Act of Contrition Author:Janice Holt Giles Janice Holt Giless lost novel, never before published! Janice Holt Giles (1905-1979), nationally-acclaimed author of twenty-four books, considered Act of Contrition one of the best novels she had ever written. The story focuses on the intimate relationship between Regina, a widow, and Michael, a young doctor whose wife left h... more »im for another man. Having found happiness in one another, they desire nothing more than to be together. Yet in the eyes of the Catholic Church, Michael is not free to divorce his wife and marry Regina. In an emotional climax Regina must decide if she loves Michael enough to give him up or if shell force him to chose between her and his God. By modern standards Giless love scenes are tasteful, and the general atmosphere of ecumenism within todays Catholic Church renders moot many of the tensions in the novel. Yet in 1957 Giless agent and publisher feared the work would cause irreparable harm to her reputation. As late as 1972 Giles was revising in the hopes of seeing the novel published. Finally her wish is fulfilled.« less