The Convict's Wife - Libby Ashworth | Book Review

 Review of Libby Ashworth's book - The Convict's Wife

At a Glance:  

• Title - The Convict's wife  A heart-wrenching and emotional 1800s northern Saga
• Author: Libby Ashworth
• Pages - 352
• Publishers - Canelo Saga
• Format - Paperback / Kindle 
• Publication Date - Jan 20, 2022

Blurb :

Can she keep her family together?

When Molly Holden’s husband, Thomas, is convicted in 1812 of being a Luddite on the word of a secret informer, he is sentenced to be transported to Australia. Left with their baby daughter, Molly must find work to survive.

But the man who informed on Thomas is a former suitor of Molly’s, and Isaac believes that with Thomas out of the way she will return to him…

Yet Molly is determined to join her husband and find a way to pay for passage, all the while trying to stay one step ahead of Isaac’s nefarious interferences. But will it be enough to cross the ocean and be reunited with her beloved Thomas?

My Review :

This was my first read of 2022 and I finished it in one go! I guess that will tell you how absorbing the story is! Historical fiction is another genre that I am getting into and this one was totally enthralling. The story moves between Bolton and Australia as we read about the life and suffering of Thomas Holden and his wife Molly.

The story, which is based on real-life incidences, takes place in 1812 in Bolton. Molly’s husband Thomas is arrested and convicted for being a Luddite. Molly and Thomas’ parents try their best to get him acquitted but it turns out that he is to be deported to New South Wales, Australia.

Molly literally runs from pillar to post to prove that Thomas Holden was wrongly accused. She sells her things, secretly weaves quilts, and even works in the coal mine to give money to Thomas so that he can have better food and clothing in prison. Later she saves money to take a trip across the globe to join her husband but finds out that no matter how much she saves, it's going to be several years before she can have enough to pay for the trip!. Do Molly and Thomas get together? Well, read the book to find out!

Molly is portrayed as a strong woman who would not stop at anything to bring back her husband. Her commitment and love for Thomas are admirable. Molly’s in-laws and her sister Nancy were very supportive and despite their poverty and other circumstances tried to help her.  Issac Crompton was the least favorite character and so is Colonel Fletcher.

Since it is historical fiction based out in the old days in the UK, the language needed a little getting used to but after a few pages, I was totally hooked. The storyline gave a picture of what it was to live in the 1800s. The struggle of the people and how the government dealt with punishment was moving.  The struggle women went through in those days is really heartbreaking.

The author’s note gives us the background for this story and many of the letters in this book are those that Thomas actually wrote to his family and they are still preserved in the Lancashire Record office n Preston. The specialty of the Caddow Quilts that are mentioned in the story is a specialty in the Bolton area. The Wakes Holiday that is mentioned in the book is a Northern celebration and the details are also given.

If you enjoy historical fiction this one is for you. I really liked this book and am looking forward to reading the other works by this author.

About the author:

Libby was born and raised in Lancashire and comes from many generations of mill workers. It was while researching her family history that she realized there were so many stories about ordinary working people that she wanted to tell.

Libby still lives in Lancashire and is passionate about its history. She can trace her direct ancestors back to the village of Whalley in the Middle Ages. Many of her ancestors worked in the cotton industry - first as home-based spinners and handloom weavers, and later in the mills of Blackburn. It is their lives Libby has drawn on to tell her stories.

Libby also writes historical fiction under the name Elizabeth Ashworth.

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Thanks to Love Book Tours and the author for the review copy. 

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Check out the 80+ books that I have reviewed so far on the Book Reviews page and let me know if you see any of your favorites!

Until the next post....

Let Yourself Be Loved | Book Review

 Review of Elizabeth Leon's Book - Let Yourself Be Loved - Big Lessons from a Small Life.

At the fag end of 2021, I came across @LoveBookTours on Instagram and signed up to be a host for the book tours. I am happy to say this is one of the best things that happened last year! I have been accepted as a host for a long list of books and this is my first review!

Let's move on to the book....

At a Glance:  

• Title - Let Yourself Be Loved - Big Lessons from a Small Life
• Author - Elizabeth Leon
• Pages - 210
• Publishers - Koehler Books 
• Format - Paperback / Kindle / Hardcover
• Publication Date - Jan 4, 2022

Blurb :

LET YOURSELF BE LOVED  explores the heart of a mother carrying a baby to term with the certainty of death. Diagnosed with trisomy 18, John Paul Raphael Leon lived only twenty-eight hours and ten minutes. Elizabeth Leon writes with unflinching honesty about the tsunami of grief and the exquisite agony of choosing to live and love in its wake. With vulnerability and courage, she surrenders to God's plan and learns to embrace the fragility of life and the nearness of death. In the depression that follows her son's death, Elizabeth Leon is forced to examine her own brokenness and confront the holy mystery of John Paul Raphael's short and shining life: in the light of faith, our deepest sufferings are an invitation to joy. Let Yourself Be Loved is a road map to find that joy in the shadow of the valley of death

My Review :

This is a heartbreaking story of John Paul Raphael Leon and a mother’s journey through a pregnancy filled with love and anguish.

