Secrets of Our Hearts

by Sheelagh Kelly

<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {"Table Normal"; ""; 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; "Calibri","sans-serif"; "Times New Roman"; } <![endif]--> 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.

Genres: Historical Fiction

608 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2008

About the author

Sheelagh Kelly was born and continues to live in York, where most of her novels are set. The seeds of her first book, A Long Way From Heaven, were sown when she developed an interest in genealogy and decided to trace her ancestors' story.

Reviews

[Rhonda M · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out great, loved the characters, but then it started dragging on and on and not much was happening. I also found issue with the courting behaviour of the main character - his anger issues, inability to accept rejection and indeed any humour from the object of his affection. I didn't think they were well matched at all and as a result i was ready to give up reading halfway through the book. Anyway, I decided to start skipping ahead just to see where the story was going and found myself enjoying the last quarter of the novel. Niall finally steps up to challenge his mother-in-law and the ensuing battle was engaging and amusing. The growing relationship between Bo and his children is also enjoyable. It's not all smooth sailing though with a few rather devastating surprises yet in store for the couple. Overall it was a good book but would have been better in a more abridged version!

[paul c hitches · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich family story

This lady never fails with stories she writes. This one is so true to life with bigotry, intolerence, with making up some stories to show peop!e in a bad light. It all comes w good in the end but the heartbreak and soul searching has to be lives through first. A very good book

[Rowlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The way Niall fought to keep the woman he loved and was stopped at every point by his domineering ex motherinlaw.

[Ruby Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, but took a bit of time to get in to

[Coyney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book