The Invitation by Veronica Henry

May15

Keeping Secrets

The Invitation by Veronica Henry is a powerful dual timeline novel that consumed me from the start.

The main body of the book is set in 1953 in Somerset. We also hear of World War II in snippets as we follow a family in peacetime and in war.

Peacetime took some adjusting to. “War didn’t just end with life going back to normal… There were scars.” People lost loved ones in war and the pain was just too much to bear. “You never really got over losing someone you loved… Had they lived their dreams before they died?” The loss digs down deep. “Something inside her had broken, the day he died.” Life will never be the same again. “Sometimes she thought her grief had grabbed her… pulling her down into a pit of despair.” Waves of grief come rolling in. “Grief was not measurable. One person didn’t suffer more than another after a tragic loss.” The loss of one man rocks his whole family… As I write this, I have just lost my Dad, and this quote sums up our family’s life now.

War saw people pulling together. “Everyone pulled together in times of adversity but there were still rules. Shop girls didn’t belong to posh boys.” The class system still existed and was slow to be eroded. Love blossomed where it fell. Love was no respecter of class. Life was to be grabbed, and the consequences to be faced later.

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The Vultures by Jennifer Ussi

May15

Totally Charming

The Vultures by Jennifer Ussi is the seventh book in Casper The Cat Who Got Lost In Africa series but can be read as a stand-alone. However, this book does begin where book six finished. It is a totally charming children’s book and suitable for ages six years and over.

The book really comes to life with beautiful illustrations by Lekshmi Bose. They can be starting points for discussions with our little ones.

Casper is the most delightful cat who makes friends as he journeys through Africa. Little ones will adore following his adventures as he practices kindness and goodness. Everyone warms to him.

We see that even if you are as prickly as a porcupine or vicious as a vulture, Casper will bring out the best in you.

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The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese

May10

Called. Chosen. Loved.

The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese is a very charming contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is the third book in A Fog Harbor Romance series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The story is seen through three different points of view of the three lead characters. It is told in the first person so we really get inside the character’s heads.

There is the major theme of trusting God. We can trust Him in the good times and we can trust Him in the bad. “How when I was scared, He took away my fear… I do know I can trust Him. So that’s what I’m going to do.” Choosing to trust is the best thing we can do. God will never let us down.

Trust in God is linked to God’s plans. “I don’t understand why things happened the way they did, but I trust God has a plan.” God will use all our circumstances for growth and for good. “She believes He has a plan even in the hard times.” It takes a lot of faith to cling on and to trust that God’s plan is good even when circumstances aren’t.

We hear of a couple who served God and tragically lost their lives. This left their daughter with health issues, as she was in the same freak accident, and it severely shook their son’s faith. “There’s no redemption plan that will bring my parents back after they died serving a God who hadn’t bothered to answer their prayers.” Bitterness has become the wall between him and God. He has carried stuff he was never meant to carry. “I… finally surrender the burdens God never asked me to carry.” When we surrender to God, we can live in freedom.”

There is much rejoicing when the prodigal returns home. “You can come back… There’s no expiration date when it comes to surrender.”

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The Magic Faraway Tree: The Story Of The Film inspired by Enid Blyton

May9

Enchanting

The Magic Faraway Tree: The Story Of The Film inspired by Enid Blyton is a perfectly delightful tale that will enchant anyone aged eight years and over. Whatever your age, if you grew up reading the original tales, this book will transport you back down the years.

The Magic Faraway Tree has been brought bang up to date to the twenty first century as the family escape London for a rural retreat.

At first the children dislike the lack of wi-fi and the quiet – but then they discover the faraway tree and the adventures begin.

The seasoned reader meets up with the familiar faces of Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot etc, as we reminisce about the enchanted lands and the slippery slip.

All the characters are charming and treat the reader to a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

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