What do you think?
Rate this book
Song of the Phoenix
When you've brought up your children singlehandedly you don't expect to have to do it again with someone else's, well at least Alannah Sherratt didn't. Life with Bernie Kelsall and his daughters was idyllic, but Bernie wasn't supposed to die... How was Alannah to raise his girls as he'd have wanted, and deal with their grief whilst dealing with her own?
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2011
6 people want to read
About the author
Sherrie Lowe
30 books52 followerswebsite www.sherrielowe.co.uk
I am a divorced mother of two adult sons and I have five lovely grandchildren. I was working as a learning support assistant in a mainstream high school when I became ill with ME (also called chronic fatigue syndrome) in 1995. I have since written eleven novels and two memoirs and Song of the Phoenix although the fourth to be written is the first to be published, mainly because the first three are more or less a trilogy.
As of June 2012 - all novels and the memoirs are now published and available in paperback from http://www.feedaread.com/
and Kindle editions from http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_n...
Writing has kept me sane through what is an extremely debilitating and isolating illness and my aim is to earn my living from it.
I am a divorced mother of two adult sons and I have five lovely grandchildren. I was working as a learning support assistant in a mainstream high school when I became ill with ME (also called chronic fatigue syndrome) in 1995. I have since written eleven novels and two memoirs and Song of the Phoenix although the fourth to be written is the first to be published, mainly because the first three are more or less a trilogy.
As of June 2012 - all novels and the memoirs are now published and available in paperback from http://www.feedaread.com/
and Kindle editions from http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_n...
Writing has kept me sane through what is an extremely debilitating and isolating illness and my aim is to earn my living from it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 23, 2023
How to Overcome Loss and Learn to Live Again
Alannah has just lost her beloved Bernie to cancer. A divorced woman with grown-up children, she never expected to raise another set of girls. Worse, she must now do that alone.
Keeley and Sophie, grieve too, but in different ways. Sophie withdraws from everybody except her friends. Keeley shoulders her pain and does what she can to get on with life.
Ms Lowe poses difficult questions. How to bring up stepchildren when fighting your grief. How to cope with loss and learn to live. Song of the Phoenix is a poignant story about pain, but it also shows the reader the possibility of raising from the ashes and fly.
Alannah has just lost her beloved Bernie to cancer. A divorced woman with grown-up children, she never expected to raise another set of girls. Worse, she must now do that alone.
Keeley and Sophie, grieve too, but in different ways. Sophie withdraws from everybody except her friends. Keeley shoulders her pain and does what she can to get on with life.
Ms Lowe poses difficult questions. How to bring up stepchildren when fighting your grief. How to cope with loss and learn to live. Song of the Phoenix is a poignant story about pain, but it also shows the reader the possibility of raising from the ashes and fly.
September 9, 2015
A story of loss, love and new beginnings.
Bymaureen turner-books by maureenon December 2, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition
I have read all of Sherrie Lowe's novels, this being the last and am hoping that she will be penning more in the near future. I enjoyed her 'Willows Dip' series which introduces the reader to the fictional characters of the afore said Willows Dip village.
Song of the Phoenix is one of her 'stand alone' novels and tells the story of the recently bereaved Allanah Sherritt. At a time when most people would struggle to come to terms with the loss of a loved partner poor Allanah has the added difficulties of comforting her two step daughters through their own grieving process. Don't be put off by the sound of a gloomy story because this certainly isn't a depressing read.
Ms. Lowe is a master (or should I say mistress) of introducing a myriad of characters into her stories. The late Bernie's two girls couldn't be more different. Keeley, the sensitive kind young woman as opposed to her younger sister Sophie, the rebellious teenager. Allanah certainly has her work cut out when young Sophie piles problem upon problem for her to sort out whilst still grieving her own loss. With the help of Monica, Bernie's mother, she helps Sophie through an unplanned pregnancy.
During the course of the story we meet many more characters including the extended family and the love interests of those involved.
It's not until the very last sentence that we finally glean what the future holds for the stoic Allanah herself. A worthy ending.
November 26, 2011
I am the author of this book and I'd like to add a short synopsis of it. It is a story of the growth of a family following the loss of its founder member. The story information on the back cover reads: When you've brought up your children singlehandedly you don't expect to have to do it again with someone else's, at least Alannah Sherratt didn't. Life with Bernie Kelsall and his daughters was idyllic but Bernie wasn't supposed to die... How was Alannah to raise his girls as he'd have wanted and deal with their grief whilst dealing with her own?
If you read it I hope you enjoy it and I'd appreciate feedback. Thank you Sherrie Lowe
If you read it I hope you enjoy it and I'd appreciate feedback. Thank you Sherrie Lowe
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews