Book Review: A Subtle Grace

There is plenty to love about this beautiful novel, including the graceful flow of the story, the genuine characters, the description, the rich historical detail, the joyous moments, and the frightening ones.

A Subtle Grace by Ellen Gable is an inspirational historical romance, and more. It takes you on a genuine journey into the past, into the lives of the endearing O’Donovan Family. While the main story focuses on the oldest daughter, Kathleen, I enjoyed the intertwining, equally interesting, stories of the close-knit Catholic family and how they coped with life’s challenges: losses, tragedy, vocations, and temptations.

At 19 years old and living a privileged life in 1896 Philadelphia, Kathleen longs to be married and to begin a family before she reaches “old maid” status. She becomes fascinated by the attentions of a certain young man, but when her sparkling expectations for the future are savagely crushed, she has to learn to hope and love again. With time and trials, she matures into a selfless, instead of a somewhat self-absorbed, young woman. Even though she cannot fathom God’s plan for her life, she must trust in Him. Meanwhile, a lurking threat follows her like a dark shadow, marring her happiness.

A Subtle Grace is the sequel to the lovely book In Name Only, yet A Subtle Grace can be enjoyed independently. Of course, readers of the first book won’t want to miss this one! We get to see where life has taken Caroline and David and their family, and how the journey of life continues. The story kept me so interested that I hardly realized this was, in fact, a lengthy book.

A Subtle Grace is a novel to stir your heart, your emotions, and your soul. I highly recommend it!

A Subtle Grace is available as a Kindle ebook and will soon be available in paperback as well.

Review of “Angela’s Song”

In her debut novel, Angela’s Song, AnnMarie Creedon has crafted an engaging story that blends the ups and downs of real life with the beauty of God’s plan. Unlike many of today’s romances, Angela’s Song is not a fluffy, shallow read, but a deep and meaningful one. It offers a refreshing view on dating, true love, engagement, and marriage, all within a Catholic framework.

Yet the main character, Angela, is not a perfect Catholic, which makes the story all the more interesting and realistic. Angela (or Jel, as her late husband called her) has a full life caring for her three kids while being involved with numerous charitable projects, but her life and faith are lacking. When she meets a charming man named Jack, all her problems are not suddenly solved; in fact, the problems multiply. But through all the challenges, Angela’s faith grows and she learns to truly trust in God, finding a love that she never dreamed possible.

Angela’s Song is a novel for adult readers, as it brings up serious issues and emotions. At the same time, the story remains entertaining, touching, romantic, and even humorous. The many Catholic elements are woven in naturally, and the characters are convincing, likable, and easy to relate to. As a reader, you will feel a part of the family and enjoy the day-to-day interactions that are real, but never dull. This book did a great job of keeping my interest without relying on convoluted plot twists—just the sweet simplicity and tangles of everyday life.

I’ll also note that it takes a skilled writer to pull off a novel written in the first person, present tense, as this author has done. Her writing is smooth and effective, never distracting, and since the events seem to be happening right now, it makes the story more powerful.

Angela’s Song is a beautiful Catholic romance that is wonderfully inspirational, and readers won’t be disappointed.