Goddess Fish Blog Tour for “The Forever Heart” by Diana Bolianaz

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Diana Bolianaz’s novel The Forever Heart , which I read and am now reviewing.

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

Diana Bolianaz’s novel is a gentle romance about an interracial couple. I was drawn to the premise of the story, as I have partially lived it.

It has a very slow build-up though, to the heightened drama of separation and then a pregnancy near the end. I feel further editing to shorten the novel would strengthen it greatly.

Liza was drawn quite well, and we see her strength and her resilience throughout the novel. The author presents some other interesting characters, my favourite being Sam, the chef, who provides Liza with much support and wisdom. His words in Chapter 41 resonated with me:

“You never know what tomorrow is gonna bringin’, That’s why we need to be here, now. They call today the present cuz it’s a gift to be livin’ today. So don’t waste the time thinking too soon about tomorrow, you can live tomorrow when it gets here. No sooner than that.

Overall, this was an okay read, with some special moments. 3/5 Goodreads rating.

Book Blurb

Liza is a beautiful nineteen-year-old girl who comes from a strict Mennonite background. She lives at home with her mother, brother and domineering father. When Liza meets Melvin, a handsome young Black journalist, they fall madly in love. She has to keep the relationship a secret from her family because she knows her father would never approve. When Liza becomes pregnant, her world is turned upside down.

Book Excerpt:

Liza’s mom was a fanatic about cleaning. Obsessive, you might say. Everything had to be “just so.” Liza thought her mom went overboard most of the time. Her mom was fifty now and seemed to be getting pickier the older she got. Helga had short, curly, greyish-white hair. She was about five-feet-two inches tall and squarely built. She came from a German Mennonite background, just like Klaus. She was an excellent cook and loved to bake. Liza loved her mother’s cooking. Helga always stocked the freezer full of food and lots of baking. Her favourite trick around Christmas time was to put all the baking in special containers in the big freezer in the basement and label it “liver” so no one would find and eat the delicious treats she hid so cleverly. Or at least she thought she did. Everyone knew her little tricks, and soon the “liver” started to disappear. Liza blamed the disappearance on her brother, and her brother blamed it on her. They were careful not to leave any trails of crumbs anywhere. When Helga would find the empty containers, she would just sigh and bake some more. Liza went into the kitchen, picked up her purse and keys, and said, “Mom, can I use the car for a couple of hours? I want to go and meet Sarah at the mall.”

Sarah was Liza’s best friend and had been since kindergarten. “What about dinner? It’s almost ready.”

“I’ll grab something at the mall.”

“Fine, dear, just be home by nine.”

“Thanks, Mom! See you later.”

Of course, she wasn’t meeting Sarah. She couldn’t tell her mom that she had to go shopping for an outfit to wear for her hot date on Saturday night. Liza never had trouble finding clothes or spending money, and this day was no exception. In only a few hours, Liza managed to buy a sweater set, a pair of capri pants (even though it was the end of spring and not super warm out yet), and strappy sandals to die for—not Manolo Blahniks, but they were hot, and more in line with Liza’s budget. Helga was already looking out the window to see if Liza was nearing home when she pulled up in the driveway. Helga looked at her watch. It was 8:55. She waited for Liza as she came through the back door. “Liza, I was beginning to worry.”

“I’m okay, Mom. Just shopping. And you know what girls are like when they get shopping!”

Author Bio and Links

Diana graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Education. She is currently working as a high school substitute teacher, affectionately known to her students as “Miss. B.”

Diana’s greatest joy is spending time with her family. She loves country music (especially the old stuff), champagne and Nanny’s perogies. With help from above, she will venture to make some soon.

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Heart-Diana-Bolianaz-ebook/dp/B0BQZGFC2K/

Author Giveaway!

Diana Bolianaz will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour