SACRED HEARTS by C. G. Macington

4* Yes, it requires suspension of disbelief but it's well researched and written. But, ugh, having 2 leads with names starting with M made for quite confusing times.

This book was far better than expected, although I wish the editor had convinced the author to change one of the characters' names, because it took at least a page at times for me to figure out whose POV I was reading.

The tale starts in improbability and gallops with it, but I was intrigued enough to learn what the author would or could do with the tale that I was prepared to go with the flow. I liked learning more about the Vatican and its rules and intrigues. Was the author brave to go there with the corruption and love of money more than love of God, from his servants on earth? Yup. 

I'm not sure that the virgin pope could've embraced gay sex the way he did thr very first time. Which makes me think that CGM might be a woman. It just seemed too twee, too easy, too quick and not messy enough. Not prepped enough. For a gay bloke to have written this.

Team M&M were great. A halbadier; a cardinal; a nun; allies in parts of the world where being gay means death, and a sister who's perfectly placed to run interference.

I'm not sure I believed in the guys as a couple, or how they could be together and it not be seen as a sin in Catholicism. I'm not sure I saw/felt/believed in a passion between them, but the tale worked. It felt intelligent with the arguments, the intrigues, the alliances of church and politics for a common goal. Just not the leads. It didn't have the coup de foudre that this tale needed- the cliché of 'across a crowded room' would've worked very well here. But I liked learning more about the Catholic church and the evolution of religion, and man's flaws in interpreting and spreading the word of God.

ARC courtesy of BookSirens for my reading pleasure. 

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