Finding Felicity by Monica Marlow ~ A review

♥♥♥♥♥It’s a Great Book♥♥♥♥♥

When Madeline O’Connor learns that her estranged sister is gravely ill, she leaves behind her life in Manhattan to be at her sister’s side in Italy. There, she discovers an ancient Benedictine monastery that accommodates travelers, and she decides to stay there, among the monks. Everything in her life turns upside down when she falls for Brother Anthony Lamberti, a soft-spoken Italian completely different from the men she knows in New York. Together Madeline and Anthony find love for the first time, and learn that life and love always find a way. When her sister dies, a new life for Madeline begins. A new life that she would never have imagined and yet is perfect for her in every way.

~*~*~*~ The Review ~*~*~*~

Well, I just finished Finding Felicity by Monica Marlow. What did I think of the book? Is it possible to love a book as much as you hate it? I think so, because that’s just how I feel about Finding Felicity. What did I love about it? It’s set mostly in Italy in the beautiful monastery of St Valentines. The heroine, Maddie, has come to Italy to reconcile with her sister who has cancer. Her sister who had an affair with Maddie’s husband. While visiting the monastery where her nephew Johnathan is learning to become a monk, Maddie meets, Anthony, a handsome and unusual monk. (Incidentally, Johnathan is the product of the affair between Maddie’s sister and her husband. Not a spoiler, but shows just what well-rounded, true to life characters Monica has created. )

I also while in Italy, Madeline meets up with Tyler, a business associate from New York. While they reconnect, Madeline falls in love with the monastery…and Anthony. But love with a monk is a tricky endeavor. And as Madeline’s sister’s disease progresses, Madeline has to make a choice between two important aspects in her life–her business, her life in New York, and the love of Tyler or Anthony and Italy.

And this is where the hate comes in. I hate heart wrenching choices, I hate crying my eyes out, and I hate reading a book that I love knowing it’s not going to end well. I’m a romance writer, I want a happy ending. And though Finding Felicity has one, it’s still heart breaking all the same.

Kudos to Monica for evoking such emotion. I finished the book with a renewed love of Italy and all things Italian. The wonderment of fabulous characters and a desire to re-read The Thornbirds.

So as much as I hated it, I loved it. I have to say it’s well worth the read.

~*~*~*~ Author Bio~*~*~*~

Monica Marlowe was born in Toronto and later moved to Los Angeles. While in LA, Monica studied the craft of novel writing and participated in the Noel Hynd Workshop. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Spiritual Psychology. Now, Monica makes her home in North Carolina and divides her time between the East and West Coasts. Monica is currently writing a memoir, The Gift Horse, about acquiring her first horse and finding herself on a most unexpected path. Monica writes stories about heroes and heroines who follow their heart, wherever the path may lead, knowing that the heart has reasons of its own.