and complex than the usual Regency buck and a novel that showcases the wonder-filled folklore of the emerald green isle of Ireland.
Niall Doherty was a charming hero in this slow-moving tale. I empathized with his awkward position as a young man shut out of a world he used to occupy because of his impoverishment. His impish charges, and his feeble attempts to make them behave, were amusing, and the Irish tales he told to keep the fine ladies entertained were enough to make the reader fall in love with him as well.
The heroine, Caroline Fulton, was less endearing, and one could quite understand why her father would be annoyed with her for her fickleness. I confess that it took me nearly halfway through the book before I began to enjoy her--during which time I wondered whether her friend Fiona was the true heroine just waiting in the wings to capture Niall's attention! She did grow on me by the end, however, and seeing her interact with Niall's pupils raised her character in my estimation.
O'er the River Liffey is a novel with a hero more nuanced and complex than the usual Regency buck and a novel that showcases the wonder-filled folklore of the emerald green isle of Ireland.
saradavcamp's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this books! It's set in the regency era and based around an Irish woman whose father has come into a great deal of money, so he wants her to marry a nobleman. Unfortunately, the nobleman he picks for her doesn't suit at all--he's old and not her type at all. While at a house party meeting him, she meets the tutor to his much younger brothers. The tutor is so great! They both know they wouldn't be allowed to marry, but they're just so drawn to each other. This is a beautifully romantic story with great characters and a very interesting plot.There are a few Irish traditional stories in it that the tutor tells which I also loved. I enjoyed it from start to finish.
caslater83's review
2.0
I struggle with books that contain Irish or Scottish influence, including story tales. No offense to the author, but I could not get into it. Caroline, Fiona, Mr. Doherty, and other characters all sound like good roles, but the plot did nothing for me.
I'm not planning to re-read this one. I'm going to stick to English regencies because it's easier for me to understand!
I'm not planning to re-read this one. I'm going to stick to English regencies because it's easier for me to understand!
valeriew's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty cute. I'm so glad I didn't live back when you had to marry for money.
momwithareadingproblem's review against another edition
3.0
I received an eARC of this book via I Am a Reader in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I’ve loved all the previous Power of the Matchmaker books but not this one. O’er the River Liffey was a difficult read for me. Heidi Ashworth chose to write the book in a historical setting and I felt that she stayed true to the historical aspects of the time period chosen, including the language used. However this made for a really long, drawn out read. Caroline Fulton is meeting her soon to be husband according to her father when she meets Niall Doherty, the young tutor of her betrothed’s half-brothers.
I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. Caroline is dry, a little ahead of her time, and despite being promised to another man continues to pursue a relationship with the tutor. I know this shouldn’t have upset me as she wasn’t technically engaged and this was the first meeting with a man twice her age. I can understand why she wouldn’t like the Baron, especially when his step mother could be his wife or sister. It makes for an odd dynamic. Niall is sweet and utterly smitten with Caroline despite knowing he can never have her. He’s a storyteller and the book diverts from the main story many times as he tells one of his many stories.
The plot moved at a snail’s pace for me, partially because of Niall’s stories. While I enjoyed them, I wound up losing focus on the main plot of the book. The romance between Caroline and Niall was proper and for contemporary readers would easily be missed. My biggest complaint about the book in general though (and the reason it lost stars in my rating) was the noticeable absence of Miss Pearl. Miss Pearl is the Matchmaker, the reason there is even a series, but I felt she was added as an afterthought, barely mentioned and given a small role. I wanted to see more of her as we have in the other books.
Overall I could take or leave this book. It was just an okay read for me and while I love historical fiction, this one didn’t work for me. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, I recommend you give it a go, or if you enjoy historical fiction, you may enjoy it more than I did. For me though I wouldn’t read it again.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I’ve loved all the previous Power of the Matchmaker books but not this one. O’er the River Liffey was a difficult read for me. Heidi Ashworth chose to write the book in a historical setting and I felt that she stayed true to the historical aspects of the time period chosen, including the language used. However this made for a really long, drawn out read. Caroline Fulton is meeting her soon to be husband according to her father when she meets Niall Doherty, the young tutor of her betrothed’s half-brothers.
I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. Caroline is dry, a little ahead of her time, and despite being promised to another man continues to pursue a relationship with the tutor. I know this shouldn’t have upset me as she wasn’t technically engaged and this was the first meeting with a man twice her age. I can understand why she wouldn’t like the Baron, especially when his step mother could be his wife or sister. It makes for an odd dynamic. Niall is sweet and utterly smitten with Caroline despite knowing he can never have her. He’s a storyteller and the book diverts from the main story many times as he tells one of his many stories.
The plot moved at a snail’s pace for me, partially because of Niall’s stories. While I enjoyed them, I wound up losing focus on the main plot of the book. The romance between Caroline and Niall was proper and for contemporary readers would easily be missed. My biggest complaint about the book in general though (and the reason it lost stars in my rating) was the noticeable absence of Miss Pearl. Miss Pearl is the Matchmaker, the reason there is even a series, but I felt she was added as an afterthought, barely mentioned and given a small role. I wanted to see more of her as we have in the other books.
Overall I could take or leave this book. It was just an okay read for me and while I love historical fiction, this one didn’t work for me. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, I recommend you give it a go, or if you enjoy historical fiction, you may enjoy it more than I did. For me though I wouldn’t read it again.
misskrislm's review against another edition
3.0
A charming tale presenting the quirk and romance of Irish culture, which is not often depicted.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
This book is part of the Matchmaker series. It took awhile for me to get into, but once I did, I enjoyed the characters and all of the Irish folk tales that were included. The writing is excellent. I didn't like it as well as Ms. Ashworth's Miss Delecourt series, but it was still really good. I gave it 3 1/2 stars.
ghumpherys's review against another edition
5.0
Another great book in the Power of the Matchmaker series! This book had a slower pace to it than some of the others. I was also surprised by the minimal appearance of the matchmaker, Miss Pearl. She plays a very low-key part in this story in comparison to some of the others in the series. And yet, her character still fulfills a very big role in the way everything comes together at the end.
This story contains several Irish folklore tales related by one of the main characters, Niall. It slows down the pace of the book, especially in the first half, but I enjoyed reading the tales as I've heard different versions of several of them and it was interesting to compare them. I loved the personalities of both Niall and Caroline and seeing how their friendship and relationship developed. There were lots of little historical details about the time period (such as the jaunting cars) and the way the different classes of people were allowed to interact with each other. The action picked up towards the ending and I was anxiously reading to see how everything turned out. Loved it!
Note: I received a free ebook version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story contains several Irish folklore tales related by one of the main characters, Niall. It slows down the pace of the book, especially in the first half, but I enjoyed reading the tales as I've heard different versions of several of them and it was interesting to compare them. I loved the personalities of both Niall and Caroline and seeing how their friendship and relationship developed. There were lots of little historical details about the time period (such as the jaunting cars) and the way the different classes of people were allowed to interact with each other. The action picked up towards the ending and I was anxiously reading to see how everything turned out. Loved it!
Note: I received a free ebook version of this book in exchange for an honest review.