Tag Archive | Rachels Random Resources

Kitty’s War by Eimear Lawlor

Jun23

Powerful

Kitty’s War by Eimear Lawler is a powerful historical novel that I read in just one sitting.

The novel is set in Southern Ireland in 1941. As the tale opens, the leading lady is heading home from the mainland to look after her brother.

We see that German origins can be a curse even though the leading lady has no ties with Germany.

Although Southern Ireland was neutral, the war still touched lives as there were bombing raids and German pilots were shot down. The Germans had all been perceived as evil Nazis but many were just young men with families who missed them.

Catholic Southern Ireland had some harsh and cruel laws for unmarried mothers and homosexual men. There were those who were kind and passed no judgement. It is awful to see how many had to hide their true selves.

Grief is a terrible master. It threatens to sink characters.

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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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The Evacuee’s Secret by Deborah Klee

Jun7

Whispers From The Past

The Evacuee’s Secret by Deborah Klee is a powerful dual timeline novel that I loved. It is the first book in the Secrets Of A Sunken Village series which promises to be fabulous.

The action alternates between World War II and 1965, as we travel from London to a Yorkshire village.

Life in the capitol was difficult, smothering a life. In contrast, life in Yorkshire was freeing. The villagers all pulled together to fight Hitler, and then to fight for the future of the village against the developers.

A young teen in 1942 is evacuated to Yorkshire and spends her formative years here. Bonds made now, will remain. We witness young love, friendships, familial love and a terrible secret that will haunt her forever.

Land girls and a P.O.W. help out on a farm. Their opinions and practical lessons influence the young girl.

In 1965 the lead character is all grown up – and still running from life events. Yorkshire provides a sanctuary once more.

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The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson

May30

Decisions & Consequences

The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson is a most charming contemporary novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is a novel about families and life. Families can be complicated affairs. We meet a mother who has given her whole life to raising her twin boys but now they are in their thirties she is struggling to discover her own identity.

A chance doorstep encounter opens up a whole new life but also a can of worms as there are more questions than answers.

The other lead character is childless but struggling with the sudden loss of her husband. Now she needs to discover who she is as a newly single mother.

We see that some lives just attract others to them. Brief meetings can soon turn into new friendships.

The theme of motherhood is a major one. We see that motherhood is very different in the 1960’s. A young mother struggling with her mental health gets little support. “Back then [1960’s], mental illness was a shameful secret.” She makes a monumental decision that will still be impacting lives in present day. A secret in 1962 is finally unlocked in present day, to the shock of all concerned.

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