Now My Life Begins


Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
250 Pages
Reviewed on 09/06/2011
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Shirley Roe quickly became one of my favorite authors when I read her previous novels: A Whitaker Family Reunion, Return To Whittaker, and Of Dreams and Nightmares...the latter being my favorite. I was excited to see she has a new book on the market, Now My Life Begins.

The setting is England 1905. The tale begins with heroine Jenny Barstow stepping on a train bound for Edinburgh where she had accepted the position as assistant to the City Clerk. As she stepped on the train, Tim McKitterek shouted his love and begged her to wait; but she never heard him. Tim and Jenny had long dreamed of leaving the small village of Watsworth together. When Tim’s father disappeared, Tim’s hopes of escape died. He took to the mines to support his family; he was no longer the man Jenny loved. Jenny soon learned that life in Edinburgh was not what she expected; it began with disappointment, but like most stories, there was hope: Jenny met a friendly stranger who offered assistance.

This story spans two wars, contains, death, romance, heartache, hope and triumph. Roe is a master at characterization. She creates characters that the reader truly cares about. Her plots are realistic and bring history to light. She always manages to capture the ambiance of the culture. This reader was pleased with the ending. Once again Roe proves she is the master of story telling.