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Given Lives
Given Lives. A village. A plague. An extraordinary love.
From the back cover -
SEPTEMBER 1665.
Plague ravages the English capital, London.
Thousands are left dead.
In the Derbyshire village of Eyam, 160 miles north of the London tragedies, Kitty Allenby is settling into country life. Encouraged by her Aunt Anne and Uncle Robert, she is excited for the year ahead.
That is until a stranger arrives from London, bringing a parcel of cloth for the local tailor – cloth infested with plague-carrying fleas.
Within weeks, Eyam is under siege.
By spring 1666, drastic action is needed to contain the spread of disease. What can be done?
The Reverend William Mompesson thinks he knows. For his plan to succeed, Mompesson will need the co-operation of the whole community, including his predecessor and rival, Thomas Stanley.
Will the two men be able to put aside the deep mistrust of one another for the sake of the people they are called to serve? How will the doomed villagers respond?
And what of Kitty? Can she learn to love a community not her own, perhaps paying the ultimate price alongside strangers she barely knows?
Based on true events, Given Lives is a story of bravery and sacrifice, of love that laid itself down for the sake of others. It is a whisper through time to each of us confronted by a modern plague, the global Covid 19 pandemic. Will we attune our ears and listen?
From the back cover -
SEPTEMBER 1665.
Plague ravages the English capital, London.
Thousands are left dead.
In the Derbyshire village of Eyam, 160 miles north of the London tragedies, Kitty Allenby is settling into country life. Encouraged by her Aunt Anne and Uncle Robert, she is excited for the year ahead.
That is until a stranger arrives from London, bringing a parcel of cloth for the local tailor – cloth infested with plague-carrying fleas.
Within weeks, Eyam is under siege.
By spring 1666, drastic action is needed to contain the spread of disease. What can be done?
The Reverend William Mompesson thinks he knows. For his plan to succeed, Mompesson will need the co-operation of the whole community, including his predecessor and rival, Thomas Stanley.
Will the two men be able to put aside the deep mistrust of one another for the sake of the people they are called to serve? How will the doomed villagers respond?
And what of Kitty? Can she learn to love a community not her own, perhaps paying the ultimate price alongside strangers she barely knows?
Based on true events, Given Lives is a story of bravery and sacrifice, of love that laid itself down for the sake of others. It is a whisper through time to each of us confronted by a modern plague, the global Covid 19 pandemic. Will we attune our ears and listen?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 8, 2022
This charming novel, based on the true story of the village of Eyam, in Derbyshire, is most relevant for our times. How did this village and its inhabitants caught up in the horrors of the plague in 1666-67 deal with it? There are certainly conflicting interests with two Church leaders and their differing points of view. But there are also conflicts of newcomers versus the local inhabitants; who will they listen to? The author has skillfully woven the story of the fictitious Kitty in with the events and people she has researched. She brought to life the actual inhabitants and their lifestyle, most admirably. This, with her own local knowledge of the area, makes it a truly believable story. Much research went into this book with graphic descriptions of the bodily effects of the disease, which may be a bit squeamish for sensitive readers. I really enjoyed the author's storytelling and could visualize myself in the village. I loved the way she also wove the story of God's overarching grace through the events. Reconciling many individual conflicts for the sake of the greater good of the entire population, not only of Eyam but also the surrounding towns. The story was so gripping I could not put the book down until I had finished it. The book has a message for our times, and it is well worth the read to find those golden nuggets to ponder over. I was given a copy of the book by the Author for review.
August 14, 2021
What an exciting book to read. I learnt so much about the Village Eyam and the plague. Written so beautifully by Anna. I felt like I was a part of the village and all the characters involved. Amazing how a community can pull together during a crisis. The sacrifices people make to support each other is so heartwarming. I enjoy following the life of Kitty how she dealt with the changes she faced. Such a difficult time for such a young lady. The book shows faith and trust in God where a whole community joins together in their faith, standing on the promises of God's Word. This book will pull on your heart and give you insight into the love and sacrifices people make for each other. I found this book so enlighten and enjoyable to read. Well done, Anna.
August 13, 2021
Spoil yourself with this Historical trip some 300 years ago which speaks into our current world. Sweet romance and a sacrificial expression of love that we can glean from. Beautiful intricate detail that draws you into the lives of the people of Eyam. Great read!! Enjoy.
August 20, 2021
Given Lives is written in a genre I don't normally read.
