This book is strong in
character, story and setting.
Summary:
Eddie Olczak, the handyman at St. Joseph Catholic Church, loses his
beloved wife, Krystyna, in a tragic accident which leaves him to care for their
two young daughters alone. The girls' teacher, Sr. Regina, would like to reach
out to help the family, but the Rule of the Benedictine order discourages
contact with "seculars" even in such a situation. Her heart tells her to hug
the girls and listen to Eddie when he wants to talk about Krystyna. The Rule
tells her that the only comfort she may offer is to pray for the Olczaks. This
conflict between action and contemplation had been bothering Sr. Regina, who
decided to become a nun at a very early age, for some time, even before
Krystyna's death. Eddie, unaware of the constraints imposed by Sr. Regina's
vows, finds himself wanting to unburden himself to her. The attraction they
feel growing between them terrifies them both, and they each take steps to
distance themselves from one another. Sr. Regina also realizes that she no longer finds her vocation fulfilling and asks to be released from
her vows. When the permission comes through she is forced to disappear from the
community without a good-bye to anyone. After a few months of struggling with
his emotions and hoping that he had not been the cause of her departure, Eddie
and the girls find Sister, now Jean, at her parents' home, and they are finally
able to explore their feelings for one another.
I would recommend this book!
Why?
This was a page turner. The main characters were interesting with some
depth, and the man's point of view was more fully portrayed than in many
romances. The setting, a close knit Polish community in the early 1950's, adds
to the flavor of the story, and the description of Catholic practices and the
religious order will ring true with Catholics who grew up at that time. This is
a nice clean romance but does not lack for sexual tension. Who but LaVyrle
could make praying over a crock of sauerkraut an occasion of sin?
Other suggested reading:
The Lonely Man by Faith Baldwin
Echoes by Maeve Binchy
Family
Blessings by LaVyrle Spencer.
Employee Initials: AJ
Review Date: January 2003
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