The Lost Husband by Shari J Ryan

Aug9

Love Will Not Die

The Lost Husband by Shari J Ryan is a powerful and heartbreaking historical dual timeline novel that consumed me from the start.

The action is set in Amsterdam at the start of World War II, and then moves to Auschwitz in January 1945. Historians will recognise the latter date as the time when the Nazis emptied Auschwitz of all those who were able to walk, to go on a death march, before the Soviets liberated the camp. The story sees the leading characters marching through Poland. Both time periods alternate as the tale is told through the eyes of the leading lady.

We learn about the indomitable human spirit. Despite witnessing her husband die at the hands of the Nazis, the leading lady kept going for the life within. Darkness and despair could not kill the human spirit.

Ending up in Auschwitz, we see the dehumanisation of the people – their names, clothes and hair were taken from them but their humanity remained. “I still see humans. Suffering.” Little acts of kindness, that said ‘I see you’, meant a great deal.

Suffering from dysentery, a character wonders if she hallucinated seeing her husband in a Nazi uniform. She was left “in limbo between grief and a sliver of hope that my eyes had deceived me.” She needed to know. She clung to the hope that what she had seen all those years ago, simply wasn’t the truth.

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New Term At Malory Towers by Pamela Cox

Aug8

Familiar Setting, New Characters

New Term At Malory Towers by Pamela Cox is a marvellous girls’ novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the seventh book in the Malory Towers series but can be read as a stand-alone. It is far better to read the books in numerical order for character and timeline progression.

Malory Towers was originally just six books and penned by Enid Blyton. Now there are thirteen books in the series. Pamela Cox is very true to the original style of writing. Had I not seen the name change on the cover, I would have thought New Term At Malory Towers was still written by Enid Blyton.

The original cast of girls have left Malory Towers but Daryll Rivers younger sister Felicity takes up the mantel as we join her and her friends in the third year (year nine now).

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Finding Forever In Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen

Aug6

Dipping A Toe In New Waters

Finding Forever In Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen is the charming tenth book in the wonderful Pelican Crossing series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once more the reader is delighted to return to the tranquil Pelican Crossing where the welcome is warm as the locals offer hospitality and friendship to all.

Catching up with familiar faces and locations, and meeting new ones is always a pure delight.

The reason for a character rushing to Pelican Crossing is an accident has befallen her beloved Mimi. Fifty-year-old Paige finds herself at a crossroads in life. Pelican Crossing offers peace and care whilst her heart heals from grief. We ‘feel’ the pain of sudden loss – for me, it was all too raw, as my ninety-five-year-old Dad died suddenly and unexpectedly recently, very similar to the character in the book. I could easily empathise, grief is not linear, it comes in waves.

Pelican Crossing is a community that offers care where it can. Lives are supported – and everyone knows your business which is far preferable to the anonymity of a big city.

Grown up children are quick to consign their mother to the pipe and slippers brigade. This was reminiscent of the grown-up children in the movie with Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson, All That Heaven Allows buying their mother a television for company. Life is for living whatever your age. Grown up children show that they can be very selfish – taking and taking from a mother, without any thought to her needs.

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The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O’Brien

Aug6

Entertaining

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O’Brien is a historical novel that entertains from the start. It is the second book in Threads Of Resistance series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The reader is treated to the landscape of occupied France, mainly Paris, as we join characters trying to disrupt the Nazi war effort and learn their secrets.

There are personal secrets to be unravelled too. A young woman has returned to France as part of the resistance, and also to search for her twin daughters who were taken from her eighteen years earlier – and what she discovers, is shocking.

We witness ugly events as a character is consumed by jealousy. There are no lengths to which she will not stoop.

Within families, members are on opposite sides of the war.

The walls of a house that nuns have provided in the past, continues to be a safe haven.

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