Come Tomorrow

By

Tess Thompson

"To love someone as much as they love each other is a great gift. Even when parted, the love remains." This is such a profound quote from Come Tomorrow that perfectly describes true love in the story. Tess Thompson has brought another heartwarming, tear jerking, all over the emotional spectrum novel in my favorite genre, historical fiction. She has such a talent to draw the reader right into the story from the first paragraph and doesn't let them go until the touching last page. Come Tomorrow is such a feel-good story and what an amazing beginning to a Christmas holiday series.

I love Tess Thompson's characters. Wesley, Luci and Sadie were so easy to connect to and become a part of the story with them. At the beginning of the story my emotions were pulled to tears and my heart broke for them. Ms. Thompson's main characters are so endearing and they wrapped themselves around my heart in ways that made me feel the emotions they were going through. Even Atlas/Gus, the faithful and loyal dog, pulled my heartstrings. She creates word stories in her books. Stories that draw you in and make you feel. She puts the reader into the lives of her characters in such a deep and involved way that you fall in love with them completely.

The story of Luci and Wesley brings with it unexpected surprises, drama, heartbreak and doubts. It's also filled with hope, love, and forgiveness. Ms. Thompson's writing brings all these things together with her storytelling talent in a book I couldn't put down. Her stories are from her heart, filled with scenes that are written with details that create perfect images in my mind. I was 100% into this book and couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the next book in this exciting new Castaway series. What an excellent beginning novel.

I loved going to the little town of Castaway with these characters and spending time there. The magic of the snow globe and meaning was so touching. I highly recommend shaking the "snow globe" of the pages in this novel and be mesmerized by the story that settles into your heart.

I want to thank Ms. Thompson for the privilege and honor of reading another superb book. I loved it! All thoughts and opinions in this review are my heartfelt own.

 

The Irish Storm

By

J. Walter Ring

There is so much to why I love historical fiction and The Irish Storm is one more reason I do. I learn so much about a time gone by in the details written into a novel and Mr. Ring has given great attention to details in this book. It starts out with an engrossing and intense first chapter. The action never stops throughout the book. The story is based on Mr. Ring's own Irish heritage and adds to the fascination of the historic facts.

This novel is highly researched and the characters are intricately developed. As the story starts out with Sergeant Emerson "Bud" Ryan in the trenches of Ronssay, France, I was pulled into the setting and experience of being in a war trench. It was brutal and harsh in those conditions. Mr. Ring puts the reader right into the scenes. He also has great dialogue between the characters that drew me into their inner turmoils, feelings, and gut wrenching choices.
I can't imagine how difficult it would have been to choose between family and country. He weaves in a love story that makes the novel even more heart wrenching but humanistic.

My husband and I both read the book. We found it rich in history, rich in character connection and development, and rich in how much people will sacrifice for their country and families. We are so grateful and honored to have read this impressive story from Mr. Ring's own family history. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my heartfelt own. 

                                         Goodbye, Orchid

By

Carol VanDenHende

When I open a novel and the first pages are a "gotcha" like the pages of Goodbye, Orchid, I know I'm in for an exceptional read. Oh, my gosh! Is this ever one of those books! I have a book hangover from such an amazing story written with intricate details and emotional passages that took my heart and tore it to pieces. I find myself almost speechless trying to form words for a review. Wow! How Ms. VanDenHende took me into the emotional depths of her characters is beyond description. This is the story of Phoenix and Orchid. Perfect and ambitious Phoenix. Gentle and sweet Orchid. Just like the beautiful cover of this book and the shattering orchid, would these characters lives break into pieces and will they find a way to put their lives back together? I couldn't tear myself away from the pages. This was more than a casual read, this was an experience. One that touched me so deeply and even personally.

There are no guarantees in life and in an instant, everything can change. Phoenix's life is forever changed because of a devastating accident. The trauma he experiences is brutal physically and emotionally. What Ms. VanDenHende created in this story is a masterpiece in human resilience. It's not easy, pretty or quick. Sometimes deep and dark. But it's possible to rise from the ashes. She masterfully and meticulously takes the reader into the depths of Phoenix's recovery and his feelings for Orchid, through various stages. Not only the physical but the mental stages as well. There are so many emotions that were pulled out of me through her characters. Each character written with purpose and depth. I'm in awe of her talent and her exceptional ability to put me in the pages like she did. I especially appreciate her compassion for what these traumatic injuries do to people. This is a story that will be in my heart for a very long time.

This is an amazing read! My review is so inadequate for how powerful and emotional this book is. It was unputdownable from the first compelling page to the last touching words. Yes, Phoenix and Orchid expanded my heart. I want to thank Ms. VanDenHende for the honor of reading her story that so sincerly came from her heart and from the inspiration of combat wounded veterans. This is an extraordinary novel! One of the best I've read this year. It's so worth much more than five stars! This is my honest and heartfelt review of a book that ranks as one of my top 5 this year.