SECRETS OF OUR HEARTS - Softcover

Kelly

3.84

57 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007211570 ISBN 13: 9780007211579

Publisher: Harper, 2011

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Brothers Niall and Sean Doran have married two sisters. Niall considers himself as morally upright and is harshly critical of Sean for romancing another far too quickly after his wife’s death. Amid great unpleasantness he takes the side of his in-laws and Sean is
ostracized. But secretly Niall envies his brother, and wishes there were more to life than this terraced house in the back streets of York where he feels smothered by his wife’s clannish sisters and her bullying mother Nora Beasty, all of whom live under his roof. There are even times when he wishes his wife would die.

When, tragically, this occurs Niall is swamped by guilt, and if he had assumed it would grant him a legitimate excuse to be rid of his in-laws then he must think again for he has five children to care for and cannot do it alone.

Seeking refuge at the Angel pub, he finds a warm companion in the new barmaid. Despite his Catholic guilt and self-loathing Niall is unable to suppress his feelings and soon becomes deeply involved, consequently finding himself in a similar position to the brother he has treated so badly. Only now does he begin to understand the depth of feeling that led Sean on such a course. But his vindictive mother-in-law discovers that Niall’s beloved has a secret of her own, and uses it to destroy their happiness.

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Review:

Praise for Sheelagh Kelly:

‘Genuinely perceptive portrayals of human relationships.’ Irish Independent

‘Sheelagh Kelly surely can write.’ Sunderland Echo

Synopsis:

A tale of sorrow and joy, and passion against seemingly insurmountable odds, Sheelagh Kelly is back with this saga set in the beautiful town of York. Niall may be poor but he is a good man. He does his best for his wife and their five children, in difficult circumstances in their small, cramped house in the back streets of York. But this loving home is torn apart when his wife dies in a tragic accident and Niall finds himself alone with only his mother-in-law and sisters-in-law for company. His five children run him ragged and, seeking solace, he finds refuge at the Angel pub. Here he catches sight of Boudicea, the Angel's beautiful and bubbly barmaid. With his wife only gone a few months, he must supress his feelings of passion, yet he finds he's unable to tear himself away from her warm charm and alluring looks. But Niall's mother-in-law, the aptly named Mrs Beasty, is determined to do all she can to keep Niall from finding happiness again. And when she discovers that Boudicea's past is far from perfect, she conspires to bring about her downfall!

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