Love is the Reason by Mary Malone

Love is the Reason by Mary Malone
Buy Love is the Reason by Mary Malone at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Women's Fiction
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: A fast-paced story about what happens when tragedies hit two families. Set near Cork it's a compelling and exciting read. Recommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 435	Date: December 2010
Publisher: Poolbeg Press
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1842234167
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Lucy Ardle was driving home, wondering what sort of a mood her husband would be in. When she'd left earlier, words had been spoken. She was nearly home when she was overtaken by the fire engine: the house was in flames and it was touch and go as to whether or not Danny would make it. Thankfully Lucy's friend, Carol Black had seen the flames and called the fire brigade or the outcome would have been much worse.

Carol has her own problems. Her family's life of luxury is going to be wrenched from them as one of her husband's property deals in Florida goes badly wrong. Eric's greed has finally caught up – but not just with him. The entire family is going to suffer. Daughter Isobel is home-loving and hard-working but Heidi is, well, different. The family think that she's on holiday in Cyprus, but she's actually in New York with Lucy Ardle's son, Matt – twelve years her junior – or she was until she disappeared without warning. Matt is frantic and doesn't know where to turn – and that's before he knows about the fire and how close to death his father came.

Do you think the families can cope with anything else? Well, the police decide that the fire was arson and Lucy daren't tell Danny that she can't remember whether or not she paid the insurance on the house.

OK, forget the cover picture which will make you think that this is light chick-lit. Forget the title too, as that'll give you the same idea. This is actually a fast-paced story about what happen when two families get into the sort of difficulties which might not be everyday occurrences, but aren't actually extraordinary either. Be warned too that it's the type of book which you'll need to read twice – once to find out what happens and then again to find out how Mary Malone pieced it together so cleverly and compellingly.

The characters come off the page as real people too. They're all flawed to a greater or lesser extent, but then they're all under real pressure. Mary Malone captures this well – the highs, the lows, the frantic need to do something, but what? As you read you really feel that you're a part of a situation which is spinning out of control. Splendid stuff.

I'd like to thank the author for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

If this type of book appeals then you might also enjoy Please Don't Stop the Music by Jane Lovering or Hothouse Flower by Lucinda Riley.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Love is the Reason by Mary Malone at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Love is the Reason by Mary Malone at Amazon.com.

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