Desperate Hearts

The Publisher's Weekly review pretty much nailed the shortfalls of this sequel to the author's "Cathedral City." The concurrent scenarios become confusing at times, and some of them border on soap-opera kitsch. The book is also more of a continuation of the original novel, rather than a sequel, and would make no sense whatsoever without a knowledge of the first story (which the author provides, in lengthy flashbacks, disrupting the flow of the novel for new readers and boring the heck out of those who read the first one.) It does provide a measure of "closure" for those who didn't like the loose ends left at the end of Cathedral City.But, despite its flaws, Desperate Hearts is a riveting, compelling tale of the political and social issues facing the desert town of Cathedral City, through the eyes of diverse Latino and Anglo characters, both gay and straight. They have dreams and pasts, but largely are trying to get by at a time when the city fathers as well as a local parish priest can't seem to choose between the city's ethnic past and a promise that it could take on more of the weathy trappings of its neighboring city, Palm Springs. A significant part of the story concerns the reality of US policies concerning immigration from Mexico, and a new, pivotal character introduced is a US Border Patrol agent who has an affair with local Pablo. The book also somewhat takes on the Catholic church's occasional loss of focus when money is dangled before it, in a realistic telling that should be required reading for pastors. The ending provides "happily ever after" scenarios for each character, which seems like the author's reaction to the criticisms of the earlier book.