The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan

Jigsaw Pieces

The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan is a most charming Christmas contemporary novel that I absolutely adored.

Once more Sarah Morgan has captured the essence of Christmas within her book. Christmas is family, fun, laughter – all things that had been missing from the leading lady’s life.

We see the loneliness of never having anyone to depend on, the feeling of utter abandonment as a character throws herself into her work. “When life is hard, it sometimes helps to have no time to think about it.”

When burnout is close, a character realizes that something must change. “You couldn’t undo the past, but you could do your very best with the future.” The past is gone, the future lies ahead. “The past was gone and she wasn’t going to let it contaminate the present.”

Everyone makes choices that have consequences. “The choices were their own and you had no control over that.” We are not responsible for the choices of others. We are only responsible for our own choices.”

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The Secret Jewish Sisters by Tikva Rager

Internal Struggles

The Secret Jewish Sisters by Tikva Rager is a compelling historical novel. It is the first book in Unforgettable World War II Stories and can be read as a stand-alone. Each book in the series is written by a different author.

The book is fictional but is based on facts as we follow two young German Jewish sisters through the war years and beyond.

Smuggled out of Nazi Germany to Belgium, the two sisters are eventually hidden in a Catholic orphanage. They are physically hiding and they are also hiding who they really are. For the youngest sister, she believes she is Christian as she has no recollection of ever being Jewish. It is more complicated for the older sister as she remembers her Jewishness but makes a personal decision to become a Christian.

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One Day & Forever by Shari Low

Twenty Four Hours In Connecting Lives

One Day And Forever by Shari Low is a most delightful contemporary novel that is set over just one day.

The story is broken up into two-hour slots as it follows a number of characters throughout the day. Many of them are due to fly out of Glasgow airport but are grounded due to adverse weather conditions.

Readers of previous novels by Shari Low will enjoy meeting up with familiar faces. It was good to catch up and see what happened next. 

We join characters who have previously lived squashed lives. It is good to see them now blossoming and living in freedom and encouraging others who need help.

Old friendships are re-built at a funeral. An old photograph throws up questions as characters long to know the answers.

As we journey through the day with the characters, we become invested in their lives. We care what happens to the eclectic mix of characters who are all likable and believable.

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I Am A Cat: Manga Edition by Soseki Natume

Beautiful Illustrations Of The Cat

I Am A Cat: The Manga Edition by Soseki Natsume is a beautifully illustrated version of a Japanese classic, the original being written over a hundred years ago.

The book contains pearls of Japanese wisdom as a cat walks among the people of Tokyo.

The whole book is beautifully illustrated by Chiroru Kobato. The cats are stunning.

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