Archive | June 2026

The House On Otley Road by Rosa Silverman

Jun29

Gripping

The House On Otley Road by Rosa Silverman is a totally gripping murder suspense that I could not put down.

The action is set in 1999 and 2019, focusing on a house in Otley Road in Leeds. The action alternates between the two time periods. It also looks backwards speculating on what happened at the time.

Two murders, twenty years apart, one murder site – seemingly nothing in common, and everything in common – are they linked? Or random?

We follow the action in 2019 through the eyes of reporter, Kate. The reader gets to know what she knows – but we have the benefit of watching the action unfold in 1999 too.

The book is superbly written. As I read onwards towards the conclusion, I began to join the dots! My heart rate rose as the penny dropped!

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A Writing Upon The Sand by J M Kirkley

Jun29

Trust Him

A Writing Upon The Sand by J M Kirkley is a very charming Christian historical novel that I adored. It is grounded in facts as we witness and learn about, the Galveston disaster of 1900.

There is the theme of taking care of the orphans. Under the right conditions, they will thrive.

We see the importance of living well. It is said of a grandmother, “She traded a privileged life for serving in ministry… She lived generously, despite hard times.” Generosity is more than just money. It is about time – where we spend our time shows where our hearts are.

We learn the importance of being correctly grounded. “May your character be not writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock.” We need good foundations in our lives. We need to build our lives on Jesus so that when the bad times come (and they will), we need to keep our eyes fixed firmly on Him.

What do we do when God is silent? We trust. “Emily found no shred of consolation the longer her prayers went unanswered, when God remained silent.” Sometimes there are no answers, and we must just trust and hold on to the hem of His garment, figuratively speaking.

“Maybe God wanted her to desire knowing Him more than having answers.” God longs for us to come to Him and to rest in Him. “Whatever happens, may God’s peace comfort us.” God’s peace will still our hearts, even when all around us is crumbling.

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The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

Jun29

Simply Beautiful

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston is a simply beautiful novel that I never wanted to end.

It is a timeslip novel about love and loss and awakening. The action is set within the extensive gardens of a large house. There are different zones within the garden, including a secret garden whose entrance keeps moving. Time moves at a different pace within this garden. It is a place where plants and lives are re-awakened.

The novel is about grief. It is a raw grief which was easy for me to recognise as my beautiful Dad has just died and I feel the pain too. “He didn’t tell me how sorry he was for my loss… He simply let me cry until there wasn’t anything left.” Sometimes, we just need others to be there while we cry. There is no need for words.

The loss within the novel is that of a good friend to cancer. The leading lady is learning to live again. She fears that moving on means letting go of Harrie – but Harrie will live forever in her heart.

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Nero The Hero by Samantha Mattocks

Jun25

Helping Others

Nero The Hero by Samantha Mattocks is a delightful children’s book and just perfect for six years and over. It is the first book in a new series which promises to be very charming.

We meet Nero the hero who is a very special dog. He is the latest in a long line of Schnauzers who can communicate with their owners, and who are on high alert for those who are in trouble.

Twelve-year-old Jack meets Nero when he spends the summer holidays with his grandmother. The heroics of Nero rub off on Jack, as he too, wants to rescue others. We see that although Jack does indeed, perform a heroic act, he then needs rescuing!

The novel teaches us the value of kindness and care. We need to look out for others, and help where we can.

Nero The Hero is beautifully illustrated by Gerda Smit. She really brings Nero to life.

It was lovely to meet up with Mister Mishkins, the hero of his own series. The message of the book says that although we may be different – a dog and a cat – we can still be friends.

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