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Trees Cry for Rain
a gripping novel of betrayal, where the past ruthlessly crashes into the present-
It’s August in Bryant Park, New York. A man with fiery eyes hovers on the edge of a grisly mystery.
Five hundred years earlier, Rozas, a Marrano or Secret Jew, is betrayed – anonymously reported to the Spanish Holy Office of The Inquisition. Dragged into an underground dungeon, Rozas is tortured, forced to “confess” crimes against the church, and convicted of heresy.
The Inquisitors demand that she reveal the fate of her three young daughters. She refuses. Rozas is burned alive at the stake; the secret dies with her.
The story jumps seamlessly in time, connecting Rozas, the man with fiery eyes, and characters that amble across Bryant Park’s Great Lawn. Suddenly three women find each other in the park.
Time freezes. The man is ready. Something unthinkable is about to happen.
It’s August in Bryant Park, New York. A man with fiery eyes hovers on the edge of a grisly mystery.
Five hundred years earlier, Rozas, a Marrano or Secret Jew, is betrayed – anonymously reported to the Spanish Holy Office of The Inquisition. Dragged into an underground dungeon, Rozas is tortured, forced to “confess” crimes against the church, and convicted of heresy.
The Inquisitors demand that she reveal the fate of her three young daughters. She refuses. Rozas is burned alive at the stake; the secret dies with her.
The story jumps seamlessly in time, connecting Rozas, the man with fiery eyes, and characters that amble across Bryant Park’s Great Lawn. Suddenly three women find each other in the park.
Time freezes. The man is ready. Something unthinkable is about to happen.
ebook
First published May 1, 2011
About the author
Jeri Fink
35 books2 followersDr. Jeri Fink is a bestselling author, photographer, and family therapist/clinical social worker. She has worked in mental health, written over 32 nonfiction and fiction books for adults and children, and published hundreds of articles and blogs on and off line. Topics cover everything from history and technology to psychology, humor, and culture.
She is the founder and publisher of Book Web Publishing and can be found on bookwebminis.com.
Laugh with Whaddya Think, Dr. Fink? her bi-weekly blog about the humor in life: https://bit.ly/2GdskfS.
Join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Book-Web-Min...
She is the founder and publisher of Book Web Publishing and can be found on bookwebminis.com.
Laugh with Whaddya Think, Dr. Fink? her bi-weekly blog about the humor in life: https://bit.ly/2GdskfS.
Join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Book-Web-Min...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 4, 2011
Trees Cry For Rain is a fictional historical account of the past meeting the future.
The story sets out during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, where those who did not follow the "one true God" were tortured, raped, baptized against their will, had their children stolen and even brutally murdered. It was a time when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella ruled the land and systematically cleansed it of all known religious atrocities. If you were Jewish, you paid lip service to the Catholic faith while practising your own faith in complete secrecy.
It was a time when you didn't trust your friends nor your family and everyone was pointing the finger at another in hopes to save their own skin. Torture was common practise to illicit those people who may be worshipping a religion that was banned.
When the guards arrive to arrest Rozas and Lucas, Rozas enlists family friend, Rafael, to take their three daughters and hide them. Giving them all their money and tying a piece of a key around each of them, she vows they will all find each other again one day. Knowing their deaths are at hand, the parents stand their ground in order for the four to reach safety.
Catalina, Zara and Marianna follow Rafael through the tunnel that leads them to safety and from there they fight every day for survival. Along their journey they are separated and each must face their futures against all odds in order to survive.
After Rozas is tortured for information about her daughters, she refuses and is burned at the stake, taking her love for her family with her. However, after 500 years has passed the past comes back to haunt three woman and the man with the fiery eyes. When Aliki, Shira, Ria and Cole meet up, they soon come to realize that in some strange way, they were all meant to be together.
I thought the depictions of the Spanish Inquisition to be quite graphic and detailed. The writer doesn't throw any punches when it comes to the atrocities that must have ensued during this murderous and troublesome time of our history. To be persecuted for having a belief is not only asinine but totally appalling. It is almost unbelievable that so many people could be killed in the name of God. Dr. Fink writes with much depth and information and truly draws you into the story.
The innocence of young Catalina and her sickly plight was heartbreaking to endure as you read her story. The situation in which Zara found herself in will leave you shaking your head. How any priest or nun could perform such acts with murderous hate is truly an exasperation. The glee in which some of these characters took in the barbarities that they attributed will leave you with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.
I wasn't as fond of the future aspect of the story. The flow between the two time frames didn't flow as nicely as I would have liked it. I also found it to be a bit wooden and stiff. How the four came together wasn't written with as much detail as I would have liked. I also found several editorial issues where sentences began and/or ended in mid-sentence. I usually bypass a few but when it becomes apparent the book has more than its fair share, it kind of draws away from the story. You have to stop and pull yourself out of the story in order to understand the sentence/paragraph structure.
