Learning to Breathe

by: Karen White

Published by: New American Library

Reviewed by Michele E. Davis

White's placid story of five sisters that live in Indianola, Louisiana centers around the youngest sister, Brenna O'Brien, whose sisters hover around her like mayflies, trying to get her married off at thirty-three.

O'Brien's story is compelling and right away you feel like you know her, understand her situation and respect and care about her sisters just as much as she does. But setting up dates for her comes to an end when Pierce McGovern comes to town. He's her old sweetheart from high school and both had their hearts torn asunder by O'Brien's controlling father.

O'Brien, a Catholic, believes in the Saints and wears them on her neck for protection, guidance and security. She goes from St. Jude, to St. Eustace, to St. Genevieve. She tells McGovern, "Don't you think that things always happen the way they're supposed to?

That we're merely pawns in God's plan and that we always end up where we're supposed to? Maybe we didn't love each other enough and that's why we aren't together now. Maybe what happened then was easier for us to handle than if we'd gotten married and discovered too late that what we felt for each other wasn't enough?"

But McGovern and O'Brien soon learn that man's hand is sometimes involved in God's destiny.

Nathan Conley is also a new man in town, and there is a certain quality to him that McGovern and O'Brien recognize. O'Brien's love of old unopened letters from the Wars is put to the test when a box for McGovern's retired physician father is found in the old post office. Dr. McGovern asks O'Brien to read them to him. She finds herself caught in a web of love, deceit, and tragedy--a poignant love story where the future holds promise even though the past is sometimes still bigger than life filled by O'Brien's dead father, the old postmaster.

Highly recommended, especially for the descriptions of old architecture and the high drama of a mystery tale.

Armchair Interviews says: A wonderful tale of romance, sisterly love and community.

Author's Web site: http://www.karen-white.com