Archive | October 2022

The Twelve Wishes Of Christmas by Ruby Basu

Oct13

Christmas In A Book

The Twelve Wishes Of Christmas by Ruby Basu is the most delightful contemporary novel that will warm your heart. It is definitely Christmas wrapped up in a book. As you snuggle into its pages, you will feel the warmth and love.

Christmas is snow and candy canes, Christmas trees and hot chocolate, peace and goodwill. Christmas is The Twelve Wishes Of Christmas. It is positively charming and I am sorry it is over.

All the characters were warm and welcoming. There was a wonderful community atmosphere that helped to divert potential disasters.

Christmas is a time for family. Not all family is blood related. Sometimes family are those with whom we have a connection. Age is no barrier. Distance is no barrier. Connection remains even beyond the grave as we look back with fond memories.

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Spring Breeze by Angela Barton

Oct11

The Greatest Gift

Spring Breeze by Angela Barton is a marvelous and powerful historical novel. It is heartbreaking too.

The novel is set in Paris during the Nazi occupation of World War II. We see the horrendous acts of cruelty towards the Jewish people including the massive round-up in 1942 into the Velodrome. Conditions were horrendous. Angela Barton has conveyed the horrors with her words.

There were extraordinary acts of bravery by ordinary people – pockets of courage and resistance. We witness the tenacity of very brave folks to help those who could not help themselves. Help and resistance came from some surprising sources. War brings out the very best and the very worst in men.

Not all Germans were Nazis – but put on a uniform and that is all people see. “This soldier didn’t look like a monster.” Look beyond the uniform to the man inside it.

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From Now On by Amelia Henley

Oct10

So Very Beautiful

From Now On by Amelia Henley is the most beautiful contemporary novel that totally consumed me. I never wanted it to end.

The novel is about love, loss and family. There are many different types of love – friendship, family, partner and more. Each one requires a step towards another, of making ourselves vulnerable to hurt. If we love deeply, we may hurt deeply too – but it is always worth giving love a chance.

The novel is also about loss. It is a loss that tears souls apart. It hurts. Each family member wades through grief and guilt. “He ate the cookie dough. He caused this and deserves to feel terrible forever.” So raw is the pain, that a character decides he must punish himself and withdraws from his passion and gift of musical talent.

Another character drowns in guilt because she was too busy to say a proper goodbye.

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Life Without My Family: Lone Survivor Of Eleven Children: Overcoming Grief With Faith by Sophie Scenic-Daniels

Oct10

Inspiring

Life Without My Family: Lone Survivor Of Eleven Children: Overcoming Grief With Faith by Sophie Scenic-Daniels is an inspiring account of a life lived well, loving God throughout all the challenging scenes of life.

The author had a good role model in her Mum. “My mother lost seven children, then lost her husband, but never blamed God. She instead lived a life of prayer.” Prayer is important. Prayer is a bridge to God. Prayer is powerful. “My Mum was a prayer warrior.” When we do not know what else to do, we should pray. We need to pray in the good times and we need to pray in the bad. We need to live a life of prayer.

We need to live a life of love too, knowing that God is love. We are called to show people who do not know Jesus, His love. We must act in love at all times, and never sit in judgement.

When we seek God, He will be found. “I sought God… and… found Him… This… took away the emptiness.” The author has suffered so much loss. She could have gone under with grief but instead she sought out God. “Faith become[s] the anchor.” We all need an anchor, and what better anchor to have than God?

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