Pretty sappy. I was misled by a brief review into thinking this was a story about a mother and her very ill child. While that is certainly a portion of the story, it is really a tale about a woman's faith. The references to her Catholic practices were intrusive.
It seems very unrealistic that a renowned heart specialist (MD) would take a vacation from his practice on short notice in order to essentially be a nurse to a young child. There was nothing that he really did, medical wise, that warranted his presence. I know we are supposed to believe he is doing it because of a romantic interest and because he sees his own son in Colm, but it didn't convince me.
Catherine and her brother had pretty serious emotional problems (anger, alcoholism, co-dependence), and the characters made no attempts to address them. Perhaps it isn't surprising, since the main character is based on the author's own life. ( )

A young boy, with an incurable disease,looking for his absent father. A plot in a lot of heart breaking stories, but Mary Curran Hackett was able to hold my attention long after I had usually quit reading a book. I truly fell in love with Colm, her son, and his adventure to find his dad.The quest to find the father was an inspiring journey and I was crossing my fingers, hoping at the end of the story, all would end OK. Not to give away the climax, but this is a great example of love, faith and more questions concerning death, the afterlife and even the death of the very young. This is a moving and thought-provoking book, not one that will bring you down, I recommend this book for a great read. ( )

This story is such an eye-opening and thought-pondering mix of faith and non-faith. There are many thoughts about what people believe and the clash between those beliefs. The young boy seems to keep the faith going because his mom needs it that way, but then declares his real feelings and puts Cate into the mindset that really makes her question her own position.

Well written and Colm is a very brave and smart child who goes through so much and loves his mother with all of his being. Worth the read and makes you ponder the attitudes of different thoughts on faith. ( )

Reviewed by Lisa
Review copy was a contest win at BookTrib
Cathleen Magee is a single mother with a strained relationship with her only sibling Sean. Cathleen’s only desire is for her son Colm Magee to live a healthy life and she believes her faith will save her son. Colm struggles not only with his disease but with the knowledge his father abandoned his mother before his birth. Sean questions his sister’s faith and his own ability to keep his personal demons in check. Dr. Basu, Colm’s doctor, doubts his ability to help Colm when his judgment begins waiver by his love for the boy and his mother.

Mary Curran Hackett’s beautiful debut novel Proof of Heaven explores family, faith, love and death. She writes so eloquently about the frailty of the human condition. Each character has their own journey of self-discovery that leads them to this form this tight knit group. As the story begins to unfold and she peels back the layers of each character’s personality, there is one common trait, to belong to something that is bigger than one’s self. The characters are written with depth, richness and sensitivity. The relationship that develops between Colm and Dr. Basu is heartwarming and very touching. As the characters grapple with the seriousness of Colm’s illness, they each question their own faith.

Proof of Heaven is a well-written and touching story that flows at a good pace. Elements of faith, love and hope as well as some plots twists make for an engaging read. It is thought provoking and honestly depicts the power of a mother’s love for her child. Lose yourself in Cathleen and Colm’s journey as they search for proof of heaven.

**There is a section for author insight and extras at the back of the book for additional reading. ( )

A thought-provoking book about a mother living with a son whose illness will take him from her at any time. The characters in the book are all at different stages of doubt in their belief in God, and in heaven. Each deals with their doubts in different ways, while all trying to resolve themselves to the fact that the boy they love so dearly, Colm, will soon be experiencing first-hand his own proof of heaven. ( )