Historical Fiction is not my favourite read, but when the author gave me an ARC to read with a view to leaving a review, I could hardly refuse. And I'm so glad I didn't.
From the moment I started reading, I was drawn into the lives of Kitty and the residents of the small village of Eyam. As I got to know the fictitious but very believable young woman, Kitty, and the family she stayed with, I had to read more about their story. Would they get the plague? How would they relate to others who were ill?
As more and more of the residents fell ill with the deadly pestilence, I couldn't put the book down. The village faced an epidemic, not unlike our current situation. Yet there were no antibiotics, no sanitisers or masks for sale, and certainly no thought of a vaccine.
Seeing how the residents faced this horrific scourge, and how they cared for one another while keeping their faith in God, makes for a fascinating read, all the more because of our own current pandemic. How amazing to know that the story is true - and it happened over 400 years ago.
If you enjoy historical fiction OR nonfiction, this book will make an excellent read for you. But if you, like me, don't normally enjoy historical fiction, at least give the book a try. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Although I received my copy with a view to writing a review, I was not asked for a positive review. My opinions are entirely my own.
For an interview with the author of this book, follow this link to read about Anna Jensen.
Purchase this book at https://books2read.com/givenlives.
South Africans may buy the paperback direct here, or from Anna's Facebook or Instagram author page
Historical Fiction is not my favourite read, but when the author gave me an ARC to read with a view to leaving a review, I could hardly refuse. And I'm so glad I didn't.
From the moment I started reading, I was drawn into the lives of Kitty and the residents of the small village of Eyam. As I got to know the fictitious but very believable young woman, Kitty, and the family she stayed with, I had to read more about their story. Would they get the plague? How would they relate to others who were ill?
As more and more of the residents fell ill with the deadly pestilence, I couldn't put the book down. The village faced an epidemic, not unlike our current situation. Yet there were no antibiotics, no sanitisers or masks for sale, and certainly no thought of a vaccine.
Seeing how the residents faced this horrific scourge, and how they cared for one another while keeping their faith in God, makes for a fascinating read, all the more because of our own current pandemic. How amazing to know that the story is true - and it happened over 400 years ago.
If you enjoy historical fiction OR nonfiction, this book will make an excellent read for you. But if you, like me, don't normally enjoy historical fiction, at least give the book a try. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Although I received my copy with a view to writing a review, I was not asked for a positive review. My opinions are entirely my own.
For an interview with the author of this book, follow this link to read about Anna Jensen.
Purchase this book at https://books2read.com/givenlives.
South Africans may buy the paperback direct here, or from Anna's Facebook or Instagram author page
August 20, 2021
I absolutely loved this historical novel about a tiny town in Derbyshire, England during a time of terrible political and religious unrest in the mid1600s. This tiny town of Eyam was hit with the bubonic plague and its leaders took drastic measures to contain the spread. I love how Anna was able to bring life back into a village of people who lived over three hundred years ago with her attention to detail and descriptions!
August 13, 2021
Aesthetic Book Cover
Compelling Story & Plotting
Overall, I keep turning pages up to last.
I enjoyed reading this book.
Compelling Story & Plotting
Overall, I keep turning pages up to last.
I enjoyed reading this book.
December 21, 2021
Like footprints in a dusty room, the villagers of Eyam have left their imprint.
She recalled the stories of the plagues God unleashed on Pharoah and the Egyptians in punishment for their harsh treatment of His Israelite children. There had been frogs and gnats, and yes, boils. Was Eyam being punished for a secret she knew nothing about?
In truth, this is a historical novel whose theme resonates to our day and how history repeats itself throughout time. Some people learn the lessons from the past, some don’t, but still, all must suffer the consequences.
In the fall of 1665, the horrific Black Death sweeps through London, killing thousands, and the stories of the outbreak reach the quaint town of Eyam in Derbyshire... but that is not all that reaches the villagers. One young man, an assistant to the local tailor, brings a load of cloth to the town that is infested with plague-carrying fleas. In no time at all, Eyam’s residents are struck with the plague, and one by one, they succumb to the deadly disease.
In the story, we see this real-life story unfold through the eyes of Kitty Allenby, a young girl who dreams of a life with a young man named John, whose aspirations take him away from the village so he can gain a skill and they can get married. While she waits for him to return, the plague hits the village, and Kitty, who is staying with her aunt and uncle, must remain there and help out her family while watching the horrors around her. Her future and the future of her family hangs in the balance.
