Kate Hannigan's Girl

Rating:
Summary: Not too sure..?
Review: I agree with the last review. Sequels are usually very vague and boring compared to the first original works and this is by far no exception.

Annie Hannigan, the illegtimate child of Kate Hannigan goes through being made fun of for not have a real "father" and her enemy, so to speak, Cathleen Davidson amongst those who make fun of her out of jealousy.

I have noticed Chaterine Cookson makes a lot of religious references and after a while they get to be very annoying, like nails on a chalk board, she keeps rubbing into the reader about the character's beliefs and their significance. By the end of the book, Annie decides to turn to the church and become a nun and for the rest of the journey it is about her decision being vague, her parents (her mother mostly) suffering over her decision and everyone around her... I did not care for Annie as much as I did in the first book, whenever Catherine described her as a cold girl with her blank stare it just aggitated me, so perhaps if Catherine Cookson's goal was to deliver that type of a message - she has succeeded.

Overall I'd only recommend it if you really want to know what happened to Annie for it talks little about Kate and Rodney in this book, so unless this is your first book, don't read it, you will be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A MEDIOCRE NOVEL BY A WONDERFUL AUTHOR...
Review: In this, her one hundredth published novel, the author takes a nosedive. For the legions of Catherine Cookson fans, it would have been better not to posthumously publish this mediocre novel and let the author rest in peace on her well deserved laurels. Catherine Cookson was a wonderful storyteller, but this book falls a bit short of her previous high marks.

Set in early twentieth century England, this is the story of Annie Hannigan, a girl who, through her mother's marriage to a wealthy country doctor, went from rags to riches. A flaxen haired, blue eyed beauty, Annie has her share of heartache when the boy she loves, Terence MacBane, seems elusive and out of reach. Her heartbreak is compounded when a vicious acquaintance, Cathleen Davidson, makes it her business to try and see that Annie and Terence never get together by putting Terence into her predatory crosshairs. Who shall be the victor? I am afraid that you will have to read the book and find out.

The usual themes found in a Catherine Cookson novel are found in this one, as well. Class conflicts, as well as romance and familial ties, abound. Unfortunately, the characters are not particularly well drawn, and the reader will find it difficult to care about what happens to any of them. It reads more like a work in progress. Unless you already are a Catherine Cookson devotee, you will find it hard to find this book of interest. If you are not a fan, deduct one star from my rating.