The Crows of Beara

Author: Julie Christine Johnson
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 316
Source: Author
Publisher: Ashland Creek Press
First Published: September 1, 2017
First Line: "March 2012 - It is that nervous time between seasons, when chill winds skirr across faces upturned to the sun."

Book Description from GoodReads: Along the windswept coast of Ireland, a woman discovers the landscape of her own heart

When Annie Crowe travels from Seattle to a small Irish village to promote a new copper mine, her public relations career is hanging in the balance. Struggling to overcome her troubled past and a failing marriage, Annie is eager for a chance to rebuild her life.

Yet when she arrives on the remote Beara Peninsula, Annie learns that the mine would encroach on the nesting ground of an endangered bird, the Red-billed Chough, and many in the community are fiercely protective of this wild place. Among them is Daniel Savage, a local artist battling demons of his own, who has been recruited to help block the mine.

Despite their differences, Annie and Daniel find themselves drawn toward each other, and, inexplicably, they begin to hear the same voice--a strange, distant whisper of Gaelic, like sorrow blowing in the wind.

Guided by ancient mythology and challenged by modern problems, Annie must confront the half-truths she has been sent to spread and the lies she has been telling herself. Most of all, she must open her heart to the healing power of this rugged land and its people.

Beautifully crafted with environmental themes, a lyrical Irish setting, and a touch of magical realism, The Crows of Beara is a breathtaking novel of how the nature of place encompasses everything that we are.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

My Review: The Crows of Beara is a romantic tale of two lost souls set in the beauty of Ireland. With Johnson's vivid descriptions of the Emerald Isle, readers can easily picture the cliffs, the small town feel and imagine the brogue of the residents as they sit down for a pint of Guiness in the local pub.

This is very much a character driven novel with the story focusing around Annie and Daniel - two damaged and flawed characters who have lived through much and lost even more. They were a likable pair but my favourite leading lady was Ireland, with her beauty, culture, folklore and people. Similar to Johnson's first book, In Another Life, there is a mystical element and I felt it blended well with the setting and vibrant Irish culture.

The Crows of Beara is a slower moving, quiet tale. It didn't have shocking twists in its plot and had less conflict than I was expecting but it kept my interest and I easily rooted for Annie and Daniel. I also applaud the author for making an important social message part of her story. 

Overall, this is a well-written story about battling your demons in order to find your true self. It will leave you wistfully hoping that you'll be able to experience Ireland and all her beauty soon yourself.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to author Julie Christine Johnson for providing me with a complimentary copy of her second book in exchange for my honest review.