A Book Review

Late Saturday evening I posted this book review but by Sunday it disappeared. I'm going to try doing this again.

All That Was Promised by Vickie Hall was an easy read for me. I loved this book from the very first page.

The story starts out with a Mormon missionary, Ben Lachlan, preaching to Richard Kenyon, a Methodist minister, who soon finds himself questioning his lifes work. His wife isn't sure she wants her husband to go down this new path.

I could tell that Vickie did lots of research. I have been to Cardiff and in reading this book it brought back many scenes I remembered from my visit. All of her characters came to life and seemed like real people to me.

This book is full of lots of action, mystery, and love stories. The persecution the early saints in Wales had to endure when they joined this new church is amazing. I'm sure it would test anyone almost more than one can imagine. Every chapter had a new challenge. I love historical fiction and this book was no exception. I had a hard time putting it aside and wanted to read even when I was supposed to be working. The only disappointing thing for me was that it ended. I wanted it to continue.

C = Castles

Until my trip to Scotland, England and Wales in 2006 with my sister, I had only seen pictures of castles. The first castle ruin we visited in Scotland was Dumbarton that dated back to 450 A.D. We then took a ferry to the Isle of Butte and saw the ruins of the Rothesay Castle built about 1098. The following day we went to the huge Edinburgh Castle.




After Scotland we went to England. The first castle we visited was the stunning medieval Alnwick castle (the film location for the Harry Potter movies).



One of the most memorable nights during our trip was spent staying overnight at the castle in Durham.



The following day we went to the 14th century Raby Medieval Castle, and the ruins of the Bernard Castle. Another beautiful castle we visited was in Nottingham. We then went to see the Keniworth castle ruins in Warkwickshire.




My favorite castle was the one in Warwick founded in 1068. That day besides touring the castle, we experienced many things. We saw the world’s largest siege machine – Trebuchet. We went on a ghost tour, watched knights on horses, and a jousting match with knights and squires. We also attended the King Maker’s feast in the evening.



The next castle we saw was in Wales. The first one was the Chepstow castle ruins, and then we went to the Cardiff Castle.




Back in England we went to the Farleigh-Hungerford Castle ruins, and then we went to the Winchester Castle built in 1067. This castle holds the famous King Arthur’s Round Table. In the same village was the Wolvesey Castle ruin.



You probably think all we did was visit castle, but I actually have more pictures of churches and cathedrals. We also visited areas where our ancestors were from. It was a wonderful three weeks of exploring.

Castles in Wales

By C. LaRene Hall

We continued our tour of castle in Wales and our first stop was the Chepstow, which is a Norman Castle ruin sitting high above the banks of the river Wye. It has a twin tower gatehouse. We were interested in their displays of printed placards explaining the castle’s history along with wax figures of the Marshal Family.


Then we drove to a 12th century Norman Keep, the Cardiff Castle. I was surprised to find this castle in the middle of a busy city. On the tour, we learned that they decorated all the rooms around a theme. The most common themes were astrological and Biblical. I loved the beautiful clock tower, and the room that represented the seasons of the year and the days of the week. It was no surprise to find the nursery decorated with fairy tales and nursery rhymes.