Sarah O'brien: Love Happens [2005] paperback

Life rebuilding lesson one: purchase armour.



When Ruth Burke discovers her husband is an unrepentant cheat, she faces a hard lesson in toughening up.



Life rebuilding lesson two: think with head, not heart.



Party girl no more, wife no more, Ruth's biggest challenge is to rediscover who she is. Along with three-year-old son Paddy, she embarks on rebuilding her life. But how can she carry on trusting her heart?



Life rebuilding lesson three: bury head in sand.



Surrounded by family (clairvoyant mother Kathleen, pregnant; long-lost father Gary, agenda-ridden) and friends (mad mother-of-four Tracy; cute single dad Kevin), she's finding it hard to see the wood from the trees. Enter Ferdia, new boss. They're the perfect match - logically speaking. And logic, after all, can't break your heart.



Life rebuilding lesson four: when all else fails, surrender to the madness



As the saying goes, shit happens. But sometimes, so does love ...