The author’s 7^th pregnancy at 45 was a cause for concern. She was still recovering from her first marriage and with 5 kids of her own and 4 stepchildren from her second marriage to Ralph; she was plagued by self-doubt and self-rejection. The initial screening and scans were normal but the first trimester tests revealed a one in five chance of the baby having either Trisomy 18 or 13. Babies do not survive this chromosomal defect and either die in the womb or during delivery.

A strong network of friends and family made the pain bearable. Faith in God and prayer for a miracle kept the couple going.  The later scans revealed 5 symptoms consistent with Trisomy 18 which were independently not life-threatening and chances were they would resolve at a later date. But things did not turn out as they hoped.

A professional team answered their questions and cleared their numerous doubts throughout. Several other tests followed. They were not able to a conclusive picture and the parents decided to make decisions based on the course of the pregnancy and the birth of the baby.

After the birth of the baby and then losing it within a day was both the best and the worst that had happened. How she overcame this unbearable loss is what the remaining book is about.

Throughout the book, we can see the fact that a mother’s love for her child is in no way hindered by the child’s defects or deficiencies. She continued her pregnancy despite knowing the outcome. Prayers for a miracle and immense faith in the Lord were what kept the couple going. Elizabeth has candidly shared her journey of loss and how she struggled to come to terms with the grief and rage that followed it.

It is indeed a way to find joy in the shadow of death and the saddest story with the happiest ending!

The cover of the book is simple yet appealing. The language is straight forward and you can feel yourself walking with Elizabeth through every step of her journey. Loved the quotes and affirmations at the start of every chapter.

There are some questions for further reflection at the end of each chapter and also as a compiled list at the end. Resources such as Playlist for child loss and grief, Books and resources for child loss, grief, and Trisomy 18 will be helpful for parents facing similar circumstances.

I did tear up in places and sent up a prayer or two for Little baby John Paul.

 About the Author :

Elizabeth Leon is a Catholic wife and mother from Ashburn, Virginia. She has been a leader in ministry and faith formation for more than twenty-five years and inspires others to find freedom and healing in Christ through her speaking and writing. Her gift is her willingness to be vulnerable and love with a heart wide open despite the brokenness of divorce, adultery, death, and abuse. She and her husband, Ralph, are the parents of ten children-five of hers, four of his, and their son, John Paul Raphael, who died in 2018.

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Check out the 80+ books that I have reviewed so far on the Book Reviews page and let me know if you see any of your favorites!

Until the next post....

Weight Loss - A Sustainable Approach | Book Review

 Review of Pradeep Kumar Pandey's Weight Loss - A Sustainable Approach

At a Glance:  

• Title - Weight Loss - A Sustainable Approach
• Author - Pradeep Kumar Pandey
• Pages - 84
• Publishers - Notion Press
• Format - Paperback / Kindle

Blurb :

Are you someone looking for an effective, flexible, and sustainable fat loss plan? A plan that hits excess body fat with multiple strategies in one clear-cut package? So that you can shed those extra kilos more constructively and keep them off for the rest of your life? 

And are you also looking to improve your sleep quality and follow a healthy lifestyle?

Then, I believe this book will be of substantial help to you—indeed, an invaluable resource!

My Review :

Did you know that sleep is one of the factors that influence weight management? Ever wondered what is the Circadian Rhythm? How beneficial are millets in our diet? Well, the answers to all these and more are in Pradeep Kumar Pandey’s book – Weight Loss – A Sustainable Approach.

I started this book without any clue about the contents. Since there are so many books available on this topic and have read quite a few of them, I was really not sure how the author’s approach would be. But I was pleasantly surprised to see many of the approaches were based on real-life experiences!

The book is divided into 12 simple chapters and each chapter explains the different elements that help in weight management. Sleep, Caffeine, managing insulin spikes, millets, natural fat burners, Choosing the right kind of fat, foods to avoid/minimalize, the author’s special oil, Vitamin D and its cofactor, cravings, managing stress and anxiety are some of the topics that are dealt in this book. Each of the factors has been substantiated with evidence-research papers, book sources, and YouTube videos.

 It is a short book which can be finished in one sitting. The language is simple and the medical/technical terms are explained clearly in layman terms. We get to understand the basics of weight management by taking into consideration the various other factors that one may have overlooked.

As mentioned earlier, the book has practical tips and tricks from the author’s experience in this field. He has also encouraged his wife to try these out and it turned out to be very helpful for her too. All this is a big plus as it gives us the confidence to try them out. The pointers are simple and effective and integrating those into our lifestyle will surely benefit us by reducing lifestyle-related health issues which will, in turn, improve the quality of life.

While there are so many theories and approaches to weight loss, this book deals with a sustainable approach that is not only practical but also one that can be followed with ease and is easy to manage too. Whether or not you lose weight, I am sure you will be able to incorporate all the tips and practical advice and modify your lifestyle.

