The subtitle for SEMI-SWEET, A Novel of Love and Cupcakes, captures the heart of this charming tale of seven months in the lives of residents in a small town in Ireland. Author Roisin Meaney cleverly captures the sweet, semi-sweet, and bittersweet manifestations of love in its many forms: romantic, parental, familial, friendly, and illicit (to name a few). Through events that range from toe curling to inspiring to heart-breaking, we are reminded that love is powerful, challenging, and comes with great risk and sacrifice.

At the heart of the story is baker Hannah Robinson who, on the eve of opening her new cupcake shop, is left by her live-in boyfriend, Patrick. Hannah is heart-broken but has the support of her parents and best friend, Adam. Realizing Hannah is feeling vulnerable and a little scared about what the future holds, Adam sets the seven months until his birthday as the goal. He challenges her to commit to keeping the cupcake shop open until then, whatever it takes. SEMI-SWEET captures the life of these characters during that seven month period.

Adam, who has moved in with Hannah so he can lend his place to his femme-fatal sister, has his eye on a shy musician. Leah, pregnant with Patrick's child, struggles to keep a man who has already strayed once. Leah's mother deals with the social stigma resulting from Leah's decisions, especially on bridge night when she comes face-to-face with Hannah's mom, Geraldine. Alice, Geraldine's boss at the shoe store, doesn't know what to do about her husband's excessive drinking. In a small town there are no secrets and no strangers, so not surprisingly these stories intersect in interesting and compelling ways.

Life and love are made up of a series of relationships and events, small and large. Ms. Meaney has created a delightful version of life's recipe, by blending together ingredients that range from the mundane to the earth shattering, and everything in between. A visit to this small Irish town is a trip worth taking.