"A Silver Willow by the Shore" by Kelli Stuart (Prism Book Group blog tour)

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Silver Willow by the Shore
By Kelli Stuart
Adult Historical, Contemporary, Time-Slip
Paperback & ebook, 380 Pages
October 15th 2019 by Fine Print Writing Press

How do you face the future if you don’t know your own past?

When an unexpected pregnancy changes her dreams, seventeen-year-old Annie tries to keep it from her mother and her grandmother. But secrets have a way of coming out. In a household of strong women, the arrival of a new life sets off a spiral of truth that reveals a past full of whispers and lies—a past that existed in another world under the heavy hand of Soviet oppression. This history has dictated the circumstances of the present, but hope, redemption, and forgiveness will grow in the rocky places of these generational differences.

A Silver Willow by the Shore is the story of the unshakeable love between mothers and daughters and of the impact that past decisions can have on present day circumstances. This novel weaves together the stories of generations of women, from the gulags of 1930’s Siberia, to the quiet oppression of 1980’s Soviet Moscow, to present day Tennessee. It is an unforgettable narrative of the treachery of secrets, and of the light that unites the heart of a family.

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My review...

As the year draws to a close, I can honestly say Silver Willow by the Shore is one of my favorite reads from 2019. I’ve read other books by Stuart, and she’s become one of my go-to authors.

This book was quite unique, as it’s an engaging multi-generational tale told via three POVs: Annie, her mother Nina, and her grandmother Elizaveta. They’re equally well-developed, and easy to root for and invest in. Their resiliency is inspiring. Each woman has a distinct voice, story, and secrets that are tearing each of them apart inside, though they are keeping them from each other. “Keep it hidden. Share as little as possible.”

The multiple POVs allow the reader to see all angles of the story. James was a wonderful supporting character. He is the perfect definition of a true friend, and I love how his story line unfolds. And that ending? You’ll have to read it for yourself, but trust me when I say it’s beautiful.

A couple of my favorite quotes include:

“No silence is quite so profound as that of unspoken words.”

“Hard doesn’t mean wrong. In fact, doing the right thing will rarely be easy. It will always be hard.”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the Prism Book Group blog tour, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

About the Author

Kelli is a wife, mother, novelist, and the driver of a smoking' hot minivan. When she isn't wrangling her five children, she can be found tapping away at the keyboard. Kelli is the award winning author of Like a River From Its Course, her debut novel which won the ACFW Carol Award for Best Historical and was nominated for two Christy Awards. Kelli is also the co-author of Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom with Wendy Speake. You can find more information on her life and writings at www.kellistuart.com.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a Kindle Fire Tablet with Alexa Hands Free + $50 Amazon Gift Card

US only

Ends November 20, 2019

ENTER HERE

"Like a River from Its Course" by Kelli Stuart ... and a Kindle Prize Pack Giveaway!

Travel back in time in Kelli Stuart's new novel, Like a River from Its Course, as the city of Kiev is bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union. This sweeping historical saga takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River From Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

Celebrate the release of Like a River from Its Course with Kelli by entering to win a Kindle Fire Prize Pack.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Like a River from Its Course
• A Kindle Fire
• A Kindle Fire case (winner's choice)
• A $30 Amazon gift card

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on July 18th. The winner will be announced July 19th on Kelli's blog.

My Review...

This story is a bit different from others I have read. It is written in three parts, from the viewpoint of four different characters. It also allows the viewer to see Ukraine, which is a little known side of World War II. It is based on true stories from research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors.

The story chronicles the following characters:

·         Maria Ivanovna, a fourteen-year-old girl forced to work at a German labor camp. She only wants to get back to her family.

·         Ivan Kyrilovich, a father who finds himself mistaken for a Jew and in line to be shot in a “killing ditch.”

·         Luda, a sixteen-year-old girl who is pregnant after being raped by German soldiers and abandoned by her father.

·         Frederick Hermann, a soldier who believes in Nazism and is desperately trying to please his demanding father.

I have read a number of fiction books about World War II, but none quite as engaging as this. It is unique in its perspective (Ukraine), as well as with the diverse POV’s the readers follow throughout the story. Also, none of the main characters are Jewish. This book is Stuart’s historical fiction debut, and it shows that she has a very promising future in this genre. The research is detailed, and she seamlessly weaves in history. This is a gripping, eye-opening tale which puts a face to the atrocities of war. I highly recommend this book!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publisher as part of the Litfuse blogger program in exchange for an honest review.