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    The Breath of Peace
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    The Breath of Peace
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    The Breath of Peace
    Ebook233 pages4 hours

    The Breath of Peace

    By Penelope Wilcock

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Madeleine Hazell and William de Bulmer have been married a year. She is a healer, a wise woman, practical, intelligent and blunt. He is not only an ex-monk, but an ex-abbot, a man accustomed to authority, a gifted administrator, at home with figures - but less capable in such matters as shutting up chickens for the night. They are deeply, irrevocably in love. And every conversation may become a battlefield that leaves both wounded and resentful. When the aged monk who served as cellarer dies, Father John, the Abbot of nearby St Alcuin's Abbey, finds himself critically short-handed. Who will handle the rents? The provisions? He is a gifted infirmarian, a capable leader, but estate management is beyond his competence. With a sense of rising panic he turns to his friend, the man who renounced his vows for love, the former Father William - only to find that his own pastoral skills may be required in matters matrimonial :
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLion Fiction
    Release dateFeb 19, 2016
    ISBN9781782641742
    Unavailable
    The Breath of Peace
    Author

    Penelope Wilcock

    Pen Wilcock is the author of The Hawk and the Dove series and many other books such as In Celebration of Simplicity and 100 Stand-Alone Bible Studies. She has many years of experience as a Methodist minister and has worked as a hospice and school chaplain. She has five adult daughters and lives in Hastings, East Sussex. She writes a successful blog: Kindred of the Quiet Way.

    Read more from Penelope Wilcock

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    Reviews for The Breath of Peace

