Archive | October 2021

Voices From The Past – The Girl by Elizabeth Uywin

Oct27

Peace In Our Time

Voices From The Past – The Girl by Elizabeth Uywin is the second book in the Voices From The Past trilogy. It focuses on the years 1938-1940.

As the dates suggest, England is heading towards war even as ‘peace in our time’ is celebrated. Life continues but everyone is aware that now is the time to grab little pockets of happiness. “If happiness calls, you must give it a comfortable seat – before it’s too late.”

Despite their poverty, Londoners are a proud people with appearances being everything. Pregnancies in a single girl are frowned upon by some, whilst being welcomed by others.

Mary Cole is back home but only for a short time as children are evacuated with the declaration of war. Memories of Reedham orphanage loom large in Mary Cole’s mind and she fears what lies ahead. Some children did have a bad experience and the reader reads with in trepidation as to what lies ahead. Evacuees heading to Brighton meet a Salvation Army officer who declares “our house is as large as God’s mansion when it comes to His work.” He is clearly operating as the hands and feet, the eyes and ears of Jesus.

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Voices From The Past – The Baby by Elizabeth Uywin

Oct27

Powerful And Heart-Breaking

Voices From The Past – The Baby by Elizabeth Uywin is a powerful and heart-wrenching tale based on the real life of Mary Cole born in the East End of London in 1924. It is the first of a trilogy.

The reader instinctively likes Mary Cole. We meet her as she emerges from the womb. She almost seems like an invisible baby to all but her brother Roy (whom she calls Roysty) and he adores her. Their bond is beautiful. Your heart will swell as you witness their love, and there are times when your heart will break too.

The Cole family live in poverty. Love was chosen over inheritance. What they lack in wealth, they more than make up in love. It is this love that reaches from the pages of the book to envelop the reader.

God is at the heart of lives. “ ‘Thank you’ he whispered to his ever hearing, ever listening God.” It is not uncommon for the vicar to just drop in on the family… although it seems as much for a high tea as for spiritual welfare.

There is much loss in the novel including that of grief. “I’ve got to keep working… if I stop, I think, and when I think, I cry.” The pain radiates outwards. Your heart will break for the characters.

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Dead Mercy by Noelle Holten

Oct26

A Thrilling Read

Dead Mercy by Noelle Holten is a marvellous contemporary crime suspense. It is the fifth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Wow! – this was a nail-biting, thrilling read that I just could not put down.

The action is told from the point of view of both the perpetrator and the police. The reader ‘hears’ the voice of the criminal so we know why the crimes are being committed. We now have to work out the ‘who’.

The whole novel was well planned and executed. It would make a fabulous Netflix series. The reader becomes completely embroiled in the plot. We witness the police trying to piece the crimes together as they look for motive. We also ‘see’ the perpetrator planning and executing crimes on a countdown. As the clock is ticking, our heart rates are rising.

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Picture Imperfect by Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger

Oct23

Following Your Dream

Picture Imperfect by Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger is the most delightful contemporary Christian novel focusing on hope.

We all have dreams. Our dreams give us hope. We need to follow our own dreams and not impose our dreams on the lives of others to follow. Our dream is the pathway for us alone. We are all unique. When God places a dream on our heart even though the road may be rocky at times, we will not fail. “When God opens a door, you don’t ask questions. You just walk through it.” God opens doors that no man can shut.

Hope is a powerful thing. Without it, the people will perish. “The greatest hope could be found in everyday lives.” Hope keeps us alive, whether it is in the big or the small things. We need to hold on to hope.

The novel shows characters whose lives revolve around work. “I was so focused on building the perfect life…that I forgot to spend time with the people… I was doing it all for.” We may be so busy working that when we look up, we find that life has passed us by and we have missed those milestone moments with our families.

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