SHARON OWENS

With an introduction by John White and an essay by Milan Kundera, this text is the first part of Hermann Broch's "Sleepwalkers" trilogy - a portrayal of the neuroses and militarism of late-19th centu

Mags and Julie are partners at Dream Weddings, catering for the over-the-top and sometimes downright bizarre requirements of Belfast's brides and grooms to be. They rub along well but are as different as chalk and cheese. Mags is married to the love of her life, has four kids and a complicated extended family. Julie is impossibly glamorous, and doesn't remotely believe in love or marriage. When Julie embarks on a life crisis, running away from her live-in lover and throwing herself in to a hair-raisingly sexy fling with Jay, it is Mags who is left to pick up the pieces. When Julie eventually comes back, she brings Jay with her, and that is where the real trouble starts. Add to the mix Dream Weddings' most high-profile celebrity clients yet, and the biggest, most ambitious wedding they have ever organised, and the fireworks really begin...

On a hot summers night in 1967, Johnny Hollywood Hogan parked his pale blue Lincoln continental on Portstewart Strand and solemnly told his girlfriend Marion that he would always love her. But Johnny didnt ask her to be his wife. Marion, pregnant and terrified of a scandal, fled to the safe embrace of gentle baker Eddy Greenwood. Seven months later, Declan was born. Too late, Johnny realised what he had lost. He consoled himself with running his precious ballroom on Magnolia Street and dreaming of the day when Marion would come back to him.

Shirley Winters is a daydreamer who loves vintage clothes and 80''s music. She is also in love with gorgeous Declan Greenwood and can''t believe her luck when her crush is rewarded with a swift marriage proposal. Older sister Kate, who enjoys collecting handbags and lovers with equal relish, is less than pleased with this news. There is no chance she is playing bridesmaid to Shirley''s bride, so the rush is on to find a husband of her own. Handsome Johnny Hogan owns the ballroom on Magnolia Street, and still pines for Marion, the woman he loved and lost many years ago. And when he finds out that Declan is the son Marion had by him, he insists on playing a major part in the wedding. But little does he realize that Kate intends making it Belfast''s double wedding of the year ...

Struggling artist Brenda sits penning letters to Nicolas Cage and dreaming of a better life. Sadie finds refuge from her diet and her husband's infidelity in Daniel's famous cherry cheesecake. Clare returns home from twenty years in New York, still cherishing the memory of the one night she truly loved - and lost. And Penny herself discovers a secret from the past - and a sexy estate agent very much in her present.

Beautiful Lily Beaumont and her husband Jack are owners of a genuine Victorian tavern, situated on one of Belfast''s few remaining narrow cobbled streets. It''s a favourite among the locals who love the quiet atmosphere, good beer and simple food. Then one day, Dublin-based developer, Vincent Halloran arrives with big plans for Maple Street. The other traders are keen to sell up and retire, but Jack and Lily aren''t ready to call ''time, please'' on their beloved tavern. Instead, Lily hires four pretty barmaids to bring in the customers. Enter pint-sized, man-eater Bridget, lazy art-student Daisy, neurotic Trudy and painfully shy Marie. And if the stakes for Lily and Jack weren''t already high enough, there''s a secret about the Maple Street tavern that has yet to be discovered. A secret that will redefine the meaning of love, friendship, and family in the most surprising ways...

A hilarious romantic comedy for fans of Marian Keyes, Cecelia Ahern and Sophie Kinsella. Mags and Julie are partners at Dream Weddings, catering for the over-the-top and sometimes downright bizarre requirements of Belfasts brides and grooms to be. They are as different as chalk and cheese: Mags is married to the love of her life, has four kids and a complicated extended family, while Julie is impossibly glamorous, and doesnt remotely believe in love or marriage.But when Julie embarks on a life crisis, running away from her live-in lover and throwing herself in to a hair-raisingly sexy fling with Jay, it is Mags who is left to pick up the pieces. But the real trouble starts when Julie comes back, bringing Jay with her. Add to the mix Dream Weddings most high-profile celebrity clients yet, and the biggest, most ambitious wedding they have ever organised, and the fireworks really begin...Praise for Sharon Owens:Maeve Binchey meets Joanna Trollope . . . Gives you a warm glow like a nice cup of tea Irish IndependentIt made me refuse nights out in favour of curling up on the couch . . . dreaming of mouth-watering delights the book so vividly describes Cecelia AhernA lovely heart-warming tale brimming with entertaininng twists and turnsHeat ****A real page-turnerCompany *****

