Rizpah: one mother's grief and unfailing vigilance

Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare. It seems to be against the natural order of things for a child to die before a parent. And most parents are always prepared to go first. It doesn’t always work that way. Rizpah was a concubine of King Saul and mother of two sons. She would face a parent's worst nightmare. What many would think would destroy any mother, Rizpah displayed great courage and loyalty after the death of her sons. She couldn’t stop the political games that would take their lives but she was determined to protect them after death. What were the events that led to her sons’ deaths? What were her motivations for her vigil? What lessons can we take away from her story? Her brief story is told in 2 Samuel 21:1-14. 

She watches from a hill as seven men are executed. Among the dead are her two sons. Executed for their father’s crimes. Their bodies left to rot on the hillside. Her grief is intensified as her sons are “ritually slaughtered in a shocking episode that is part human sacrifice and part sanctioned execution” (Smith and McCreary). Rizpah prepares to sit and wait. Why were these men executed? In Joshua 9:16-20, Joshua had promised peace with the Gibeonites but King Saul did not keep that promise as he had many murdered. Possibly in an attempt to annihilate them. The Gibeonites asked King David for seven of Saul’s male offspring as retribution (2 Samuel 21:6). They asked the men be killed and exposed before the Lord. David agreed. Scriptures don’t say if these men shared in Saul’s guilt, their own guilt may have been as Saul’s male descendants. Rizpah began her vigil. She sits for several months from the month of Nissan (March/April) to Tishrei  (September/October), only moving to keep the scavenger animals from the bodies. Her vigil moves King David who collected the bones of these men as well as the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan and saw that they were given a proper burial. 

Losing a child is a unique sorrow. There is nothing that can compare to this grief. The love of a grieving mother is a force to be reckoned with. A force so powerful that nothing can stand in its way. Rizpah is an example of a mother’s love and devotion. She would spend six months by her sons’ side. She would fight off the birds and other animals from defiling her sons’ bodies. Did she even question the wisdom of her actions? Did she think anyone would care? Or did she only think that her sons’ were there and so would she? When I think of Rizpah never leaving her sons’ side, I think of another mother who is a portrait of motherly devotion. In the 1989 movie, Steel Magnolias, M'Lynn Eatenton (played by Sally Field) never leaves her daughter’s side, as she lay comatose.  She is also the last to leave the gravesite after the funeral. Rizpah also serves as an example of a shmirah. In Jewish tradition, shmirah is a guardian who stays with a body from the time of death to the time of burial (Katz, 2016). Psalms would be read and prayers offered as the body is prepared for burial. Rizpah serving as a shimirah shows us that bodies are not just a pile of bones and flesh when they die. They are still people. They are still someone’s parent, child, a loved one worthy of care. 

Grief is a strange journey that many of us are not prepared for. Grief for a child is the loneliest and most bleak journey one hopes to never take. Through Rizpah’s silent grieving, we see a powerful testimony to a mother’s pain, love and courage (Smith and McCreary). Her consistency and tenacity to never give up is a testament to the power of a mother’s love. It is also a lesson that God can turn our most painful moments into our greatest triumphs (Smith and McCreary). As Rizpah grieved her sons, her devotion moved King David to do the right thing for these men and give them a proper burial. She is an image of grief with grace and dignity. She may have received pity as people observed her on that hillside for six months. Maybe she received ridicule as well. It most likely didn’t matter to Rizpah. What mattered was her sons were there and needed protection. For many bereaved parents, grief is a pendulum that swings from intense fresh feelings to almost feeling normal again with no warning when it would swing again. It is a constant balancing act of grief and happiness. Did Rizpah ever feel happy again? We don’t know. As quietly as she entered this story, she left to live out her life, hopefully in peace that she fought for her sons in death the way she couldn’t fight in life. 

