Archive | November 2023

Celebrations In Bellbird Bay by Maggie Christensen

Nov19

Sea, Sun, Surf – And Cake!

Celebrations In Bellbird Bay by Maggie Christensen is a most delightful contemporary novel. It is the eighth book in the charming Bellbird Bay series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the previous books first in order to get to know the residents of Bellbird Bay.

I thoroughly enjoyed my return visit. I loved catching up with familiar faces and meeting new ones. Bellbird Bay is very much community minded. “We care about each other here.”

Bellbird Bay is the place where people look out for each other. There is an eclectic mix of characters and always those who are happy to match-make! People pull together, helping each other and supporting local businesses where they can.

Relocating from Sydney after a disaster, a character re-connects with her old roots. With a fifteen year old daughter in tow, she returns to the Bellbird Bay of her youth. As she re-connects life becomes much fuller, compared with the anonymity of suburban Sydney.

There are community activities for all ages. As well as events to raise money for local charities such as victims of domestic abuse.

Characters bond over sea, sun, surf – and cake! All the characters are wonderfully drawn. Most are not in their first flush of youth. The lead characters are in their forties and also an octogenarian.

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Moondial by Helen Cresswell

Nov17

Enchanting

Moondial by Helen Cresswell is a children’s classic that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is perfect for ages ten years and over.

Moondial is an enchanting tale as we follow a young girl, Minty. She is a very likable lead character with a heart of compassion for the hurting.

Staying in an old house, the veil between the present and times past, is thin. Friendship between like-minded individuals is called for in order to save the day.

We see the cruelty to, and of, children in times past. As we see the terrible time a character has because of a large birthmark on her face.

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True Status by Chuck Richardson

Nov17

Redeemed

True Status by Chuck Richardson is a powerful Christian allegorical tale.

It is the journey of one man from rejected to redeemed. We see that life is a spiritual battle. God longs for us to come to Him. “Reach out and find Him. He has always been near you, but you refused.” If we reject God there is another – the enemy – who wants our soul. The enemy will do what he can to divert and distract us from following God.

Be careful which voices you listen to. “Do not listen to your accusers. They are not of God.” God longs to speak life and love to us. The enemy brings death and eternal damnation. Choose God. Choose life.

We cannot work our way to Heaven. “Good work is not going to save your soul.” Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We need to ‘believe and be baptized.’

Prayer is important. “He heard me. He just didn’t answer the way I wanted Him to.” God will always answer our prayers in His way and in His timing. He is never too early or too late.

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The Girls Of Bomber Command by Vicki Beeby

Nov16

Live Each Moment

The Girls Of Bomber Command by Vicki Beeby is a powerful historical novel that I loved. It is set during the middle of World War II mainly on an airbase in Lincolnshire.

As we follow the lives of the men and women of bomber command, we see the fragility of life. “If I have tomorrow” is a phrase a young pilot utters. Whenever the men flew their missions, they never knew if they would return to base – whether it was a leaflet or bomb drop. They lived hard and they played hard. Daredevil antics on the base were a way to unwind and cope with the enormous responsibility that was on young shoulders.

We witness the devastating effects of an aircraft not returning to base. “The crew are like family.” All members hurt if one of their own is lost.

Life is hard for the girls on base. They are friends with the airmen and worry each time bomber command teams take to the air. Even in the middle of the night, they wait for the planes to return, greeting each man with a smile, a mug of tea and a ‘welcome home’. Life was lived on a knife edge for all.

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