This novel of loss and healing continues the story of The Christmas Box and Timepiece. After the death of their daughter, David and MaryAnne Parkin discover a letter written by the child which helps to restore the joy to their embattled relationship. ( )

The death of the daugther, the mother leaving him when he was 7, the wife leaving him, the black man (friend) dying was too much. ( )

Beautiful use of the language, short and intense. a precious little book, Good for reading on a cold Sunday afternoon. Despite the psychological and dramatic approach it also includes a touch of mystery and suspense; sensitive with a touch of depth. Reading was entertaining while exploring the nature of love and relationships-husband and wife, father and daughter, and mother and son. It is a story about the tragedy of losses in a child's life and their conseguences through a life time. The novel is set during the depression years, "days of darkness, solar eclipse."
The author introduced new words to my vocabulary and induced me ointo take notes of inspiriring thoughts and reflections:
"It has been said that an author's mind is like a magician's hat - you cannot take out what has not first put in."p. 1
"For love, in its truest form, is not the thing of starry-eyed or star-crossed lovers, it is far more organic, requiring nurturing and time to fully bloom, and, as such, seen best in its wrinkled maturity."
Like all things, love too, strugles against hardship, and in the process sheds its fatuous skin and to expose one composed of more than just a storm of emotion-one of loyalty and divine friendship.Agape....
And though it may be temporaril blinded by adversity, it never gives it up, holding tight to lofty ideals that transcends this earth and time - while its counterfait simply concludes it was mistaken and quickly runs off to find the next real thing." p. 14-15
"The premonitions that we so quickly dismiss are sometimes our truest glances of reality." p. 38 ( )