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Member Since:
May 28, 2021
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The Strong Amongst Us
on June 23, 2021
When I read Book 2 in this series (The Strong Within Us), I said that if Book 1 in the series was as good as Book 2, that Book 1 should be read. Well, I did just that and it was as good as Book 2. It was a really, really, good book. I do not give 5-star ratings lightly and yet, this is a 5 star book. A good story, well-written, with meaning, and characters that come alive. The story itself, though in a different setting, is the beginning of Nathan leaving Iceland to travel to the new land and claim his piece of land. It is a true family saga. This book has its share of romance that had me blushing somewhat as well as hard, difficult times that had me tearing up. In my review of Book 2 I said that J.A. Boulet seemed to be able to paint a picture of the land and its surroundings as well as her characters. People you come to know well, and you begin to care about. That’s the best way I know to describe this book. It touches you and sometimes you wish it would never end. But sometimes I wanted it to end exactly as I wanted it to. You’ll have to read it to find out what I mean:) This series is titled “The Olason Chronicles”. Book 3 has just been published. While I didn’t read the first two in order, I am sure each book can stand on its own. But...might as well start with Book 1 and move through all of these beautiful stories.
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The Origins
on June 11, 2022
I have read all the books in this series. I did not think it possible for Book 4 (The Origins) to be just as good if not better. But Boulet has most certainly done it again, created another winner. Set in Iceland with its unstable earth and constant earthquakes, the Olason family tries to live an everyday life of farming but life can be unstable in and of itself. This story has a little of everything. It is a story of love and young romance, and it is a story of life and the hard times that come with trying to exist. But this isn’t a story like many others. Its descriptions run as true to life in Iceland as possible. Don’t get me wrong. This is fiction, but the author has obviously done plenty of research. There are plenty of facts intertwined in this story and yet the writing makes the story flow. It almost moves too fast. I wanted to know the ending, and yet I didn’t want it to end. I have said in another review that this is truly a saga. A beautiful series of a family’s struggles. One in which you almost become a part of them. You share their loves, their triumphs, and their losses. There are good times here, but I had tears in my eyes at times too. The Origins is Book 4 in a series titled The Olason Chronicles. Each book can be read as a stand-alone. I read Book 2 first when I found this author. This is such a beautiful story that I think you’ll want to start with Book 1 ( The Strong Amongst Us) so you can live every part of the generations of this family’s struggles and triumphs.
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Garden Of Desire
on Nov. 13, 2022
I have read another of Martha Wickham’s books, Just For Now. The first was a little sweet and a little sad. These short stories carry the same feeling. That’s not to say they are the same story, but they do have some aspects in common. While they have a little of the boy-meet-girl theme in them, they are clean and nice to read. They both portray some facets of life many of us have handled at one time or another. The title Garden of Desire was a little misleading to me. This is very much a story where many of Martha Wickham’s characters wish they could find such a thing. But Desire is not the sort of romantic hot and sexy “stuff” that the title made me picture. The desire is more in the wishing for a sense of solidness, safety, security, and being cared about. I wish the title was Sweet Sorrow. It’s the impression the stories left me with. I sensed another thing in the writer’s style, you’re going to think I’m nuts but I’ll say it... it seems to be almost the black noir of romance. It has a bit of an older picture. I was certain that the kitchen table Jeanie and her dad sat at had metal legs and a bright aqua Formica top. I just knew he took off for work in a 1952 Chevy. None of this was a bad feeling; it was a different picture portrayed. The most important thing I want to add in closing is that this is not just a couple of stories for adults only. I think these are excellent for YA too. There are also points young people can identify with.