Rizpah’s story is one of grief and determination to protect one’s children. It is devastating for a parent when a child dies. It does not matter if that child was young or an adult on his or her own, it is a loss that parents aren’t prepared for. For six months, Rizpah stood vigil at her sons’ bodies, fighting for them the way she couldn’t fight in life.. Her dedication moves King David to give the men a proper burial. Despite the political motivations behind their deaths, they were still someone’s loved one. Rizpah’s story is a reminder of that especially today of political discord. When someone who is disliked has died, the ugly and cruel comments fly and people will forget that despite someone’s political commentary, they had loved ones who are mourning their loss. 

References

Katz, Ariana (December 12, 2016) Rizpah, Guardian of the Dead. Death and the Maiden. https://deadmaidens.com/2016/12/12/rizpah-guardian-of-the-dead/ Retrieved January 24, 2022. 

Smith, Rev. Terry Ann, Ph.D and McCreary, Rev. Micah L, Ph.D. (no date). Rizpah: Tragedy into Triumph. Faithward. https://www.faithward.org/rizpah-turning-tragedy-into-triumph/. Retrieved January 24, 2022. 

Black Cake: a moving story of betrayals, secrets and memories

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is the story of two estranged siblings who must set aside their differences to deal with their mother’s sudden death. Bryon and Benny Bennett will soon learn that there was more to their mother than they ever knew. After their mother’s death, they learn she left them a voice message, sharing her past, a past she kept hidden from everyone. Her request is that after they hear her message, they sit down when the time is right and share the last black cake she has ever made, made from a family recipe steeped in tradition. Eleanor’s story begins with a headstrong young swimmer in the Caribbean who escapes under a cloud of suspicion. Together, brother and sister learn their mother’s heartbreaking tale filled with the secrets she has held, and would challenge everything they thought they knew about their mother and even themselves. Will Eleanor’s story bring them together once again? Or would the revelations prove to be too much and separate them permanently? 

This moving story of a family inheritance is so beautifully written that it's hard to fathom that it is a debut novel. Ms. Wilkerson writes a story so intricate and powerful that the reader is taken on a journey of how one family is forever changed by the choices of the generation before. It is a story of betrayals, secrets, and memories. Black Cake reminds the readers that while we cannot choose what we inherit, we can choose who we become. There are many characters with many shifts in timelines and points of view that can get confusing if one is not reading close. I enjoyed the family saga aspect of the story with the emphasis on food and the memories it can invoke. However, there were too many topics covered in terms of cultural, social and political issues that it, at times, bogged down the story. The use of foreshadowing and the element of surprise was overused that a pattern emerged that when a twist was revealed, it wasn’t much of a surprise. Some I figured out almost as soon as another person was introduced in the story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Black Cake and would highly recommend it. 

Black Cake is available on February 1 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Runaway: a deeper look into the people behind historical events

The Runaway is the second book in the Legacy of Love series by Melanie Dobson. In 1850, as the Fugitive Slave Act is about to be signed in law, Anna Brent is a Quaker woman in Indiana who secretly hides runaway slaves in her home. Just one station in the network known as the Underground Railroad. Her work requires the utmost secrecy with code names and unique signals to identify each other. Daniel Stanton is a local newspaper editor who doesn’t shy away from his abolitionist views. When Anna’s work with the Railroad is threatened, can she trust Daniel to help ensure the safety of the slaves she cares so much for? Will Daniel be able to put his words into action? 

The Legacy of Love is a series of historical romance novels based on courageous people and significant events that wove together the rich tapestry of America's freedom and faith. The Runaway is a great look into a piece of history that we learn about in school but often leaves out the personal stories. Ms. Dobson offers a personal portrait of these faceless, unsung heroes of history. She doesn’t shy away from the horrors and dangers these individuals faced along the Railroad. I enjoyed Anna. As I read, I asked myself would I have the same courage to do what Anna does for her fellow man? I highly recommend The Runaway as well as the other books in the Legacy of Love series. 

The Runaway is available in paperback and eBook. 

