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Book Review of Heart of Stone (Irish Angel, Bk 1)

Heart of Stone (Irish Angel, Bk 1)
CherryDuck avatar reviewed on + 150 more book reviews


3.5 stars

When the Potato Famine hit Ireland, Laura Foster came to New Orleans with her family to find a better life. What they found was more poverty. When her parents died shortly after, Laura and her 3 sisters were divided up by her uncle, the two youngest were sent to an orphanage, Laura and her sister Megan were sold elsewhere.

Years later Laura has invented a new life, name and history and is living in Texas as a successful business owner and widow. When Reverend Brand McCormick begins courting Laura, she fears her past will ruin him and her.

Honestly, had I known this was an inspirational or religious historical romance I never would have ordered it; its just not my thing. I thought I was getting a regular historical romance and the story blurb on the back intrigued me. Moments before reading I stumbled on a review stating the religious aspect of the story and I was not happy, but I decided to read it anyway.

Three quarters of the book I was happy with, the religious part of it really didnt overwhelm me or color my enjoyment. I was loving the story, the characters and the shady past of Laura and Brand. Its a very human story, emotional, heart breaking and real. I was so enjoying it I had made up my mind to order the next book in the series so I could find out what happened to Lauras sister Megan.

Then the last quarter of the book, the church got in my way. It just got too religious and saccharine for my tastes and that made the story drag for me and I started to lose interest.

That being said, had God and a few of the hypocritical church people been left out of the story I would have absolutely loved it. And I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the religious and inspirational romances. It has a great message about pasts shaping who we are now, and how forgiveness in oneself is essential before you can seek and get forgiveness elsewhere.

Cherise Everhard, March 2010