Tag Archive | book review

The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford (Illustrated by David Litchfield)

Apr24

Love – The Glue That Binds

The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford (illustrated by David Litchfield) is the most charming contemporary children’s novel that I adored. It is suitable for the over tens. It is beautifully illustrated too.

The story is set in Wales and has Aberuraun Colliery as its’ focus. Following a school trip, lead character eleven-year-old Evan desires to find out more about the pit ponies that worked the mines.

Evan’s Grandad used to work in the mine and is haunted by a past event.

There is power in a story. It is in sharing stories that memories can be passed down the generations. We all want to know our personal histories.

We see the difficulties that arise when living with someone with a mental illness. Twelve-year-old Melly’s Mum has bi-polar. This is hard for Melly as sometimes her Mum has to be hospitalised.

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Sisters Of The Storm by Lana Kortchik

Apr23

The Bonds Of Love

Sisters Of The Storm by Lana Kortchik is a powerful World War II novel that I just couldn’t put down.

The reader joins twin sisters, both of whom are nurses, doing their bit for the war effort. The plane carrying them across Albania crashes and the book tells of their fight to survive in enemy-occupied land. They are befriended by partisans and by the people of Albania who are kind, sharing what little they had. “You stay in my house, you are family.” The Albanian people were kindness personified. “What they lacked in material possessions, they more than made up with unconditional love.” With no thought to personal safety, they helped the crashed Americans. “Every step of the way, they were met with kindness. They were welcomed by strangers like they were family.”

We learn about the daughters lives before the war. “Marrying his daughters off was a business deal for their father.” A daughter is cast out when she marries the man of her dreams, who turns out to be a nightmare.

We witness domestic abuse. It’s not always punches; it can be words. “Since they got married, there was a voice inside her head that sounded just like his, hissing and angry and terrifying, telling her she wasn’t good enough or smart enough.” A character believed the lies her husband spoke over her, and is determined not to be that person again. “One of these days I need to stop making excuses for him.” It takes guts to stand up to her husband, and to refuse to be brow-beaten any longer.

You never forget your first love. Although miles from home, there is a chance meeting for a couple who vow never to be parted again.

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The Love Dilemma by Tracy Corbett

Apr19

El Amor No Esperara (Love Won’t Wait)

The Love Dilemma by Tracy Corbett is a beautiful novel about love and family. I absolutely adored it. It’s a most delightful rom-com, and would make a fabulous movie.

The two main protagonists put their sibling’s happiness above their own. Their lives have been one long train of sacrificial love. Their bonds with their respective siblings are unbreakable and beautiful to witness.

Life has dealt blows to both leading characters, putting them both off dating. “If I don’t let anyone close, then they can’t hurt me… it’s safer that way.” They have both walled up their hearts, and far from keeping themselves safe, they have imprisoned themselves. They need to take a chance on love and begin to fully live life. “Life isn’t always easy, and sometimes you have to find the courage to stand up for yourself.”

The younger siblings look to their older sibling as a role model. They copy their behaviour patterns as they mirror what they are shown. “You’ll never convince Connor to be brave if you don’t lead by example.”

We see characters trying to conquer their fears. Deep seated trauma has paralysed lives. Love and care will help them to heal.

One sister has cystic fibrosis. It is a debilitating illness. It curtails lives but the sister is determined to grab life and live it while she can.

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Once Upon A Springtime by Scott R Rezer

Apr13

The Protester & The Soldier

Once Upon A Springtime by Scott R Rezer is a charming contemporary Christian novella that I absolutely loved.

The tale warmed my heart as I read about a God who loves us too much to leave us in our situations. “He just wants us… to come to Him as a child seeking their father.” God is our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally.

Our earthly parents may let us down but God never will. “Regardless of your beginning, you are a miracle of God.” God will never leave us alone. He walks alongside us from the moment of conception to our last breath.

A character has walked away from God. “I learned to hate God for what He did to my family.” Hate is negative. Hate destroys us. God did not do anything to hurt a family. He walked beside each member in their pain. A character finds it easier to blame God than to blame her earthly parents for their lifestyle choices. “Where was He when my sister Clare died?”… “He was standing right beside you.” God walks beside us in our pain, but often our hurt blinds us from ‘seeing’ God.

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