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.
My Thoughts
Even though I adore all of the O'Conner's stories this book is probably my favorite! I just love it so much that it's almost impossible to put it into words but that's not going to stop me from trying!
I love Sean so much! He is such an amazing hero and in the words of Emma “He's the peacemaker, the buffer, the Rock of Gibraltar everyone relies on.” That really is the perfect description of Sean. He is constantly trying to do things to help others without thinking about himself. And he has that calm strength that makes him the perfect person to lean on when things go wrong. My heart broke for him as he realized he was in love with a woman he could never have but I admired how he stood strong determined to be her friend no matter what. And when we finally found out what had happened to him during the war I wanted to cry.
And Emma...where to begin! I loved her from the very start! She was such a good friend to Charity and the perfect balance for her as well. I loved her quiet strength, her kindness, and her giving heart. I hated all the things her husband had done to her. That someone would do such things to anyone let alone someone like Emma baffled me and I honestly wanted to deck him! It was amazing how she could go through all that she did and come out the sweetest person you'd ever meet. Definitely a testament to the difference it can make when you give your heart to God rather than to bitterness!
It was painfully sweet to watch their journey, two people who deserved love the most being robbed of it but not letting it destroy them. Sadly this review is sounding a bit depressing so let me assure you that there is a happy ending! I won't spoil it but suffice it to say I ended the book with a smile on my face!
And again all of the “secondary” cast was absolutely fantastic except for those few that you were supposed to not like, and didn't! I loved Bert whose grumpiness hid a soft side, and Alli with her heart of gold, and Mrs. Peep with her mothering. Then there are the characters from the previous books, Patrick and Marcy, Collin and Faith, Mitch and Charity, Brady and Lizzie, Luke and Katie, Steven, Gabe, Father Mac, and all the grand-kids, all of whom I once again thoroughly loved!
So yeah I think this is my favorite O'Conner story mainly because I love Sean and Emma so much and I loved watching them find the happiness they so richly deserved!
Meet the Author
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of "Passion With a Purpose" underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as "Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction." Chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Historical Fiction Author of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #4 Novel of the Year and #3 Series of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter and is the author of "The Daughters of Boston" series--A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Book 1 in her "Winds of Change" series A Hope Undaunted ranked #5 on Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com
P.S. She's just an all around amazing person!
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