While staying with her aunt and uncle, she is befriended by the Reverend Mompresson’s wife, Catherine, and is invited to come help with some of their workload when they discover that she can read and write. While with the Mompressons, she sees the wrangling of religion views between the Reverend and the former preacher, Thomas Stanley, but how they put aside their differences to help the people of the village in this time of need.
While Kitty is a fictitious character, the story behind what happened in Eyam is true, and even if Kitty’s character never fully engaged my interest in her story, the rest of what happens certainly does, as does the relevancy to our day. Anna Jensen’s timing in writing and releasing this novel is spot-on, as well as the lessons it teaches about putting aside differences to save lives. Yet, to any reader who reads this novel, any worldwide audience, the key is to see the similarities between the plague of 1666 and our own plague of 2021, and not to just sit by and nod their head in recognition but to do their part in resolving the tide of death; the same as the villagers abided by the leading of Reverend Mompresson and Thomas Stanley.
For my part, the two characters which captivated me most in the storyline is that of the Reverend and his wife. She is kind and does her part to help those in need, even putting her own life in jeopardy; and the Reverend comes up with a solution to save the village – that of complete isolation from the outside world: no one enters and no one leaves, and everyone must stay home with their families. Even his religious services are moved outdoors, which as Kitty states the Reverend ‘seemed so out of place in this outdoor setting. He was a man of pattern and conformity, unlike the Puritan preachers who had long ago become accustomed to ministering to their flocks in the fields and along the byways’. The moments in the narrative with this man and his wife felt so authentic and emotional, and thoughts of them lingered with me after finishing the tragic story.
And the narrative itself flowed like Eyam’s nearby River Dane, whose Welsh name means a ‘drop or trickle’ implying ‘slow moving’ and the authentic use of time period language takes a little adjustment. That being said, this did not take away from the storyline which kept me motivated to want to know what happens to Kitty and her family. The devastation is heartbreaking, and when death comes close to Kitty in a very unexpected way, the raw emotions are laid bare for the reader. Again, as a reader, you are reminded of the realities that many have faced in our own era of losing those we love to a plague.
The reader will truly appreciate Ms Jensen’s notes at the end, and how this story is just one of her Ripple Through Time series. She says these are ‘stories of how God takes the ordinary and transforms it into something extraordinary. The smallest of stones, tossed into smooth water, will create waves; concentric circles spreading outward to reach beyond the immediate or seen. So too, the seemingly insignificant actions of today can leave ripples that are felt into eternity.’ - I loved this notation which encompassed all that this story is trying to teach, and I look forward to the next in the series.
Here are some of my favorite passages:
As their reverend climbed to his verdant pulpit, the parishioners of Eyam settled down into their chosen spots on the grass. Together but separate, they remained in their small family groups, not wishing to mingle and mix as they would on other Sundays. Everything was different – not just their place of meeting, but the way of meeting too. There was now an invisible barrier between them, an irrevocable change in circumstances that required an irrevocable change in behaviour.
The cottage smelled of sugar and woodsmoke. Kitty’s fingers became calloused and ugly from the hours spent at the spinning wheel; her shoulders ached from stooping and her eyes watered from the strain of trying to see what she was doing in the dimness of the candlelight.
*****
Given Lives by Anna Jensen is awarded five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award by The Historical Fiction Company
She recalled the stories of the plagues God unleashed on Pharoah and the Egyptians in punishment for their harsh treatment of His Israelite children. There had been frogs and gnats, and yes, boils. Was Eyam being punished for a secret she knew nothing about?
In truth, this is a historical novel whose theme resonates to our day and how history repeats itself throughout time. Some people learn the lessons from the past, some don’t, but still, all must suffer the consequences.
In the fall of 1665, the horrific Black Death sweeps through London, killing thousands, and the stories of the outbreak reach the quaint town of Eyam in Derbyshire... but that is not all that reaches the villagers. One young man, an assistant to the local tailor, brings a load of cloth to the town that is infested with plague-carrying fleas. In no time at all, Eyam’s residents are struck with the plague, and one by one, they succumb to the deadly disease.
In the story, we see this real-life story unfold through the eyes of Kitty Allenby, a young girl who dreams of a life with a young man named John, whose aspirations take him away from the village so he can gain a skill and they can get married. While she waits for him to return, the plague hits the village, and Kitty, who is staying with her aunt and uncle, must remain there and help out her family while watching the horrors around her. Her future and the future of her family hangs in the balance.
While staying with her aunt and uncle, she is befriended by the Reverend Mompresson’s wife, Catherine, and is invited to come help with some of their workload when they discover that she can read and write. While with the Mompressons, she sees the wrangling of religion views between the Reverend and the former preacher, Thomas Stanley, but how they put aside their differences to help the people of the village in this time of need.
While Kitty is a fictitious character, the story behind what happened in Eyam is true, and even if Kitty’s character never fully engaged my interest in her story, the rest of what happens certainly does, as does the relevancy to our day. Anna Jensen’s timing in writing and releasing this novel is spot-on, as well as the lessons it teaches about putting aside differences to save lives. Yet, to any reader who reads this novel, any worldwide audience, the key is to see the similarities between the plague of 1666 and our own plague of 2021, and not to just sit by and nod their head in recognition but to do their part in resolving the tide of death; the same as the villagers abided by the leading of Reverend Mompresson and Thomas Stanley.
For my part, the two characters which captivated me most in the storyline is that of the Reverend and his wife. She is kind and does her part to help those in need, even putting her own life in jeopardy; and the Reverend comes up with a solution to save the village – that of complete isolation from the outside world: no one enters and no one leaves, and everyone must stay home with their families. Even his religious services are moved outdoors, which as Kitty states the Reverend ‘seemed so out of place in this outdoor setting. He was a man of pattern and conformity, unlike the Puritan preachers who had long ago become accustomed to ministering to their flocks in the fields and along the byways’. The moments in the narrative with this man and his wife felt so authentic and emotional, and thoughts of them lingered with me after finishing the tragic story.
And the narrative itself flowed like Eyam’s nearby River Dane, whose Welsh name means a ‘drop or trickle’ implying ‘slow moving’ and the authentic use of time period language takes a little adjustment. That being said, this did not take away from the storyline which kept me motivated to want to know what happens to Kitty and her family. The devastation is heartbreaking, and when death comes close to Kitty in a very unexpected way, the raw emotions are laid bare for the reader. Again, as a reader, you are reminded of the realities that many have faced in our own era of losing those we love to a plague.
The reader will truly appreciate Ms Jensen’s notes at the end, and how this story is just one of her Ripple Through Time series. She says these are ‘stories of how God takes the ordinary and transforms it into something extraordinary. The smallest of stones, tossed into smooth water, will create waves; concentric circles spreading outward to reach beyond the immediate or seen. So too, the seemingly insignificant actions of today can leave ripples that are felt into eternity.’ - I loved this notation which encompassed all that this story is trying to teach, and I look forward to the next in the series.
Here are some of my favorite passages:
As their reverend climbed to his verdant pulpit, the parishioners of Eyam settled down into their chosen spots on the grass. Together but separate, they remained in their small family groups, not wishing to mingle and mix as they would on other Sundays. Everything was different – not just their place of meeting, but the way of meeting too. There was now an invisible barrier between them, an irrevocable change in circumstances that required an irrevocable change in behaviour.
The cottage smelled of sugar and woodsmoke. Kitty’s fingers became calloused and ugly from the hours spent at the spinning wheel; her shoulders ached from stooping and her eyes watered from the strain of trying to see what she was doing in the dimness of the candlelight.
*****
Given Lives by Anna Jensen is awarded five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award by The Historical Fiction Company
August 20, 2021
Given Lives wonderfully captures a short period of history in England in the late 1600s when a community was faced with a dreadful disease that had to be stopped before it spread around the district. Ordinary country people in one particular village took a bold step and imposed a quarantine on themselves to spare the neighbouring towns the horror they were facing. And indeed it was horror.
Anna writes incredibly well and I became completely engrossed in the characters' lives, feeling their despair, heartache and joy, and unable to prevent myself crying when I came to one scene in particular. Of course the subject of a community isolating to prevent the spread of a vicious disease is perfectly timed during our current pandemic, and many will empathise with the feeling of being isolated and the dread that's felt when a family member falls ill.
Anna's detailed descriptions of the village and surrounds as well as the characters are spot on, and I can visualise all of them walking around in my head.
I love historical fiction and Given Lives just entrenched that further. With this book I also got a new appreciation for how much behind the scenes work there is for an author to properly research a particular time and event in history in order to represent it well even to those of us who would know no different if they slipped up. It's even more remarkable because Anna wove a wonderful tale with all but one of her characters being real people who lived in Eyam at the time and whose deaths and families she has faithfully catalogued.
