Secrets of the Heart

Although this is JoAnn Jolley's first novel, it's clear from the start that she knows how to write fiction. Her style is clear and transparent, telling the story in a strong voice without interfering with the reader's access to it. Her dialogue is crisp and believable, her characters are distinct and realistic, and the events of the story move the reader to genuine emotion without becoming maudlin or saccharine. Paula Donroe, the protagonist, works long hours at her advertising agency. She puts so much of herself into her work that she pushes aside the nagging feeling that all is not right with her two sons. The writer is not saying that working women should drop everything and hover over their children; rather, she has created a character who is too worldly for her own good, who worships Mammon rather than God. Paula, like so many of us, must overcome her own pride and arrogance before she can find the peace she so desperately needs.I found the book well written and emotionally satisfying. It's the best novel of its kind I've read for many years.