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| A Thousand Sleepless Nights and author Teri Harman |
My review of A Thousand Sleepless Nights by Teri
Harman, author of the Moonlight trilogy (Blood Moon, Black Moon, & Storm
Moon).
A Thousand Sleepless Nights, a clean romance with
a touch of magic, had me from the first pages, gripping my interest from the conversation
between Matilda (the main character) and her dying Aunt Jetty. The themes in
this story are strong and heart-wrenching as the reader travels on a measured journey
of tragedy, heartache, tears, confusion, and longing. That being said, the
story (for me) had a satisfying ending as it is also infused with learning,
growing, hope, and a little bit of magic brought on by the power of emotions
(especially grief). Lines from the story explain this element: “We rarely
realize how powerful our thoughts can be, how powerful our emotions are. There’s
tremendous energy there, and if we let it that energy can build and build until
it creates its own strength, its own will.”
Don’t expect a fast-moving action-adventure, or even your
average romance with this one. This is a leisurely-paced love story like no other. And the events
in this book can be understood both figuratively and realistically as the
author adds in a touch of the supernatural. Can I just say that the scene where
the typewriter first starts typing by itself literally gave me chills.
The importance of, and love for, books and writing are
also beautifully illustrated throughout the story. Henry’s thoughts at one point
echoed my own as an author: “Writers could control what happened, could change
it. A magician toying with fate. If he wanted, there could always be a happy
ending.”
Even though I love the main characters, Matilda and
Henry, my favorite character has got to be Abby, a good woman who remains positive
despite terrible tragedies in her past. She is a good mother-figure and a great
example to Matilda and Henry who are learning to deal with their own tragedies.
We are first introduced to Abby through these lines and one can’t help but immediately
fall in love with her character:
“Abby, we don’t have any idea who this guy is,” Gill
protested. “You can’t . . .”
“Oh, shut up, you old grump,” she shot back. “The boy
needs help. And I can tell just lookin’ at him that he’s good through and
through. Be a decent Christian for once in your miserable life.” She frowned
reproachfully, but then turned a bright smile on Henry. “You a thief?”
Henry blanched, blinked. “No, Ma’am.”
“Ax murderer? Annoying salesman? Fugitive? Nail biter?”
She smiled as she said the last one and the tension in Henry’s gut eased
slightly.
“No ma’am.”
Abby nodded and reached for him. “Then you come in now,
out of the icy night, and let’s see what we can do.”
A Thousand Sleepless Nights is a solid read, but don’t
take my word for it . . . read it yourself.
