Zada Connaway Author of "Mother's Journals : parts 1, 2 and 3"
where romance and triumph over abuse come together
From Tree Good, Poetic Goddess
Mother's Journals - a Magical Journey!, | By | Tree Good "author of The Language of Poetry F... (Deseronto, ON) - |
The characters in this novel are all fictitious but the feelings and actions of the three main characters, Margery, her daughter Mary and granddaughter Ellen, are so believable that they truly do "come to life" for the reader.
Although Mother's Journals - Parts1, 2 and 3 come to a very satisfying conclusion I hope that Zada Connaway will continue with a Part 4 because now I am wondering how the future of Ellen's daughter, Bethany, turns out.
from : www.newbookreviews.org
Our New Book Review
Mother's Journals, Parts 1, 2 & 3 by Zada Connaway is a novel that transpires through generations. Connaway's ability to make her characters real, and draw the reader into their emotions is superb. A spell binding, true-to-life story, filled with mystery and showing how something that effects one's life also effects others around them. I Laughed, I cried and many times found that I was doing both! A powerfully told story!
Freida Luttmer
editor7(at)newbookreviews.org
Helen Wisocki : review of "Mother's Journals..."
When Mary finds that her mother endured several forms of abuse as a young girl and throughout her marriage, she’s shocked. Childhood memories are vague, but they are brought to light when Mary finds the secret in the journals her mother left behind and carried to her grave. From there, life takes an unexpected turn, the torch is passed, and the characters start dancing on the pages.
Ms. Connaway has a gift for telling a story in an easy manner, drawing the reader in, all the while covering an unpopular, yet important subject. There are lessons to be learned throughout the story, and the feeling of hope is a constant.
"Mother’s Journals – Parts 1, 2, and 3" is a must-read, and has it all—it’s well-written, fast-moving, and has explicit descriptions of passionate love scenes. Very entertaining. I recommend the book to all, and give it a five-star rating.
Helen Wisocki
"Innocence Betrayed – A Dad’s Story of Clergy Misconduct"
ISBN # 1-4241-8171-2
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Helen&Curt
Innocence Betrayed-A Dad's Story of Clergy Misconduct
www.innocencebetrayedbyclergy.com
Review by Darlene Scarcelli
ISBN #1424169690
Review by Darlene Scarcelli
I found the story to be a wonderful confirmation of how strong women can be in
the art of surviving tragedies. The fact that these female characters were led
to make some bad choices in their lives, they also chose to move on and do what
was best for themselves and their children. Life is not easy, nor is it fair,
but it does have rewards for those who believe that they have value. I also
found the fact that it was stressed that no one has to face his or her problems
alone heartwarming.
This book was not only an easy read, but therapeutic. The characters became
personal to me immediately. I cared about them and could relate to their
situations. I would recommend this book for all women whether they have been in
an abusive situation or not. The ending is one of hope and determination and
who can't prosper from that?
I look forward to future writings by Zada Connaway.
Rhonda Noble's review
On A Rainy Day, ISBN: 1-4241-8450-9
Review of "Mother's Journals : parts 1, 2 & 3"
ISBN: 1-4241-6969-0
By Zada Connaway
Climb in, buckle up and be prepared to be taken on an emotional ride through three generations of a family as author, Zada Connaway, weaves a web that will pull at your heartstrings. From love and lust, to abuse and deceit; from bad days to good times, the author reminds us there is always hope and a brighter day if you will just push forward. As you journey through the pages of this well-written novel, you cannot help but feel the emotions Ms. Connaway conveys throughout every page. Her characters are vividly expressed as is the story.
The narration begins after the death of Margery, as Mary discovers her mother’s journals. In them she learns shocking truths of her mother’s life spanning through years of abuse and unanswered love but it doesn’t end there; as one has reached their destination, the journey for another is just beginning.
“Mother’s Journals – Parts 1, 2 and 3 is a serious look at life with all of its twists, turns and forks in the road and sprinkled with enough bright sunshine to leave you feeling fulfilled when you’ve turned the final page. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys fiction at its non-fiction finest.
Rhonda Noble
Author of “On A Rainy Day”
ISBN# 1-4241-8450-9
Opinion from another author:
This new review just in:
From: http://podbram.blogspot.com/2009/03/mothers-journals.html
Reviewed by Donna Nordmark Aviles for PODBRAM
Mother’s Journals is the generational story of the Jakers family of Charabourgh, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When Margery, the matriarch of the family, dies after a lifetime of sacrifice and toil, her grown daughter, Mary, discovers her mother’s writings among her personal effects and becomes captivated by the revelations they hold. A survivor of abuse who believes that she murdered her abuser, Margery struggled to raise her children and retain her dignity during the very difficult years of The Great Depression.
Margery’s granddaughter, Ellen, is a successful businesswoman in the hotel industry who comes under the romantic spell of her new boss and quickly accepts his proposal of marriage. When a move to Southern California and a new baby create changes in their relationship, Ellen’s husband Robert becomes disillusioned and controlling, displaying a temper and aggression that Ellen was unaware he possessed. Ellen is forced to flee to the safety of her family where she tries to regain her sense of self worth and start over. Relatives long lost return to their small town and old wounds are healed as this family reflects on opportunities missed and mistakes made.
Mother’s Journals is a story with much potential. Reading the content of Margery’s journals was most intriguing and very well done. Some scenes are graphic and difficult to read, but are necessary in order to convey the horror of the abuse that Margery suffered.
Many young women will see themselves in Ellen’s story of self discovery as she follows her immediate instinct to abandon her career in favor of staying at home to raise her child, only to find herself regretting that choice when her marriage deteriorates because of what she sees as her loss of ambition and hard edge.
Unfortunately, there are several abrupt character changes that leave the reader wondering, “What happened?” Relationships instantly exist and characters make decisions that make little sense given the circumstances at hand. With more plot development, these twists could have worked but instead, this reader was left scratching her head and filling in the blanks. Additionally, there were long periods of telling what happened when showing, through dialog and action, would have been much more engaging.
Detailed scenes of intimacy place this book at the adult reading level.
See Also: B&N Reviews of Mother's Journals
Zada Connaway's website
Donna's Orphan Train Reviews