Eithne Riordan may be of Irish decent, have an Irish name, and the typical Black Irish coloring, but she has cursed her Irish heritage and the blessed Saint Patrick, even spit on them. The little people don’t take that well and she finds herself in a strange place facing a leprechaun who has the power to judge and punish her transgressions. The leprechaun is the most beautiful man she has ever seen. He tells her she has been judged and must serve a hundred years in this strange place unless she chooses to make a bargain with him. She can give him her soul or her body to do with as he pleases and only remain one night. Eithne knows that there is always a catch when bargaining with a leprechaun. Will she be able to afford the “catch” to the deal?

This is a really cute fairy tale. Pippa Bennett does a good job with The Only Gold. I have always loved stories of magic, fairies, and leprechauns. The leprechauns are generally a little more wicked than the gentle fairies and that is certainly true in this tale. Roe, as the leprechaun calls himself, is devious and oh so very sexy. It seems like a no brainer that Eithne will chose the night of giving her body to him to regain her regular life in the morning. Of course if Eithne hadn’t been such a proud and bitter woman she might not have found herself in this mess in the first place. As with many fairy tales there is a lesson to be learned by Eithne. Just because one person has treated you poorly or hurt you doesn’t make it right for you to mistreat or judge another person who has done nothing to you by that standard. If you are looking for a charming, short fairy tale to brighten your day, pick up and read The Only Gold.

Reviewed by: Stephanie B.