Archive | December 2020

What You Said To Me by Olivia Newport

Dec19

Closing The Circle

What You Said To Me by Olivia Newport is a marvellous dual timeline novel about heritage and families. It is the fourth book in the Tree Of Life series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The action is set in present day and 1893 in the form of a diary. It concerns families who are trying to track down ancestors in order to close the circle and to heal hearts. We witness some who want to know their roots and shoots and others who do not care.

We are not destined to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. We always have the choice to choose a different path.

Ripples of the past travel down the years. We can be proud of our ancestors. The novel shows some modern forward thinking philanthropic hearts in 1893.

Continue reading →

The Red Thread by Rebekah Pace

Dec18

The Ties That Bind

The Red Thread by Rebekah Pace is the most beautiful contemporary and historical tale about love, a love that never dies.

The main protagonist is a ninety two year old living in New York. He has been there since the end of World War II but his roots are in Leipzig. The novel alternates between present day and his childhood memories and then his horrific time in the camps under the Nazis.

A childhood promise made, has been kept. Fear has immobilised a life but now in old age regrets begin to surface. The wrongs of the past need to be righted.

Continue reading →

The Eye Of The Storm by Janice L Dick

Dec15

History Comes To Life

The Eye Of The Storm by Janice L Dick is a marvellous Christian historical novel and the second book in The Storm Series.

As a historian with a passion for Russia from 1900 under Czar Nicholas II, I found the whole book fascinating. The action is set in Russia from 1917-1919. It was a time of severe unrest – a dislike of Czar Nicholas handling of WWI, the assassination of Czar Nicholas and his family at Ekaterinburg, civil war between the Whites and the Reds, the emergence of Stalin, Lenin and Trotsky. Under the masterful pen of Janice Dicks history comes to life as fact meets fiction.

We follow a Russian Mennonite family who believe in peace not war. They are very godly but the reader senses a tension within.

There are some terrible attitudes towards mental disability with patients shut away from the world. We witness some kind hearts who treat the patients as people to be loved not shunned.

Continue reading →

Alfie The Christmas Cat by Rachel Wells

Dec13

Crime Busting Cats

Alfie The Christmas Cat by Rachel Wells is a delightful tale that will appeal to cat lovers everywhere. It is the seventh book in the Alfie series but can be read as a stand-alone. This was my first visit to Alfie’s street but it won’t be my last.

The story is told from the point of view of Alfie, the lead cat. The other cats and a dog called Pickles look to Alfie to lead them. The story is set in the lead up to Christmas as the humans decide to put on a Nativity to raise money for the homeless. Alfie is keen to get involved as he was once homeless before his adoption.

The reader is enchanted by all the cats, each with their unique personalities. The cats turn to super sleuthing as someone is determined that the play will not go on. Once the culprit is spotted, the challenge is to bring them to the attention of the humans.

Continue reading →