Tag Archive | Rachels Random Resources

Take Me Home by Beth Moran

Oct15

Learning To Live Again

Take Me Home by Beth Moran is a delightful contemporary novel that warmed my heart and made me smile.

The novel is about friendship and love. The fragrance of love wafts over the whole novel. It is a love between friends that brings out the best in each other. It is a love that looks for goodness. It is a love that builds up and doesn’t tear down. It is a love that gives strength and encouragement to others, helping them to live abundantly free.

A character is suffering from a trauma that has held her captive for years. She has hidden from the world, never getting close to anyone for fear that they would leave. A locked-up heart is free from new hurts but cocooned in old pain. The locks need to be severed and a character needs to learn to take a chance on love and begin to live again.

We see the hurt that so-called family members inflicted on a life – literally and figuratively locking a character up and damaging her for decades.

We see a love that does not die. The years pass but the love remains.

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Singles & Spice by Elaine Spires

Oct15

Vibrant, Colourful, Fun

Singles And Spice by Elaine Spires is a delightful contemporary novel. It is the second book in the Singles series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time as I joined the characters on a package tour to India. Elaine Spires writes with passion, knowledge and enthusiasm as the sights and sounds of India came to life. I could almost ‘see’ the vibrancy of the colours, ‘smell’ the spices and ‘feel’ the heat. My senses were assaulted in a good way.

All the characters were well drawn and realistic. They were an eclectic mix of various ages, mainly over the age of fifty, and varying personalities. There were both seasoned travelers and newbies.

We witness the patience needed to be a tour guide as well as the ability to deal with all sorts of problems.

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Charlotte’s Snowman by Lainey Dee

Oct12

Simply Beautiful

Charlotte’s Snowman by Lainey Dee is an absolutely charming tale for the under fives.

It is simply written, enabling young children to easily follow along.

We see the excitement that a snowfall brings and are shown how to build a snowman. But this is no ordinary snowman – read the book to find out why. Capture the wonder on a young child’s face.

It is important to share what we have, care for others and to also look after ourselves.

We learn that sometimes things fade away but we are left with memories as they live on in our hearts.

Charlotte’s Snowman is beautifully and simply illustrated by Sarah-Leigh Wills. The pictures appeal to all with big, open smiling faces.

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The House Keeper by Valerie Keogh

Oct10

Atmospheric & Gripping

The House Keeper by Valerie Keogh is an absolutely gripping contemporary psychological suspense that I just could not put down.

It was very atmospheric. It employed techniques from the Gothic tradition with an isolated, long forgotten house. The hairs on my head definitely rose at times, especially on the moonless nights when the action ramped up. The house became a character in its own right as it refused to yield its secrets.

All the characters were well drawn and realistic. An air of suspicion and mistrust wafted over many as I wondered just who was hiding what? Whispers in the night and huddled secrets need to come out.

Guilt and grief surrounded a newly widowed character. She felt burdened and was hiding a guilty secret. All was not as it seemed.

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