A Forbidden Love
by Alfred J. Garrotto

Rated 3.5
ISBN# 1-55197-092-9
Copyright 1997
Reviewed 7/1/97 by Pam T.

As far as romances go, "A Love Forbidden" is unlike any I have ever read. I have never read a romanctic suspense novel before -- this was a first for me.

This novel is labeled -- Romance -- but to this reader the politically based background and international plot line wove together a suspenseful story and did not seem to fit in the category labeling of "Romance."

Leah Barton is the USA Director of POCI, Prisoners of Conscience International. This group fights for prisoners in other countries. Those who are innocent yet imprisoned and those prisoners who are treated unjustly. Typically, this isn't a dangerous job, but more recently murders have been committed of family members of the POCI and she fears for her life and for of her children.

The President of Santo Sangre, President Montenegro, does not appreciate the way that POCI has been interfering in his affairs. Something has to be done about it and he is the man to do it. Well, not him directly, but he knows the perfect "bad guys" who can get the job done.

Father Javier de Cordova, a priest in the village of Santa Teresita, in Santo Sangre is called upon by President Montenegro to act as an ambassador and visit the directors of three offices of POCI. His main goal is to convince the leaders that the claims made against Montenegro regarding the unjust treatment of prisoners is false.

Fr. Cordova's first visit is with Carlo Pontieri in Rome then, Willie Vander Hoorst in Amsterdam, and last Leah Sinclair Barton in San Francisco. Father Cordova does not believe in Montenegro's leadership tactics, but after seeing Leah's name among the list to be visited, he is unable to say no.

Father Cordova and Leah Barton were acquaintances 14 years earlier while Leah was assisting with a project called SHARE on the Caribbean island of Santo Sangre. He and Leah became very good friends during her stay there. So good of friends that during some time alone they over-stepped the line breaking Fr. Cordova's vow of celibacy in the priesthood.

Leah sees Javier's uncertainty and fear of being caught in a relationship with a woman, something Roman Catholic Priests just are not supposed to do, and decides to leaves the island, and Javier, behind.

"A Love Forbidden" brings the two lovers together again. The

I will admit to having some difficulty following along in this story. I am not very politically minded and I sometimes found my thoughts starting to wander and, honestly, I felt like it was going way over my head.

Being a Catholic, I also had some trouble reading about Javier's romantic interludes. Now, it wasn't because it was a love scene, I've read plenty of those in the last ten years. I just kept picturing my own Father, from my parish, and couldn't imagine him in this position.

What have I been trained to belive? - (1) priests do not marry and (2) they uphold a vow of celebacy. Now please understand, this has no baring on the writing abilities of this author. This is just a thought that ran through my mind and one that made it hard for me to enjoy those intimate scenes.

All of that aside, I was happy for Javier and Leah's happy-ever-after. You could feel their joy at finding themselves together at last. The ultimate sacrifice of a man to give up his priesthood to be with the woman he loves, well, what greater sacrifice could there be.

For someone who loves romance full of intrigue with a politically based background --> this is a story for you.