Fans of Marian Keyes, Cecelia Ahern and Joanna Trollope will love this hilarious romantic comedy. Shirley Winters is a daydreamer who loves vintage clothes and 80s music. Shes also in love with the gorgeous Declan Greenwood, and cant believe her luck when he swiftly proposes. But her older sister Kate - who enjoys collecting both handbags and lovers - is less than pleased when she hears the news. Theres no way shes letting Kate walk down the aisle first, so the race is on to find a husband of her own. But when handsome Johnny Hogan who owns the ballroom on Magnolia Street, offers to help with the wedding, little does he realise Kate intends on making it Belfasts double wedding of the year . . .Praise for Sharon Owens:Maeve Binchey meets Joanna Trollope . . . Gives you a warm glow like a nice cup of tea Irish IndependentIt made me refuse nights out in favour of curling up on the couch . . . dreaming of mouth-watering delights the book so vividly describes Cecelia AhernA lovely heart-warming tale brimming with entertaininng twists and turnsHeat ****A real page-turnerCompany *****

A hilarious and heartwarming tale, perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and Cecelia Ahern. The tea house on Mulberry Street in Belfast hasnt changed much over the years. But its full of people who are hoping to . . . Owner Daniel Stanley might make the most glorious deserts in the whole of Ireland, but he wont support his wife Pennys desire to have at least one bun in the oven.Sadie finds refuge from her diet and her husbands infidelity in Daniels famous cherry cheesecake. Struggling artist Brenda is dreaming of a better life. Clare returns home from twenty years in New York, still cherishing the memory of the one night she truly loved - and lost. And Penny herself discovers a secret from the past - and a handsome estate agent very much in her present. They all want their lives to change - but are they willing to face the consequences? And the possibility that you might not always be able to have your cake - and eat it . . .Praise for Sharon Owens:Maeve Binchey meets Joanna Trollope . . . Gives you a warm glow like a nice cup of tea Irish IndependentIt made me refuse nights out in favour of curling up on the couch . . . dreaming of mouth-watering delights the book so vividly describes Cecelia AhernA lovely heart-warming tale brimming with entertaininng twists and turnsHeat ****A real page-turnerCompany *****

Fans of Marian Keyes, Cecelia Ahern and Sophie Kinsella will love this hilarious and heart-warming story.Lily Beaumont and her husband Jack are the owners of a genuine Victorian tavern, on one of Belfasts few remaining narrow cobbled streets. Its a favourite among the locals who love the quiet atmosphere, good beer and simple food. But one day, Dublin-based developer Vincent Halloran arrives with big plans for Maple Street. The other traders are keen to sell up and retire, but Jack and Lily arent ready to call it a day on their beloved tavern. Lily hires four new barmaids to help bring in the customers. Enter man-eater Bridget, lazy art-student Daisy, neurotic Trudy and painfully shy Marie. And if the stakes for Lily and Jack werent already high enough, theres a secret about the Maple Street tavern that has yet to be discovered. A secret that will redefine the meaning of love, friendship, and family in the most surprising ways . . .Praise for Sharon Owens: Maeve Binchey meets Joanna Trollope . . . Gives you a warm glow like a nice cup of tea Irish Independent It made me refuse nights out in favour of curling up on the couch . . . dreaming of mouth-watering delights the book so vividly describes Cecelia AhernA lovely heart-warming tale brimming with entertaininng twists and turnsHeat ****A real page-turnerCompany *****

A captivating, romantic story of learning to love again, for fans of Cecelia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes. Once upon a time Ruby ONeill lived in her very own ivory tower (a beautiful little cottage) with her very own fairytale prince (her handsome husband Jonathan). Life was perfect. But one night Rubys life changes forever and she stops believing in fairy tales. With her heart broken, she swears she will never love again. Yet guardian angels hide in the strangest places and from the darkness, six magical secrets slowly emerge to show her life is for living and that tomorrow is not too late for love. But who is the mysterious stranger who holds the seventh secret, the hardest one to find? And does he hold the secret to Rubys heart? Perhaps shell get her happy ending after all.Praise for Sharon Owens:Maeve Binchey meets Joanna Trollope . . . Gives you a warm glow like a nice cup of tea Irish IndependentIt made me refuse nights out in favour of curling up on the couch . . . dreaming of mouth-watering delights the book so vividly describes Cecelia AhernA lovely heart-warming tale brimming with entertaininng twists and turnsHeat ****A real page-turnerCompany *****