Helpful Score: 3
A sweet Brittish romance. It involves bumbling theives, nostalgia for Hollywood glamour days, families, and love. I liked it.
Helpful Score: 3
I also enjoyed the tea house book, as well as the tavern book so I was looking forward to this one, but it was a major disappointment. I found all the characters very unsympathetic, bordering on downright annoying. I couldn't root for any of them. I also don't like it when a book tries too hard to be funny and "wacky." I don't agree that these books are like Maeve Binchy, whom I love. The only thing they have in common to me is being set in Ireland- Binchy's books are much warmer and wittier. Strange how sometimes you can really like a few books by an author and yet equally dislike one. Oh well, everyone's entitled to a clunker I guess!
Helpful Score: 2
Like Maeve Binchly in style. You'll love Johnny "Hollywod" Hogan who owns the ballroom.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book, Sharon Owens always has a unique slant on modern, N. Irish living. But, to be truthful I did enjoy the Tearoom on Mulberry Street better.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the Tea House book, so I borrowed this one from the library. Sorry to say, I didn't enjoy this one as much. I felt like I was just trying to push through to get to the end and I finally decided I didn't much care what happened to the characters.
Helpful Score: 1
Fun light read. This one reminds me of the British television soap operas I view occasionally. It features Johnny Hogan, the only survivor when his street was bombed. Known as Hollywood Hogan, his life revolves around the ballroom. He dresses the part, acts the part and loves every minute he spends there. His only regret is the loss of Marion, his sweetheart of several years. When she realizes she is pregnant and John never gets around to proposing she finds her previous sweetheart. They marry and together raise a son, Declan.
The book uses the ballroom as the focus for much of the action as people search for love, friendship and happiness. The only person who cannot find another is Johnny himself. However, when he discovers that he has a son he sets out to win his love. The result is not what one would expect and those who visit the ballroom find their own lives much changed by what happens to those they meet there. It's like a walk along a street veering into the ballroom now and then. Nice read.
The book uses the ballroom as the focus for much of the action as people search for love, friendship and happiness. The only person who cannot find another is Johnny himself. However, when he discovers that he has a son he sets out to win his love. The result is not what one would expect and those who visit the ballroom find their own lives much changed by what happens to those they meet there. It's like a walk along a street veering into the ballroom now and then. Nice read.
Set in Ireland and woven from the lives of those connected with a ballroom/dance hall in Belfast. Owens does a lovely job with characterizations. I'm enjoying her work and hope she continues!
Set in Belfast, Ireland another great story by the author of The Tea House on Mulberry street. You don't need to read the first book to follow the story in this book...enjoyable book!
A delightfully warm read that you'll devour in one sitting.
Fun fast read. A style not unlike Maeve Binchy. Liked the book a lot.
Vibrant cast of characters.
Vibrant cast of characters.
If you have read "The Tea House on Mulberry Street" you "gotta" read this one too.
A feel good warm and fuzzy assortment of love stories that will charm you.
Oops! Didn't read it.
