The Reading Bud

Book Blog by Heena Rathore-Pardeshi

ARC Review: Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear by Cathy Burnham Martin

Book Details:

Author: Cathy Burnham Martin
Release Date: 31st August 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 242 pages
Publisher: Quiet Thunder Publishing
Blurb:
What happens when an American girl of Eurasian descent finds herself suddenly immersed in all facets of her Armenian ancestry? Told with an often soulfully introspective voice, “Destiny of Dreams” follows the true story of a teenager and her grandfather, retracing loving, learning, and terrifying footprints of the past. While survival remains center stage, love and courage must emerge, or all will be both lost and forgotten. More fact than fiction, the author reveals her Armenian roots in this historical novel, chronicling her family members’ love, strength, and resolve to both survive and thrive in treacherous times. Reflecting the traumas suffered by all people displaced from their original homelands, this Armenian story focuses on one family’s challenge to find light in the dark days of the waning Ottoman Empire. Anyone with the diaspora in their family heritage will relate. Whether thinking of Jewish people from Israel, Africans scattered through slavery, Armenians fleeing annihilation in Turkey, so-called boat people escaping Asia, or Syrians fleeing life-threatening violence in their own nation, humans continue to rise up in the face of the toughest times. Who would emerge from extraordinarily desperate places, and how could they choose to set positive examples of humanity during highly inhumane times? Set in the early 1900s and flashing forward to the 1960s, the story’s themes ring with tolerance and intolerance, dreams and destroyers, family and friends, amidst challenges that eerily parallel life in current judgmental scenarios.

Written for Young Adult and Adult audiences, the book contains some explicit descriptions and a couple of disturbing, though not graphic, violent scenes. While not gratuitous, the depictions may be unsuitable for young readers

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Destiny Of Dreams: Time Is Dear by Cathy Burnham Martin is a beautifully written historical fiction book about survival and the darkness that plagues our society.

This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, along with quiet graphic descriptions of violence, which lent this book an air of seriousness that otherwise would have been missing. I liked reading this book from cover to cover because the plot was very engaging, the writing was good, the characterisation was well done and the execution of the story was really good.

I would recommend this book to all historical fiction buffs. Although do keep in mind that this book has some graphic violent scenes (for those who might find them triggering.)


You can also read this review on:

Goodreads



I love reading your comments, so please go ahead…

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I’m Heena

Welcome to The Reading Bud, my cosy corner of the internet dedicated to all things books and authors. Here, I invite you to join me on a journey of discovering under-represented books, independent and small press authors, and all things book with a touch of love and loud purrs. Let’s get Reading!

Book of the Month

Read this captivating story on the adventures and hardships of Frank Knightlite, a man who strives to illuminate darkness with his lantern in search of answers to life’s questions.
You can get it here.
August 2021
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  

Reading is like breathing to me.

Recent Posts

  • Book Review: Extropia by Jae Darcy

    Book Details: Author: Jae Darcy Release Date: 1 May 2026Series: Genre: Young-Adult, Science-Fiction, Dystopia, CyberpunkFormat: E-book Pages: 407 pagesPublisher: Pomegranate Seed PressBlurb:In 2164, reality is something you can buy. The wealthy live online in a gleaming virtual world wired…

  • Book Review: At Least I’m Trying by Tara Hodgson

    Book Details: Author: Tara HodgsonRelease Date: 15 October 2025Series: Genre: Young-Adult, Psychological ThrillerFormat: E-book Pages: 366 pagesPublisher: http://www.tarahodgson.caBlurb:When the volleyball hits the floor mere inches from Reese’s hands, her dreams of playingcollege ball shatter.After consecutive failures on the…

  • Book Spotlight: KOSTYA by Scott Zimmerman

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring Scott Zimmerman for their latest release, KOSTYA. Book: KOSTYA: Inspired by a True StoryAuthor: Scott ZimmermanPublication Date: 20 April 2026Publisher: Kostya PublishingPages: 371Genre: Historical Fiction/ThrillerAvailable Formats: ebook, paperback,…

  • Book Spotlight: Extropia by Jae Darcy

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring Jae Darcy for their latest release, Extropia. Book: ExtropiaAuthor: Jae DarcyPublication Date: 1 May 2026Publisher: Pomegranate Seed PressPages: 416Genre: Young-Adult, Dystopia, Science-FictionAvailable Formats: Kindle ebook, trade paperbackFor Readers…

  • Book Spotlight: THE FATIMA FILE: The Case of the Missing Millennium by Tom Lysaght 

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring Tom Lysaght for their latest release, The Fatima File: The Case of the Missing Millennium. Book: THE FATIMA FILE: The Case of the Missing MillenniumAuthor: Tom Lysaght Publication Date: 12 May…