Even if we weren't currently living through a pandemic this is a wonderful story to get engrossed in as you curl up on the couch with a cup of tea. It's easy reading and you'll be glued to the pages, so warn the family that dinner may be late.
Anna is an author worth keeping an eye on because this is just the first of her historical novel series - Ripples in Time. After reading the first chapter of her next book (in the back of this one), I can't wait for that to be available too.
(I received an advanced reader's copy but the views are my own.)
Anna writes incredibly well and I became completely engrossed in the characters' lives, feeling their despair, heartache and joy, and unable to prevent myself crying when I came to one scene in particular. Of course the subject of a community isolating to prevent the spread of a vicious disease is perfectly timed during our current pandemic, and many will empathise with the feeling of being isolated and the dread that's felt when a family member falls ill.
Anna's detailed descriptions of the village and surrounds as well as the characters are spot on, and I can visualise all of them walking around in my head.
I love historical fiction and Given Lives just entrenched that further. With this book I also got a new appreciation for how much behind the scenes work there is for an author to properly research a particular time and event in history in order to represent it well even to those of us who would know no different if they slipped up. It's even more remarkable because Anna wove a wonderful tale with all but one of her characters being real people who lived in Eyam at the time and whose deaths and families she has faithfully catalogued.
Even if we weren't currently living through a pandemic this is a wonderful story to get engrossed in as you curl up on the couch with a cup of tea. It's easy reading and you'll be glued to the pages, so warn the family that dinner may be late.
Anna is an author worth keeping an eye on because this is just the first of her historical novel series - Ripples in Time. After reading the first chapter of her next book (in the back of this one), I can't wait for that to be available too.
(I received an advanced reader's copy but the views are my own.)
August 20, 2021
4.5 stars
This story begins with such lyrical writing. Like a fairytale that eventually opens up to woes brought on by a villain that creeps into the character’s village. With beautiful prose, Jensen takes you to Eyam. Into all of the struggle of these village families; their loss, their strength, their sacrifice to stay separate, their belief in the God of comfort and strength, of love and care, while also taking note that this same God could be requiring their attention and their repentance.
The chapters are named by the months from August 1665 to November 1666. Such a small amount of time as compared to the decades we see in our lives but such an overwhelmingly immense time of trial, strife, and sorrow that was harder to bear each day. You feel that in this book. You feel that through Kitty, Uncle Robert, Aunt Anne, Catherine Mompesson and the reverends trying to keep this village together and alive. It is also a story of personal growth. Jensen writes, “Kitty felt needed in Eyam...As though her presence had become embroidered into the very fabric of the community. She had become a part of something bigger than herself, a patchwork piece stitched on all sides to other pieces, creating a life-quilt of vibrance and connection...”
Reader warning: Once you reach the summer of 1666, you will want to read to the finish...with hope for a happy ending.
This book is appropriate for young adults and older. There are no overly descriptive intimate scenes and there is no bad language.
I received this book from the publisher/author free of charge with no expectation of a positive review.
This story begins with such lyrical writing. Like a fairytale that eventually opens up to woes brought on by a villain that creeps into the character’s village. With beautiful prose, Jensen takes you to Eyam. Into all of the struggle of these village families; their loss, their strength, their sacrifice to stay separate, their belief in the God of comfort and strength, of love and care, while also taking note that this same God could be requiring their attention and their repentance.
The chapters are named by the months from August 1665 to November 1666. Such a small amount of time as compared to the decades we see in our lives but such an overwhelmingly immense time of trial, strife, and sorrow that was harder to bear each day. You feel that in this book. You feel that through Kitty, Uncle Robert, Aunt Anne, Catherine Mompesson and the reverends trying to keep this village together and alive. It is also a story of personal growth. Jensen writes, “Kitty felt needed in Eyam...As though her presence had become embroidered into the very fabric of the community. She had become a part of something bigger than herself, a patchwork piece stitched on all sides to other pieces, creating a life-quilt of vibrance and connection...”
Reader warning: Once you reach the summer of 1666, you will want to read to the finish...with hope for a happy ending.
This book is appropriate for young adults and older. There are no overly descriptive intimate scenes and there is no bad language.
I received this book from the publisher/author free of charge with no expectation of a positive review.
August 16, 2021
It would be very easy to compare Given Lives with what we are currently facing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Set over 450 years ago in a small countryside village in northern England, on the surface, this book may appear to simply be a story about a fast-spreading and indiscrimatory disease. However, it would not do the book justice to simply draw parallels with our current pandemic. The story has many rich layers that unfold as we progress through the pages.
It's an inspirational story that highlights how we can put aside our personal differences to work together for the greater good. It shows how by demonstrating faith, trust and hope in God we can deepen our relationship with Him in a way that will help to see us through the toughest of times.
This poignant tale will keep you turning the pages to see how the villagers of Eyam cope with a virus that they know very little about, devising ingenious ideas to both combat its spread and provide some relief for those afflicted by it.
Join Kitty, her family, friends, and the two doctrinally opposed Reverends, as they selflessly make sacrifices to protect their immediate neighbours as well as those in other nearby villages.
You really won't want to miss out on reading this gem!
Set over 450 years ago in a small countryside village in northern England, on the surface, this book may appear to simply be a story about a fast-spreading and indiscrimatory disease. However, it would not do the book justice to simply draw parallels with our current pandemic. The story has many rich layers that unfold as we progress through the pages.
It's an inspirational story that highlights how we can put aside our personal differences to work together for the greater good. It shows how by demonstrating faith, trust and hope in God we can deepen our relationship with Him in a way that will help to see us through the toughest of times.
This poignant tale will keep you turning the pages to see how the villagers of Eyam cope with a virus that they know very little about, devising ingenious ideas to both combat its spread and provide some relief for those afflicted by it.
Join Kitty, her family, friends, and the two doctrinally opposed Reverends, as they selflessly make sacrifices to protect their immediate neighbours as well as those in other nearby villages.
You really won't want to miss out on reading this gem!
August 20, 2021
Given Lives by Anna Jensen is an eloquent and heart touching story featuring the inhabitants of a small Derbyshire village, Eyam, who became known for their courageous and self sacrificing act of love when, as a community, they closed their village boundaries to prevent The Plague from spreading to their neighbouring villages and further afield.
This story resonated very strongly with me because of the many similarities and moral issues which are confronting us in the present.
Meticulously researched, and based on the true characters who were resident in Eyam at the time, this book captures the senses perfectly, evoking both the fresh countryside lifestyles and the putrid cloud of illness as the plague took control. The protagonist, Kitty, is a fictional character and she weaves the many threads of the story together seamlessly.
Although this book deals with a great tragedy I ultimately found the villagers' sense of hope, courage and caring fellowship inspirational and uplifting
I read this book as an ARC but have pre-ordered a paperback copy as it is a book to hold and savour and return to over and over again.
This story resonated very strongly with me because of the many similarities and moral issues which are confronting us in the present.
Meticulously researched, and based on the true characters who were resident in Eyam at the time, this book captures the senses perfectly, evoking both the fresh countryside lifestyles and the putrid cloud of illness as the plague took control. The protagonist, Kitty, is a fictional character and she weaves the many threads of the story together seamlessly.
Although this book deals with a great tragedy I ultimately found the villagers' sense of hope, courage and caring fellowship inspirational and uplifting
I read this book as an ARC but have pre-ordered a paperback copy as it is a book to hold and savour and return to over and over again.
October 18, 2022
A heart-wrenching historical novel set in the English town of Eyam as it's ravaged by the plague. In an extraordinary move, the townsfolk decide to isolate themselves to save the lives of those around them - a poignant theme in today's world.
Read
June 1, 2024A ripple for our time.
Make sure that you have a tissue in your hand. This is a story of love and sacrifice, even unto death. It is so well told that one feels the angst and heartbreak of those involved and can rejoice with them when the plague is passed.
Make sure that you have a tissue in your hand. This is a story of love and sacrifice, even unto death. It is so well told that one feels the angst and heartbreak of those involved and can rejoice with them when the plague is passed.
February 9, 2022
I had agreed to read Giving Lives by Anna Jensen and then became overwhelmed with business from a number of different areas in my own life. But I had promised, so I began to read. I was thinking I would fulfil my obligation and post a review, then move on to other work I needed to get done.
I wasn't expecting to get swept away as I did. It pulled me into another time and became engrossed in a way I didn't expect.
This is a lovely book full of wonderful characters, trials, pain and joy. Anna Jensen painted beautiful pictures with each word. I am happy to give this my five stars and will be telling many others to read Giving Lives.
I wasn't expecting to get swept away as I did. It pulled me into another time and became engrossed in a way I didn't expect.
This is a lovely book full of wonderful characters, trials, pain and joy. Anna Jensen painted beautiful pictures with each word. I am happy to give this my five stars and will be telling many others to read Giving Lives.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews