Tag Archive | Julianne MacLean

A Storm Of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean

Sep8

Stunningly Beautiful

A Storm Of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean is an absolutely delightful dual timeline novel that will educate you as you read.

The novel revolves around the little-known Alaskan earthquake in the 1960’s. It was a catastrophic event for a seaboard town and one I had not heard of. We see the beauty in nature and also the dangers of the natural world.

As the story opens, the reader is in the middle of the quake. It is both an exciting and utterly terrifying place to be. Julianne MacLean draws us in with her descriptions as we witness the all-round devastation. My pulse rose and I wanted to read on.

The action is set in two different time periods – 1964 and 2017 – it is told in the form of memories and also present-day events. A family links the two time periods.

Within both time periods there are parallel themes of love and loss, infidelity and faithfulness. We see how people were judged and shunned in the past for what we now see is acceptable today (thank goodness). Judgement from others causes much unhappiness. We should look at our own lives and keep our noses out of what does not concern us.

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These Tangled Vines by Julianne MacLean

Apr17

The Greatest Gift

These Tangled Vines by Julianne MacLean is the most delightful dual timeline novel about love and family.

The novel is set in 1986 and 2017 and is seen through the eyes of a mother and her daughter. There have been secrets kept but now it is time to learn the truth about the summer of 1986.

Julianne MacLean has a colourful palette of words which she uses to vividly paint the Tuscan landscape. The reader can ‘see’ the vibrant countryside through her words. We ‘feel’ the soaring heat and ‘smell’ the aromatic food and drink. These Tangled Vines is a wonderful assault on our senses.

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A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean

Aug1

Greater Love Hath No Man

A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean is a marvelous dual timeline story of love and courage in times of war. It is a novel that will both thrill and horrify as the reader journeys through lives that loved and lost and that lost and found. It is a book that made me cry as the love reached out beyond the pages and into my heart.

The greatest love of all is a sacrificial love. Within the story there are many instances of sacrificial love but one will pale all others into oblivion.

The action alternates between 2011 and the World War II years. It is set in London, continental Europe and present day America. The story is told from several points of view. The reader is in for a real treat as we see love in action.

Life deals us blows, leaving us feeling guilty and with regrets. We must deal with our past if our future is to be rosy.

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A Curve In The Road by Julianne MacLean

Aug1

Beautiful, Emotional Overdrive

A Curve In The Road by Julianne MacLean is a contemporary novel that deals with grief, betrayal and learning to live again. I read it in just one sitting. It was totally beautiful and heart wrenching. Tissues were needed as my emotions were shot to pieces.

Julianne MacLean writes novels that go straight to the heart. Her characters are realistic and likable. Dealing with grief is complex. We go through a range of emotions. “I’m so angry… Yet I can’t bear his absence.” Anger is normal. We hate the person for leaving us to cope alone. “Part of me wishes he were alive so I could kill him myself.” This paradox is totally understandable – in our hurt and pain we just want to lash out but really all we want is the arms of our loved one around us again. Grief stinks. We just need to work our way through it in whatever way we can.

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