Review
Another heart-warming read from the veteran Belfast writer, says Claire Allan.
- It Must Be Love
- Poolbeg Press
It Must Be Love
Belfast writer Sharon Owen’s fifth book It Must Be Love is shamelessly romantic and girlie. Focusing on budding romances, broken hearts and the kind of friendships best formed when people are down on their luck, It Must Be Love is a delightfully upbeat read.
The book tells the story of professional photographer Sarah Quinn who is all set to get married to the eligible Mackenzie Campbell on Christmas Eve. But as the wedding draws nearer she overhears a conversation which leaves her running away from her life to set up a new life for herself in the quaint seaside town of Redstone. As she rebuilds her life, we are introduced to a host of new characters and their lives. We meet Miriam, who is desperate for a baby at, it seems, any cost. We also meet writer and journalist Gemma, whose daughter finds herself in a whole heap of trouble in New York. And we meet Aurora, the stylish owner of the local bookshop who is nursing a broken heart, as well as a bruised ego.
What Sharon Owens does wonderfully is create a sense of place. The cottage where Sarah escapes to sounds like a dream place and as for the Miriam’s pink kitchen - be still my beating heart! But it is the warmth of the characters and the strength of their friendships - mixed with a healthy dose of Owens’ trademark humour that makes this book a joyful read. Yes, it touches on many serious issues - bereavement, addiction and infertility - but never in a way that drags the reader down. What comes across most strongly in the book is not the tragedy touching everyone’s lives, but their strength of character. Dare I say, Owens paints such a nice picture that I almost wish I had a Redstone, and a Rose Cottage, to run away to myself - not to mention the hunky love interest in the form of the delectable Ethan. Where the book falls down is that you want to know more. Some of the stories where so strong they could have made a novel in themselves and I would have liked to know about the motivation of her main players. Perhaps she has a sequel lined up somewhere along the way? Known for her sharp tongue and trademark Northern humour, Owens does not disappoint with It Must Be Love. Although set in a fictional Irish village, there is enough of her Belfast background there to keep the reader on familiar territory. One for a damp Spring day in front of the fire, with a cup of tea in your hand.
