Blog Tour: Review of The Toymaker’s Doll by E.G. Bella

The Toymaker’s Doll: An Allegorical Short Story by E.G. Bella

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a sweet, truth-filled debut from E. G. Bella! From the very beginning, I was pulled into Jane’s little world. This is one of those stories that, though short, speaks a message that will stay with you!

Characters: Jane was such a sweetheart! Although a doll, she was very relatable due to her fear and flaws. However, I loved seeing her work through her difficulties and keep pressing onward to reach her goal for the good of others. And Isabel! I absolutely loved that little kitten. She wasn’t in there a lot, but her encouraging spirit was exactly what Jane needed. And of course, the Toymaker was a representation of what our heavenly Father is to us, and how beautiful that was!

Plot/Setting/Writing Style: Although this was a fairly simplistic plot (can’t have anything too intense in a short story), the pacing flowed well and didn’t get too slow or too fast. The descriptions and writing style kind of meshed to turn the setting into this quaint little English village. (I don’t know if that was the author’s intention, but it worked so well!) The writing was just very gentle and had a classic feeling to it. I think the author’s style would work so well in a Christmas story in an English village, because that’s the vibe this story gave off!

Themes: Ah, this was the most beautiful part. I loved seeing the author’s heart and truths she’s learned come through in this story. At first I was a little confused where the allegory was going, but once I figured out what was going on, this story was such a sweet breath of truth. Anyone who’s gone through sorrows and suffering (basically everyone!) would relate to Jane’s story. I think everyone’s been at the point of questioning why the Lord allows bad things to happen to His children, and this so simply, but so profoundly, addresses that topic. I also enjoyed the author placing Scripture references at the end of the story – it couldn’t have ended better.

Overall, The Toymaker’s Doll was a wonderful debut by E.G. Bella. I am so excited to see where this author goes from here. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the release of her upcoming novel!

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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About the Author

E. G. Bella is a bookworm-turned-author with a passion for cheesy puns, colorful characters, and contagious faith. She writes in a wide variety of genres, striving to craft memorable and page-turning tales the whole family can enjoy. When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or gushing about her stories to anyone within earshot, Bella can be found sipping warm coffee, reading emotional books, and harmonizing with the radio. Sometimes all at once. You can visit her at www.egbella.com, where she blogs weekly about life, writing, and what she’s learning about both. 

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Connect

Website

Amazon Profile

Pinterest: @EGBellaAuthor

Goodreads

Spotify: Artist and Listener

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday (December 20th): 

Vanessa Hall (Book Review)

E. G. Bella (The Toymaker’s Doll Blog Tour Kickoff)

Tuesday (December 21st):

Kristina Hall (Book Review)

Wednesday (December 22nd):

Vanessa Hall (Author Interview)

E. G. Bella (Why I Use a Pen Name)

Thursday (December 23rd):

Grace Johnson (Book Review & Author Interview)

Friday (December 24th):

Stepping Stones Book Reviews (Author Interview)

E. G. Bella (What Readers are Saying)

Saturday (December 25th):

Teen Writers’ Nook (Book Review)

Sunday (December 26th):

E. G. Bella (Blog Tour Wrap-Up)