Archive | June 2025

Loving Spirits At The Vintage Tea-Shop by Sharon Booth

Jun29

A Story Of Love

Loving Spirits At The Vintage Tea-Shop by Sharon Booth is a charming contemporary fantasy that I really enjoyed. It is the second book in the Ghosts Of Rowan Vale series but can be read as a stand-alone. For maximum enjoyment and character progression, I recommend reading the books in order.

I enjoyed meeting up with familiar faces as the residents and ghosts once more mingle in the village.

There is the theme of grief. “Grief… comes in waves… like tiny waves lapping on the shore… it’s… like a tidal wave, crashing down upon you.” Grief ebbs and flows as there are good and bad days. You just have to work through it the best you can. “When grief comes along… We don’t always have the strength to hold up other people.” Sometimes it’s as much as you can do just to put one foot in front of another. There is no energy left for others.

We see the need for forgiveness. A character feared retribution and hid away for years. When actually he had already received the gift of grace and forgiveness straight away, he just didn’t know it.

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The Girl From Normandy by Rachel Sweasey

Jun28

Powerful

The Girl From Normandy by Rachel Sweasey is a powerful dual timeline that enthralled me from the start.

The novel is set during World War II in France, and also in 1998 in Poole and France. We see the intertwining lives that have come down the ages.

Fleeing Nazi-occupied Paris, the lead character suffers an unthinkable tragedy. She is made of strong stuff and uses the pain to propel her into working for the Resistance. We see the bravery and daring that was needed as well as the ability to hide her true thoughts as smiles whilst listening to Nazi secrets.

The Resistance was vital to the war machine. Everyone had a unique role to play. Without the Resistance, there would have been no D-Day.

In present day a grandmother’s family do not realise all that she went through. She is the matriarch of the family. Her strength is built on her sadness.

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Kitty’s War by Eimear Lawlor

Jun23

Powerful

Kitty’s War by Eimear Lawler is a powerful historical novel that I read in just one sitting.

The novel is set in Southern Ireland in 1941. As the tale opens, the leading lady is heading home from the mainland to look after her brother.

We see that German origins can be a curse even though the leading lady has no ties with Germany.

Although Southern Ireland was neutral, the war still touched lives as there were bombing raids and German pilots were shot down. The Germans had all been perceived as evil Nazis but many were just young men with families who missed them.

Catholic Southern Ireland had some harsh and cruel laws for unmarried mothers and homosexual men. There were those who were kind and passed no judgement. It is awful to see how many had to hide their true selves.

Grief is a terrible master. It threatens to sink characters.

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To Love A Beast by Karen Witemeyer

Jun21

A Rose By Any Other Name

To Love A Beast by Karen Witemeyer is a very charming Christian historical tale that I loved. It is the first book in Once Upon A Time In Texas series and I cannot wait for more.

This is a charming re-imagining of Beauty & The Beast set in Texas in the late nineteenth century. It is all very cleverly done with its setting, choice of names and even the colour of the fabric of the dresses all reminding the reader of the original tale.

This is more than just a fairy tale. This has the hand and heart of God permeating the whole book.

We see that God is faithful and keeps His promise to never leave us. He goes with us even when we do not see Him. “Just because you can’t see any evidence of His presence doesn’t mean that God isn’t with you.” We can trust God with our lives. “God has everything under control.” In the chaos of life, nothing surprises God.

There is the theme of true beauty. “Your face does not define you… Your actions do.” True beauty leads from the heart. A heart that is pure and good and kind is always attractive. We need to show others the heart of God by what we do. “The man lived his faith… and… influenced the lives around him.”

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