Review: Her Time to Shine

Title: Her Time to Shine

Author: Fiona McCallum

Publisher: 30th March 2022 by Harlequin Australia & HQ Fiction

Pages: 419 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary, women’s fiction 

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Sometimes serendipity comes knocking, and life leads us to the most surprising places ...

It's never too late to find your true self.

While very pretty, the tiny town of Melrose isn't where Erica thought she'd be at almost fifty. And working in a funeral home and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, while navigating her grief as a recent widow, is not how she thought her life would look either. But she's committed to her lovely new boss, Walter, who gave her a chance when she so desperately needed it.

Erica's friends and daughters back in Adelaide cheer her on as she discovers a genuine love for her new job, forms friendships and immerses herself in the local community. But why is she being plagued with fresh bouts of anxiety and flashes of partial memories of her brother Mark who died when she was eleven? Why is there so much about him she doesn't know and can't remember? And why does it feel like it's more about her than him?

But she has to put it all aside when, despite being happy and settled, Erica is suddenly called upon to step up and face her deepest fear. If she can, what will she discover about herself and her past? And what will it mean for her future?

My Thoughts

‘..too many people took too much notice of what others thought they needed, including random strangers, rather than listening to themselves and chasing their own dreams.’

Another winning contemporary story by Aussie author Fiona McCallum. This is the story of Erica and the journey of self discovery she goes through after suffering from PTSD. Her life has not been the easiest, yet with the help of friends, she gains the confidence to face her fears, work through them in order to make a better future for herself. 

Her Time to Shine is a heartwarming read, I love it when characters overcome personal adversity and learn through their trials. I particularly appreciated how Fiona demonstrates that the journey can occur no matter what one’s age. Grief, trauma, anxiety or even starting anew can affect us all very differently and at varying times of our lives. Overcoming it takes courage. Fiona shows us that with the right support, anything is possible. 

Reflective, sincere, compassionate and insightful - this is a story that is sure to have something for everyone as it takes you on an emotional journey where you are sure to come out richer on the other side. 

‘All the pieces that had come together over her lifetime to put her there were 

too mind-boggling to contemplate. But one thing she was sure in her soul was that now was absolutely the right time for this, with who she was and what she’d learnt.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: A Life of Her Own

Title:  A Life of Her Own

Author: Fiona McCallum

Publisher: 18th March 2019 by Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction, Non Fiction, YA) & MIRA

Pages: 416 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: women fiction

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

When knowledge gives you the power to change your life ... Alice Hamilton loved being a mature-age student, but now she's finished her university degree she needs to find herself a career. But the job market is tough and it doesn't help that her partner David keeps reminding her about their sizeable mortgage. When she's offered a role in a major real estate agency, she jumps at the opportunity. David is excited by her prospects in the thriving Melbourne housing market, and Alice is pleased that she'll be utilising her exceptional people skills.

But Alice quickly realises all is not as it seems. What is she doing wrong to be so out of sync with her energetic boss, Carmel Gold, agent extraordinaire? Alice is determined to make it work, but how much will it affect her values?

As everything starts to fall apart, a sudden visit home to the country town Alice escaped years ago provides an unexpected opportunity to get some perspective. Surrounded by people who aren't what they seem, or have their own agendas, can Alice learn to ask for what she really wants ... on her own terms?

From Australia's master storyteller comes an inspiring story about standing up for yourself, making difficult choices and chasing your dreams.

My Thoughts

A Fiona McCallum book will always provide you with a good dose of reality tied together with an emotional plot line. On this occasion, there is Alice who, after a failed marriage and undertaking studies as a mature age student, tries to find a place in the workforce to help her partner with the payment of their new home in Melbourne. Sadly, however, she doesn’t enjoy her work and longs for a fulfilling life. Thus begins a journey of self discovery, of picking up the pieces and finding the courage to try and start anew. Can Alice make ‘A Life of Her Own’?

