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When Lilacs First In The Dooryard Bloom'd
THE STORY OF ONE MAN’S
JOURNEY THROUGH A PERSONAL HELL…
AND HIS SALVATION
Despite an emotionally desolate childhood,
devastating losses during his youth,
and agonizing sorrows that haunt his adulthood
HARRY WILLAMS BELIEVES HE FINALLY HAS IT ALL --
A beautiful, brilliant, enchanting wife.
A handsome, smart, adoring son.
And more wealth, fame, and power
than Harry ever imagined having --
UNTIL AN UNSPEAKABLE HORROR
shatters Harry’s seemingly perfect world
by putting his wife and son in grave danger,
forcing Harry to realize he might have to
sacrifice one to save the other.
AN EPIC TALE OF
Betrayal, Vengeance, Hope, Inspiration, Love.
A SWEEPING STORY ABOUT
People Who Find The Courage To Become Heroes.
*********************************************************
Roguishly handsome, physically imposing, and irresistibly charismatic – Harry Williams appears indomitable.
But his emotionally lonely upbringing, a catastrophic loss during his youth, the ongoing tragedies that haunt his adulthood cause Harry’s heart to “constantly leak sadness” – and make melancholy his constant companion -- compelling Harry to relentlessly drive himself to accumulate fame, success, and wealth to numb the inescapable sorrows that haunt him --
Until he meets Alexandra Campbell who captivates Harry with her dazzling beauty, electrifying intellect, and an irresistible free-spirited way of life.
But Harry’s storybook love and seemingly perfect existence is destroyed when Alexandra’s mind is ravaged by a betrayal so evil it causes Harry to commit an act of brutal violence to try and save his wife’s sanity – and protect their son from insanity.
Yet it is Alexandra, despite her savaged life, who saves their son from unending agony with an act of inconceivable heroism. A discovery that forces Harry into realizing how shallow and self-absorbed his own life has been.
Stunned by this inescapable conclusion, Harry wanders in an emotional wilderness, not caring if he dies – until he faces who he has become – uncovering a hunger to be who he always was.
It is then that the rebirth of Harry Williams begins.
JOURNEY THROUGH A PERSONAL HELL…
AND HIS SALVATION
Despite an emotionally desolate childhood,
devastating losses during his youth,
and agonizing sorrows that haunt his adulthood
HARRY WILLAMS BELIEVES HE FINALLY HAS IT ALL --
A beautiful, brilliant, enchanting wife.
A handsome, smart, adoring son.
And more wealth, fame, and power
than Harry ever imagined having --
UNTIL AN UNSPEAKABLE HORROR
shatters Harry’s seemingly perfect world
by putting his wife and son in grave danger,
forcing Harry to realize he might have to
sacrifice one to save the other.
AN EPIC TALE OF
Betrayal, Vengeance, Hope, Inspiration, Love.
A SWEEPING STORY ABOUT
People Who Find The Courage To Become Heroes.
*********************************************************
Roguishly handsome, physically imposing, and irresistibly charismatic – Harry Williams appears indomitable.
But his emotionally lonely upbringing, a catastrophic loss during his youth, the ongoing tragedies that haunt his adulthood cause Harry’s heart to “constantly leak sadness” – and make melancholy his constant companion -- compelling Harry to relentlessly drive himself to accumulate fame, success, and wealth to numb the inescapable sorrows that haunt him --
Until he meets Alexandra Campbell who captivates Harry with her dazzling beauty, electrifying intellect, and an irresistible free-spirited way of life.
But Harry’s storybook love and seemingly perfect existence is destroyed when Alexandra’s mind is ravaged by a betrayal so evil it causes Harry to commit an act of brutal violence to try and save his wife’s sanity – and protect their son from insanity.
Yet it is Alexandra, despite her savaged life, who saves their son from unending agony with an act of inconceivable heroism. A discovery that forces Harry into realizing how shallow and self-absorbed his own life has been.
Stunned by this inescapable conclusion, Harry wanders in an emotional wilderness, not caring if he dies – until he faces who he has become – uncovering a hunger to be who he always was.
It is then that the rebirth of Harry Williams begins.
538 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2012
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 31, 2012
First of all, under ordinary circumstances I never would have read the book – stories in the contemporary romance genre are not high on my list of literary preferences. But a female friend of mine asked me to, saying that she thought, despite its romantic foundation, I might be pleasantly surprised at the depth and breadth of human emotions the book delves into. And since I really like this female friend, I obliged her. Was she right?
In all my years of reading books, which is a lot of years and a lot of books -- never has a “dedication” taken my breath away.
The fact is, dedications rarely register with me because, for the most part, they tend to be little more than niceties. That is, ways to thank mom and dad, “My professors,” twenty friends and their pets lest they think you are an ingrate because without them – how could you have written that book?
But after the title page of When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d, the first thing I read was the dedication – the only dedication that, instantly, kicked me in the stomach and became a fully written book of its own.
A book about the life of this dream boy (me) that still unsettles me: No, I won’t tell you what the dedication says because, since I’m going to recommend this book, I want every reader to have the chance to gasp like I did when reading the dedication.
Now, regarding “When Lilacs First In The Dooryard Bloom’d” -- The Inevitable Life, Death, and Re-birth of an All-American Dream Boy
When Lilacs First In The Dooryard Bloom’d is far “bigger” than just a contemporary romance story.
The fact is, M.W. Greenwood has created a romantic saga which slowly traps the reader like quicksand then, before becoming aware of it, sweeps the reader at warp speed through the lives of characters who sear themselves on the reader’s imagination. Perhaps that is because every character in the book is part of who we are. And caused this reader to “live” their triumphs and tragedies, successes and failures, loves sought, loves won, and loves lost as if they were his own – because in many ways they were and still are.
