"Interesting tale"

After spending the last fourteen years in prison as a terrorist convicted of killing children and a garda, an amnesty program frees Michael Kilbride from his incarceration. With no place to go as his parents want nothing to do with Michael the convicted terrorist, he moves in with his sister Vi, an artist to Ballymuir, Ireland.

Michael takes a walk and sees a woman lifting rocks. He joins her learning that Kylie O'Shea is a schoolteacher at the local Irish elementary school. Unable to resist, Michael kisses Kylie goodbye. Vi informs him that Kylie is the daughter of a con artist spending time in prison. Michael and Kylie begin seeing each other, but she cannot deal with his pariah status until he is accused of murder. Knowing she loves him, Kylie risks all she has worked to achieve in Ballymuir for the sake of her beloved.

Though the subplot focused on a terrorist from Michael's past seems weak, the tale provides an interesting look at the controversy that has torn Ireland and Northern Ireland apart. Readers see deeply into the distrusts of everyone towards one another through the efforts of two people simply seeking a place together. Michael and Kylie are a delightful duo and Vi makes a thundering secondary character deserving of her own novel. Readers will not believe that THE LAST BRIDE IN BALLYMUIR is Dorien Kelly's debut novel and will be looking forward to more novels from this series of contemporary romances featuring foreign locations.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 10, 2003

Steeped in the age-old beauty and traditions of Ireland, Dorien Kelly's enchanting contemporary novel transports readers to a picturesque Irish village where passions run deep....

Summary

Miss Kylie "Soon-to-Be-a-Saint" O'Shea teaches at the Gaelic school, helps her neighbors and volunteers for every good cause. No one in Ballymuir can figure out why she keeps the interested lads at bay but they all warn her that she's in danger of fulfilling a local legend: becoming the last bride in Ballymuir. When a stranger named Michael Kilbride comes to the village wild rumors surround his every move. But Kylie, captivated by Michael's intense passions, lets herself go where Michael leads her -- into an awakening of dreams and desires...even if it means exposing her beloved village's and her own darkest secrets.