Marcel's Gift

by Marie Colligan

MARCEL'S GIFT: Even a pope can have a sexual past. One heart: two men. She's found the love of her life. Too bad it isn't the man she's in love with. An unpredictable meeting in the south of France ignites a forbidden affair when Solange Bernard is swept into the arms of the handsome Ambrose D'Arcy sidestepping the issues that she is happily married and he is Catholic priest. Their forbidden love carries the reader on a sensual romantic journey touching down in the ancient, Impressionist cities of France, the hot desert sands of Algiers, and the private, sacrosanct chambers of the Vatican. If you enjoy good food, great wine, and sex, come along for the ride. You won't be disappointed. The author, Marie Colligan is a four time award-winning writer. She has served as a panelist at local writing seminars, been interviewed by two local TV stations, and has twice given workshops to the student writing club at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where she resides with her husband and two feisty, but loveable dachshunds. She is a native of Jersey City, NJ where she attended local public schools. She is an alumna of Upsalla College in NJ.

332 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2012

About the author

A native of Jersey City, NJ, Marie finds her retirement in Lynchburg, VA. just the ticket for an ex-city girl. Having spent most of her leisure time sitting in the audience of New York City theaters, she now sits at her computer crafting lovely characters in authentic settings that populate her sensual, romantic novels.

She has won several writing awards in Fiction--most recently a 1st Place Award in a Writers' Journal contest. Marie facilitates a weekly writer's critique group. and is a member of the Hampton Road Writers, the Hillcity Writers the Piedmont Literary Group --all in Virginia--and the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers in Pennsylvania.

She is married, has one son and one grandson...and a rascal dachshund, Ebenezer.

Reviews

[Karen Syed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the somewhat unique premise, this book is lovely. Marie Colligan has a flair for writing and her prose is smooth and elegant.

The characters in "Marcel's Gift" defy the norm and offer a glimpse into a place that the heart can go, no matter how much you fight it. With solid development, the main characters are likeable and flawed in their realism.

I truly enjoyed reading this book, and the elements that some people may call questionable, are actually plausible. This love story should not be confused with a romance novel as it flows in a completely different direction.

Readers of good women's fiction will appreciate the candor of this book. I look forward to more work from Marie Colligan.