Archives

The Orphan’s Last Goodbye by Glynis Peters

Dec4

A New Cub In Canada

The Orphan’s Last Goodbye by Glynis Peters is a powerful historical novel that I loved. It is the fourth book in the Red Cross Orphans series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The year is 1947 and the war has been over for a couple of years but its’ effects are still being felt in lives. Nightmares of things that they cannot change, remain.

We witness that relationships formed in war cannot always stand the test of peace time. In contrast, other relationships strengthen due to shared experiences.

There are hearts of gold. “You always invested your heart into each child who stepped over the threshold.” Orphans of war were guaranteed a loving home in a big family house in the North East. These huge hearts continue as nothing is too much trouble despite personal hardship. In contrast, a heart is selfish, seeking out personal gain and not thinking of others.

Continue reading →

Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain

Dec4

Wonderfully Festive

Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain is a most delightful contemporary Christmas novel that will charm the reader.

The novel is set in the few weeks leading up to the big day as we join familiar characters from Wynbridge as this is the sixth book in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone.

We join the two leading characters – one who adores Christmas, and the other who avoids all things connected with the festive season due to the painful memories it evokes. She sets out to change his mind and introduce him to the delights of Christmas. At the same time, the reader enjoys all the activities too. This really is Christmas captured in a book.

Continue reading →

Merrily Ever After by Cathy Bramley

Dec4

A Festive Fayre

Merrily Ever After by Cathy Bramley is the most charming contemporary Christmas novel that I loved.

The action alternates between the two lead females as their lives are similar but different. They are ships that pass in the night until they dock together. A long-held secret produces delightful results.

Grief throws up many different emotions. “I’m sad… but I’m angry. Angry… that you didn’t love me enough to stay alive.” There is no timeline for grief, the pain remains forever. “I missed her. After all these years, there still wasn’t a day passed by without me thinking about her.”

We see the difficult topic of dementia. It is hard for the relatives as they only get glimpses of the person they used to know. There is the healing power of music. “The man couldn’t remember what day it was knew every word, every note.” Relatives of the dementia patient have to be adaptable in their responses. “You find the funny side, otherwise your heart would break.”

There is a Christmas wedding to prepare for. The reader is caught up in the celebrations. We read what marriage is: “all it [marriage] takes is a capacity to love and to let yourself be loved.”

Continue reading →

The Corpse Bell by Ian McFadyen

Nov28

Highly Entertaining

The Corpse Bell by Ian McFadyen was a gripping contemporary crime novel that consumed me from the start. It is the eleventh book in the Carmichael series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The plotline is extremely well thought out and executed. It is a thinking-mans novel as you needed to be able to join the dots and in order to solve the murders. I failed miserably as I tried to guess the perpetrator.

All the characters were well drawn, believable and likable.

The law enforcement officers all had their individual roles to play, working like a well-oiled machine as they doggedly tried to solve the case.

We see that the past will sooner or later catch up to the present. Characters go to extreme lengths in order to keep their pasts hidden.

Continue reading →