Rings of a Tree

by Carolyn Arnold

Follow generations of their family through their celebrations and their trials, as told through the "eyes" of an oak tree. Rejoice in them over love and new life, and mourn with them over loss and the struggle against cancer.

Rings of a Tree draws a poetic correlation between the changing seasons and the stages of our lives.

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2012

About the author

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has nearly thirty published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Reviews

[Wiseask · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rings of a Tree is a barely 20-page short story that reads like a high schooler’s homework assignment, and from that juvenile perspective it’s no better than not bad. Carolyn Arnold chose to give away this pointless piece of sentimental schmaltz as an attempt to sell a longer work called City of Gold, a 47-page “preview” of which follows Rings of a Tree like an incongruous appendage with an offer to purchase a Kindle edition for $4.99. I was appalled to see she even had the chutzpah to charge $.99 for a Kindle edition of Rings of a Tree. I guess she figured there are an unfortunate few who were unable to finagle a copy for free.

I’m sorry to disappoint Ms. Arnold, who apparently is fishing for only favorable reviews. At the end of her work she wrote: “If you enjoyed Rings of a Tree, please help others find it by posting a brief, honest review ...” Her operative word is If. Anyway, she and you have my brief, honest review regardless.

[Rick Gillispie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short story about life. In life we go thru a lot. We have lots of bad times but good times always out way those bad.

[Ciayrra The Scorpion Flower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this heart warming short story very much. Made me smile.

[Katie Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always refreshing when we can take a step back from the intensity of today's fiction and instead take a look into real life. Real people. Real love. Real heartache. Arnold does this beautifully in this lovely short story.

Don't get me wrong, this is still fiction. But the generational tale she weaves is so true, so honest, that anyone can relate to it and feel compassion for the characters as they go through the trials and successes of life. We only get a sneak peek into their experiences, as we see them through the eyes of an eternal oak tree, but it is no less impactful.

I'm a big fan of Arnold's writing style, and this disarmingly honest short story did not disappoint.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, short novella