MEG'S CONFESSION

Author: Sierra Donovan ISBN: 0803498128 2/2007 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: AVALON BOOKS

Meg Reilly is a pregnant widow who ducks into a confessional to spill her deepest, darkest secrets. Trouble is, the man on the other side of the booth isn't a priest. Craig Stovall is the owner of a local construction business, and he's just there to repair the confessional. But when Meg starts talking, he's too surprised and tongue-tied to stop her until he hears too much. When they meet later, Craig recognizes Meg from the glimpse he caught as she left - but she has no idea he's her "priest." Meg doesn't think she wants another big, strong man in her life. Still, the more time they spend together, the closer they become - and the closer Craig comes to slipping up and revealing that he's the one who heard Meg's confession.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Sierra Donovan has written a lovely, endearing love story in her February release, MEG'S CONFESSION, featuring a guilt-stricken, pregnant widow and a bad-boy-turned-good hero that will steal your heart.

Ms. Donovan certainly has a way with words. Even though this is a shorter story, it's not short when it comes to substance, characters and dialogue. Megan, the widow, is struggling with the death of a husband who has been taken from her too soon; a husband that she parted with shortly before he died on not-so-good of terms. She blames herself for being a "phony" having portrayed theirs as a perfect marriage, when behind closed doors, it wasn't. Discovering she's pregnant after his death, a wounded Megan hides herself away from all their friends, keeping her pregnancy a secret, mired in guilt, and unable and unwilling to accept the help of others.

Enter Craig, whose chance encounter with Megan has him reluctantly, at first, becoming her guardian angel. In Craig, Donovan has created a man who has sowed his wild oats in the past, but has learned from his mistakes, settled down and found his own niche in life. However, he too has a bit of unfinished family business, much as Megan does. The two become acquaintances, then friends, and by the end, their attraction grows into something stronger, forming a bond that helps them to mend broken fences, accept things as they are and make peace with their pasts.

MEG'S CONFESSION is touching, tender and fast paced. It's very well written and plotted, and has a lot of underlying messages in it without being preachy, including life lessons that anyone can relate to. For a quick, satisfying read that will have you reaching for the tissues, MEG'S CONFESSION comes highly recommended.

Nancy Davis