Tag Archive | Boldwood Books

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton

Mar3

Of Love & Life, Friends & Family

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton is a powerful historical novel set over two time periods. It has its’ roots in facts as we hear about William Morris and the pre-Raphaelite artists. The action is set in 1938 and 1952. These alternate.

The summer of 1938 is a defining and devastating summer. Lives would be altered forever. No one would ever be the same again as a tragic accident affects all those involved.

It began as a summer of promise but ended as a summer of tragedy.

It was a summer where new friendships were forged. Lives took new trajectories as characters made decisions about their futures.

Between the two time periods was World War II. Here lives were changed again – sometimes forever lost.

1938 saw women’s lives on the edge of change. Old fashioned paternalistic attitudes had squashed women but with the war, came freedom. A female character believes “If women can crack enemy code…we can do anything we… want.”

In contrast we hear the thoughts of a male character after the war: “Go home… Marry a nice man, have some children, be happy.” “Because that was all women were good for again now that the war was over.” A male dominated society wanted to put women back in a clearly labelled box: ‘family.’

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The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton

Feb24

The Love That Binds

The Child We Lost by Sheila Norton is a beautiful contemporary novel about love and loss, and learning to live again.

The novel is seen through the eyes of a mother, and a grandmother. The chapters alternate between the two and are in the first person. This enables the reader to intimately know the characters.

Having lost her twin (before the novel opened), five-year-old Ruby believes he is alive again as she spots a boy looking just like Josh, walking past her school every Friday. She is convinced he is alive again. We witness the trauma this creates for her extended family as they try to help her deal with her loss.

Understanding of death comes following the death of a pet. Ruby is then surprisingly accepting of death once it is explained to her.

Ruby’s mother seeks the truth as to what Ruby saw. What she uncovers comes as a shock to all.

We see the importance of having a faith. “I sometimes wish I had her faith. It must make things so much more bearable to know that there’s a God looking after us.” Loss without faith, is very bleak indeed. Having spoken to a vicar about loss, Ruby’s mother is told: “I’ll pray for you.”…”Even though I don’t believe?”… “That doesn’t matter because I do.” Prayer is comforting for all, just knowing that someone cares.

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Golden Girls On The Run by Judy Leigh

Dec6

All Is Grand

Golden Girls On The Run by Judy Leigh is a contemporary feel-good novel that will charm and delight you. It is part of the Golden Girls series but can be read as a stand-alone. The novel is set in the run up to Christmas but is a perfect read for any time of year.

Familiar characters once more amuse the reader as light-hearted banter volleys back and forth.

The leading ladies are octogenarians who ‘borrow’ their grandson’s Ferrari and take a road trip from Southern Ireland to Devon as they flee from the local bobby! They are a couple who know how to have fun and they never fail to amuse the reader.

Extended family follow the ladies and they all get caught up in pre-Christmas activities.

We join the characters at a local animal rescue centre that needs a cash injection. All the characters put their heads together to think up ideas to fund raise.

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The Garden Of Shared Stories by Clare Swatman

Dec5

Ripples Through Time

The Garden Of Shared Stories by Clare Swatman is the most delightful timeslip novel that I absolutely loved and never wanted it to end.

The book is unique as the leading man and lady meet – but are twenty years apart. It is a magical meeting of two hearts beating as one. Both are grieving the loss of the loved ones of their lives. “He understood because he was grieving too.” They are two sides of the same coin. United by loss, held together with love.

Grief is very raw. “How it feels every single day as though you need to remind yourself to get up, get dressed, carry on while all the time it feels as though you’re being pressed down by a heavy weight.” The grief journey can be lonely. It may be accompanied by guilt. “After he died… I tortured myself, thinking about what I should have said or done differently.” The past is gone. Re-hashing it won’t alter a thing. We need to learn to put guilt to bed.

Clare Swatman writes with sensitivity. The emotions leap from the pages and into the reader’s heart. We really empathise with the characters.

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