Tag Archive | Boldwood Books

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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The Silver Ladies Seize The Day by Judy Leigh

Jun7

Live, Laugh, Love

The Silver Ladies Seize The Day by Judy Leigh is a most charming contemporary novel. It is part of the Silver Ladies series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I enjoyed meeting up with familiar faces. The Silver Ladies are all seventy plus, with the eldest at nearly ninety-two. They know how to live, laugh and love. They support each other throughout all of life’s ups and downs. They are an eclectic mix, as are the other villagers too but they all know how to practice hospitality to the deserving.

We see that everyone has their own battles to fight. The past can be a hostile place. We need to learn from it but not live in it.

A character has devoted her life to teaching. The result is that so many of the villagers have been taught by her and love her, as they fondly remember the years spent in her classroom. But she has regrets. A chance arises to put the past to bed – but does she really want to face it?

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Kindred Spirits At Harling Hall by Sharon Booth

May31

All You Need Is Love

Kindred Spirits At Harling Hall by Sharon Booth is a most delightful contemporary fantasy novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the first book in the Ghosts Of Rowan Vale series which promises to be fabulous.

The whole novel is highly entertaining with alight-hearted tone. It warms the reader’s heart as we enter the make-believe world of Rowan Vale.

 There is a unique plotline where ghosts of past times interact with the few who can see them in the village. There are the usual spats and disagreements, as well as a lot of love and care.

We witness how events have been misconceived. Characters need to know the truth. Sometimes it has been with-held in order to protect, but the reality was that it has harmed those involved.

We witness the importance of love. When we have love, we will bloom. Some have shied away from love for fear of getting hurt – but it is always worth facing one’s fear and taking a chance on love.

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