Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston as a battered woman, escaping the husband who scarred her beautiful face. The physical and emotional wounds have faded with time, and her life is finally full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?
Filled with intense passion and longing, deception and revelation, A Heart Revealed will hold readers in its grip until the very last page.
I was so anxious for Emma's story. I have loved The Daughters of Boston series and its sequel, The Winds of Change series. A Heart Revealed is the second book in The Winds of Change series and here we learn Emma's story and how it's intertwined with Sean's. The O'Connor's are back in full force and personality. Emma's past comes back to haunt her and although she has fallen in love with Sean O'Connor, their path to romance is thwarted when their pasts catch up with them. The pain and hurt that each carries must be faced and forgiven.
My one complaint is the idea that men are helpless and unable to resist manipulative women. Tempted, maybe. But, not able to control themselves? I don't think so. As Sean found himself manipulated time and again by Rose, I wanted to scream. It was so frustrating. Fortunately, he came to his senses, but until he did, I was frustrated and annoyed!
Julie Lessman has done it again, however, and given us a delightful new book. Sean and Emma discover new strengths in themselves as well as each other. As Emma's best friend, Charity is back and in fine form, still finding ways to coerce and trick her men into doing what she wants. Katie and Luke are learning about marriage and Marcy and Patrick are revisiting parenthood with a challenging young foster daughter.
While you could read this as a stand alone, the book is so much richer if you've read the previous books and know the back history of the O'Connor family and how Emma comes to be a part of it.
Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Julie Lessman here. You can purchase your own copy here
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Read 9/11
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4/5 Stars
SO glad to hear this is a good read! I cannot wait to read the series - I have book one on my shelf but haven't read it yet. Julie's "Daughters of Boston" series was delightful. And, the covers are lovely, as always. =)
ReplyDeleteI want to read this one, but haven't the chance to pick it up yet. Loved all of Lessman's novels!
ReplyDeleteAs for men being helpless . . . well, they typically are without a woman! ;)