The nation, history and culture of Ireland has always intrigued me. I've never actually been to the land of leprechauns, but I grew up hearing Irish songs such as "Danny Boy" and "Are Ye Right There, Michael?" because my mom has been a big fan of the Irish Tenors for years. It's rubbed off on me, to a degree; "Leap Year," an Amy Adams "rom-com" that largely takes place in Ireland, is one of my favorite movies. So, naturally, when I saw "Maire" seriously discounted at my local Christian bookstore, I decided to pick it up. What did I think? Well, it was actually quite a fun story. It did have some romantic elements in it, but there were also action sequences and discussions of faith as well. The only complaint I have is that it was a bit stupid to have a prologue where the country itself (seriously) begins the narration; that part, as well as the corresponding epilogue, could have easily been left out. That's only a minor problem, though; otherwise, I heartily recommend this to fans of Irish lore, historical novels, and/or Christian literature.
