The Ballroom on Magnolia Street [Hardcover]

Sharon Owens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2005

On the heels of her captivating debut, The Tea House on Mulberry Street, comes Sharon Owens's new novel of passion, romance, and regret-and the winding paths to falling in love.

Johnny "Hollywood" Hogan owns the ballroom on Magnolia Street, where sisters Kate and Shirley Winters, along with other regulars, go every Saturday night-to escape the realities of Belfast life, and to seek fun and romance.

Free-spirited Shirley has a mad crush on a boy named Declan Greenwood, while thoroughly modern Kate likes plenty of variety in her wardrobe (and her love life) and is determined to get married before her younger sister. She'll take anyone who'll have her, even if it has to be that greasy-though not entirely unattractive-mechanic who has been hanging around lately. The crowd at Hogan's is always lively, but that doesn't mean all problems have been left at the door. Johnny's grandparents are afraid that he'll retire and shut the ballroom down. Johnny yearns for Marion, his old love (and Declan's mother), while Marion starts to worry that her long-held secret will finally be revealed.

But it doesn't take long for all of the ballroom's patrons to discover that, even without velvet-lined balconies and crystal chandeliers, the magic of the twinkling lights and soft music will help them find just what they're looking for-whether it be family, friendship, or even true love.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

If you're young and single (and even if you're not), the hottest place to see and be seen in Belfast is the ballroom on Magnolia Street. Oh, it may sound stuffy and old--fashioned, but with bouncers at the door and a DJ spinning alternative rock, it's anything but. Owned by Johnny Hogan, a Hollywood wannabe still sporting the slicked-back hair and outlandish clothes from his 1950s heyday, the thriving nightclub is where sisters Shirley and Kate Winters go to meet men. While Shirley fantasizes about meeting Mr. Right (in the person of Declan Greenwood), footloose Kate is happy to settle for Mr. Right Now. Before long, Shirley's dreams come true when she and Declan fall madly in love. Their sudden engagement forces Kate to ratchet up the race to beat her kid sister to the altar. She's missing only one thing: a groom. Owens' follow-up to her delightful debut novel, The Tea House on Mulberry Street (2005), is a comic, capricious escapade brimming with winsome, quirky characters. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Sharon Owens is the Irish bestselling author of The Tea House on Mulberry Street.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1St Edition edition (June 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399152865
• ISBN-13: 978-0399152863
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!, August 26, 2005

By 

Tonya Speelman "Hoarder of books" (Goldendale WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Ballroom on Magnolia Street (Hardcover)

This author is fast becoming one of my favorites. It is a fast-paced book, but enjoyable. I love all the details and I felt like I was there, drinking tea with them. They sure do drink a lot of tea. I like the differences from America and this book just made me love this author more.

So many characters, from the two sisters, who are opposite, but the same; the father who never knew, to the naughty Eugene. This book has plenty of surprises, and life sure does take some funny turns. Without a doubt this book will have you staying up till the sun comes up wanting to know what happens next.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real treat, could not put it down., February 27, 2006

By 

Mary G. Longorio "Texasbookgirl" (Eagle Mountain, UT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ballroom on Magnolia Street (Hardcover)

Fortunately, I had The Ballroom on Magnolia Street ready to pick up once I finished The Tea House on Mulberry Street. I was eager to once again to share the lives of ordinary Belfast citizens....hardworking, and ordinary. Johnny Hogan, the owner of the ballroom is anything but ordinary, Wht, he was the first man in Belfast, perhaps in all Ireland, to wear blue suade shoes and still wears them proudly. He is sure that a man as extraordinary as he will only find his true destiny in America. But he has the ballroom, and the rememberance of his love affair with Marian. Marian has her hands full with a family to raise and a thriving dress business, It keeps her almost too busy to worry about anyone discovering her long buried secret. Sisters Kate and Shirley are hard working girls who look forward to a bit of fun at Hogan's on the weekend. Kate is the one who picks and catches the man she fancies. Shirley is on the sideline...usually shoring up Kate as needed and yearning for "true love". Johnny's grandparents just want him to be happy, and hope his life will become settled enough so they can enjoy their remaining years....well earned since they raised him since his parents were killed in a WWll bombing. These characters and more go about their daily lives in Belfast looking ahead to going to Hogan's where they'll dance to the oldies and shed their work week lives and perhaps find a bit of romance. Once again, I was captivated by these people, sometimes exasperated and dismayed, and then laughing until my sides hurt. The pitted duel of insulting song requests waged by Kate and her rival at the ballroom had me chuckling at my desk at work. I could just see the two glaring across the ballroom, and the hapless DJ caught in the middle. My only complaint was there was not a single reference to any of the characters from her previous book, The Tea Room on Mulberry Street, I didn't think the characters would necessarily need to continue, but would have loved a mention here or there. Once again, I found this book to be a delightful read...and will eagerly await Ms. Owen's next.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So glad I found this author, April 17, 2006

By 

Gigi Fufu "gigi fufu" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ballroom on Magnolia Street (Hardcover)

I was pleasantly suprised to find this new Irish author. I have always been a fan of Maeve Binchy's and after reading Sharon Owens I can see why so many reviews draw parallels between the two authors.

The book is centered around a ballroom in Belfast. We are introduced to the owner, Johhny "Hollywood" Hogan, and eventually to his patrons. We meet two sisters, Shirley and Kate and follow their love, work and family dilemmas. As happens in life, people are connected in unexpected ways, which makes for some interesting relationships.

The story is told with great affection for the characters, despite their faults. The book does not falter and keeps the reader both interested and amused to the very end. Ms. Owens excels at drawing three dimensional characters and writing believable conversations and story lines.

A delightful book all around!