Poppy

Angel of Love

by Barbara Larriva

Click on image to buy from Amazon.com

Not available from Amazon.ca

Had a rough day? Too much to do? If life is getting you down then this book's for you! In Poppy we meet an aging actress who is alone and bitter. She lives alone and is no longer either beautiful or adored. She has also been told that she has a tumour and even with treatment, she's got little more than a year left to live. (And you thought you were having a rough day) Allegra is neither happy nor pleasant and decides to forgo treatment in order to depart this miserable coil soon as possible.

Enter our novel's namesake, Poppy. She is as young and as happy as Allegro (whose name incidentally means happiness) is old and grumpy. Okay, there's no mystery here as they set up an unlikely friendship. Allegra finds poppy's joy quite an affront and at first half-heartedly tries to push her away. However, young Poppy does not give up and soon Allegra softens her heart and starts to truly examine why her life is as lonely as it is. The human weakness of self-centeredness, selfishness, and good old-fashioned cowardice are to blame. We go on a journey of self discovery and climb the hills of humility and forgiveness to sit on the glorious mountain peak of restoration and redemption. And all because a young girl shows love and acceptance to a cantankerous old fart (excuse my language but there really was no other pertinent adjective.) Pick up this book to learn its sweet but somewhat predictable ending. I guarantee you'll go away with a tear on your face and a smile in your heart.

~ Natasha