This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Charlotte Ingrid Deringer was born into a large family in Saskatchewan, Canada and has lived all across the country, on the east coast, west coast and everywhere in between.
Ingrid holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Women’s Studies and is also an Acupuncturist, Shiatsu Therapist, a Life Cycle Celebrant and a Meditation Teacher. She has worked in the health and wellness field, specializing in the treatment of chronic pain and chronic illness for over 25 years.
Now semi-retired, Ingrid loves to hang out with her grandchildren and spend winters in warm climates with her feet in the sand where she can write to her heart’s content.
If I Could Live Again is her debut novel inspired by stories told to her by her family and her own life experiences.
Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite
If I Could Live Again by C. Ingrid Deringer starts in 1925, spans three generations, and begins with the story of eight-year-old Margaret McLean who lives on a farm in Nova Scotia with her family. The little girl loves to write songs and rhymes about leaving her unhappy home and abusive father. Margaret enjoys spending time with her mentor, Aunt Beatrice, and loves going to school. Her teacher Mrs. Edna McDonald nurses the wounds on Margaret’s little body. Margaret’s father needs her to help on the farm and takes her out of school in grade six. Aunt Beatrice helps Margaret to complete her schooling and gives Margaret a diary in 1931 to record her life. Through determination and strength, Margaret makes her own way in life and does the things that she loves. Margaret’s spirit continues in her long line of descendants and benefactors as they all come to know and love her.
If I Could Live Again is such an inspiration to young and old, to never give up on your dreams no matter what life throws at you. From the variety of characters and their personalities to the descriptive scenes, this story keeps the reader enthralled from start to finish, 1925 to 2015. Margaret is a hard-working, strong-willed woman, her mother on the other hand is the exact opposite and obeys her abusive husband. Aunt Bea is much like Margaret but older and wiser, which shows through in Margaret’s decisions. The vivid descriptions of life on the farm and suburban houses bring the story to life. The story is fast-moving and there are some surprising twists and turns as Sarah discovers when going through her parents’ belongings. I mostly enjoyed the way C. Ingrid Deringer binds the characters together over the period of almost 100 years, reminding the reader how important family and friends are to all of us.