There are many hurdles and hoops for Alice to jump over and work her way through in this book ... so many, in fact, that it becomes somewhat dull. There is the sad upbringing, unsupportive family, failed marriage, the domineering and uncaring partner, the vicious boss .... the list is long. So with little support, Alice understandably starts to fall apart, crying regularly and often. Unfortunately the overkill makes me blase regarding her plight as it all gets a bit repetitive.

Yet for those readers who can relate to one, or all, of the sad scenarios, then Fiona’s writing will undoubtedly speak to you. There are many emotionally charged pages as you hope Alice will indeed find the courage to forge ‘a life of her own’ in this heartfelt tale; that she will overcome life’s hurdles and find the strength to create a brighter future for herself.

‘In not too long you’ll be in a much better place and you’ll look back on this time and laugh at how hopeless it all seemed. Meanwhile, I think you need to relax, ease up on yourself, not expect to have all the answers–that’s the universe’s job. Put it out there and ask for help. That’s what I do.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Review: Making Peace

Title: Making Peace

Author: Fiona McCallum

Publisher: 19 March 2018 by Harlequin (Australia), TEEN / MIRA

Pages: 384 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: general fiction, women's fiction

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Does one simple act of kindness have the power to completely turn someone’s life around?

It’s been a year since Hannah Ainsley lost her husband and parents – her whole family – in a car crash on Christmas morning. Despite her overwhelming loss, she’s worked hard to pull the pieces of her life together with the help of a group of dear, loyal friends. But while Hannah is beginning to become excited about the future again, she's concerned that her best friend and talented artist Sam is facing a crisis of her own. It's now Hannah's turn to be Sam's rock – can she save Sam’s dreams from unravelling?

When Hannah returns to work after her holidays, she can’t settle. She’s loved her job for a decade, and it’s been her lifeline during her grief. But something’s changed. She’s changed. And for all this time she’s avoided knowing the details of the accident or investigation – what would be the point, she’d thought, when nothing will bring her loved ones back? But after a chance meeting, it’s all there in front of her – and, like ripples in a pond, it extends beyond her own experiences. Could knowing be the key to her recovery? Could her involvement be the key to someone else’s?

From Australia’s master storyteller comes an uplifting story of new and old friendships, letting go of the past and looking to the future...

My Thoughts

‘Making Peace’ is the follow up to Fiona McCallum’s ‘Finding Hannah’ (which I have not read) and while it is a sequel, you can be assured that you will enjoy this as a standalone. This novel picks up one year after Hannah Ainsley lost her husband and parents in a tragic Christmas Day car accident. Hannah has spent the past twelve months moving through the process of grief, supported by her special group of friends.

This is the story of how Hannah has reached a point in her life where she attempts to move on. Her loss will always be felt in her heart, however, she is making a conscious decision to move on with life. You can therefore understand that this is a tale of dealing with grief and how people cope with it. Given the circumstances of Hannah’s tragic loss, I believe the central theme of this tale revolves around the capacity to forgive as the first step in moving on. The need of strong, supportive friendships is also presented as being essential. Fiona tries to stress what she calls the ‘ripple effect’ in how kind acts can be repaid over and over in others lives.

‘I think it’s good that people, especially those you care about, are using what’s happened as a catalyst for change in a good way’

If you are a person who has been struggling with loss, then you may find this tale to be a soothing balm. For me, I found it a ‘nice’ story but it does not really go anywhere. Everyone just seemed to be too nice and too accomodating, and Hannah would undoubtedly be one of the purest, kindest and most forgiving characters ever written. Yet, this may be the message Fiona is trying to convey, that to experience such a horrific loss, how does one move on? Maybe it does all come down to one’s forgiving nature to start the journey of healing and moving forward.  I also struggled with the amount of (what I believe was unnecessary) dialogue even from secondary characters eg. waitresses. It just dragged the story down to discuss every little detail or thought. I disliked the whole ‘stalking’ storyline - brushed aside too quickly for my liking.

Overall, however, this is indeed a lovely and uplifting tale providing a happy closure with a strong message of being kind and forgiving.

“It’s inside you. You have to find your reason for living and making peace with it all.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.