All in all though it was a worthy read, anyone who loves historical pieces will be sure to enjoy this.
The story sets out during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, where those who did not follow the "one true God" were tortured, raped, baptized against their will, had their children stolen and even brutally murdered. It was a time when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella ruled the land and systematically cleansed it of all known religious atrocities. If you were Jewish, you paid lip service to the Catholic faith while practising your own faith in complete secrecy.
It was a time when you didn't trust your friends nor your family and everyone was pointing the finger at another in hopes to save their own skin. Torture was common practise to illicit those people who may be worshipping a religion that was banned.
When the guards arrive to arrest Rozas and Lucas, Rozas enlists family friend, Rafael, to take their three daughters and hide them. Giving them all their money and tying a piece of a key around each of them, she vows they will all find each other again one day. Knowing their deaths are at hand, the parents stand their ground in order for the four to reach safety.
Catalina, Zara and Marianna follow Rafael through the tunnel that leads them to safety and from there they fight every day for survival. Along their journey they are separated and each must face their futures against all odds in order to survive.
After Rozas is tortured for information about her daughters, she refuses and is burned at the stake, taking her love for her family with her. However, after 500 years has passed the past comes back to haunt three woman and the man with the fiery eyes. When Aliki, Shira, Ria and Cole meet up, they soon come to realize that in some strange way, they were all meant to be together.
I thought the depictions of the Spanish Inquisition to be quite graphic and detailed. The writer doesn't throw any punches when it comes to the atrocities that must have ensued during this murderous and troublesome time of our history. To be persecuted for having a belief is not only asinine but totally appalling. It is almost unbelievable that so many people could be killed in the name of God. Dr. Fink writes with much depth and information and truly draws you into the story.
The innocence of young Catalina and her sickly plight was heartbreaking to endure as you read her story. The situation in which Zara found herself in will leave you shaking your head. How any priest or nun could perform such acts with murderous hate is truly an exasperation. The glee in which some of these characters took in the barbarities that they attributed will leave you with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.
I wasn't as fond of the future aspect of the story. The flow between the two time frames didn't flow as nicely as I would have liked it. I also found it to be a bit wooden and stiff. How the four came together wasn't written with as much detail as I would have liked. I also found several editorial issues where sentences began and/or ended in mid-sentence. I usually bypass a few but when it becomes apparent the book has more than its fair share, it kind of draws away from the story. You have to stop and pull yourself out of the story in order to understand the sentence/paragraph structure.
All in all though it was a worthy read, anyone who loves historical pieces will be sure to enjoy this.
August 21, 2011
I began Trees Cry for Rain thinking it would be another time shifting historical fiction novel. That it would be good, but not awesome. Wow - I was wrong. From the very opening pages, I was gripped. The story begins with a family in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. They are Jews who are desperately pretending to be Christians. They are betrayed, the parents are sent to prison, and the children have to flee. The story switches gears after that and we meet modern day New Yorkers who are connected somehow - to each other, and to the horrible persecutions of the past. It's difficult to say more than that without divulging too much but believe me - this is one powerful book.
The transitions between time periods and characters are seamless. The scene descriptions and background inclusions are beautiful and always a positive. The characters are deep and reach out from the pages to grab your heart. The sheer amount of research that had to happen for this novel blows my mind. I followed the characters on their journey and found it all to easy to see their surroundings, to feel their emotions, and to worry for their fates. This novel has all of the components of an epic success - strong characters, engrossing plot, and gripping themes. I look forward to future works from Ms. Fink!
The transitions between time periods and characters are seamless. The scene descriptions and background inclusions are beautiful and always a positive. The characters are deep and reach out from the pages to grab your heart. The sheer amount of research that had to happen for this novel blows my mind. I followed the characters on their journey and found it all to easy to see their surroundings, to feel their emotions, and to worry for their fates. This novel has all of the components of an epic success - strong characters, engrossing plot, and gripping themes. I look forward to future works from Ms. Fink!
September 6, 2011
In all the books I have read, I have never read one about the Spanish Inquisition. This book was such an eye opener for me and had me thinking about it for several days. In some books that I have read, the transition from one time to another was a little rough. Not so with this book. The story seemed to flow nicely. I really liked the objects, either physical or verbal, that connected each time as well (a key split into several pieces, purple flowers and trees crying for rain). This is great read, with brave and courageous characters with an interesting ending.
*Sex is mentioned and slightly described.
http://dragonflowersandbooks.blogspot...
*Sex is mentioned and slightly described.
http://dragonflowersandbooks.blogspot...
July 21, 2011
Read this book!! OK, yes, it's written by my mother-in-law, but it's an amazing historical fiction novel that takes place both in NYC and in Spain during the Inquisition. If you have any interest in Jewish history, or just love an amazing story, this is the book for you!
September 9, 2011
Really interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews