Archive | July 2019

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

Jul3

Full Circle

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley is a fascinating historical and contemporary tale about roots and identity. It is the second book in the Seven Sisters series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The book has three distinct time periods – 1875, late 1930’s and 2007. The stories all weave together to form a fabulous whole. There are real historical figures in the tale as fact blends with fiction to entertain and inform.

Set in Norway, Leipzig and England to name but a few, the reader is in for a real cosmopolitan treat.

Family is important. It is not always blood related but it is a group of people who came together and love and support each other. The novel has a search for identity. We all want to know where we come from. What makes us? Is it nature? Or nurture? Or a mixture of both?

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Andrew by Jennifer Beckstrand

Jul3

Absolutely Wonderful

Andrew by Jennifer Beckstrand is a most delightful contemporary Amish novel and the first book in The Petersheim Brothers series. I cannot wait for the subsequent books.

Whenever I pick up a Jennifer Beckstrand book I know that I will be in for a real treat and Andrew is no exception. Revisiting familiar faces from The Honeybee Sisters series, I settled down into known territory. Once again Bitsy imparted her wisdom “Boys are like stray cats. If you feed them once, they keep coming back.” There is an air of light-heartedness over the whole book even though there are some serious themes.

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The First Time Lauren Pailing Died by Alyson Rudd

Jul2

Linked By Love

The First Time Lauren Pailing Died by Alyson Rudd is a fantastic novel about love and loss, friendship and families. It is set in the 1970’s and moves forwards in time.

The novel has a unique storyline with the theme of parallel lives. It is all very cleverly constructed. The characters all revolve around Lauren Pailing, reacting to the events in her lives. They change subtly each time she dies. There is one unifying element that never changes, running at a constant throughout.

There are different points of view given as the reader becomes acquainted with the characters. Their reactions to loss are varied but one thing is sure – loss hurts and keeps on hurting.

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Riptide Rumors by Melody Carlson

Jul1

Small Town Living At Its Best

Riptide Rumors by Melody Carlson is a delightful Christian historical novel. It is the second book in the Legacy Of Sunset Cove series and continues where book one Harbor Secrets ended. It can be read as a stand- alone but I would recommend reading Harbor Secrets first.

With America on the brink of war in 1916, there is a patriotic feeling that counter balances the feeling of uncertainty. People are proud of their community and heritage. There are thoughts of signing up if war is declared.

The population of Sunset Cove is recovering from events in book one and still trying to come to terms with it. The rum runners are present as the prohibition laws still stand. Suspicion falls in the most surprizing places.

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