    3.5/5

    30 ratings13 reviews

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    • 4/5
      The descriptive detail of the language and activities was a wonderful immersion into the 1300's.It was apparent from the first chapters that a theme of marital communication was going to be a focus, and I was curious to see how the author would handle this in an historical era that didn't have our vocabulary of psychotherapy & self-help groups. Brother Conrad's homely advice from his own growing up was apt, as well as Abbot John's reflection on how people in community manage to live in harmony. Well done, & made me want to read earlier books in the series to see how Madeleine and William came to be the people they are, how they met. There are brief hints of earlier events. It was easy to forget that they are "older", tho William's age of 50 is the only age mentioned, which has relevance to the difficulty of fitting someone else into your daily planning and decision making.Generally I find "Christian fiction" to be too intrusive with a specific religious view. I didn't tag this book that way because it seemed in this case that it was a more integrated spirituality which was part of daily life (primarily of the monastery, not William & Madeleine) rather than a cloak of expectations put on. For example, the attempt to be Christ thru their actions rather than preach Christ.
    • 5/5
      The Breath of Peace continues the saga of the brothers of St. Alcuin’s monastery in northern England. Much has changed throughout the years, but grief, betrayal, and death cannot shake the firm foundation of their faith. Each book in the series focuses on a specific character amid the backdrop of the larger community. Favorite characters from previous books continue their supporting role in the life of the monastery. And I suppose you could pick up any book and start reading, but I recommend that you start with book one and work your way through the series. Each book is less than 300 pages and quickly read, so you will be caught up in no time!:)The Breath of Peace explores marriage and its picture of man’s relationship with God. The unlikely pair of former monk William de Bulmer and his wife, Madeleine, are the center of the book. Their first year of marriage is a tug of war between personalities and stubborn wills. This is a story of two wounded people made into one flesh by the miracle of God — and the hard work of making a relationship work. Their love matures as they look to God to teach them to love each other. Abbot John’s wise counsel was just what they (and this reader) needed to remind them of their place in God’s world. Peace within marriage is achievable through Jesus’s gift of peace.As I read the Hawk And The Dove series, I am always surprised by how much I like these books. With well-researched historical details in custom, dress, and cuisine and a faithful depiction of monastic life, these books are remarkably modern in their outlook and application. But truth is always ageless, and Wilcock has a wonderful way of portraying truth through the simple life of complex men.Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Kregel and Lion Hudson for review copies. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 4/5
      Another charming tale in the Hawk and Dove series. In this one, former monk William de Bulmer and Madeleine Hazell are settling down to married life. Although they love each other dearly, William just can't do anything right; Madeleine is terribly critical and her words are stingingly blunt and unkind. The couple constantly bicker. Fr. John, abbot of St. Alcuin's and Madeleine's brother, asks William to help him by sorting out the cellarer's job, since the present cellarer has just passed on. The position is vacant until a new successor is chosen. William is knowledgeable about obtaining provisions and keeping accounts and rent records. Also, William, a shrewd observer of human character, might have a suggestion for someone as replacement--and who best to be replaced in that man's old obedience. Each of the couple visits Fr. John at the monastery and in turn, the abbot calls upon his pastoral counseling to help the couple through the rough spots.This was a delightful, character-driven story. Some of Fr. John's advice is certainly worth remembering, especially the little story Fr. Theodore, novice master, told to his novices about the boxes and their contents. Ms. Wilcock is a gifted writer and keen observer of human nature; as usual, the monastics and the couple came alive for me, also the 14th century backdrop. Very highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      A very good continuation in the storyline. Madeleine and William are newlyweds who have come to marriage late in life from far different life paths. This is a touching and revealing story of learning to live together and forgive each other. The relationships feel true, the interactions lifelike. The love of God is revealed in our relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was deeply touched.
    • 5/5
      This novel reminded me a lot of the Brother Cadfael novels that I so enjoyed. The monastic setting has a special appeal to me. When reading this book, I was drawn to and felt the peace experienced upon setting foot inside the monastery. I also felt sympathetic to both William and Madeline, as they struggled to understand each other in their new marriage. I liked it so much that I ordered others in the series straightaway. I am looking forward to learning the history of William and Madeline and the happenings of the previous novels, so I can learn the background for this one.
    • 1/5
      The Breath of Peace by Penelope Wilcock is a mercifully short book. Even so, After 100 pages, I called a halt and gave myself permission to move on. What a merciless shrew Madeline is! And William has led a life that would cause many to just curl up in a corner and hide from the world, but this does not make him a stupid man. Yet, after a year, he still doesn't have enough good sense to lock up the hens at night. I couldn't bear any more. There was still no promise of a real story, beyond the recitation of his lack of ability to manage even the most simple of tasks. While I sympathized with his wife, I would have long since given up on him and done what needed to be done to ensure my own survival. No. Just, no.
    • 3/5
      It took me a bit to write this review once receiving the book because I had to re-read the first two books then read the other four. I'm glad I put in the time to do this; I'm not sure I would have followed all that happened if I had not. I do enjoy these characters, and at this point, they almost feel like family. Of all the books in this series I've read, this is my least favorite. At the beginning, I wanted to strangle both William and Madeleine! I felt that the narrative concerning their marital woes went on longer than necessary. I was relieved when the action shifted back to the monastery. The last half of the novel redeemed it. I will definitely read the remaining two books in the series.
    • 4/5
