Flower Child by Author Sheila Deeth, Book Review

I am deeply honored to be a part of the Flower Child Blog Tour and wish to thank Sheila Deeth for this opportunity to read and review her eBook, which is my first reading of an eBook. I am not the least bit disappointed in Sheila's talent as a storyteller, nor in this non-print version of Flower Child. However, I would be thrilled to see this book in print one day.

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But is Angela Real? queries Megan, mother of this, her unborn daughter, as she learns just how hard it can hurt to be Mother.

The reader is drawn by the double-edged sword of emotion as Flower Child author Sheila Deeth embraces the depths of motherhood, the hauntings — of love and of loss — of child.

"You suffer so much, you humans," and "You have to keep testing the boundaries, " says a garden angel in her tale, planted, perhaps, between heaven and hell. "You're never satisfied."

You give them chance after chance don't you? You forgive them over and over again. You pick them up and set them on their way. Being a mother, a parent, a guardian, comes with rights and responsibilities.

After a time, mother Megan wonders does it mean I'm getting better because I don't cry for her now? Or am I going crazy because I tidy her room in dreams? At what point in the mourning process are we to no longer shed rivers of tears? Are we mad as hatters for allowing our minds to dwell in a dream with the dead? To some it may seem so; to others, though, it may be deemed a realm of real life.

Reality is all-inclusive: what has been, what is, and what will be. Consider this statement by writer Philip K. Dick: Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.

The greatest motherly wonder of all comes from the author as she ponders an un-born: I wondered if maybe it's love that makes souls, and making love makes flesh. Maybe no one really loved him.

Storytelling based on reality rarely fails to grab the reader by the hallowed hauntings of the heart. Author Sheila Deeth succeeds in tugging our heartstrings in the bittersweet beauty of the story of her Flower Child.

And, make no mistake — Angela is real.

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I hope that if you have not been following this month-long tour, that you will visit the Sheila Deeth Blog, as well as the daily blog tour listings. You may also wish to visit a previous post here at Ruthi Reads where I share an excerpt from Flower Child; one which captured me from the beginning of the book.

I received no compensation for the review of this book. I received a PDF version to read for review purposes.

WoW 100 Words for the Flower Child

Today is a first for me — I am reading an eBook — me, the die-hard lover of books in print. I share 100 words with you from page 2 of  Flower Child by Sheila Deeth:

"...died. I slept and screamed and wept for her, my little girl, and drove my husband to distraction. Then, in a moment's incautious clarity, I was cured. What happened was I found those childhood dreams weren't really so far from the truth, and I don't care if you don't believe me. Mom thinks I'm mad, Uncle Malcolm tries to humor me, and David just pretends not to hear a word I say. But there are more things in heaven and hell than human eyes and ears can tell, and I first stopped crying the day I met my angel, Angela."



As part of the Flower Child Book Tour, I will be posting my book review of this title on October 31st.

I would love to have you join me each week in the blog hop, WoW Weekly 100 Words, sharing exactly 100 words from a book you are currently reading. Add the hop button and link to your blog post and add your post to the linky list provided.

First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Tumble Along

This is my first post for the First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros blog hop, hosted by Diane at Bibliophile By The Sea.

I am sharing from Tumbleweed Christmas by Beverly Stowe McClure:


"Today was Christmas Eve. My house was dark and sad. We had no Christmas tree. Mom said trees cost money. Dad was in the hospital. She did not have any extra money. I saved a dollar from my school lunch money. I was going to surprise her and buy a tree."



You can visit the author's blog, The Story of a Writer, to enter her current book giveaway to win a copy of this children's book, or you can now purchase a copy of Tumbleweed Christmas and gift it to a young reader.

Rudolph, A Child's Love Story is a Magical Gift

Accept it!

Not really knowing much about Rudolph, A Child's Love Story, I let my author friend, Mary Russel, know that I planned to purchase a copy to read and review in time for Christmas (hoping to generate holiday sales).

I really had no idea what a magical gift Rudolph would be to read until I began reading the prologue of the book. I share a portion of that prologue with you now:

    
    "...Brian and I learned to ice skate together. When our dog, Rufus died, we comforted each other. We played store with empty boxes and cans. Brian taught me to read. He outgrew his jeans and tees and they were passed down to me. When I wore them, I pretended I was him, as if in wearing them, I could capture some of the magic that was my big brother. Can we ever be close again?
     I was told I am special because I was chosen. I wonder how that makes Brian feel.
     Even my toys seem to be mocking me..."



My full review of this book will be posted soon! In the meantime, I do hope you will share the book that has currently caught your reader eye!

Blog hop right along with WoW Weekly 100 Words. Share a 100-word excerpt of a book you are currently reading. Just snag the hop badge and link, add it to your post on your blog, then return here to add your blog post to the linky list provided at the end of this post.

Note: I use The Word Count Tool to count my book excerpts.

I found a new blog hop for Readers

Not that I need another thing to do added to my online activity; however, I have hopped across a new blog hop for readers and couldn't resist participating.

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by
Should Be Reading.

(Oh dear, just what I need - another should!)

 

 To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

 

I am currently reading Growing Up In Boom Times by Chris Brockman. This book is a trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up as Baby Boomers. However, it isn't just a glance at our past; it's a glance at our future -- viewed through the eyes of our present -- and through the life and words of the author. Of course, I will be posting a review, and I have a few more promotional surprises in mind for this title and author.

 

I recently finished reading No Greater Sacrifice by John C. Stipa. Herein lies mystery and mayhem, death and destruction, evil and enchantment, and a romancing of the mind as sharp as the cutting edge of a sword. My review shall be posted soon.

 

I will read next my first eBook: Flower Child by Sheila Deeth. As part of the Flower Child Book Tour, I will be posting my review of this title on October 31st.

Don't Miss the Flower Child Blog Tour

I am excited for my author friend, Sheila Deeth. Her recent eBook release, Flower Child, is now available for purchase and is on tour throughout cyberspace.

Visit Flower Child Blog Tour for the blogs and links hosting this tour throughout the entire month of October.

Ruthi Reads is proud to be a part of this book tour! This will be my first eBook read and review. I feel as though I am being converted! NOT! I love the printed page too much, but I do find this book title and theme interesting enough to read off the computer screen.

Just for you and your Flower Child, Sheila!

Sol to Light Your Way

Yes, this is a book blog. However, even readers and writers need a bit of sol to enlighten and brighten their way on occasion. Thus, I wanted to share my latest sunshine creation with you, too.

Hop on over to my Poetic Creations blog to enter my SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway to enter to win a shot of sunshine! Ends Monday (tomorrow) October 3rd at noon, so hurry on over to get your entries posted!