Review: Secrets of the Speckled Oak by Dawn Alexander

Laura, a loving mother and wife, struggles over the fact of revealing difficult family secrets to her sons, Max and Alex. She laughs to herself at the thought of how closely her "real-life" resembles that of a "Lifetime Movie." She mulls over how difficult it would be to actually "tell" Max the entire story! When suddenly the answer to her dilemma strikes her! Laura elects to relive many of her joyful and heartbreaking events that helped to shape her life, by way of a letter! Laura lovingly writes a letter to her son, Max. She explains how not only heartbreak, but love has transformed her life into what it is today. Within the envelope of the letter, Laura places a special gift for Max and Alex to share, which the sons do not initially understand. Laura quotes scriptures from the Bible throughout her letter in hopes that it may aid her son Max through the "journey" of his mother's life. She hopes once he has completed the reading of the letter and her life story, he may understand even though life does not always turn out exactly how one may have it planned, does not mean the outcome will not turn out even better than he could have ever imagined!

Paperback, 232 pages

Published October 29th 2013 by "Outskirts Press" 

 

Kristine's Thoughts:

 

* I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

 

This book is an inspirational story about one woman's life from the age of fifteen to well into her adult years. It depicts her trials and tribulations through many parts of her life that she did not see as part of the future she had planned. Through Laura's eyes, the reader takes the journey along side her as she experiences first love, college, marriage, infertility, two premature births, a child with a disability, trust issues, infidelity, faith, starting over and more.

 

It was easy to feel what Laura was going through because it was told from her point of view. The feelings and emotions were very honest and truthful even when they didn't paint her in a positive light. Her accomplishments, struggles, failures and talk of faith were real and very easy to relate to. With very short chapters and an easy writing style the book can easily be started and finished in the same day.

 

I have one minor critique about the writing that I should mention. I found that there were an over abundance of exclamation marks within the writing and a few errors in some of the sentences that could be a little distracting. Having said that, I still very much enjoyed the story and was cheering and routing for Laura the entire way.

 

For anyone that is struggling with the cards that they have been dealt I think you should pick this book up and could really benefit from the message that it portrays. It was a very moving story that I am happy to have had the opportunity to review.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Dawn was born to loving Southern Baptist parents from Mississippi. Dawn graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She now teaches children (including her own son) with a variety of disabilities in a Special Education classroom. Dawn still resides in Mississippi and is married to the love of her life. Together they raise their two beautiful boys, who are the lights of their lives! Dawn enjoys writing inspirational fiction stories, in the hope that the stories may help others in similar situations.


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