Book Review: Sunspots by Karen Bell

I received a copy of Sunspots by Karen Bell in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

Sunspots follows the healing journey of a young woman thrown into the horror of losing a spouse. It is a love story of loss and redemption and the ghosts that haunt our lives and our houses. Skirting the genres of magical realism and romance, Sunspots, explores the existence of the afterlife and the paranormal. The story takes the reader on a path of high emotion as the narrator, Aurora, uncovers her husband Jake’s secret life and her own internal conflicts as she matures to self-awareness. The novel’s tone vacillates from irreverent humor to solemnity as Aurora relates her previous life with Jake and her present challenges. The title refers to the solar maximum which became the backdrop for Aurora’s conception when her hippy parents went to Canada to observe the Aurora Borealis. In name and in spirit, Aurora is connected to the observable and unobservable energy around us. With the help of friends, family, and the ghost of Viola Parker (her home’s original owner), Aurora accepts her fate and the secrets revealed about Jake’s true character. She realizes that in this life she will finally break the cycle of pain caused by her love for this man, Jake Stein, through the centuries.

Synopsis:

Sunspots by Karen Bell is beautifully written and very moving. The kind of book that is intriguing from the get go, this book will grab a hold of you from the beginning, especially if you’ve ever dealt with loss. I loved the magical realism and most especially the romance aspect of this book. The characters were written with much care and their emotions are felt on the page. I also loved the beautiful scenery and the way Karen so beautifully describes everything on the page. Overall, this book really is a great read, although sometimes sad, it is also very heartfelt and moving.
Rating: 4 stars