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Month: July 2016

Don’t Tell Anyone (Trager Family Secrets Book 2) by Laurie Boris

July 22, 2016 Charla Review - Submitted

WordsAPlenty received from the author a copy of Don’t Tell Anyone (Trager Family Secrets Book 2) by Laurie Boris in exchange for an honest review.  Ms. Boris is also a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree.

 

It’s difficult to find one’s place in a family, even when born into it as there are always secrets generated, often times by well-meaning parents and siblings.  Then there are those of us who enter into a family through marriage; finding our place is even more difficult as we are not always bound by the same rules but the secrets can be even more devastating.

Such is the case with Liza.  Her first attraction was to Charlie followed up with marriage to Charlie’s brother, Adam.  Mother Estelle disliked Liza in the beginning, not because of the relationships but because she’s a “godless hippie raised by wolves.”  The first secret for Liza is keeping her past relationship details with Charlie from her husband.  Adding to it are the secrets Estelle has been keeping from everyone – how her mother truly died, why she passed her young son Adam off to a neighbor when visiting her mother and even more complicated lies and secrets that slowly become exposed due to Estelle’s cancer ridden body.

This is a very moving and realistic story about families and how they sometimes hurt one another without meaning to; how they come together in tough times and how one handles the different aspects of dying.

This book was very moving and portrayed accurately the emotions and feelings of what I encountered the last month of my father’s life.  I laughed, I cried and I mourned as only a child can for a parent whose stubbornness to protect conflicts with what the child wants or needs.  Laurie Boris has captured the interactions, relationships and feelings of children, parents and family in one book.  Boris portrays the situation via realistic dialog and interactions in a light manner.

The reality of caring for one’s parent is never easy; Boris reveals a well written, sensitive story that will ease some hearts.  The humor in this book is sporadic and in appropriate places; the friends who try to help have their own ideas on how to ease Adam and Liza’s new home life with Estelle is priceless and poignant.

“That’s not going to do anybody any good.  And you know her.  If you nag at her about something she’ll do the opposite, for spite.”

This is a book that will haunt you well after you read the last page.  If you have lost someone or in the process, give this book a read.  It is not only engaging and eye opening, it is subtle and rich with vivid imagery and raw emotions.  It’s not a how-to-deal-with-death book by any means; it is a novel, a story of one family and their struggles to ease their mother’s death while finding their own way through the changes.

“She couldn’t say exactly what happened next.  The voices grew angrier, the taunts sharper, the volley faster.  Adam accused Charlie of something; she knew the tone but couldn’t make out the words.  There were sounds of a struggle. After taking the stairs two at a time, the next thing she saw was her husband’s fist flying toward Charlie’s face.”

The characters are well developed as is the story line.  Boris creates and develops her characters in such a way that each of us can say – that’s my sister or brother or mom or dad or friend.  Boris has also carefully constructed the plot so that her readers can say – yes, I can see mom or dad or grandmother or … doing the same thing!

Boris is a highly creative and sensitive writer leaving the reader wanting more.  She uses rich dialog and vivid imagery to capture the attention of her readers and keeps them engaged.

This is an excellent book.  One that I highly recommend.  WordsAPlenty gives this book a five-star rating with enthusiasm and confidence.

Click here to purchase your copy today.

 

Leave a comment Amazon, Charla White, Don't Tell Anyone, Family Life, Goodreads, Inspirational, Laurie Boris, Literature & Fiction, Trager Family Secrets Book 2, WordsAPlenty

The Runaway Wife by Elizabeth Birkelund

July 7, 2016 Charla Review - Submitted

NOTE:  Release date of this book for purchase will be July 12, 2016.

WordsAPlenty received from the author a copy of The Runaway Wife by Elizabeth Birkelund in exchange for an honest review.

 

In between jobs, dumped by his fiancé and faced with starting all over, Jim Olsen heads off to the Alps with his best friend.  Captivated by the snow covered Alps and the rigorous climbing Jim is relaxed and ready for the next adventure.  His next adventure is served up to him by three gorgeous French sisters – Clio, Thalia and Helene Castellane.  They implore him and his best friend to search for their missing and most likely runaway mother while they return to their everyday existences.

“We want to save Maman not only from the snow but also from her marriage.  Please, let’s give her one last chance to come down the mountain on her own terms and get on with her life.  Give her the option to escape what awaits her if she returns to Father.”

Complications set in – an impending snow storm, a best friend who is far too smart to get trapped in the snow storm and a politician who is also a cheating husband searching for the missing mother, his wife.

Jim continues the climb searching for the missing woman hoping he can find her and beat the storm to safety.  As with all best laid plans, Jim finds the missing woman named Calliope and nothing is ever the same.  During his encounter with this mysterious Calliope Jim goes through an intense period of self-discovery and learns his priorities have changed.  Calliope challenges Jim to think beyond his boundaries and experience all life has to give him.

“When I met you, he said, looking up at the sky, “it was as if my boat had capsized, and I’d hit freezing water.  I slipped into an unknown world and stopped breathing.”

As with all life changing adventures, there is a cost – will Jim be willing to pay it?

Elizabeth Birkelund has carefully woven a romantic and survival adventure around an age old question.  Her story is written in poetically light words that connect the reader to her characters and the story.  Birkelund uses her words and connection to probe the mind of her readers to question themselves.

 “Every night, he thought, transformed a person in a small way, with the dreams and the tossing and turning of thoughts in the rolling water mill of the mind.  Sleep was not a break from life’s continual sweep.  In it, you were still living life, seeing things you would never see come morning, and it could age you as quickly as daytime.”

Birkelund is a masterful crafter of words; carefully weaving her story pulling the reader in and not letting go for days long after the book has been read.  Her use of dialog is wonderful and light.  Her characters are familiar to her readers as each one has some characteristic or flaw we see in our friends and family.  Birkelund’s story is clever and polished.

I recommend this to anyone who loves adventure with a dash of romance.  Beware though – once you begin, you will not put the book down until the end.

WordsAPlenty gives this book a 5 star review!

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment 5 star review, Adventure, Amazon, Charla White, Elizabeth Birkelund, Goodreads, Romance, The Runaway Wife, WordsAPlenty

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Button Nose: The Sad Little Bear by Gina LoBiondo

February 25, 2021 Leave a comment

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February 25, 2021 Leave a comment

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