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The Lost Husband by Shari J Ryan

Aug9

Love Will Not Die

The Lost Husband by Shari J Ryan is a powerful and heartbreaking historical dual timeline novel that consumed me from the start.

The action is set in Amsterdam at the start of World War II, and then moves to Auschwitz in January 1945. Historians will recognise the latter date as the time when the Nazis emptied Auschwitz of all those who were able to walk, to go on a death march, before the Soviets liberated the camp. The story sees the leading characters marching through Poland. Both time periods alternate as the tale is told through the eyes of the leading lady.

We learn about the indomitable human spirit. Despite witnessing her husband die at the hands of the Nazis, the leading lady kept going for the life within. Darkness and despair could not kill the human spirit.

Ending up in Auschwitz, we see the dehumanisation of the people – their names, clothes and hair were taken from them but their humanity remained. “I still see humans. Suffering.” Little acts of kindness, that said ‘I see you’, meant a great deal.

Suffering from dysentery, a character wonders if she hallucinated seeing her husband in a Nazi uniform. She was left “in limbo between grief and a sliver of hope that my eyes had deceived me.” She needed to know. She clung to the hope that what she had seen all those years ago, simply wasn’t the truth.

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House Of Thieves by Rachel Walkley

Aug5

Echoes Down The Centuries

House Of Thieves by Rachel Walkley is an enthralling dual timeline that entertained me from the start.

The action is set in 1812 and present day in a large old house with artefacts looked after by a trust.

As we read, the story unfolds in both periods by the same, single voice – alive in 1812 but walking the corridors, unable to rest, in present day, waiting for her story to be told.

In present day, a character searches for a diary, longing to hear the tale of her family long gone.

A gruesome discovery in the gardens throws up even more questions.

We see that the family’s old money was built up on the abomination that is slavery. They owned a plantation in Barbados.

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The Bookshop Of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright

Jul26

Seek The Light

The Bookshop Of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright is a powerful and compelling Christian dual timeline novel that consumed me from the start.

The action is set in 1888 and in present day in an old house with 99 doors but there is rumoured to be a hundredth door with a portal to another world. Where is it? And what lurks behind it? The narrative in both time periods is similar but different.

Spirits walk amongst us. Characters are searching for answers. They need to put their faith in God and not dabble with the spirits. “Isn’t it safer to reach out to God? Isn’t He the one who created everything? Why give them [spirits] the power over my curiosity when God could have it?” We need to put our trust in God for He is good. Spirits can be meddlesome, and once we open the door, there is no telling who will come in or what they will do. “Even God warns us not to summon the spirits.”

Pray against the spirits, and pray to God. “Her prayers were stilted, her faith uncertain, but when she finished, Millie felt better.” Prayer connects us with God. He renews our minds when we focus on Him.

We meet troubled minds within the book. They have been dabbling in medication which is addictive. Terrible things were seen in the American Civil War. “The war may be over… but it is not silenced.” Minds were broken. “He had seen enough evil… to convince him that if God existed, then God had turned a blind eye to humanity and given them free reign to war against one another.”

It is easy to believe that God has abandoned us but God walks beside us whether we ‘feel’ Him or not. “When you have nothing left… He [God] is all you can rely on.” We can trust God at all times.

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River Of Stars by Georgina Moore

Jul23

Island Women

River Of Stars by Georgina Moore is a very charming and heartfelt dual timeline novel that I loved.

The action is set in the 1960’s moving forwards, and also in present day. We see events through the eyes of mainly the two Star women – a grandmother and her granddaughter, plus a few other points of view.

They all live on an island with the river Thames running through it. The island feels like a character in its own right. It ‘calls’ to people. There is a duty of care to preserve the past whilst planning for the future but also taking care of the rich heritage of the island.

The island encourages creativity. There has been a vibrant music scene, nature and artists flourish too. Alternative life styles call out the best in people. The island offers a vibrant life in contrast to the stifling cities of London and New York.

Two main families have inhabited the island – there have been friends and feuds – but ultimately the present generation are about preservation and conservation. New life in all its forms will be fruitful on the island.

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