"Another sparkling gem from Irish writer Maeve Binchy"

Dr. Clara Casey has been given a formidable task; get an underfunded Dublin clinic up on its feet and running smoothly. With two adult daughters who can be a bit of a trial to their mother and an ex-husband who is trying to rekindle the lost flame of their marriage, Dr. Casey should perhaps pass on this offer. The fact that she doesn't says volumes about her character and the seriousness with which she approaches her profession.

Assembling a wonderfully diverse staff as devoted as she is to helping their patients, Dr. Casey sets about what some would call an impossible mission, but she will succeed, of course. Along the way the reader will have an inside seat as a cast of engaging characters struggle to make the clinic a viable part of the community in which it is located.

Irish novelist Maeve Binchy has the uncanny knack of making the men and women who populate her best sellers speak and act in such a manner one doesn't think of them as fictional creations. Her insights, humor and unequalled ability as a storyteller have made Binchy one of today's most beloved and read novelists. Like the 17 titles that have preceded it, "Heart and Soul" is another affirmation of the human spirit.

Here's a novel you can not only joyfully and totally immerse yourself but, when finished, you'll also feel good about what you've just read! Binchy accomplishes this remarkable result without being maudlin or overly sentimental. She allows her own personal warmth and sympathy for those who must deal with the trials of everyday living guide her as she develops her engrossing story.

Reviewed by Bob Walch
Posted July 31, 2009