Archive | October 2023

The Weekend Away by Miranda Smith

Oct7

Totally Gripping

The Weekend Away by Miranda Smith is a totally gripping contemporary psychological thriller that I just could not put down.

Everyone grieves differently. A group of friends meet up one year after the death of a friend and sister, to remember her. All seem sincere in their grief – but at least one of them is lying.

The story is told mainly from the victim’s twin sister Sienna’s point of view and also in the form of a diary written by her late twin. Sienna has felt guilty since her sister died – but now she is angry and determined to seek out the truth.

Friends turn out to not be as true as they first seem. Covering up crimes in order to preserve the face of a company seems more important than letting the truth come to light.

Much of the tale is set on a remote wooded mountain in an isolated cabin. The landscape and the elements mirror the torments within. As a heated situation gets more and more out of control, the reader’s heartrate ramps up. Can anyone take control? Will the truth ever be known?

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The Promise Tree by Elisabeth Hobbes

Oct7

To Last A Lifetime

The Promise Tree by Elisabeth Hobbes is a very beautiful historical fantasy that I read in just one sitting.

The tale is set mainly from 1902 to just after the end of World War I, and then into the twenty first century. It is a tale as old as time. It is a tale that transcends time. It is a tale of great beauty.

We see the beauty when a character is at one with nature. Nature should be cherished, adored and preserved for future generations.

In contrast there is the ugliness of war. There is the tragedy of the Pals regiments where a generation of young men were lost to the battlefields of France. Whole villages went to war and only a handful of young men returned.

We witness how a tragedy caused a life to become bitter and full of hatred, blaming an innocent for what was simply, a tragic accident.

And we see a beautiful relationship that is gentle, cares, protects and preserves. It is a beauty that needs to be shared. We see the dark satanic mills of northern England where whole sways of people have no access to green spaces. A generous philanthropist decides to right this wrong.

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Christian Princess Diary Of Confessions by Iletha M Dodds Riggins

Oct5

You Are Loved

Christian Princess Diary Of Confessions by Iletha M Dodds Riggins is a beautiful little book for girls aged eight years and under. It is a timely reminder for us all, no matter what our age – Jesus loves us and our goal is to become more and more like Jesus daily. As we look in a mirror we should reflect Jesus to the world.

Each double page asks “Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the most…?” The final word changes each time. There is a Biblical scripture to back up the answer, and there are questions for our girls to look inside themselves and space to write the answer.

This is a book to be read with our children so that we can discuss the answers with them.

The repetitive formula helps to re-enforce the message that we are loved and we are to love.

All the book is beautifully and simply illustrated. I did have a favourite illustration – as the girl looked into the mirror, Jesus looked back.

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The Daughter Of The Fens by Elena Collins

Oct4

For All Time

The Daughter Of The Fens by Elena Collins is the most awe inspiring, beautiful timeslip novel that I could not get enough of. I read it in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep.

The action is set in the Fens in present day and also two millennia earlier under Roman occupation. It is an area of mystery where the past and present collide as the veil of time is thin.

This is a beautiful story about a forbidden love that will last a lifetime. A character is searching in the past, and her presence is linked to a soul in the present, through dreams and the landscape.

Alternating chapters reveal the parallels between the characters and the time periods.

Elena Collins brings the landscape of two millennia ago to life as we enter a Roman villa and follow the life of an Iceni servant girl. She is a good soul, loyal and true.

As we follow the servant girl, we see that her Roman mistress is more imprisoned than she is. Roman wives knew their duties. They knew their places. They were not free but had to do the bidding of their fathers and then their husbands.

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