Caterers from heaven, functions from Hell: the latest slice of Irish life, Binchy-style, comes - as usual - with the fictional equivalent of tons of crusty bread and a couple of generous side-salads. When Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather set up the catering business of their dreams, they should be on the up and up: instead, the slippery slope beckons as relationships teeter, parents interfere, and clients behave very, very badly. Acupuncture, a Nigerian student and a set of anarchic twins punctuate the narrative and the story, like a river in full flow, carries all before it - but, as always, Binchy's strength is in her warmly human characters, all heart-on-the-sleeve emotion and self-deprecating wit. And guess what? They all (well, nearly all) live happily ever after. Irish life, Binchy-style? Celtic Teddy - and perfect for taking to bed with you.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/1edacb8f-bf5d-4d8f-936c-071e631c2d80.png)