Tag Archive | book review

A Ruff Royal Christmas by Karen Schaler

Dec19

Time For Love

A Ruff Royal Christmas by Karen Schaler is a most charming contemporary Christmas novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Karen Schaler is the queen of the festive novel. Her words portray not only the physical setting, but also feelings, memories, emotions and the love that Christmas brings. Her words take up residence in the reader’s heart as we don’t just read the novel, we experience it.

A major theme is that of love vs duty. Tradition and duty have dictated a life. “It’s our duty. It’s who we are.” “You are also human.” A soul has got lost within duty and has forgotten how to really live. The perfect scene must be presented at all times – but love gets lost along the way. In contrast we meet characters who are full of life and love, and are determined to awaken the lost soul to love and life.

There is the theme of rescue dogs. “Even though many of them had come from horrible circumstances, they were still eager to find a person to love them and to love.” These dogs have a huge capacity to love and can soften even the hardest hearts. We meet Stormy who is due to be the first royal dog. He has a joi de vivre about him, with the ability to make people smile.

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A Merry Little Christmas by Julia Williams

Dec19

A Year In The Life

A Merry Little Christmas by Julia Williams is a very charming contemporary novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the second book in the Hope Christmas series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The novel is set in the Shropshire village of Hope Christmas and the surrounding countryside. There is a bank of leading characters and their families. All of whom are friends and all of whom have various challenges to face during the year.

I loved the inclusion of a character who appears real – but is he? There is an other-worldly feel to him which reminded me of Clarence in the movie It’s A Wonderful Life.

We meet farming families who pull together after a terrible accident injurers one of their own. Lives are altered as we see the strain that having a brain injury puts on a family unit.

There are families with children – step children, toddlers, babies, teens, and a beautiful wheelchair-bound young girl who is bright and funny but non-verbal. We witness the impact of withdrawing funds from a respite centre by the government will have on families. The village pulls together to fight for funds for the charity.

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The Elusive Truth Of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano

Dec16

The Gardener Is Waiting

The Elusive Truth Of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is an enchanting Christian historical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The novel is written with elements of traditional story telling interspersed with actual historical figures. Over everything, God awaits, with His love and His heart calling each and every one of us.

Much of the book revolves around a garden. The reader recalls the Garden of Eden where God walked with Adam and Eve in His creation. God lives in our hearts as we read “from somewhere deep within the core of him, where God dwelled.”

Sometimes life happens and we lose sight of God. “Regret was a poison that never left the bloodstream.” Letting regret live in our hearts is not good for us. Anything that takes our focus from God, needs to be got rid of.

When we have known God, there will always be that longing for Him. “I’d cried out to God, begged for Him, and felt nothing.” Just because we feel nothing, does not mean that God is not there. God works in our lives. He sends people across our paths to point the way to Him. “He [God] uses people at times to set things right.”

God can clearly be seen in some people. “He ushered in the presence of God wherever he went… where Gordon Makepiece was, there also was God.” We are called to preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary to use words.

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That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain

Dec9

The Nightingale Square Magic

That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain is a perfectly charming contemporary Christmas novel that I loved.

Those who are familiar with Heidi Swain’s novels will recognise the location of Nightingale Square, and also the Christmas tree farm near Wynbridge. Tying previous locations into this new novel gives the reader a feeling of familiarity.

The novel is set in the weeks leading up to Christmas as we join the residents of Nightingale Square as they prepare for the festive season. The reader can ‘see’ the scene and ‘feel’ the atmosphere due to Heidi Swain’s descriptive pen.

It is a time for new friendships as recently divorced Hollie house sits for friends in the square. She befriends an old actress called May who injects a myriad of colours into Hollie’s grey and drab life. Hollie learns the value of carpe diem – to seize the day. You are never too old to change direction. “Every day is a special occasion.”

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