‘An Irish Castle – A Hollywood Movie Set – Six Weeks To Mend A Broken Heart’
Love like the (Real) Reel Thing by Sharon Black published November 5th with Poolbeg Press and is described as ‘a warm, funny, feel-good romantic comedy about second chances, small-town secrets, and the magic of movies‘. In celebration of its recent publication, Sharon has kindly given me an extract to share with you all today, so I do hope you enjoy.
[ About Love like the (Real) Reel Thing ]
When Hollywood comes to Mayo’s Linford Castle in the west of Ireland, Jess Bradley is asked to troubleshoot.
Eager to escape a failed relationship with her colleague Adam Rourke, Jess jumps at the chance to move on with her life.
But just as she’s starting to get a handle on it all, Adam shows up – and to Jess’s shock, it seems he’s moved on too.
When one of the stars goes missing, Jess must decide who she can trust to help her get everything back on track — and maybe find her own happy ending
Love like the (Real) Reel Thing – Purchase Link
[ Extract ]
@Goss.ie We’re so excited for @SpencerTorres and @AfricBrooks upcoming movie which will start filming in the next few days at our own Linford Castle in Mayo. Even better, it’s an enemies to lovers romcom about two people who jointly inherit – you guessed it – an old Irish castle. #AnIrishInheritance
Jess packed up her car and drove down to Linford Castle the following Tuesday. The cast and crew of An Irish Inheritance were due to arrive the following weekend, so Anthony Neary had invited her to stay at the hotel until the cottage he’d secured for her in the village was given a structural check and a professional cleaning. “It belonged to a relative of one of our staff,” he’d told Jess. “The family are happy to lend it.”
As Jess drove up Linford’s winding, tree-lined driveway, she could see what looked like a partially constructed outdoor set in the furthest west field near the river. A few minutes later, the early seventeenth century castle came into full view, with its imposing square turrets and high stone walls, partially covered by ivy.
She pulled up at the castle’s west side and turned off the engine. As she walked around to the main entrance, memories of the previous July flooded back and she wondered if she’d unconsciously avoided coming to Linford since then.
Pushing open one of the heavy, double oak doors, she stepped out of the warm, late May sunshine into the cool exterior of the grand foyer. She took a moment to appreciate its high, arched, wood-panelled ceiling and four vast fireplaces, which she knew would have been swept and cleaned after the winter season before being filled with large arrangements of fresh flowers.
“Jess? Is that you?” Emily O’Brien hurried over to her. “I couldn’t believe it when Mr Neary said you were coming down!”
“It’s so good to see you!” Jess hugged Emily tightly.
She hadn’t seen her in seven months, since Emily had made the move from head office to work as a receptionist at Linford. She’d missed her so much, she realised as she pulled back, trying to pinpoint what was different about her.
“You’ve dyed your hair!” Even with the low bun Emily had to wear as part of the hotel’s strict Victorian-style uniform, Jess could see that her blonde hair was whiter than she remembered.
“Yeah.” Emily grinned. “I wasn’t sure I’d get away with it, but as long as it’s not purple or something I think I’m good.”
“So, how’s the new job?”
Emily turned to greet a couple of guests who were strolling through the foyer, then waited until they were of earshot.
“It’s everything, Jess.” She gestured to the high-collared white blouse and floor-length navy skirt, which managed to make her look even taller and more slender than she was. “Even the uniform’s a bit of fun! It’s like getting into a role. Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for putting in a word for me.”
“Country life isn’t too quiet?” Jess grinned.
Emily hesitated, then shook her head. “I heard you’re gonna be here for a few weeks?”
“Six weeks – just while the film is being made.”
Emily nodded. “Now, Mr Neary said to put you in the Lady Helen suite when you arrived. It’ll
only be until Friday, but you might as well enjoy a bit of luxury, right?”
“Wow, nice! Three days in a five-star hotel suite!” And completely on her own. The thought of being able to do whatever she wanted or nothing at all, without having to answer to anyone, made her feel a bit giddy.
“Right, and you don’t believe all that haunted-room stuff, sure you don’t?
[ Bio ]
Sharon Black is an Irish author of warm, witty women’s fiction and is published by Poolbeg Books.
As a writer, she enjoys dreaming up high-concept ideas and funny, well-rounded characters for her contemporary romantic comedies. But even though her romances always have happy-ever-after or happy-for-now endings, she’s not afraid to explore deeper themes in her books.
Sharon previously worked as a freelance journalist for some of the big Irish newspaper groups. She is a member of Writing.ie and Writers Ink and is a Curtis Brown Creative alumna. She has published short stories in women’s magazines, was long-listed for the 2023 Retreat West ‘Opening Lines’ Competition, and placed 2nd in the 2020 Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival Short Story Competition.
When she’s not writing, she reads, walks, catches up with family and friends, drinks a lot of coffee and probably eats too much chocolate. Sharon is an active member of a long-running local book club which meet monthly to chat, drink wine and discuss books. She loves theatre, old Hollywood films, every romantic comedy ever made and edgy stand-up.
Thanks to her appalling sense of direction, she and Jodie (Google Maps) are close personal friends. Sharon lives on the Dublin coast with her husband and the youngest of her grown up family.
Website ~ https://sharonblackwriter.ie
