Shattered Peace : A Century of Silence by Julie McDonald Zander

Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence by Julie McDonald Zander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very well written novel in a dual timeline . The story toggles between 2019 and 1919, a century apart , with two protagonists experiencing a similar aftermath after witnessing the horrors of two wars , Iraq war and WW 1.

In 2019, Colleen Holmes returns back from Iraq war and is suffering from the post war trauma. She plans to move into the house of her grandmother who has inherited it from her great great grandparents . When she remodels the house , she finds diaries and letters which belonged to her great great grandfather Michael , who was a WW 1 veteran.

The letters describe the horrors faced by Michael during WW 1 and the bitter aftermath of the war .
Colleen finds a striking similarity between her current plight and Michael’s situation.

It is a well researched novel bringing a lot of lesser known historic events into light . It also delves deep into the post war trauma which the soldiers and the veterans face. Horrors do not end with war . It stays in the minds of the survivors till the end of their lives .

I really liked this book , it deserves time and respect from its readers .

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Madly Deeply Always by Jules Starbrook

Madly Deeply Always by Jules Starbrook
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Obviously, this book got my attention because of the comparison with the sense and sensibility romance. Lily, grieving the death of her dad and just out of a toxic relationship. comes to England hoping to resume her passion for music. She seeks refuge at her father’s ex music manager, Brandon’s sea side cottage residence. And then, well nothing happens! At least for a while. The love story builds very slow. Both Brandon and Lily have past scars to get over with. The connection builds slow and steady. There is a lot of hullabaloo from other characters, but the highlight of the story is the slow burn romance.

It is a good read , though the pace is very slow at times. But overall I enjoyed the book.


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