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Colour of My Heart: A true story of love, suffering and redemption
Colour of My Heart is a starkly honest, often harrowing account of the human spirit's struggle with and ultimate triumph over adversity. Set initially in rural Bosnia, formerly part of Tito's Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, and later Australia. One of four children Stacy, the daughter of austere parents who worked the land. Village life among the farming community of Bosnia was very far from idyllic, but what peace did prevail there was shattered by the horrors and atrocities of the Bosnian War, which so tragically tore the family apart. After the war the family eventually settled as refugees from religious persecution in Australia where Stacy, by nature hardworking and diligent, started a family with her Bosnian husband, achieved professional success and for the first time found love, only for tragedy to strike again. Trapped in a loveless marriage and afflicted by ongoing family strife, Stacy succumbed to a crippling mental illness.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published January 7, 2022
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 11, 2022
In her book “Colour of my Heart,” Stacy has created a window to the world through the eyes of an innocent child. The reader experiences Stacy’s world as she grows from a young, poverty-stricken, malnourished girl into a beautiful, talented, productive office worker and mother of two girls of her own. She has lived through the tragedy of the war in Bosnia, which for me was educational and enlightening, having only seen the war through the lens of Western news. She also shares her experiences living with family dysfunction and the impact that has had on her, eventually contributing to a full-stop breakdown. Writing about painful experiences and then having to revisit them during the editing process, can be difficult and draining and must have been a challenge for her. There is an element of sadness and grief in her book. However, It is also inspirational as she builds, gets knocked down, and then finds the courage and strength to rebuild time and time again, ending on a promising road of redemption and recovery. This book is sure to be a bestseller.
January 9, 2026
Colour Of My Heart By Stacy Nicholson
A Book Review By Zea Perez
January 2026
Interesting and inspiring!
This book is intricately written, and this makes it very appealing to read.
The effect on me is calming and evocative. I can feel that the words written are coming straight from the sincere heart of the author. The family tale is engrossing, and each vignette gives an insightful glimpse of the macro context of the time: its people, its place and the challenges of the times.
An interesting, inspiring book to read!
A Book Review By Zea Perez
January 2026
Interesting and inspiring!
This book is intricately written, and this makes it very appealing to read.
The effect on me is calming and evocative. I can feel that the words written are coming straight from the sincere heart of the author. The family tale is engrossing, and each vignette gives an insightful glimpse of the macro context of the time: its people, its place and the challenges of the times.
An interesting, inspiring book to read!
July 15, 2022
This novel is absolutely magical. As mentioned in its title, it reveals the essence of love, life, suffering and redemption.
Once you start reading this, you will get lost in this spellbinding story which will make it impossible for you to not read this sublime piece of work till the very end.
The flow of story is mesmerizing, it is needless to mention that Stacy Nicholson is an enormously gifted author, her writing skill is impeccable. Once you start reading her work, she is definitely going to be added in the list of your favorite authors.
In "Colour Of My Heart" I can not name one specific part of the story which I loved the most because every bit, every line of this novel is flawless.
It is a stunning book, a masterpiece which is going to touch your heart in all the right places as it is permeated with all the things that is needed in order to make a story a MUST READ.
A must-have in your collection if you are a bibliophile.
Once you start reading this, you will get lost in this spellbinding story which will make it impossible for you to not read this sublime piece of work till the very end.
The flow of story is mesmerizing, it is needless to mention that Stacy Nicholson is an enormously gifted author, her writing skill is impeccable. Once you start reading her work, she is definitely going to be added in the list of your favorite authors.
In "Colour Of My Heart" I can not name one specific part of the story which I loved the most because every bit, every line of this novel is flawless.
It is a stunning book, a masterpiece which is going to touch your heart in all the right places as it is permeated with all the things that is needed in order to make a story a MUST READ.
A must-have in your collection if you are a bibliophile.
July 1, 2022
Colour of My Heart is a beautifully written story of small girl who is facing a lot of challenges while
growing up. As story is emotional it is also very life insightful and showing the reader how life can be
unpredictable and full of surprises. I liked Stacy’s honesty so as well as she proved her strength
inside story she so honestly describes her weakness and challenging life battles: Growing up on farm,
refugee life, falling in life while being married and many other interesting anecdotes. There is so
much in this book. I warmly recommend Stacy’s book to read so we all can find beats and pieces of
our lives inside her story
growing up. As story is emotional it is also very life insightful and showing the reader how life can be
unpredictable and full of surprises. I liked Stacy’s honesty so as well as she proved her strength
inside story she so honestly describes her weakness and challenging life battles: Growing up on farm,
refugee life, falling in life while being married and many other interesting anecdotes. There is so
much in this book. I warmly recommend Stacy’s book to read so we all can find beats and pieces of
our lives inside her story
May 23, 2022
It is plainly obvious that the author's heart is bright red in the "Colour of My Heart"!
