Review: The Viking Stone by Nick Hawkes

Blurb

Adam Hollingworth’s dreams are shattered by the death of his fiancé. The demons of grief pursue him as he journeys from Australia to England to hide amidst the marshes of the Thames Estuary, an area renowned for its secrets and its smuggling.

An old man and his beautiful niece introduce Adam to the world of old wooden boats and the mysteries of the marshes. Together, they reignite Adam’s passion for life. Now, Adam must fight to keep himself and the people he loves from being murdered. Whether they survive will depend on his ability to use a remarkable secret of ancient Norse navigation—the Viking Stone.

My Review

Another well written novel by Nick Hawkes, though it didn’t draw me in quite as much as his previous novel, The Celtic Stone. The historical aspects of The Viking Stone were not as deeply explored but the local fishing history of Vikings and Danes along the Essex coast was interesting and does underpin the core of the story. For anyone into boating, both ancient and modern, there are fascinating insights and exciting incidents and descriptions. Some of it was a little technical for me but gave me a sense of the adventure and the dangers inherent in sailing. There are great descriptions of fishing villages and the coastline of Essex which provide an effective visual context for the story.  It is clear that Nick has done his research well and/or has quite a vast knowledge of boats and sailing and the area which is the setting of the novel.  

I enjoyed the sensitivity and passion in the character of Adam, who takes a teaching job in England in an attempt to revive his interest in life after the terrible loss of his fiancé. His journey through grief and the reawakening of his desire for a loving relationship with Edward Bryson’s niece, Claire, was gentle and touching, though a little at odds with his almost impulsive and reckless passion in regard to rock climbing, and the energy and aggression which explode from him when wrangling with drug smugglers or protecting those he cares about. His approach to teaching and the wisdom he portrays in motivating young boys to learn is inspiring. So Adam is a complex and appealing character from whose point of view much of the story is told.

The older man in the story, Edward Bryson is also a character easy to love and enjoy. His is more a mentoring role in Adam's life and the kind of character anyone would want to have around if they were needing a wise and caring supporter in a time of trouble or grief. 

I didn’t feel there was as much insight into the character of the females in the story. Both Claire and Margaret, the woman in a second developing romance with Adam's fellow teacher, Gareth Price, were a little more of a mystery to me in regard to their motivations and feelings. Even though parts of the story were written from their POV, as a reader I felt I was coming to understand the women mostly from the perspective of Adam. Perhaps that was Nick’s intention as Adam is the main character and his journey is the main focus of the story. Or perhaps it’s understandable that male characters are easier to portray deeply for a male writer. Both romances are woven through the story at a slower pace than female romance lovers might want, but there’s good balance of adventure, male bonding, danger and near-death experiences to keep a range of readers interested.

While the story does not have any overt Christian content there is a subtle sense of God's presence and of calling out to God in the midst of pain and trouble. A satisfying ending to the story left me feeling it had been a good read, a portrayal of internal and interpersonal struggles resolved and of inspiring human values and attitudes. 

Carol Preston  

Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series; Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Her earlier novels Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream have been re-released by EBP. Her new novel, Next of Kin, was released this year by Rhiza Press and the sequel, Beyond the Fight will be released in April, 2016. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website, her FB author page or her Amazon author page. 

  

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Book Review: The Celtic Stone by Nick Hawkes

By Carol Preston

From the Blurb

Chris Norman's dreams of being a commercial pilot are shattered when he crashes his light plane in central Australia and is badly wounded. His life hangs in the balance, a balance that is swayed by the intervention of an Aboriginal man. He leaves Chris with a mysterious and incongruous legacy, a Celtic cross made of stone. Partly blinded and in deep grief at no longer being able to fly, Chris finds his way to the inhospitable islands off the West Coast of Scotland where he seeks to unravel the secrets of the Celtic Stone.

