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ClareR (6256 KP) rated Two Steps Forward in Books

Mar 30, 2018

Two Steps Forward

Anne Buist, Graeme Simsion | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

7.7

(3 Ratings)

Book Rating

I feel like a walk....

Zoe's husband has died suddenly in LA, Martin has recently gone through an acrimonious divorce in England. They both find themselves on the Camino de Santiago, a 2,000km pilgrimage, in order to find themselves (or in Martins case, to see a walking cart!). They meet a lot of new friends and, of course, each other. I rally didn't think I'd like this, but I was hooked after the first couple of chapters. I think the details about the walking and accommodation at the start rally helped to set the scene. The scenery was beautifully described, and I really liked all of the characters (even the seemingly unlikeable ones).
There's loads of humour, I laughed a lot, and near the end I found myself becoming quite emotional.
The start may have been slow, but it gathered momentum, and I really felt as though the pace drew me in to the story.
A thoroughly enjoyable book!
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this!

Kudos

Sue (5 KP) rated Jasmine in Books

Aug 13, 2018

Recently divorced Jasmine feels like she has failed everyone; her husband, her kids, and herself. Her ex-husband left her for a younger model, her daughter blames her for the divorce & won’t speak to her, and her son broke his leg as a call for attention.

While making a new friend, a mistake made at a women’s shelter leaves Jasmine in danger and doubting her safety. She seeks the help and guidance of her bible study group the Planted. As she finds a new job and perspective in life, Jasmine is brought closer to God and those she loves.

This is the fifth book in the Christian suspense series, Planted Flowers. As with the other books in the Planted series, this is more than just a book of mystery and romance. The underlining story has to do with finding faith, strength, understanding, and support while gaining a deeper relationship with God and his teachings.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Kudos

Sue (5 KP) rated The Art of Healing in Books

Aug 13, 2018

Julianne has been betrayed by the person she loved. She was in the dark that her husband Clay was no longer happy in the marriage and is blindsided to come home to a completely empty home. Because of her Catholic upbringing, she is in no hurry to divorce but after encountering the woman Clay left her for, she realizes she has no choice.

Jokob has lost the love of his life to cancer. He doesn’t know how to go on without her, so he spends his time immersed in his work as a photographer.

Julianne and Jokob meet at an exhibit of his photography and begin a friendship that starts to turn into much more.

The Art of Healing is a story of two individuals that have found love, encountered loss, and been dealt with great hardship. It is more than a love story or romance novel, but instead a look into the lives of Julianne and Jokob and how they work at healing deep wounds. Can they find love again?

Kudos

ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Middle Years in Books

Apr 17, 2020

The Middle Years

Liz Fraser | 2020 | Biography, Humor & Comedy

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

The Middle Years is a handbook to surviving life as the parent of teenagers. The first half of the book is funny and engaging, telling it how it really is (hormones etc) to be the parent to preteens and teens, and I really enjoyed it. It was lighthearted, and more serious where it needed to be.

However in the second half of the book, it takes a darker turn, and talks about the authors divorce, mental health issues, guilt of divorcing and the effects this hound have had on her children. To be honest, if I’d known it was going to take this turn, there’s a high possibility that I wouldn’t have read it at all. I’ve had enough personal experience of parents divorcing to last me a lifetime without reading about it. It just seemed very bitter.

I DID enjoy the first half though, which is why I’ve given it a 3/5 (or 6/10, however you want to look at it!).

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book.