The Scandal: a twisted tale of what happens behind the perfect façade

The Scandal by Nicola Marsh is a psychological thriller where appearances are deceiving. Marisa Thurston has been searching to fill the missing pieces of her life since her twin girls left home for college. Her sprawling mansion used to be home to laughter and the chaos of childhood but not any more and she is desperate to fill the silence. Coffee with her best friends is one thing she looks forward to. Claire, Elly and Marisa are as different as they can be. Each with their own secrets, secrets they are desperate to keep from seeing the light of day. When Jodi, a pregnant girl, turns up at Marisa’s doorstep, Marisa is quick to come to her aid. But Jodi’s arrival seems to push everyone’s secrets and lies to the surface. The father of Jodi’s baby is someone the women know very well. What lengths will someone go to protect their secret? 

Nicola Marsh has made a name for herself as a master of the psychological thriller. When you read one of her thrillers, you can expect twists, turns and red herrings that will keep you guessing and on your toes until the very end. The Scandal is one of her first psychological thrillers with a final twist that left me gasping! I didn’t particularly care for any of the women. These women are friends by association only as they are reluctant to share anything deep with each other. Marisa is the perfect wife for her executive husband but she’s a bit of a prude. At one point, in an internal monologue, she is disgusted that her husband can be ready for sex day or night. I read that like okay? What man isn't? Seriously? Overall, I enjoyed the story. I’ve learned, as I’ve read Ms. Marsh’s other thrillers, that appearances are very deceiving and she will keep you guessing until the very end. I recommend The Scandal! 

The Scandal is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.

The Upside of Falling Down: what good could come from a life falling apart?

The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane is a story of self-discovery. For Clementine Haas, finding herself is more than just a cliché notion. After she wakes up in an Irish hospital with complete amnesia, self-discovery is more a survival mission. They tell her she’s the sole survivor of a plane crash. They tell her she is lucky to be alive but she doesn’t feel lucky. She feels confused and lost. With the relentless press desperate for her story and a father on his way, one she might not recognize, she’s desperate to escape. Clementine becomes Jane and enlists the help of a blue-eyed stranger to help her escape the hospital and her forgotten life. Kieran O’Connell is doing some hiding of his own as he helps the helpless Jane and takes her to Waterville, Ireland. As their lies grow, so does their affection for each other. Will she regain her memory? Could there be an upside to her life falling apart? 

The Upside of Falling Down was suggested to me and the premise intrigued me. From the opening chapter, the reader struggles with Clementine as she is desperate to regain who she is. It is a story filled with secrets, lies and the discovery of who you really are. A story about facing your fears in order to gain our freedom and starting over. I enjoyed Clementine/Jane very much. The banter between her and Kieran is great and sweet. Even their romance seems to be unlikely but added flair to her dilemma. I also enjoyed her interaction with the colorful cast of characters she meets in the sleepy Irish village from the Jane Austen loving Clive to the ornery Siobhan. The story was engaging and engrossing as Clementine slowly regains who she is but wants to hold on to her new found life. I was surprised at the truth that Kieran was hiding. I highly recommend The Upside of Falling Down. 

The Upside of Falling Down is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Girl in the Corner: when it's time to step out of the shadows

The Girl in the Corner by Amanda Prowse is a story of one woman’s journey to discover the life she wants but is it the one she already has? Rae-Valentine and Howard were childhood sweethearts. A relationship orchestrated by his loud and vivacious sister, Dolly. They celebrate 25 wonderful years of marriage when Howard drops a bombshell that leaves Rae questioning everything she knows about her husband, their marriage and even about herself. Heartbroken, Rae takes Dolly with her on what should have been a romantic anniversary trip to Antigua. As they drink, dance and talk like old times, Rae realizes that her choices weren’t made by her, they were made for her. Is she really the pushover everything sees her as? As Howard comes looking for a reconciliation, Rae has a choice to make: keep the peace as she always has and is expected to or will she put herself first and rock the boat for the first time in her life? 

Amanda Prowse certainly has a talent to bring a difficult situation to light and make it relatable. The Girl in the Corner is a moving story about one woman’s realization that she has always been there for her family but questions have they really been there for her? Rae has always been the shy, dependable one in her family and when she met Dolly, her polar opposite, in high school, she wanted to be like her. Thirty years later, she is still the quiet, dependable one. When the facade in her life suffers a crack, she questions who am I? I related the most to Rae. The shy, dependable one who stepped in when something needed to be done, usually before someone asked. And like Rae, I too had to learn to stand up and say “no,” although it is still hard sometimes. Overall, I enjoyed Rae and her journey. The supporting characters played their roles well and added to the complexity of the story. I recommend The Girl in the Corner. 

The Girl in the Corner is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Breakfast at the Beach House Hotel: sometimes a second chance comes in the most unlikely places

Breakfast at the Beach House Hotel by Judith Keim is the first book in the Beach House Hotel series. It is a story of two unlikely friends who go into business together and find the chance to start over. After Ann Rutherford’s husband dumps her for his much-younger receptionist, she finds herself without a home and a job. The usually quiet and reserved Ann is no match for Rhonda DelMonte, her polar opposite. Rhonda is flashy and bossy. Together, they go into business together, renovating the Beach House Hotel. As they struggle to get their business off the ground, they face each challenge with confidence and a little bit of luck. Their luck certainly changes when they have the chance to host The Sins of the Children soap opera cast and crew as they film a few episodes there. For Ann, the boon becomes complicated when she falls for Vaughn Sanders, the sexy star of the show. While still dealing with her ex-husband, her daughter and a man out to destroy her business, can Ann take a chance on love too? 

I picked up Breakfast at the Beach House Hotel after hearing Judith Keim in an interview. I like discovering new authors and series. Unfortunately, this story fell flat for me. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters. It is a story of women in their 40s but act like teenagers in a high school drama with the constant rumors and false rumors circling around them. Ann’s daughter is supposed to be a sophomore in college and yet acts like a child. Also the story occurs in about a year and they go from struggling to get the hotel up and running to being THE spot for VIPs. It just seems a bit unrealistic. Plus the language used during the love scenes was a bit cringey. At one point, I laughed like no one talks like that! Overall, this book was not the story for me and I doubt I will continue the series. However, if the story does sound appealing to you, I recommend you give it a try. Even though it didn’t relate to me, it might relate to someone else. 

Breakfast at the Beach House Hotel is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Lucky List: one summer can change your life

The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott is a coming of age story about healing and self-discovery. Emily and her mom were always lucky. Anything they did or touched seemed to bring them good fortunes. Until her mom’s luck ran out. Three years ago, her mom lost her battle with cancer and nothing felt right to Emily again. During the summer before her senior year, things are worse than ever. Emily ruined things with her boyfriend, Matt, and she and her dad have to move from her childhood home. The only person she has to talk to is Blake, a girl she hasn't seen since they were little. When cleaning out her mom’s closet, Emily finds a list. Her mom’s senior year summer bucket list and Blake challenges her to do the list herself. With Blake’s help, Emily sets out to tick off each item and face the fears that have been holding her back. Can she find the lost connection with her mom while moving forward in her life? Does she have the courage to accept the new path her life has taken? 

The Lucky List is a sweet, heartfelt young adult novel about discovery. Discovery about yourself and discovery about loved ones who have gone. It is a story about being yourself regardless of the opinions of others. I enjoyed the main theme of the story of grief. It is obvious that Emily had not worked through her grief and her dad’s determination to seemingly erase her mother’s memory only hurts Emily more. While I have not lost my mother, I understood her grief as reminders of her mother were everywhere in their small-town. It is a fairly easy read with a few plot twists that wasn’t really a surprise, especially if the reader is reading closely. I enjoyed that Emily was learning about her mom as a person rather than just her mom. I enjoyed the aspects of high school drama. I also appreciated that Ms. Lippincott didn’t overplay the drama. It was there as an aspect of the story but it didn’t overwhelm it. Overall, I enjoyed the story and if you enjoy reading young adult novels, I recommend The Lucky List. 

The Lucky List is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook. 

The Sugar Queen: a story of second chances for love and happiness

The Sugar Queen by Tess Thompson is the first book in the Emerson Pass Contemporaries series. At eighteen, Brandi Vargas watched the love of her drive away, never to return. Though she and Trapper Barnes dreamed of a life together, she felt she would only be in the way of his dreams. Breaking his heart, and her own while holding onto a secret, she resigned herself to a life in the small town. Ten years later, after an injury ends his professional hockey career, Trapper Barnes returns to Emerson Pass. Brandi now owns the local bakery, The Sugar Queen, and has seemingly forgotten all about him. As with small towns, it is hard to avoid each other, and soon tragedy forces Brandi to confront her past and the need to reveal her secret. A secret she is certain will end any possible future with Trapper and even leave him hating her. Will she find the strength to reveal her deepest secret for another chance at love and happiness with Trapper? 

The Sugar Queen is a sweet romance with deep emotions and great moments. The book opens with a disclaimer from the author that the story deals with the stillbirth of an infant. Since I have experienced my own loss of an infant, although not a stillbirth, I appreciate the disclaimer and was prepared for the topic to come up in the story. Ms. Thompson deals with infant loss with heart, honesty and tenderness. I rarely cry at a book but this story had me in tears as Brandi reveals her secret to Trapper. Trapper’s reaction is what I would expect when hearing such devastating news. I especially cried when Brandi received support from an unlikely source. There is also a great cast of supporting characters. Those to love and those to hate and loathe, especially one character I wanted to reach through the book and shake some sense into! I look forward to reading the rest of the love stories the Emerson Pass Contemporaries has to offer. I highly recommend The Sugar Queen. 

The Sugar Queen is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Last House on the Street: sometimes the secrets of the past won't stay in the past

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is the story of two women, a generation apart, find themselves bound by a small town and a decades old mystery. In 1965, Eleanor “Ellie” Hockley grew up in the well-to-do town of Round Hill, North Carolina. Raised to be a proper Southern lady, she enrolled in college and is practically engaged to her bank manager boyfriend. Inspired by her late aunt, Ellie decides to spend her summer break as a volunteer with the SCOPE  project helping register black voters. Forty five years later, Kayla Carter prepares to move into the dream home she and her husband designed in the new Shadow Ridge Estates development. As she moves in, a mysterious woman warns her against living there as the woods and lake behind the house are rumored to be haunted. Soon she’ll learn the dark history of the land and a long buried secret that someone will do anything to protect. 

Diane Chamberlain is known for her intense dual timeline stories. She often features the dark and difficult racial history of the South and The Last House on the Street does not disappoint in that realm. Ms. Chamberlain does not shy away from the horrific, evil and vile acts done against the black community. It is a story that slowly builds to the climatic last chapters as the events seem to build and unravel at a fast pace. As I began to read, I was drawn more to Kayla and her story than Ellie. While I admire Ellie’s commitment to helping the black community gain their civil rights, I felt she was very naïve and even selfish. She was so determined in her desire to help that she plays down the potential violence and even the actual violence doesn’t open her eyes that she’s walking a dangerous line. Overall, I enjoyed the story. If you are a fan of Diane Chamberlain, you may enjoy The Last House on the Street. 

The Last House on the Street is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

The Winter Rose: a story of survival, forgiveness and reconciliation

The Winter Rose by Melanie Dobson is a story of survival and forgiveness. Grace Tonquin is an American Quaker who works tirelessly in Vichy France to rescue Jewish children from the Nazis. After crossing the treacherous Pyrenees, the children are sent to awaiting families except two. Elias and Marguerite Dupont lost their parents and no clear evidence of family waiting for them, Grace returns home to her family’s Oregon farm to care for them. Even though they are loved and cared for, the horrific experiences they had to endure would come back to haunt them, threatening to tear their family apart. Fifty years later, Addie Hoult arrives at Tonquin Lake looking for the family. It is a matter of life and death for her beloved mentor and father figure, Charlie, who is battling a genetic disease. Though Charlies refuses to discuss his relationship or ties to the Tonquin family, Addie knows that finding them is the only way to save his life. Could it also heal the wounds of the past? 

The Winter Rose is a beautiful story about a piece of history I didn’t know about and I’m sure many have not heard. It is a story to honor the effects of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization which in part of their wartime efforts, helped rescue thousands of Jewish children during World War II. Grace, as a member of this organization, risks life and limb for the chance that these children can have a chance at life. Ms. Dobson writes a detailed story with many mysteries, twists and turns.. It is a story about the bonds of family with faith and forgiveness. As more and more authors are bringing to light stories like the AFSC, we learn that many organizations, groups and people worked tirelessly and with no qualms about their own safety to help those who were under attack. I enjoyed Grace’s faith and even in her moments of fear, doubts and trouble, she turned to God for guidance and strength. I recommend The Winter Rose. 

The Winter Rose will be available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook on January 11th. 

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: can one woman really be cursed?

Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg is a story about one woman’s search for happily ever after on her own terms. Zoey Marks believes she is cursed. Ten years and three weddings as a bridesmaid and no bride walking down the aisle. After the third failed wedding, she wonders if her own doubts about marriage haven't quietly influenced those she loves. When she turns down a proposal from her perfect All-American boyfriend that leaves both Rylan and herself heartbroken. She wonders what about marriage makes her want to run? When her best friend, Hannah, announces that she is getting married, to a guy she just met, at a gorgeous, romantic Irish castle, everything will be fine…right? Determined to undo this curse, she accepts yet another bridesmaid role and with more determination to get Hannah down the aisle. Zoey finds herself overwhelmed with more questions than she can answer. Can you be a free spirit and want a certain future? Can you love and be loved on your terms? 

Bad Luck Bridesmaid is marketed as a “whip-smart” and a “celebration of complicated women and a power anthem to live your truth.” The premise sounded interesting to me so I picked it up. And it is an edgy romance. Edgy all right. It set my teeth on edge. Zoey is a completely unlikeable character that I could not relate to at all. I lost count how many times I cringed or rolled my eyes at something she said or did. She is supposed to be a modern woman in the modern world but I found her very toxic and self-centered. I kept with the book hoping that Zoey would have a lightbulb moment, a revelation that she can pinpoint “This is what I want” whether it is marriage or not. Unfortunately, she really doesn't. No real character growth at all. I also didn’t like that the writing felt off with a lack of cohesiveness and I felt disoriented while reading it. I do not recommend Bad Luck Bridesmaid. 

Bad Luck Bridesmaid will be available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook on January 11

Before I Called You Mine: an inspirational story about your heart's desire and God's plan

Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese is a story of love, family and finding your heart’s desire in the most unusual way. Lauren Bailey is a romantic at heart. But after a decade of failed matchmaking, she turns her attention to another match, the one that will make her a mother. As a dedicated first grade teacher, her love for children has led her on the path of international adoption. To satisfy the adoption agency’s requirements, she gladly remains single for the foreseeable future. However, as she awaits the life changing email, she is blinded by a complication she never thought about. Joshua Avery is a substitute teacher by day but his true passion is in educational technology. Lauren does her best to keep him at bay and deny their intense connection, but his relentless pursuit puts her once firm commitment at risk. As a possible match looms closer, she faces an impossible decision. She must choose between the two deepest desires of her heart. Does saying yes to one mean letting go of the other? Is there a way to have both? 

