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The Ghost House by Andie Newton

Oct30

Protecting The Innocent

The Ghost House by Andie Newton is a powerful historical supernatural suspense that has its’ roots in facts, interwoven with fiction.

The book is set in occupied France in 1944. Much of the action surrounds the forbidden forest that has grown up around the site of the Battle of Verdun in 1916. There is a mythical feel to it as the stories abound to do with bodies buried, live mines and cannisters of poison gas. What everyone can agree on is, it is not safe.

The Nazis were pre-occupied with the occult. Within the tale, sinister forces are used in order to try to break the innocent.

The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, mirroring the action which has sinister twists and turns.

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A Vampire Is Not A Pet by Lexi Rees

Oct28

Most Entertaining

A Vampire Is Not A Pet by Lexi Rees is a most entertaining novel that is perfect for ages eight years and over. Whatever your age, this book will amuse you.

There is the repetition that Velma is not a pet running throughout. This enables the child you are reading to, to join in at various times.

The story is set from one December 25th to another. Throughout the year, Velma and her human get into various scrapes – especially when her human forgets the rules! Situations include eating garlic; forgetting Velma’s food on a camping trip; a Halloween party; a trip to the dentist and much more. The situations are amusing and will make the adults reading the tale aloud, giggle too.

A Vampire Is Not A Pet has a unique storyline. I am hoping for more stories about Velma as she is a rather cute vampire! The illustrations are cute too.

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All Together For Christmas by Sarah Morgan

Oct23

An Imperfectly Perfect Christmas

All Together For Christmas by Sarah Morgan is her perfectly wonderful festive offering that I adored.

This is a book about family. Family can be messy. Family can be complicated. And it is also love that is the glue that holds the family together. The family in the book, meet together at the parent’s house for Christmas. It is a multi-generational household as there are elderly parents and grown-up siblings, and a dog. Everyone is battling problems, and everyone receives love.

Newly married Jamie’s wife, Hayley, has never had a family Christmas, and therefore his mum is determined to give her a Hallmark Christmas to remember. Hayley fears being an outsider but nothing is further from the truth.

Love has never been in short supply. “He’d never been without love in his life. And he’d never had to earn that love.” Love has been given unconditionally. This is strengthened by his sister’s thoughts on family. “Her family home. She felt a sense of security. It was nothing to do with the building… but the people. Her wonderful parents… Whatever had gone wrong in her life they’d been there to cushion the blow.” The parents provided a firm foundation of love for their children.

It is hard being a parent to adult children. “As a parent your job to let go, even when your instinct is to hold on.” Our children need to be given wigs to fly.

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The Second Chance Cinema Club by Thea Weiss

Oct23

Absolutely Charming

The Second Chance Cinema by Thea Weiss is an absolutely delightful contemporary book about love, memories and second chances. I read the book in just one sitting and am sad that it has ended.

The plotline is unique and extremely well executed. It is a bout looking into the past at edited highlights, sharing memories with your present partner, and being honest with each other. Lives cannot be built on lies. Where there is truth, lives will prosper.

Family is important. “My family didn’t have a lot of money, but… they knew how to make things special.” Family and the bonds of love which they share are beautiful to witness. There is a family whose foundation is love. Another character has lost her way, building her life on wealth and connections.

We see how a family is fractured following a tragic loss. Each family member has retreated into their own grief bubble. The grief journey never goes away. “People always say the grief fades, but I find it just evolves.”

Guilt goes hand in hand with grief. “I just can’t shake the guilt from all the tiny decisions that led to what happened.” Guilt is a part of grief with nowhere to go. It is destructive. A character needs to forgive herself for actions that were not her fault. “You need to give yourself permission to move on.” Moving on does not mean forgetting, but it is part of life.

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