Published Bestsellers

Annie Coyle Martin's story of forbidden passions set in the war years and played against a background of sectarianism and religious conservatism in Ireland. An inspiring tale of love, hate and the indomitable human spirit. It is 1937, Victoria is the youngest daughter of well to do Irish Protestant parents. A chance meeting with a handsome stranger sets Victoria on a heartbreaking path of conflict involving family, tradition and religion. Caught between the Catholic and Protestant hostilities in Ireland, will Victoria and Donny ever find happiness? This is a story of forbidden passions set primarily in the Thirties and the war years, and plays against a background of sectarianism and extreme social and religious conservatism in an Ireland neutral in the war, isolated at the edge of Europe and yet impacted in every filament of daily life by the conflict. Find out more… To Know the Road “A sweeping heart-tugging wartime love story brought to life by deftly crafted character

"At the end of this book I felt I had lost a friend. This travelogue, which follows in reverse the route taken around Ireland by H.V. Morton  80 years earlier is a compulsive read. It is a personal evaluation of Ireland’s colourful and turbulent history. The book spans time from 2000 BC to present day; a veritable time machine encompassing Irish history, music, literature and culture. It evaluates stark poverty in the north, comfortable affluence in the south via European funding; the violence of the I.R.A. and the Black and Tans; the peace and calm of Irish music and verse. All this within magical, magnificent, majestic and inspirational coastline, crags, hills and dales, lakes and fairy glades. John Butler’s careful and considered comparison with Ireland today against Morton’s observations in the 1930s reveal interesting anecdotes which particularly relate to an island culture. The sights, sounds and smells of Ireland are set in high relief by his personal experie

Author of 'In Search Of Ireland Again', John Butler  talks about his new book. " I first visited Ireland in 1947 – inspired by that King of travel writers, H.V.Morton and his ‘In Search of Ireland’. In numerous visits since, I have been struck by the changing face of the country, splintered by the formation of the six counties to become part of the UK. The book tells of a country in desperate poverty, resurgence into prosperity, via the European Community, the fight for independence, the violence of the IRA and the Black and Tans. It tells of the eternal haemorrhaging of its people through emigration and a history bound up so tightly with our own. The book is a personal account of the tours. It is more than a mere travelogue; it is a personal observation and evaluation of the traumatic phases of the country and its history – seen in past, present and future. I am bewitched by the sheer beauty of Glengariff, see Cushenden and I’m reminded of Clough Elliss and Port

“Well researched, highly enjoyable and witty travelogue” …publishedbestsellers.com Paperback | Waterstones | Amazon UK Ebook | Kobo | Google Play |  Amazon Kindle |  Apple iBook | Nook

"I have just completed my second reading of 'In Search of Ireland Again' and feel I must say how much I have enjoyed doing so. I lived and worked in Ireland (mostly in the north) for a couple of years around 1950 and did quite a bit of exploring and looking around. However, it took your book to show me that I hardly covered the smallest fraction of the place, even geographically let alone all the interesting histories you quoted. H.V.Morton can rest easy in your continuation of the number of the places to see and enjoy. On my next reading, I intend to use my road - map to identify more accurately just where all these interesting little places fit - it may be that I have actually visited them but can't remember. I just wanted to thank you for bringing back some of my youthful exploits - happy days!! " Jean Singleton Watch Trailer Paperback | Waterstones | Amazon UK Ebook | Kobo | Hive | Google Play |  Amazon Kindle |  Apple iBook John Butler

In Search Of Ireland Again | Travel and holiday By John Butler The book is a personal account of the tours. It is more than a mere travelogue; it is a personal observation and evaluation of the traumatic phases of the country and its history – seen in past, present and future.

Spring Leaf Books has announced that the ebook edition of 'To Know the Road' by Annie Coyle Martin is free on Amazon from June 19 to 21, 2012. If you haven't picked up any of Annie Coyle Martin's publications yet, this is a great opportunity to try one of them for free. A chance meeting with a handsome stranger sets Victoria on a heart breaking path of conflict involving family, tradition and religion. To Know the Road is the story of an impulsive Protestant girl in Ireland who falls in love with a Catholic boy and her struggle to survive and rebuild her life when she is cast out by her family. The story is set in the war years when, like smoke drifting from Europe the war affected Ireland. Caught between the Irish Catholic Protestant hostilities, will Victoria and Donny ever find happiness? Spring Leaf Books... Amazon Kindle - To Know the Road   "A heart stopping movie between the covers" - - The Globe and Mail “A sweeping heart-tugging wartime l