Romantic novels are all about happy endings, but what about real life? Do the women who pen such novels believe in love themselves? Three popular novelists spill the beans about their very own Mr Right.

Melissa Hill and husband Kevin

Bestselling author Melissa Hill from Tipperary is a hugely successful author whose books have been translated into 10 languages. Her latest book is Before I Forget.

“The day I met my husband, Kevin, I was sitting with friends dressed in full football gear and watching my favourite football team, Manchester City, being hammered by Liverpool.

“We were in a Rathmines pub and I was being quite vocal about the match. A Liverpool fan at the next table started teasing me about the final result.”

Never one to shy from an argument, especially about football, Melissa was quick to give him a piece of her mind, although she secretly thought he was cute!

Her favourite team may have lost the match but another ‘match’ was made. Melissa and Kevin have now been married for nine years.

She believes in fate and says that if somebody is ‘the one’ for you then you’ll end up together.

When Kevin proposed, Melissa didn’t take him seriously and just laughed. It was only when he didn’t laugh back and went down on one knee that she realised he was serious.

So from a shaky start to a happy ending, the pair married, making their vows twice — the second time on the beach in Bali during their honeymoon.

Sarah Webb and Fiance Ben

Sarah Webb’s novel Always the Bridesmaid was an instant hit, reaching the number one spot in the charts. But no longer a bridesmaid, Sarah is about to become a bride since she recently became engaged to her long-term boyfriend, Ben. Her latest books are Amy Green, Teen Agony Queen: Boy Trouble for young teens and Anything for Love. But would Sarah herself do anything for love?

“Work and the kids tend to make spending time alone quite difficult. But we try making an effort for each other at least once a week — dinner, watching a movie, or just talking,” the author reveals.

Love first blossomed for Sarah and her fiance in Dalkey some years ago.

“We first met in the Queen’s pub. We both sail and we had a mutual friend so that’s how we got talking.

“Then we met for the second time at another friend’s 30th birthday in the Comedy Club. Let’s say it was love at second sight!” laughs Sarah.

Romantic fiction is a chance to step out of our own shoes for a short portion of the day, and live in someone else’s.

“I love good fiction that makes me laugh out loud but also makes me think — like Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic books or the Marian Keyes novels.

So is Ben romantic?

“Well, he gets my favourite flowers delivered to the house every month as a ‘surprise’, which is sweet.’

And how did he propose? Did he write her name in the sand or fill her bath with petals worthy of a great fictional love scene?

“Actually I proposed to him while swimming in west Cork. We were in wetsuits and the water was freezing!’

So what makes a great hero, according to Sarah? Must he be tall, dark and handsome?

“No, not at all. Often the traditionally handsome ones are boring. I like my heroes to have flaws — just like real men, but they have to have a special quality that makes the heart beat faster.

“Mr Knightly in Jane Austen’s Emma is my favourite hero of all time. He’s fantastic. I’d hate to be married to him though, he’s too set in his ways and I could see him being a very unyielding partner at times. Often romantic heroes are best left between the covers of a book!”

Mary Malone and husband Pat

Cork novelist Mary Malone is a self-confessed romantic and her latest book is entitled, Never Can Tear Us Apart. She has also penned titles such as All You Need is Love and Love Match. But she definitely met her own match when she first met future hubby Pat in Dublin.

“I met Pat in Davie’s bar in Phibsborough,” says Mary. “I was only 18 and it was my first night out in Dublin. It was definitely love at first sight. We’re now married with two teenage sons.”

Mary admits that her husband isn’t as romantic as the dashing heroes in her novels but she adds: “He does have his moments. I think most Irish men find romance embarrassing and a bit of an effort! My husband never reads my books but I definitely think men could learn something by reading romantic fiction. It would give them a good insight into what women really think!”

- Marisa Mackle