The Quirky Bookworm

Today I’m writing about a heavier topic than normal. Grief is an emotion that’s not often talked about in social settings. Grief is also experienced differently depending upon the circumstances and the individual person.

I’ve read novels recently that include the topic of grief in its various forms. It was unintentional yet has helped me process my own grief.

Title: In the Midnight Rain
Author: Barbara O’Neal
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: May 2024
Page Length: 318

Ellie Connor moves to the small town of Gideon in East Texas. She’s researching and writing about the decade’s old mysterious disappearance of a burgeoning musician, Mabel Beauvais. Gideon also holds the mystery of her father’s identity and her mother who passed away when Ellie was young. She rents a home on the property of a handsome jazz musician, Laurence “Blue” Reynard. He’s facing pain from his own familial losses. Laurence introduces her to friends of his to help solve the mystery of Mabel’s sudden disappearance. Ellie then has to decide how far she’s willing to take her relationship with Laurence.

In the Midnight Rain was an intriguing, warm and romantic read. Barbara O’Neal allows the reader to feel the characters emotions. Her writing connects the reader to the novel in a personal way without being a cliche or too sweet. The love scenes are beautifully written.

Recommended for fans of romance and cozy mystery genres. This was my first novel to read by O’Neal and I would definitely read another. Click here to visit the author’s website. O’Neal’s novels are available on Kindle Unlimited. She’s a bestselling and an award-winning author.

Title: Piece by Piece
Author: Laura Bradford
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: July 2020
Page Length: 305

Danielle Parker is a wife and stay-at-home mom in the suburbs. She stays busy hosting extravagant birthday parties, attending PTA meetings and running the home. Danielle has reservations about her family visiting the park one afternoon without her yet decides to stay home. She’s reading a novel when a police officer arrives at the front door. Her mother, husband and children were in a fatal car crash. The overwhelming grief and guilt prompt her to call a childhood friend. Danielle moves to Lydia’s guest home on her property in peaceful Amish country.

I found Piece by Piece a little overwhelming emotionally in the beginning. Laura Bradford’s writing is the closest I’ve read to describing intense grief of loss. I paused several times while reading to process the character’s grief and my own.

I also felt conviction about how much time I spend worrying about the little details as a mom. I prevent myself from experiencing gratitude for being given the privilege to parent. Bradford’s novel is powerful and will stay with me for a long time.

Recommended for readers of Christian fiction. Click here to visit the author’s website. Bradford is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of women’s fiction and cozy mysteries.

Title: Where Butterflies Wander
Author: Suzanne Redfearn
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: February 2024
Page Length: 298

Marie Egide is grieving over the loss of a child. She decides to move her family to New Hampshire to sell a family estate. Davina is a war veteran living in a cabin on the property and is known as “the river witch.” She refuses to leave the property because Marie’s grandfather gave her the cabin as a gift.

The two women soon clash personally and in a legal battle over the estate. Marie’s grief and pain overflows onto everyone around her, including her two young children. Davina is also working through loss of her own and the fear of the unknown if she leaves the property. Each are forced by circumstances to confront their own fears and emotions.

Suzanne Redfearn’s novel is elegantly written. Her characters are well formed. She writes objectively about each character in the novel. Redfearn doesn’t assume or tell readers how to feel.

Recommended for readers of women’s and contemporary fiction. Where Butterflies Wander is #1 on Amazon for women’s fiction, literary fiction and friendship fiction. Redfearn is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. Visit her website at https://www.suzanneredfearnauthor.com/. Redfearn’s novels are available on Kindle Unlimited.