About the Author :

Pradeep Kumar Pandey is a Bachelor of Engineering graduate and works as a medical transcriptionist. He completed his Diploma in Health, Nutrition, and Weight Loss because he was interested in pursuing a deeper understanding of modern diet- and lifestyle-related health concerns and solutions. A resident of Indore (India), Pradeep has read hundreds of books related to health and fitness, and he has resolved his own health issues such as stubborn belly fat, insomnia, and sleep disorder.

Pradeep decided to write this book when he found sustainable and conclusive approaches to achieving optimum health by weight loss and improvement in sleep. He has been experimenting with various diets and weight-loss strategies and has gained considerable experience from them. He now wants to share his success and learning with his readers. When not working or writing, Pradeep spends his time playing chess, hiking in the mountains, learning about business analytics, and studying strategic charts for trading and investing in stock markets.

Get in touch with the author :

Instagram: er.pradeep.pandey 

e-mail: healthfrat@gmail.com

Thanks to the author, Publisher, and Writer's Melon for the review copy!

Check out the 80+ books that I have reviewed so far on the Book Reviews page and let me know if you see any of your favorites!

Until the next post....

The DOGtrine of Peace – Dr. Manjiri Prabhu | Book Review

 Review of  Dr. Manjiri Prabhu's DOGtrine of Peace –A unique path to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

At a Glance:  

• Title - DOGtrine of Peace –A unique path to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
• Author - Dr. Manjiri Prabhu
• Pages - 288
• Publishers - Readomania 
• Format - Paperback

Blurb :

When two magical beings, decide on a spiritual goal, One with a wagging tail, but both with a unique soul… The way to inner peace lies in our heart…and in the company of dogs. With this belief, Dr. Manjiri Prabhu has poured a lifetime of her work with dogs and her learnings, into a spiritual adventure, The DOGtrine of Peace, a novel blueprint for spiritual awakening and enlightenment. Rich with anecdotes, interviews, and experiences, of dog-lovers, scientists and animal-activists from across the globe, The DOGtrine of Peace is a powerful book of love and compassion for those who seek a unique spiritual path. It provides profound and life-changing Sutras to those with a yearning in their hearts, for those who love humanity, who pursue peace, harmony and truth, and of course for dog lovers and compassionate souls!

My Review

Since last year, I have broadened my reading circle and have been reading more of non-fiction. And this book was something that I enjoyed reading. The author has correlated the way to attain inner peace and spiritual awakening with dogs as the catalyst!!

The book start with ‘An Anonymous Dog’s Prayer’ and proceeds to a short from the Mahabaratha both of which I found endearing.

The book has 2 parts – Dog as a loyal friend and Dog as a spiritual catalyst. The first part is mostly about how the human-canine bond are and the impact it has on the person and also their loyalty.The second part is the unique one where loyal pet helps or guides us towards spiritual awakening by being a catalyst.

The author has emphasized the fact that dogs are a part of our family and for them we are the world. They help us wade through the woes of life and this she speaks through her experiences with the several canine friends! Studies have established that having a pet can lead to a lot of positive health benefits and reduces issues like stress, depression etc. The author has added the pet being a part of the spiritual awakening as well and all the theories proposed is rightly justified. And it is not  too complicated to understand as it is explained in a very simple language.

There are interviews and talks with personalities from all walks of life and each of these tell us how much valued these pets are! Each chapter starts off with a quote and the sketches dotting the book are super cute. There are some simple illustrations as well that explain some of the theories as well as the facts. The cover and the title is so apt for a writing on this subject.

It took 2 days to finish the book as I wanted to assimilate the points and gave it time to sink in.

Do give this book a try even if you are not fond of pets. If you do have pets, then this is a read that will leave you with a warm feeling and you will be able to relate to everything that’s written in the book.

Until next post

2022 Reading Challenges

Like every year in the past years, I am signing up for a couple of reading challenges and here are those that I am looking forward to .These reading challenges take me out of my comfort zone and I am more than happy to explore genres that I have been missing out on.

1. The 52 Book club Reading challenge  - 52 unique prompts that can be intrepreted as you wish! The goal is to read atleast 52 books, new authors, new genres and most of all have fun!!

2. ABC Soup Challenge - As the name suggests, read books for the corresponding alpahbets and fill a bowl of books!

3.Reading 52 books in 52 weeks challange - Yes, 52 books for 52 weeks. Ther are sub themes to get to these numbers but I am just doing the basic challenge.

4. Finishing the series Reading Challenge - To finish the remaining books in a series that was read before 2022. I have a couple of authors I want to read and will update details in a later post.

5. Around the world in books - This is my own challenge, where I want to track the countries visited through the books.

6. New Releases of 2022 - Another one that I am doing to see how many new releases I will be reading this year. I don't have any fixed number as I depend on the books that come in for review this year.

7.New authors  - This is also my own challenge where I want to read atleast 22 new authors this years.

8. Around the clock reading challenge - This is a fun challenge where we have to read a book with number 1- 12 on the title. My list is ready!

Let's see how this goes.

Will update more about these challenges later.

Until next post....