The Pub Across the Pond

By: Carlene O'Connor

Narrated by: Aoife McMahon

Carlene Rivers is many things. Dutiful, reliable, kind. Lucky? Not so much. At thirty, she’s living a stifling existence in Cleveland, Ohio. Then one day, Carlene buys a raffle ticket. The prize: a pub on the west coast of Ireland. Carlene is stunned when she wins. Everyone else is stunned when she actually goes.

As soon as she arrives in Ballybeog, Carlene is smitten not just by the town’s beguiling mix of ancient and modern, but by the welcome she receives. In this small town near Galway Bay, strife is no stranger, strangers are family, and no one is ever too busy for a cup of tea or a pint. And though her new job presents challenges—from a meddling neighbor to the pub’s colorful regulars—there are compensations galore. Like the freedom to sing, joke, and tell stories, and in doing so, find her own voice. And in her flirtation with Ronan McBride, the pub’s charming, reckless former owner, she just may find the freedom to follow where impulse leads and trust her heart—and her luck—for the very first time....

©2011 Mary Carter (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

I would recommend this author’s works overall but please read entire review.

Overall a good story but slow getting going in my opinion. I also don’t do racy and even though it was just the one time it was too much for me. I have read her entire village mystery series which I love and some books in 2 of her other series.
I would recommend this author’s works overall.

Narrator is terrible

I love Carlene O’ Conors books but I couldn’t even get through this one. I’m returning it the narrator is so bad I can’t stand it.

Fun story

I like the idea of being Lucky too! Ireland is on my bucket list! Give it a listen!

Not the same quality as the Murder in an Irish Village. But an ok listen. Narration is choppy and inconsistent.

A bit more racy and descriptive in romance and language.
Intro is important, so don’t skip it.

Storyline is ok.

Narration is very inconsistent with voices, tones and accents.

Spoiler-ish*****scroll ****






















I think changing the name of the town for anonymity made things less enjoyable than saying it’s set in the same town as The Irish Village series. Having familiar landmarks and names makes things almost seem like the author rehashed names and ideas from the other series and I was starting to get rather annoyed between that and the narration, I listened to it at top speed just to get through it and almost returned it as difficult as it was to get through. It wasn’t until the description of the abbey and five light windows that my brain finally settled, like finally remembering the thing you forgot. Or a serious case of déjà vu.

ignorant Americans

Apparently the author is far superior to those ignorant Americans. Fat, stupid, loud, embarrassing Americans.
It’s a shame. I liked her books. But there are loads of good authors who don’t think Americans are ignorant fools.
I look forward to reading them.