Mental illness is a huge problem and is not easy for the sufferer to explain. I think Stacy explained her problem well and I hope her story will help many others. It's an important topic that many of us don't understand.
I read this book inside of two days as I was anxious to see if Stacy would finally be able to cut off the toxic people in her life and come to terms with it. Now I'm as happy as she now appears to be. Really good book!
Mental illness is a huge problem and is not easy for the sufferer to explain. I think Stacy explained her problem well and I hope her story will help many others. It's an important topic that many of us don't understand.
I read this book inside of two days as I was anxious to see if Stacy would finally be able to cut off the toxic people in her life and come to terms with it. Now I'm as happy as she now appears to be. Really good book!
April 12, 2022
A TESTAMENT TO AN ENDURING SPIRIT
The author invites the reader into her world and holds nothing back. From childhood to present day, we glimpse the incredible acts by others to try and diminish the spirit of one so lovely and kind. It's a poignant and moving story shining the light on abuse, the trials of being a refugee, and how this woman's grit triumphs. I'm cheering this author on to live her best life ever. She deserves nothing less.
The author invites the reader into her world and holds nothing back. From childhood to present day, we glimpse the incredible acts by others to try and diminish the spirit of one so lovely and kind. It's a poignant and moving story shining the light on abuse, the trials of being a refugee, and how this woman's grit triumphs. I'm cheering this author on to live her best life ever. She deserves nothing less.
January 9, 2025
Stacy Nicholson's autobiography is a tribute to the flavors of Stacy's beloved Bosnia and a testament to one woman's unyielding bravery, resilience, and brutal honesty. The author’s autobiography chronicles life as a child in Bosnia, the civil war that ensued in that area, and the author’s relocation to Australia.
The narrative is eloquent and tender with descriptions of her homeland's geography and keen observations of its distinctive culture. The author’s details the brutal reality of her childhood innocence marred by verbal, mental, and physical abuse within her family home. However, "Colour of My Heart" is also a testament to resiliency and strength. A journey that maps out Stacy's self-acceptance; how she pieced together aspects of her fragmented self to heal wounds and open the way towards inner healing.
It's the tale of a fiercely brave woman who used grit, determination, and vulnerability as her suit of armor. In the wake of leaving her battered homeland during the civil war, Stacy found her new home in Australia. It presented her an opportunity to reconnect disconnected parts of herself. Like many others who immigrate into unfamiliar territories, she too leaves a part of herself behind, to commence a fresh chapter of healing in her adopted home.
The narrative is eloquent and tender with descriptions of her homeland's geography and keen observations of its distinctive culture. The author’s details the brutal reality of her childhood innocence marred by verbal, mental, and physical abuse within her family home. However, "Colour of My Heart" is also a testament to resiliency and strength. A journey that maps out Stacy's self-acceptance; how she pieced together aspects of her fragmented self to heal wounds and open the way towards inner healing.
It's the tale of a fiercely brave woman who used grit, determination, and vulnerability as her suit of armor. In the wake of leaving her battered homeland during the civil war, Stacy found her new home in Australia. It presented her an opportunity to reconnect disconnected parts of herself. Like many others who immigrate into unfamiliar territories, she too leaves a part of herself behind, to commence a fresh chapter of healing in her adopted home.
May 4, 2022
From Tragedy to Triumph!
Colour of My Heart of a memoir of the author’s life, and a very dramatic life it has been. Born in Bosnia, she grew up in poverty on a farm and lived through the traumatic events of the civil war that occurred with the breakup of Yugoslavia, which led her to end up settling in Australia. Her life didn’t get any easier, though, because of the many issues in her family, including having to take care of a daughter with disabilities and a loveless marriage. On top of that, and partly because of her family problems, she experiences serious mental health problems that nearly cause her to end her life. Eventually, however, she triumphs over these problems and learns to love and accept herself and lead an independent life. Her story is meant to bring mental health problems out of the shadows and encourage people who have them. It’s a dramatic story that tugs at the heartstrings and will appeal to many readers. Of special interest to me was the part about the civil war in Bosnia: She provides an inside, personal view unlike any other I’d read about before.
Colour of My Heart of a memoir of the author’s life, and a very dramatic life it has been. Born in Bosnia, she grew up in poverty on a farm and lived through the traumatic events of the civil war that occurred with the breakup of Yugoslavia, which led her to end up settling in Australia. Her life didn’t get any easier, though, because of the many issues in her family, including having to take care of a daughter with disabilities and a loveless marriage. On top of that, and partly because of her family problems, she experiences serious mental health problems that nearly cause her to end her life. Eventually, however, she triumphs over these problems and learns to love and accept herself and lead an independent life. Her story is meant to bring mental health problems out of the shadows and encourage people who have them. It’s a dramatic story that tugs at the heartstrings and will appeal to many readers. Of special interest to me was the part about the civil war in Bosnia: She provides an inside, personal view unlike any other I’d read about before.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews