Afbeelding auteur

Julie McGowan

Auteur van The Mountains Between

6 Werken 28 Leden 4 Besprekingen

Werken van Julie McGowan

The Mountains Between (2007) 9 exemplaren
Don't Pass me By (2013) 9 exemplaren
Just One More Summer (2008) 7 exemplaren
Don't Pass Me By (2013) 1 exemplaar
Don't Pass Me By (2013) 1 exemplaar

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I was given this book in exchange for a honest review. Having looked at the jacket cover to see what the topic was, I was willing to take on this book. I can say, that the jacket cover doesn't do this book justice.

I honestly don't know where to start with "Don't Pass Me by." This book is like an onion, you keep peeling layers and layers to find the center. To start this off, Lydia, who is a young wife marries a soldier that is fighting in the war. Hitler's troops are in London and bombs are destroying everything. Lydia learns that her new husband, Billy, isn't what she thought he was. She learns he has a violent temper and an alcoholic. Thinking that a baby would change the situation, Lydia tries to handle a bad situation the best that she knows...cope, it might get better. But for those who have been in these situations learn, 99% of the time, it doesn't, it only gets worse. Then her opportunity strikes. An explosion allows her and the baby Grace to escape.

As Lydia transforms herself into a widow, she takes on a job as a housekeeper for a young and attractive Dr. Eliot. This arrangement allows Lydia to learn what a real house should feel like. She and the Dr. develop a bond that will eventually be tested.

In the meantime we are introduced to Amy and Arthur. Amy is a little girl about the age of 8. She's sent to live with a family who is to protect her during the war. Only problem is, little Amy learns that sometimes those who are to protect do more harm. Arthur learns a valuable lesson in life that not everyone is who they appear to be. Only problem is, the one that he needs the most is the one who betrays this young man. However, Arthur becomes a very important person in Amy's life.

That's the story in a nut shell without giving away the wonderful ending. So here are my thoughts on this book:

1.) This book is not for the weak hearted. Abuse is a heavy topic here. Not just the abuse that Lydia endures. But the gut tearing abuse that poor Amy is subjected to. I hated to read of how Amy was being treated. The author does a wonderful job of explaining how and what Amy endures without it being gross. Abuse is always a hard topic to write on, but Ms. McGowan does a great job in her description.

2.) The unlikely hero's of this book took me by suprise. I knew that one would step up and defend the honor of the female. However, the other completly threw me off. I want to tell you who it is, but this will spoil the book. I was actually crying when I got to this point in the book to see how it all came about. I was cheering when this moment happen. Karma has a way of being a bit of a bitch sometimes, and this time she rared her ugly head and struck with a vengence. (WONDERFUL)

3.) The way the author goes into the historical aspect of the war was really great. We all know how the war ended. We also know how displaced everyone was over the war. To hear a personal story, even though it was fictional, makes the hardships so personal.

4.) At first, even towards the middle of the book, did I wonder, what does Amy and Arthur have to do with Lydia. It seemed as if these two characters didn't belong in the story. Then it all started to flow together. At first, it really threw me for a loop. But eventually, I saw how the connection was being made.

I really did like this book. I've read several books that had the subject of abuse as the central topic. It always takes a lot out of me emotionally. This book heavy and will leave you emotional from the beginning to end. It is a wonderful story, but I be honest, some may be turned off by the abuse. Others will see it for what it is, a story of heartbreak that turns into love and for many, freedom.

Ms. McGowan, you made me cry way too many times during this book. Thanks for such a wonderful story!
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
cbilbo | 1 andere bespreking | Apr 8, 2014 |
I was given this book in exchange for a honest review. Having looked at the jacket cover to see what the topic was, I was willing to take on this book. I can say, that the jacket cover doesn't do this book justice.

I honestly don't know where to start with "Don't Pass Me by." This book is like an onion, you keep peeling layers and layers to find the center. To start this off, Lydia, who is a young wife marries a soldier that is fighting in the war. Hitler's troops are in London and bombs are destroying everything. Lydia learns that her new husband, Billy, isn't what she thought he was. She learns he has a violent temper and an alcoholic. Thinking that a baby would change the situation, Lydia tries to handle a bad situation the best that she knows...cope, it might get better. But for those who have been in these situations learn, 99% of the time, it doesn't, it only gets worse. Then her opportunity strikes. An explosion allows her and the baby Grace to escape.

As Lydia transforms herself into a widow, she takes on a job as a housekeeper for a young and attractive Dr. Eliot. This arrangement allows Lydia to learn what a real house should feel like. She and the Dr. develop a bond that will eventually be tested.

In the meantime we are introduced to Amy and Arthur. Amy is a little girl about the age of 8. She's sent to live with a family who is to protect her during the war. Only problem is, little Amy learns that sometimes those who are to protect do more harm. Arthur learns a valuable lesson in life that not everyone is who they appear to be. Only problem is, the one that he needs the most is the one who betrays this young man. However, Arthur becomes a very important person in Amy's life.

That's the story in a nut shell without giving away the wonderful ending. So here are my thoughts on this book:

1.) This book is not for the weak hearted. Abuse is a heavy topic here. Not just the abuse that Lydia endures. But the gut tearing abuse that poor Amy is subjected to. I hated to read of how Amy was being treated. The author does a wonderful job of explaining how and what Amy endures without it being gross. Abuse is always a hard topic to write on, but Ms. McGowan does a great job in her description.

2.) The unlikely hero's of this book took me by suprise. I knew that one would step up and defend the honor of the female. However, the other completly threw me off. I want to tell you who it is, but this will spoil the book. I was actually crying when I got to this point in the book to see how it all came about. I was cheering when this moment happen. Karma has a way of being a bit of a bitch sometimes, and this time she rared her ugly head and struck with a vengence. (WONDERFUL)

3.) The way the author goes into the historical aspect of the war was really great. We all know how the war ended. We also know how displaced everyone was over the war. To hear a personal story, even though it was fictional, makes the hardships so personal.

4.) At first, even towards the middle of the book, did I wonder, what does Amy and Arthur have to do with Lydia. It seemed as if these two characters didn't belong in the story. Then it all started to flow together. At first, it really threw me for a loop. But eventually, I saw how the connection was being made.

I really did like this book. I've read several books that had the subject of abuse as the central topic. It always takes a lot out of me emotionally. This book heavy and will leave you emotional from the beginning to end. It is a wonderful story, but I be honest, some may be turned off by the abuse. Others will see it for what it is, a story of heartbreak that turns into love and for many, freedom.

Ms. McGowan, you made me cry way too many times during this book. Thanks for such a wonderful story!
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
cbilbo | 1 andere bespreking | Apr 2, 2014 |
(This is one of our author's books, and of course I believe it's fantastic! Julie McGowan is a brilliant new writer who will go a long way. This is her second book; her third, "Don't Pass Me By", will be released in Spring 2009.)

Devastated by the breakdown of her marriage, Allie flees to the one place her heart can seek comfort: Cornwall, where she hopes childhood memories of a holiday with her father will sustain her while she sorts out her plans for the future. But fate has other ideas, and she finds herself drawn into an almost obsessive friendship with a band of strange bedfellows led by Marsha, an intense, ageing hippy with a powerful life force that at once comforts, stimulates and infuriates Allie.

Her growing attraction to one of the golden group's men, Adam, bewilders her as she discovers that nothing in life is what it seems, and the only constant is change. Little by little the layers of her past are painfully peeled away. Initially ruffled and confused, and later deeply hurt by what she considers multiple levels of betrayal, Allie once again chooses flight. She heads back to London, but finds that her life-complications only deepen - her husband begs her to come back to him, her estranged father arrives unannounced from France, her loopy mother proclaims yet another marriage, Adam turns up to take her back to Cornwall - and the hardest part is yet to come for them all.

Finally, Allie realises that she must confront the secrets and lies of her past - and Marsha's - before she can face her own future.
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
SunpennyPublishing | Jun 13, 2008 |
This is one of our own author's books, published by us, so obviously I absolutely love it! This is an up and coming, brilliant author, living in Wales.

Blaenavon and Abergavenny surge to life in this vibrant, haunting, joyful masterpiece, a celebration of the Welsh people in the 1920s to '40s. "The Mountains Between" is a saga of two families and their communities - farmers and miners, villagers and warriors, singers and mourners, noble and ignoble, cowardly and brave, in a smorgasbord that keeps the pages in perpetual motion.

Little Jennie grows up in the 1920's and 30's on a valley farm near Abergavenny: a childhood dominated by the love of father and siblings, and the hatred of an obsessive mother - fighting to keep her balance in the face of an unbalanced parent and the deepest heart-blows a child can bear. Her life is completely different from that of young Harry Jenkins, born into a Blaenavon mining community repeatedly struck by disaster. Through tragic marriages to other people, into World War Two and beyond, both must overcome their personal devastations before they are ready to love again.
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
SunpennyPublishing | Jun 13, 2008 |

Statistieken

Werken
6
Leden
28
Populariteit
#471,397
Waardering
½ 4.6
Besprekingen
4
ISBNs
10