A PIECE OF MY HEART
Kemberlee Shortland
ISBN: 978-0984249961
B003WMA8DM (Kindle eBook)
January 8, 2010
Highland Press
Contemporary Romance
Trade Paperback

Kate Conneely and Mick Spillaine had grown up together and she was not just the girl next door. They were best friends, confidantes, knew each others thoughts without words being spoken; to Kate’s mind Mick was her one and only true love until one day, something happened and Mick’s attitude towards her changed overnight.  It was like a knife stab to Kate’s heart, especially when after graduation Mick went away to Dublin and hardly ever came back home even as his parents health deteriorated. 

It’s now ten years later and Mick’s father has died and an addendum to his father’s will has shocked both Kate and Mick.  The family farm has been left to Mick – however, if he tries to sell the farm everything will go to Kate Conneely.

*** Ms. Shortland  has written a lovely story of love and forgiveness between two star-crossed lovers. Kate had loved Mick all her life and for a time she knew the feelings to be mutual, until the day they almost made love and Mick’s rejection of her had just about crushed her spirit.  Mick left to discover himself in the big city of Dublin and rarely came back home to Connemara.  When Mick’s mother became ill, Kate gave up her plans for a medical career to care for Mick’s parents whom she loved as her own.

At the funeral Mick found Kate to be even lovelier then he remembered and though he wanted her, he wasn’t ready to give up his life in Dublin and, let’s face it, he also resented the addendum to the will.  Shortland shows how that resentment led to Mick hiring a man he really didn’t know and hadn’t checked out, to manage his farm – a man with a very unsavory background.  Mick’s mixed feelings for Kate only confused him and he couldn’t escape back to Dublin soon enough.

While Kate was a delight and breath of fresh air Shortland doesn’t sugar-coat Mick at all and his selfishness and lack of concern for his aging and failing parents as well as lack of pride in his family’s farming heritage certainly did not endear him to this reader.  Ms. Shortland also introduced a truly despicable character in the farm manager Mick hired to run his family’s farm and for dog lovers, be forewarned there is one instance of brutality concerning a litter of puppies that is not for the faint of heart.

Having never been to Ireland – and this being the setting of  A PIECE OF MY HEART – the use of the slang words by some of the Dublin characters was interesting.  The sensualness was sweet and the long awaited explanation of what had caused the rift in the first place was very emotional and heartfelt.  All in all – a good solid read and very much recommended.

Marilyn Rondeau for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

Reviewed By:

I started reviewing books many years ago - but my love of reading began as soon as I could read and that’s a long time! From my very first library card, I would spend my summers at the local library rather than outside playing. My tastes ran from every horse book I could find, to dog books, then gothic romances, and now historical romances with the Regency period having a very close spot in my heart. [Many of my friends, who really know me, say I was born in the wrong era - they’re probably right.] Now that I am retired, and busier than ever, I read almost all genres with the exception of hard core erotica, horror and anything involving more than one sex partner! I am loyal to my tried and true favorite auto-buy authors but love discovering the newer authors as well. I was once a very impatient person, but now retired, and with a book, an audio, or my Kindle by my side - I am the epitome of infinite patience to sit and wait for whatever comes next be it for the light to change, a doctor’s appointment, or a commercial break on the television!

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