Emotional devastation comes in many forms – but I never really considered what it would look like in the shape of a promise. Keeping promises is usually considered to be a good thing, but as this story shows, there are exceptions. Not because it is right to break a promise, but because some of them should never be made. ‘Finnegan’s Promise’ is the story of an estranged father and son reconciling just before the father dies – and what the son promised in their last moments together coming back to haunt him.

Fin is a professional football player and only comes home to help out in his estranged father’s pub while his dad takes a trip to see his family in Ireland. Fin has no idea why, and he is very angry when he finds out that his dad has been keeping the illness from him. This family is full of secrets! Fin isn’t exactly innocent – he keeps it a secret that he is gay and stays away because he thinks his father loves the pub more than him. His father has realized his mistake in neglecting Fin, but has no idea how to reconcile. Oh boy!

Mick has a few secrets of his own, but nothing comparable to Fin and Fin’s father’s issues. Mick is right in the middle of the conflict and can see both sides. And as much as he is beginning to love Fin, Mick doesn’t want to have a secret relationship. Fin and Mick fall for each other with lightning speed – and there is enough chemistry between them to keep going. But Fin doesn’t want to come out, and Mick doesn’t want to stay in the closet.

Between the complications around Fin and Mick and Fin being desperate to spend as much time with his father as possible, things get intensely emotional. Then there is Fin’s determination to keep his well-meant promise even though it causes him so much pain… What a train wreck! It took some doing to get that sorted out, and Carol did a great job. Made me sigh with relief – at least on Fin and Mick’s behalf - eventually!

If you like love stories with complications, if you think it should never be too late to admit a mistake and apologize so you can move on, and if you’re looking for a read full of secrets, revelations, desperation, and a surprisingly happy ending, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )

I loved this story...Fin and Mick were great! I fell in love with both of them, and to see their love grow was amazing. I will have to check out more of Carol Lynne's work. The story of a pro football player and a singing bartender...it was beautiful. ( )

Calder Finnegan is a professional football player. He is a loner, no wife, no children, no friends. He has only an estranged father. Fin was a mommy child: when he was young his father worked all day, when he went home from work Fin was already asleep and he saw his da only during breakfast time. His da worked also on saturday and sunday, cause he had an irish pub open all days. And so, for little Fin, his father preferred his pub to his wife and his son.

Now his mother is dead and is father gets cancer. He is dying and asks Fin to return home for some months. During the off season Fin goes home and finds a good surprise: his father's bartender, Mick, tall and dark and very sexy. But Fin has to careful, he can't open live his homosexuality, a pro football player can't be gay. And so since seven year Fin has never had a lover and when he meets Mick... the temptation is too strong and Mick agrees to mantain a low profile.

I think this is the best romance I have read by Carol Lynne till know. It has some point of originality: Fin, a strong hunk man with a deep insecutiry when it is matter of feeling. Mick, sure and steady, but with some unfinished business in his past. This relationship, which works through the sad moments of life. Other points I have found unsolved: above all Mick's past, throws on the table withour further investigation. But I like Lynne's approach to the career problem of Fin, and the acceptance of Mick of that situation.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030MQIRE/?tag=elimyrevandra-20