Here is my review of this great book by Carol Arnall, posted on Amazon.co.uk yesterday.
Although this book is called A Haunted Past Life, Jen's story is one of a
haunted present life, too. The book starts with a Cinderella-type setting
(turned on its head with a stepfather rather than a stepmother) who is tied to
the house because of agoraphobia, brought about by low self-esteem and
confidence thanks to years of abuse by her stepfather and stepsisters. Her real
father died when she was very young and her mother is unsupportive. The only
friends she has are Angela and Jo, ghosts who visit her and offer comfort in her
time of need.
When her stepfather tries to rape her Jen finds the
strength to flee to Hoylake, Merseyside, in the car that her father left her,
and get herself a flat. She begins a career as an online medium, helping those
who approach her to find solace after losing loved ones. This brings Ian and his
daughter into her life. When Ian begs for a personal consultation Jen braves her
condition and drives to his house. Ian's young daughter has imaginary friends
who Jen discovers are actually ghosts of children, and these ghosts visit her in
the flat. Jen and Ian are becoming close romantically, but just as she is coming
to terms with battling with her agoraphobia her car breaks down, and forced to
go out to get groceries to feed herself and her new cat, she calls a taxi. The
taxi driver, the mysterious Mike, doesn't drive her to the shops, he drives her
to 1965, where she discovers she has a husband and young daughter - and no
agoraphobia.
Jen's story alternates between her two lives in the 1960s
and 2010s, and the reader is taken not only on a mystic journey but also a
journey of emotions as Jen has to decide where her heart really lies.
I
am the biggest cynic going when it comes to past lives, the reading of the cards
and what they say for our future. Perhaps past lives exist, perhaps they don't -
I know during regression therapy people report existences in a past lives - but
the point is no one knows. As for ghosts I don't know whether they exist or not,
but I would like to think so; as an author I would not dismiss exploiting this
genre. However, it doesn't matter if you are a cynic. You need to read this book
with an open mind and let yourself be swept away on the journey.
My only
small query with this book is with the agoraphobia. Having never suffered with
the condition myself I cannot comment on how easy it is to get over it. In the
1960s Jen doesn't seem to suffer with it so that's not the issue. It's just that
in the 2010s scenes she tends to brave it a little too easily, so later in the
book it isn't mentioned as being that much of an issue. Just a tiny observation
on my part, but it could be I glossed over it too quickly.
Download it to
your Kindle. You will enjoy it!
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