From the very beginning I was intrigued by the story. Although at one point, early in the book, I wasn’t sure if I liked where it was going but I pressed on. I am so glad I did! I stayed up late into the night finishing this wonderful story. It was a beautifully moving story. It had it all. Laughter, drama, tears of sadness and tears of joy. Ms. Deese deals with international adoptions and adoption in general with honesty and highlights the ups and downs of finding a forever home for these children. Although Lauren was a hard character to care for at times, I understood her doubts, her struggles and her capacity for love. My favorite character by far was Joshua. He was funny, understanding and supportive and while he made his own missteps, he wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable. I enjoyed the flirty banter between Lauren and Joshua. I especially enjoyed that the book put their text conversations in actual text bubbles. It was like actually reading their conversation over their shoulders. I highly recommend Before I Called You Mine. 

Before I Called You Mine is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Speed of Light: how fast one's life can change

The Speed of Light by Elissa Grossel Dickey is the story of a woman's journey through intersecting timelines of a life altering year. Simone Archer is trying her best to be positive. To focus on what she has gained instead of what she has lost. One year into her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) after years of wondering and worrying, she awaits the results of another anxiety-inducing MRI. As the Christmas holiday nears, the sights and sounds of winter only stir her memories. One December morning, gunshots ring through the office where she works, she finds a place to hide as she prepares to be rescued or fight to survive. As the events of that December morning unfold, her mind takes her to the events of the past year. Falling in love with Connor and walking away. Finding new strength in family and friendship. Planning for an uncertain future. Does it help to hope against hope? Can she find a way to face the things she can’t change and tackle the ones she can? 

The Speed of Light is the debut novel of Elissa Grossel Dickey and it certainly doesn’t read like it. With master’s strokes, Ms. Dickey paints a picture of a woman’s battles with those around her as well as within herself. I have known of individuals with MS but no one close, so I was vaguely familiar with this horrible autoimmune disease. Ms. Dickey brings to light the struggles, the doubts and the fears of someone who suffers from MS with honesty and depth. Simone goes through waves of hope and despair. One of my favorite quotes illustrates her fight. In an internal monologue, Simone says, “It hits me in a wave, a future I can no longer picture, a fear I can no longer contain.” Many of us can relate to this quote even if we haven’t been diagnosed with a life altering disease. I loved her supporting characters, especially Connor and her best friend Nikki. Nikki is unafraid to tell it like it is. I highly recommend The Speed of Light. 

The Speed of Light is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

These Tangled Vines: a story of deep, dark secrets

These Tangled Vines by Julianne MacLean is a tale of one woman’s journey to a lush Tuscany vineyard and dives into the depths of her family’s deepest, darkest secrets. One thing Fiona knows is how to keep a secret. She is the only person who knows about her late mother, Lillian’s affair in Tuscany thirty years earlier. A deathbed confession and a plea to keep it a secret, Fiona intends to keep the secret tucked away. One day a lawyer calls with shocking news. Her biological father has died and left her a piece of his estate. She must come to Italy for the reading of the will and sign papers accepting…or refusing the inheritance. When she arrives, his ex-wife and his two children, Connor and Sloane, are shocked to learn of her existence and desperate to contest her share of the estate. While she searches for the truth behind her mother’s affair, Fiona must also navigate her new tricky family relationships and tense sibling rivalries. With both fear and excitement, Fiona embraces a new future as she discovers the truth about that summer, her mother and the father she never knew. 

As usual Ms. MacLean dives into the complexity of human nature, love and relationships with heart and honesty. These Tangled Vines is a beautiful and moving story about the true meaning of family. Told between two alternating timelines, Fiona in 2017 and Lillian in 1986, it is a journey through the romantic and breathtaking landscape of Tuscany as readers are on a roller coaster of emotions. From the opening chapter, I was hooked into Fiona’s story and her journey. She learns that all she created in her mind about her biological dad was very wrong. She also learns that her saintly mother was not so innocent and made decisions that affected everyone’s life. I enjoyed Connor, the “villain” as he is determined to contest the will and Sloane as the conflicted half sister who is caught in her own guilt about her relationship with her father. There were some aspects that seemed “too convenient” and implausible, like who would jump on a plane at a moment’s notice for a man she didn’t know and didn’t care for; however, overall they did not affect my enjoyment. I highly recommend These Tangled Vines. 

These Tangled Vines is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.