Description
One small act can make a big difference
Violet Strong is strong by name but not by nature, or so she thinks. She listens but never talks about herself. She’s friendly but doesn’t have many real friends. She’s become good at keeping people at a distance ever since she left home at eighteen and never looked back.
But when Violet is forced to return home to care for her estranged mother, Glenys, she quickly finds out that life as a carer isn’t easy. Feeling overwhelmed, she’s forced to turn to the other local carers, including childhood friend, Adam, for help.
Although returning home still feels like a mistake, maybe it will help Violet right some wrongs. After all, she can’t keep running from her past forever, and in learning to look after others, perhaps Violet can start to finally love herself…
Review
This is the most heart warming book I have read in a long time.
Violet is forced to return to her childhood home to look after her estranged Mother, as her sister is leaving for New Zealand. I was as shocked as Violet was when her sister said she would be leaving soon - that evening! Violet had only just arrived home and was a little bewildered with her new responsibilities, especially as her Mother had no interest in her being there.
I really felt for Violet, and then there was the reason she had left home all those years ago. But what was that reason? We are left wondering for a very long time. Lots of little side stories are woven into the main story, some very worrying. I was anxious that it was going to be alright in the end.
The home Violet knew has been subdivided into flats and we begin to discover with Violet who the tenants are. My favourite was Tammy who lived on the top floor. She has learning disabilities and her Mother died recently - she's been left in a world she doesn't understand. Luckily Violet helps her with that. But in turn Tammy helps Violet in ways we cannot foresee at the beginning of this friendship.
Lots of brilliant characters who are so true to life. As are the experiences they have with both officialdom and the world at large.
I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to HQ stories for a copy of the book. It's a story that will stay with me for some time.
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