To simplify what is a complex plot populated by multi-dimensional people – When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d is the story of Harry Williams and his emotionally painful and lonely journey through life.
Raised in an emotionally distorted family, and following a devastating romantic loss, Harry chases fame, fortune, and power to numb the sorrow that haunts him, a pervasive sadness that causes Harry’s “heart to constantly leak sadness” -- until he meets Alexandra Campbell who “captivates Harry with her dazzling beauty, electrifying intellect, and an irresistibly enchanting free-spirited way of life.”
Charmed, fascinated, mesmerized by Alexandra, Harry Williams, needing to love and be loved, races into love. And like two wildfires joining together, Harry Williams and Alexandra Campbell wed. Then, as the book blurb states –
“Their fairy-tale life is shattered by a debilitating psychological illness that puts Alexandra in grave danger -- compelling Harry to commit an act of brutal violence to save his wife’s life and sanity. But the result is tragic, ending Harry and Alexandra’s once-upon-a-time magical love affair.
“Alone, dying inside as he wanders in an emotional wilderness, Harry finally realizes the futility of his life. And it is then that Harry Williams’ rebirth begins. His heart, which “constantly leaked sadness” – repaired – and filled with a joy that Harry never thought possible when a love he only dreamed of becomes real.”
So the book grabbed hold of me, refusing to let me go.
Distraught at the emotional disintegration of a wonderful woman suffering from a terrifying mental disorder, anguished by the collapse of a good and decent family struggling to cope with events beyond their understanding and control, agonizing for Harry as he desperately attempts to keep his wife from falling into a bottomless psychotic abyss – M.W. Greenwood’s use of language hurls a reader back-and-forth between brutality and gentleness, violence and tenderness, eroticism and sensuality, joy and anguish.
And then there is the book’s keystone – love.
Passionate, unshakeable, transformational love that gives its characters hope in the face of irreparable despair, and courage in the face of impossible odds. Love that is symbolized by Alexandra Campbell Williams who, to this reader, is the real hero of When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d.
So, as I already stated, I recommend When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d. And, highly.
Do I thank my fried for suggesting I read it? Absolutely. Will I read it, again? Deifinrely. That is -- if I can get past the dedication.
In all my years of reading books, which is a lot of years and a lot of books -- never has a “dedication” taken my breath away.
The fact is, dedications rarely register with me because, for the most part, they tend to be little more than niceties. That is, ways to thank mom and dad, “My professors,” twenty friends and their pets lest they think you are an ingrate because without them – how could you have written that book?
But after the title page of When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d, the first thing I read was the dedication – the only dedication that, instantly, kicked me in the stomach and became a fully written book of its own.
A book about the life of this dream boy (me) that still unsettles me: No, I won’t tell you what the dedication says because, since I’m going to recommend this book, I want every reader to have the chance to gasp like I did when reading the dedication.
Now, regarding “When Lilacs First In The Dooryard Bloom’d” -- The Inevitable Life, Death, and Re-birth of an All-American Dream Boy
When Lilacs First In The Dooryard Bloom’d is far “bigger” than just a contemporary romance story.
The fact is, M.W. Greenwood has created a romantic saga which slowly traps the reader like quicksand then, before becoming aware of it, sweeps the reader at warp speed through the lives of characters who sear themselves on the reader’s imagination. Perhaps that is because every character in the book is part of who we are. And caused this reader to “live” their triumphs and tragedies, successes and failures, loves sought, loves won, and loves lost as if they were his own – because in many ways they were and still are.
To simplify what is a complex plot populated by multi-dimensional people – When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d is the story of Harry Williams and his emotionally painful and lonely journey through life.
Raised in an emotionally distorted family, and following a devastating romantic loss, Harry chases fame, fortune, and power to numb the sorrow that haunts him, a pervasive sadness that causes Harry’s “heart to constantly leak sadness” -- until he meets Alexandra Campbell who “captivates Harry with her dazzling beauty, electrifying intellect, and an irresistibly enchanting free-spirited way of life.”
Charmed, fascinated, mesmerized by Alexandra, Harry Williams, needing to love and be loved, races into love. And like two wildfires joining together, Harry Williams and Alexandra Campbell wed. Then, as the book blurb states –
“Their fairy-tale life is shattered by a debilitating psychological illness that puts Alexandra in grave danger -- compelling Harry to commit an act of brutal violence to save his wife’s life and sanity. But the result is tragic, ending Harry and Alexandra’s once-upon-a-time magical love affair.
“Alone, dying inside as he wanders in an emotional wilderness, Harry finally realizes the futility of his life. And it is then that Harry Williams’ rebirth begins. His heart, which “constantly leaked sadness” – repaired – and filled with a joy that Harry never thought possible when a love he only dreamed of becomes real.”
So the book grabbed hold of me, refusing to let me go.
Distraught at the emotional disintegration of a wonderful woman suffering from a terrifying mental disorder, anguished by the collapse of a good and decent family struggling to cope with events beyond their understanding and control, agonizing for Harry as he desperately attempts to keep his wife from falling into a bottomless psychotic abyss – M.W. Greenwood’s use of language hurls a reader back-and-forth between brutality and gentleness, violence and tenderness, eroticism and sensuality, joy and anguish.
And then there is the book’s keystone – love.
Passionate, unshakeable, transformational love that gives its characters hope in the face of irreparable despair, and courage in the face of impossible odds. Love that is symbolized by Alexandra Campbell Williams who, to this reader, is the real hero of When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d.
So, as I already stated, I recommend When Lilacs First In The Door Yard Bloom’d. And, highly.
Do I thank my fried for suggesting I read it? Absolutely. Will I read it, again? Deifinrely. That is -- if I can get past the dedication.
Displaying 1 of 1 review