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Mosaic
An Irish love story following the life of global singing superstar, Madison Ryan.
‘Fame is a funny thing… the whole world knows your name, but no one really knows you.’
Madison Ryan is Irelands pop princess. Adored by her millions of fans, she seems to have it all. Luxurious hotels, celebrity-filled parties, and millions in the bank, she is one of the most famous women on the planet.
Yet all that glistens certainly is not gold. No one sees the loneliness, the insecurity, the surreal existence that accompanies fame. When Madison meets her old friend, Cliona O’Connor, she hires her as her assistant. As she reconnects with her past, she realises that you should never forget where you come from.
We follow Madison on her journey of self-discovery. Secrets are revealed, hearts are broken, scandal follows scandal, but she never gives up. Like a mosaic, lots of broken pieces come together to make something whole.
Sometimes something is worth fighting for. No matter what.
450 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2021
13 people want to read
About the author
Caragh Bell
8 books16 followersCaragh Bell is an Irish author from west Cork who has published seven books. She enjoys writing fiction as it offers escapism in a world saturated with bad news - her books are light, funny and addictive. All the titles link and the result is a literary world where familiar characters pop up in unexpected places. Her trilogy - INDECISION, REGRETS and PROMISES - is set in Ireland; ECHOES OF GRACE is set in the wilds of Cornwall. Her fifth book, GABRIELLA, is based in New York. Her sixth book, MOSAIC, begins in Ireland and moves into the exciting world of music and fame. Fortuna is her seventh book.
Facebook: Caragh Bell-Writer
Twitter:@BellCaragh
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2022
My Rating ~ 3.5*
Mosaic by Caragh Bell was published with Poolbeg Press November 19th and is a romance novel exploring the broken lives of people the world perceives as having it all.
1995, Cork City was home to the iconic music venue, Sir Henry’s and Caragh Bell took me right back there as the story of Mary Kennedy, a young girl with her life ahead of her, is revealed. Mary lived with her father Noel, in the shadow of Cork’s Shandon Bells, in a small terraced house. Her mother had passed away some time back and, together, Noel and Mary did their best to survive every day. But, with Noel now on disability due to a back injury, making ends meet was a struggle. Mary was aware of her Dad’s inability to handle money and cope with the daily challenges of life so where she could she stepped up, assisting with the cooking, the housework and putting any spare cash to one side for household bills. Mary had to grow up fast but she was still a teenager, listening to Nirvana and spending quality girly time with her best friend Viola. The two had planned a night out, an exciting adventure where they would finally see for themselves what the inside of Sir Henry’s was like, with its crowded dancefloor and throbbing beats. Unbeknownst to both girls, this seemingly innocent night of fun was to change the course of their lives forever.
Twenty-three years later Irish pop singer Madison Ryan is exhausted. The constant demands on her time and the hectic schedule are taking their toll. Madison is frustrated with this roller-coaster that she now finds herself on and wants to call time on the ‘ditzy girl-next-door’ image that she has portrayed since she first burst onto the music scene with a record deal at sixteen years of age. Madison wants time out to recalibrate herself but her management have very different ideas. Madison is extremely successful, her music loved across the globe. Any change in image and music style could spell disaster for her career and her team are not about to take any risks.
Madison has a fractured relationship with her father. His job meant he was away from home for long periods of time and over the years Madison’s anger grew. She dismissed her mother as weak for the way she lived her life, accepting of her destiny, and now time spent in the family home is kept to a minimum. Madison doesn’t see the point. As a family they live very different lives and when together, only friction and antipathy remains.
The one staple in Madison’s life has always been her best friend Cliona O’ Connor and her family who lived near Madison when growing up in an affluent Dublin suburb.
‘Cliona’s family was like a real family. Sometimes she envied her so much it hurt. Being an only child had its advantages, but there was no one to rub off or argue with.’
When Madison is with The O’ Connor family they pay no heed to her fame, are dismissive of her strict lifestyle and she feels safe there, away from the cameras, trusting completely that Cliona and her family will always have her back. Cliona’s brother Fionn is in college in London. A drumming enthusiast, he joined a student band called Doctor Eckleberg, whose lead singer Caspian Cole has big dreams for a future in music. He wants to take the band beyond the college scene and become something much bigger. But Caspian believes in hard work and that a musician should perfect his trade before launching themselves into the larger music scene. Their music is solid. Their audiences appreciate what they are doing and, being a drummer in the background suits Fionn. Fionn plays music because of his passion for it. Fame and fortune were never his long-term goal.
Mosaic interweaves the lives of Mary Kennedy, Madison Ryan, Cliona and Fionn O’ Connor and Caspian Cole. Love, loss, passion and grief all play out in this story spanning over two decades. Caragh Bell always adds a few cameo appearances of characters from her previous novels, which is a lovely and unexpected discovery, as it reminds you of where they are in life. Mosaic is packed with OTT stereo-typical personalities, Caragh Bell plays with them all beautifully, creating characters that we come to love and dislike in equal measure. Narcissistic celebrities with enormous egos are central figures, as are the high-earning, designer-wearing folk that live in a different realm to most of us. Hidden among these strong personality types are a few gems that see the world from a very different angle and can also see the trajectory and inevitable disappointment that follows the glittering lifestyle when the gloss wears off.
Mosaic isn’t all light and fluffy as it does contain some tragic stories where the lives of characters are upended with shocking news that ultimately changes their world. There are multiple themes featured throughout Mosaic all handled with great sensitivity by Caragh Bell, while running in parallel with the glamour and glitz of the crazy world of the celebrity lifestyle. They are pure escapism, books that allow your imagination to soar, books that provide a much-needed time-out from our chaotic world at the moment. Captivating and glamourous, Mosaic is a charismatic tale of flawed individuals who experience the meaning of self and the meaning of belonging, an entertaining read that captures the heart, with spirited personalities that have ambitions and dreams that will not be tamed.
Mosaic by Caragh Bell was published with Poolbeg Press November 19th and is a romance novel exploring the broken lives of people the world perceives as having it all.
1995, Cork City was home to the iconic music venue, Sir Henry’s and Caragh Bell took me right back there as the story of Mary Kennedy, a young girl with her life ahead of her, is revealed. Mary lived with her father Noel, in the shadow of Cork’s Shandon Bells, in a small terraced house. Her mother had passed away some time back and, together, Noel and Mary did their best to survive every day. But, with Noel now on disability due to a back injury, making ends meet was a struggle. Mary was aware of her Dad’s inability to handle money and cope with the daily challenges of life so where she could she stepped up, assisting with the cooking, the housework and putting any spare cash to one side for household bills. Mary had to grow up fast but she was still a teenager, listening to Nirvana and spending quality girly time with her best friend Viola. The two had planned a night out, an exciting adventure where they would finally see for themselves what the inside of Sir Henry’s was like, with its crowded dancefloor and throbbing beats. Unbeknownst to both girls, this seemingly innocent night of fun was to change the course of their lives forever.
Twenty-three years later Irish pop singer Madison Ryan is exhausted. The constant demands on her time and the hectic schedule are taking their toll. Madison is frustrated with this roller-coaster that she now finds herself on and wants to call time on the ‘ditzy girl-next-door’ image that she has portrayed since she first burst onto the music scene with a record deal at sixteen years of age. Madison wants time out to recalibrate herself but her management have very different ideas. Madison is extremely successful, her music loved across the globe. Any change in image and music style could spell disaster for her career and her team are not about to take any risks.
Madison has a fractured relationship with her father. His job meant he was away from home for long periods of time and over the years Madison’s anger grew. She dismissed her mother as weak for the way she lived her life, accepting of her destiny, and now time spent in the family home is kept to a minimum. Madison doesn’t see the point. As a family they live very different lives and when together, only friction and antipathy remains.
The one staple in Madison’s life has always been her best friend Cliona O’ Connor and her family who lived near Madison when growing up in an affluent Dublin suburb.
‘Cliona’s family was like a real family. Sometimes she envied her so much it hurt. Being an only child had its advantages, but there was no one to rub off or argue with.’
When Madison is with The O’ Connor family they pay no heed to her fame, are dismissive of her strict lifestyle and she feels safe there, away from the cameras, trusting completely that Cliona and her family will always have her back. Cliona’s brother Fionn is in college in London. A drumming enthusiast, he joined a student band called Doctor Eckleberg, whose lead singer Caspian Cole has big dreams for a future in music. He wants to take the band beyond the college scene and become something much bigger. But Caspian believes in hard work and that a musician should perfect his trade before launching themselves into the larger music scene. Their music is solid. Their audiences appreciate what they are doing and, being a drummer in the background suits Fionn. Fionn plays music because of his passion for it. Fame and fortune were never his long-term goal.
Mosaic interweaves the lives of Mary Kennedy, Madison Ryan, Cliona and Fionn O’ Connor and Caspian Cole. Love, loss, passion and grief all play out in this story spanning over two decades. Caragh Bell always adds a few cameo appearances of characters from her previous novels, which is a lovely and unexpected discovery, as it reminds you of where they are in life. Mosaic is packed with OTT stereo-typical personalities, Caragh Bell plays with them all beautifully, creating characters that we come to love and dislike in equal measure. Narcissistic celebrities with enormous egos are central figures, as are the high-earning, designer-wearing folk that live in a different realm to most of us. Hidden among these strong personality types are a few gems that see the world from a very different angle and can also see the trajectory and inevitable disappointment that follows the glittering lifestyle when the gloss wears off.
Mosaic isn’t all light and fluffy as it does contain some tragic stories where the lives of characters are upended with shocking news that ultimately changes their world. There are multiple themes featured throughout Mosaic all handled with great sensitivity by Caragh Bell, while running in parallel with the glamour and glitz of the crazy world of the celebrity lifestyle. They are pure escapism, books that allow your imagination to soar, books that provide a much-needed time-out from our chaotic world at the moment. Captivating and glamourous, Mosaic is a charismatic tale of flawed individuals who experience the meaning of self and the meaning of belonging, an entertaining read that captures the heart, with spirited personalities that have ambitions and dreams that will not be tamed.
December 5, 2021
I am an artist and when I think of mosaic art, i see broken pieces and fragments of light, dark, and many other colors that make the whole of an artwork. Like humans, whether famous or ordinary, we are all bits of the Mosaic. Sometimes our lives intertwine with, run parallel to or opposing. Mosaic is the perfect description of how the lives of her characters Madison, Cliona, Caspian, Ethan, and all the others are brought together through generations, time and experiences. The author weaves stories of loss, triumph and survival in a relatable manner. She builds a story that draws you into their world (even if you’re not sure it’s your thing, making you invest. You will love them, hate them, and relate to them throughout the book.
In the beginning there was a bit of inconsistency in regards to Clio’s dad not working/working when she was sneaking away. And a few minor typos.
This is not typically a book that I would choose to read, but the title caught my attention-being about younger people I didn’t think I’d relate to or enjoy the story. I was wrong.
Ratings: To be honest about star ratings, I think 4 is very strong approval of a book. A 5 star review is for a book destined for classical literature status, in my opinion.
I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
In the beginning there was a bit of inconsistency in regards to Clio’s dad not working/working when she was sneaking away. And a few minor typos.
This is not typically a book that I would choose to read, but the title caught my attention-being about younger people I didn’t think I’d relate to or enjoy the story. I was wrong.
Ratings: To be honest about star ratings, I think 4 is very strong approval of a book. A 5 star review is for a book destined for classical literature status, in my opinion.
I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 5, 2022
I think the premise of this book is really interesting. The concept to take fractured, broken people and see how they fit together to make a gorgeous "mosaic" is so intriguing. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me in execution. There were a lot of characters and it could be hard to keep them all straight, even 60% into the book. The other thing that was tough for me was some of the main characters. I love a book with a real, flawed character, but some of these characters were horrendously mean to each other and made them extremely unlikeable. I wanted to root for the romance, I wanted to root for the character growth, but some of them (Madison and Caspian mostly) started out so unlikeable that I couldn't even root for them at the end. It was too little, too late.
Bell is a fantastic writer, and her simplistic, easy style makes this book compulsively readable, and I think it's would be great for readers who like New Adult Contemporary Fiction.
This book is perfect for artists, musicians, and pop culture lovers! If you fit any of these categories, give this book a go!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bell is a fantastic writer, and her simplistic, easy style makes this book compulsively readable, and I think it's would be great for readers who like New Adult Contemporary Fiction.
This book is perfect for artists, musicians, and pop culture lovers! If you fit any of these categories, give this book a go!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 21, 2023
This book was a pleasant surprise! I read a mix of reviews but decided to go ahead and read it. Although the two main characters are quite unlikeable, eventually their characters develop and show new qualities, but you have to stick with it! The plot is slow to develop but this is really a relaxing read and something to take your time with. I love love loved one of the romance plots, involving two of the side characters and was by far the most rewarding romance of the book !
December 18, 2021
From start to finish I was absolutely hooked. These characters will stay with me for a long time! I loved the references to the authors other books (all of which I have really enjoyed) and the twist in the story honestly shocked me. I was absolutely enthralled throughout reading this book and once again I am blown away by Caragh’s gift for storytelling!
December 6, 2023
I think you all know my love for Ms Bell's books by now. This one, set in the world of singing and songwriting, introduces us to more characters - some you want to strangle, but some you fall in love with. Full of twists, it keeps you on your toes. Lots of sex and rock and roll. Starting in Ireland(Cork City) back in the 90s, it jumps forward to 2018, where we follow the trials and tribulations of Madison, a famous popstar. It's not all fun and frolics though. We encounter heartache, and sadness. Wonderful escapism in today's world.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews