Good Confession

ISBN: 0727867202

Author: Whelan, Bridget

Condition: New

Product Description A captivating novel about forbidden love - Cathleen Brogan is a young widow, struggling to bring up her family in 1960s north London. Times are tough for the Irish immigrants who live there, their hardships comforted by local Catholic priest, Father Jerry Brogan. Over time it becomes clear that Cathleen feels more for Father Jerry than perhaps she should. She hopes confession will ease her troubled mind, not realizing that she is confessing to the man she loves.. From Publishers Weekly Whelan's morose debut begins with the 1959 death of Mick Brogan, who leaves behind a lovely young wife and two small children. Cathleen and the girls' dreary London existence improves when Mick's cousin, Jerry, a handsome priest, joins a church in the city. Jerry gives Cathleen the courage to take better care of her daughters, and, sure enough, Cathleen soon begins to have romantic feelings for Jerry. But the love story's muted by the depiction of what it's like to scrape by in 1960s London and in the small Irish village where Mick grew up. Whelan nicely handles the forbidden love between Cathleen and Jerry, but loses her footing as the novel nears its almost-unexpected conclusion. For a romance, it's awfully gloomy.(Feb.)Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Fans of heartwarming romances will enjoy Whelans tragic love story set in 1960s England and Ireland. When Cathleen Brogans husband dies unexpectedly, she is left impoverished, with two young daughters to raise. But the warm empathy of Father Jerry, a distant cousin revered by Cathleens family for his success in the church, helps at least a little. But as she sees more of Father Jerry, Cathleen realizes she feels more than friendship for him. She is falling in love with a Catholic priest. Even while knowing any relationship is doomed, Cathleen cant stop her passionate feelings and doesnt know whether to be thrilled or shocked when Jerry confesses he feels the same about her. A chance return to Ireland gives the pair a chance to be together, but can their forbidden love survive the harsh judgment of the church, their families, friends, and society? Whelan has created a richly textured plot with pathos, humor and charm, flawed but likable characters, and an ending that, though not exactly happy, is at least satisfying. An excellent read for romance fans. --Emily Melton