Whispers On The Wind: Ari's Story - Review

This book, written by Alison Davis was a brilliant read, it was very well written with each sentence flowing into the next and some beautiful imagery which made me feel as though i was actually there with the characters!

There was also some beautiful phrases used in this book such as, 'I could taste the sea spray on my lips, the iron-rust tang of blood, i could smell it' and 'I tried to call him but i couldn't, the wind stole my voice before i could push it beyond my lips.'

I loved the mystery in this book and how the main character Ari becomes engrossed in the mystery of the letters and it becomes almost a need to unravel the mystery of the letters and the ever mysterious stranger Tobias.

In some places i felt that the storyline was a tad rushed but this may be due to the fact that it was originally written during National Novel Writing Month but other than that it was extremely well written and i enjoyed it very much! I would rate this story 4/5 and would recommend it! I look forward very much to the sister story Hanging From The Family Tree: Tobias's Story which looks at Whispers On The Wind from the point of view of Tobias.

Such a brilliant read and I will most definitely read it again! Well Done Alison!

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Cover Reveal - Whispers On The Wind: Ari's Story

Title: Whispers on the Wind: Ari's Story (#1)
Author: Alison Davis
Cover Reveal: Monday, September 3, 2012


Alison has been writing from an early age, stories, poems, novels, prose. After a 3 year sabbatical from writing she returned to her passion to write Whispers on the Wind: Ari's story.
Her first novel, Whispers on the Wind: Ari's Story, was published in August 2012 on Lulu.com. Hanging from the Family Tree: Tobias' Story, a companion/sequel to Whispers on the Wind, will follow soon.

Author Image

Front Cover

The synopsis given for this book is very intriguing, as is the front cover itself and both worked in unison to draw me in and make it a need for me to read this book.


Haunted by the echoes of the past, Ari's finds love, sees death and saves one man from repeating his ancestors' mistakes and takes it upon herself to catch him when he falls.
Ari moves to a small English coastal town and takes a job at the local library, she begins to fall in love and become embraced in the community.
Meanwhile under her house through a bomb-shelter under the cellar she discovers a natural cavern in the cliff face. The cavern contains a wealth of treasures and trinkets left behind by those who found it before her.
A wedding photograph and a set of letters become her obsession.
Ari does her best to uncover their stories, only to discover that history is repeating itself, every male descendant of Alexander has died on that cliff top since and now a new set of letters have appeared with the same seal and the same warning signs.

The cover used is very interesting, it is an image of the face of a girl, supposedly the main character Ari, who's lips have been sealed shut by a family seal. This could suggest that as letters were sealed in a wax so they could not be read by prying eyes that the information she reads should stay sealed within her. The fancy and elegantly written handwriting used for the words 'Ari's Story' and 'Whispers on the Wind' could be used as a way of working out the dates the letters were written in as many handwritten letters would have looped, handwriting, whereas letters nowadays are all typed. 

Since this is a cover reveal, i shall not be disclosing any spoilers but shall insert a small excerpt taken from the first chapter.

Excerpt:

I stood in the cavern and looked about with a candle. I'd only been down in the hidden grotto a few times and hadn't ever ventured beyond the first pillar. Even now I still didn't go any further than that. There was no need; so many hidden treasures were right by the steps. I set the candle in the closest corner as always, and within its range I scanned the treasures. There were tiny figurines carved from wood set in some of the alcoves. They become mere silhouettes right on the edge of the pool of light cast by the flickering flame. Some small tin toy cars from the 1950's were stationed into traffic queues, with a fire engine parked up by the pillar and a small police officer with his hand held up to the nonexistent drivers. There were more relics in the 'garden' above, some magazines from the 1970's rotting in a corner, next to the bench. Even older relics were scattered about too, hair ribbons, earrings and even a photograph of a wedding from the early 1900's. On the back of it someone had penned a note.

My darling husband,
You were mine for one short hour before you were taken to the battlefields.
I waited. I wrote to you. For so long I waited to hear from you, a note, or a letter. Then I waited for a telegram. For the news you were not returning to me. Then I just waited.
My family moved away. I stayed and waited for news. But it never came. Without you the world is grey, my heart is still, and day blurs into night. I feel as if I am Lot's wife -with all the tears I have cried I shall surely turn to salt.
You never returned to me my love and so I shall come searching for you
 
The handwriting had deteriorated gradually throughout the note and the ink was smudged, tears had stained the words. I had placed it on a ledge of a rocky alcove last time I was down in the cavern to stop the damp ruining it too much; but now I reached out and slipped the picture into my bag as the candle light began to dim and the flame died.

Follow Alison On:

Lulu.com: http://www.lulu.com/shop/alison-davis/whispers-on-the-wind-aris-story/ebook/product-20340948.html
Goodreads Q&A:http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/76366-ask-alison-davis
Goodreads Book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15831053-whispers-on-the-wind
Goodreads Author:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470944.Alison_Davis
Preview Video: http://youtu.be/w0YPumXTIXM
Spotlight: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/JustASouthernBelle
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/WhispersOnTheWindArisStory?ref=hl  

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