Review

The blurb of this book held so many promises of interest for me. Who wouldn't be intrigued by a mystery around a Celtic cross? Having recently visited Scottish Islands and been fascinated by the Celtic culture and history I was immediately drawn to this story which was to unfold on the Isle of Skye. I certainly wasn't disappointed. The historical research behind this book is impressive. It's woven into the story in such a way that as a reader I was so intrigued with the plot that I didn't realise how much I'd learned about the cultural mores and the complex laws and development of the crofting communities of Scotland, until I finished the story and reflected back on how much information I'd taken in.

Other aspects of this novel are equally engaging. There's the wonderful character of Morag, a blind Hebridean woman who has been shunned by many in her local community, and Ruan, the seven year old boy who has lost his family. Both of these are complex characters, needing love and care, but also fiercely independent. They bring the challenge of giving and receiving love, of dealing with rejection and alienation, of mutual respect and understanding in relationships, which make this story very moving and compelling.

I appreciated Nick's perspective in this story, which has a strong and likeable male character, who is dealing with grief, discovering his identity and struggling with relationship. I think this is presented in a sensitive and realistic manner, which shows a depth of understanding about human beings and relationships. The female character of Morag is equally deep and well developed, and a character with whom I could identify as a female reader. It's really balanced and believable, which makes the love story engaging and touching.

The conflict which Chris has with ruthless and dangerous figures in the political and crofting world of the islands provides a mystery and power struggle rooted in generations of unfolding traditions and schemes. This also makes this story a real page turner. I believe male and female readers alike, will find this novel exciting, engaging and satisfying.

Carol Preston

Carol is an author of historical novels set in rural Australia and based on her family ancestry in Australia. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website: www.carolpreston.com.au
or her Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston  or on Facebook www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Book Review: No Time To Say Goodbye by Paul Arnott

Review by Dorothy Adamek

No Time To Say Goodbye by Australian author Paul Arnott should be on everyone’s bookshelf. Written for those who’ve suddenly lost a loved one, in particular parents whose children have died unexpectedly, it touches every heart with the raw journey of Paul and Roseanne Arnott’s journey in the months and years after their son James died of SIDS at nine weeks.

Paul takes the reader through the grieving process. Beginning with the numbness death brought to his young family, he chronicles the guilt, the tiredness, the anger, resentment and pain often present in the varying expressions of early grief, and unpacks the uniqueness of these first reactions experienced by him and his wife, and their young daughter, Alice. He also draws on examples of other families who’ve faced the unexpected death of a loved one.

This book is painful to read. But the insight is vital for anyone who cares to understand the particular needs of those experiencing a sudden death. Unlike the steps taken by the families of the chronically ill, No Time To Say Goodbye tackles issues such as slowing down between the time of death and the funeral. The importance of being allowed to navigate those days at one’s own pace, instead of being rushed by unknown protocols and the expectations of those who come alongside.

Paul asks the difficult questions many parents wrestle with when they lose a child. Questions many of us would like to ask God. He also shares the different ways some have found answers. He explores the ways men and women cope with grief and loss, and debunks some of the stereotypical myths of gender specific grief.

No Time To Say Goodbye is a quick read. But it commands respectful lingering. It’s the honest pulling aside of one family’s privacy. The sharing of what they’ve learned in a season they never imagined when they brought their little boy home from the hospital.

I read the revised and updated edition, with an added appendix on SIDS. I’d read books on loss and grief before, when I lost a baby to miscarriage. I wish I’d had this book then. And while the main focus is on helping parents whose children have died, it will touch anyone who’s experienced loss in our ever-changing world.

A sensitive and practical resource. Highly recommended.

No Time To Say Goodbye – Paul Arnott

Acorn Press Limited

*****

Review by Dorothy Adamek – Dorothy lives in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three children. Enamoured by all things 19^th century, she writes The Heartbeat of Yesteryear, Historical Romance – Aussie style.

Come say G’day at Ink Dots.