      The Breath of Peace, by Penelope Wilcock is the seventh book in The Hawk & Dove Series. I have not read any of the first six books so I was pleasantly surprised that this story can stand on it's own. In this book, the protagonists (Madeline and William) have been married for a year, living on a small homestead in 14th century England. It is painfully evident that their relationship is far from warm. I found myself very uncomfortable as I read their dialogue, wondering what in the world would make two people who seemingly dislike one another so much to have gotten married in the first place.As the story progresses, the reader finds out that these are older people, in their late 40's, who have never been in a relationship like this before. William had been in the monastic order for 30 years and Madeline had been a "healer" who lived and cared for herself most of the time. A thread which they are both attached to, is Madeline's brother, Abbot John, who they are both close to and greatly admire. Through differing reasons, they each spend time with Abbot John and receive guidance concerning their relationship. As a Christian themed story, Abbot John's guidance is directly from interpretation of the Bible. As an atheist, I did not find anything hard-nosed or demanding in the guidance given. In fact, Christian or not, one can read and feel good. Abbot John (via Ms Wilcock) gives gentle guidance of common sense. We see the difficulties of working on a relationship, and the joys when it all comes together. Descriptives of self-sustaining life for a family in the 1300's is well put, from attire to care of livestock. There is also interesting insight into the workings of a Monastery from this time period. Politics are not brought into the story, neither are strong religious views. As such, I enjoyed this story of a couple coming together as well as harmony that is created in the Benedictine Monastery which is the setting for much of the story.
    • 4/5
      The Hawk and the Dove was one of my favourite books as a child, and I am so very happy that Penelope Wilcock has expanded her series beyond the original three. Like some of the other reviewers below, I re-read the original trilogy and then found and read the newer books that precede this one in the series. I think The Breath of Peace would be comprehensible to someone who hadn't read the first six books of the series, but I don't know why someone would want to read it exclusively. At the very least, I think it is a richer book if one reads it after Remember Me (Book 6 in the series), which introduces the two characters who are most prominent in this one.The early chapters of this book are truly painful. William and Madeleine are newlyweds who, barely a year into their marriage, have slipped into the pitfalls of bickering, belittling, and deprecation that often trap the unsuspecting members of intimate relationships, and, especially, marriages. Though William has many academic and organizational skills, he is relatively inept as a farmer, and the ever-competent Madeleine is quick to point out his errors. Both end up feeling frustrated and angry, and it is evidence of Wilcock's skill as a writer that I, too, felt frustrated and angry as I watched them spar. (My husband, like some of the posters below, was unable to make it past the harsh banter).However, the real gift of this book is in the advice that William and Madeleine receive from their minister, Father John, who individually counsels each of them and encourages them both to find and celebrate their strengths within the marriage and to treat one another with more patience and respect (although Wilcock, using john's voice) puts it far more eloquently). Although Father John refers to Christ often in his lessons and encouragement, the advice he gives is good, practical advice that would benefit most marriages as well as non-romantic relationships. The arguments that I found most jarring were ones that struck closest to home for me, and reading this book (like reading most of the earlier books in the series) has encouraged me to speak more cautiously and wisely in my own relationships with people around me. The simplicity of monastery life, and the similar simplicity of William and Madeleine's marriage, allows Wilcock to focus almost exclusively on issues of interpersonal relationships (and the importance of grace), rather than on plot. It is a slower read than many novels, and Wilcock's focus on character development does mean that the story feels a little belabored on occasion.Readers of Wilcock's original trilogy may want to note that the four new books have changed in tone from the original three; there is now no longer a frame narrative. This gives the new books (especially this one) a very differing feel than the originals had, and, although I enjoyed The Breath of Peace, I still think that The Hawk and the Dove is (by far!) the best in the series.
    • 4/5
      Title: The Breath of Peace (The Hawk & the Dove #7)Author: Penelope WilcockPages: 208Year: 2016Publisher: Lion FictionMy rating is 4 stars.This seventh book in The Hawk and the Dove Series finds William de Bulmer as a husband to Madeleine for a little over a year. Their married life started out wonderful, but now they seem to squabble all the time and they are both tired of it. William thinks he is a failure as a husband as he can’t seem to do anything right, but spending thirty years as a monk has hardly prepared him for life outside the monastery. Madeleine seems to find fault with everything he does and isn’t shy about telling him so!Abbot John, Madeleine’s brother, is in a quandary. His cellarer has died and he has no one to fill the position. William was in training for the same when he was a monk, but after he left the monastery to marry Madeleine no one took his place as assistant. So Abbot John contacts William to see if he can bring their account books up to date and check on the status of all things financial for the monastery and train a replacement. Oh and by the way did William have any ideas on who might fill the position? William is grateful for the respite away from Madeleine, whom he still deeply loves, but can’t seem to find a peaceful way to live with. Upon William’s return home, Madeleine makes her own journey to see her brother, seeking marital counsel.A beautiful picture of marital life is explained by Abbot John using scripture. That was my favorite part of the book. I also liked how transparent William has become, even though he doesn’t like it. What a change from when readers first met him! I would have liked to have spent more time with the familiar monks at the monastery than this story did, but that is just a personal preference. Abbot John is growing in his role as leader of this quiet community that inspires peace in both Madeleine and William. His advice and spiritual insight is spot on in the story. I’m looking forward to book eight, so stay tuned for more of the monastic life at St. Alcuin’s!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 4/5
      William and Madeline deBulmer remind me of a fourteenth-century Ralph and Alice Kramden (Pow! Hie thee to the moon, thou churl!) He's a bit of a ne'er-do-well; an ex-monk who renounced his vows to marry a shrew of a sharpish harpy with a good heart but a wickedly cutting tongue. The first year of marriage is not going well and this story records how the couple works out their relationship kinks, aided by encouragement from the good brethren at St. Alcuin's monastery.There are no unexpected plot twists here; the tale just moves gently and pleasantly forward. A short, sweet, sentimental read with plenty of smiles--monks are, after all, as human as the rest of us. Steep yourself a cup of tea and enjoy.
    • 4/5
      As an avid reader, I enjoy reading all kinds of books. Although this book is not what I would normally read for pleasure, I was pleasantly surprised. I appreciate the author's ability to write an engaging, interesting, and realistic story about nothing more than the struggles of marriage and daily life in the 1300s. As a young adult who is not married nor religious, those aspects of the book did not interest me. However, I spent a lot of time thinking about the time period, day to day living, and the differences between back then and today. This book definitely sparked some interest about that time period in me. It is obvious that the author did a lot of research and was very thoughtful and intentional with her writing. I hope to check out similar books in the future.
    • 3/5
      When I requested this book, I was unaware that it was book 7 in a series, or that it was Christian fiction. That said, it was an easy read with likable characters, and you don't need to have read the previous books to be able to enjoy this one. There's plenty of religion present and Catholic rituals -- readings from the Gospel, annointing with oil, exorcism -- so folks who don't like that sort of literature should avoid this story. Otherwise, recommended for fans of historical Christian fiction.