Peter R. de Vries, crime reporter, true crime author and international Emmy-awardwinner:

“I have read your wonderful book The year of the owl in one go. From the very first page, I was grabbed by this touching story. I just had to finish it! It is a beautiful, loving and well written book that captures the special relationship between father and daughter terrifically. I am not ashamed to say that there were quite some passages that moved me. It is wonderful to see how, out of such a sad experience,  you managed to make a beautiful and lasting tribute from which we can all learn something! On the other side of fear, lies freedom…”

Jessica Villerius, film- and documentarymaker:

“I read this book in one go. Big tears of emotion and recognition. For me it confirmed that you can spend many years working and living in the tough world of facts and evidence, but feelings and intuition will take you where you need to be in the end. Inspiring! I have seldom read such a beautiful, honest book full of vulnerability. Therefore I think that everyone deserves to read this wonderful book with so much food for thought.”

Marc Rieu, art painter and son of worldfamous André Rieu (Johann Strauss Orchestra):

‘I could read this wonderful book every year, such a jewel, or rather, a diamant that shines again and again in all its facets!!! Words cannot describe what I feel, the story gets so close to you because it was written in such a personal fashion. What an evocative, exquisite tribute! A great deal of praise to you!!!‘

Roy op het Veld, chief editor of regional newspaper De Limburger:

‘ I’ve read your book. Well done. Beautiful story!’

Egbert Brons, coach/trainer/investigator of the art of creation:

“In this masterfully written book the Law of Attraction plays a significant part. Small pieces of the puzzle are carefully wrapped into the story so the reader remains curious until the very end. The story has different layers and is not only a family saga. It is also a story about two journeys of transformation. One is that which we all will go through sooner or later, the other is a journey that is only open to those who dare to open themselves up to the incorporeal and the intangible. In this book Pascale shows you a reality that also exists, but that remains hidden for many. She writes in a style that sometimes touches you straight in your heart. She takes you on a journey through her life and seduces you to keep on reading. In a playful manner she connects the everyday with spirituality. She knows how to bring tension and expectation into the story.  The book is a testimony of a remarkable spiritual experience, of deeply experiencing how the Law of Attraction can transfer a life and how a totally new reality can be created. It’s highly recommended for everyone who wants to peek behind the screens of everyday reality.’

Vreneli Stadelmaier, author of the bestselling book ‘Sure she can’ and winner of the Joke Smit-award 2015:

‘The Year of the Owl’ is a beautiful spiritual requiem for a father. Bruinen describes wonderfully how saying goodbye can lead to reconsideration and transformation. An encouragement for everyone who wants to reinvent oneself.’

Isabel Beije, editor ‘Mijn Geheim’:

‘I very much enjoyed reading your book! What a beautiful journey you have described, from the head to the heart! And such special examples of so many so-called ‘coincidences’ that have led to big changes in your life.’

Frans Smeets:

‘I bought Pascale’s book last Friday and I read it that same day in one go. I went through the book on a rollercoaster of emotions. Pascale’s writing style is unique. She knows how to describe emotions in a subtle way so that you cannot escape them. There is more on this earth than ratio, material things and running after business success. In the book, the owl plays a central and strategic part. For Pascale, the owl is the catalyst that lets her feelings guide her which way to go. Without giving away the end, the Catalpa tree that gets a second life is a symbol for a new and different life…with more explicit meaning. The book is highly recommended. It reads wonderfully but don’t be afraid of impetuous emotions because there are plenty of those in this book. Compliments Pascale for this masterpiece!’

Jacques Smeets, writer and former police detective:

‘The Year of the Owl. A very special title for a wonderful book (…). The owl and spirituality are two themes that play a crucial part in this exciting book. Both have come forth out of a sad event in her life, namely her father’s death. The way in which Pascale is able to blend this experience with the owl’s arrival shows a great writer’s talent to keep the reader reading. With her style, she knows how to engage and even to deeply move the reader. For surely, each reader will have lost some loved one at some point in her of his life. This terrible event is bad enough, but when you simultaneously take the courageous step to say goodbye to an important job as public prosecutor, solely to follow your heart into an uncertain future, then it is crystal clear that a lot has happened in her life. Pascale shares her emotions candidly. Especially striking is the fact that Pascale offers a lot of attention to the law of attraction, a natural truth that applies to all individuals. I was deeply touched by her spirital development because I experienced something similar in my life. Therefore, this book is for people who are looking for answers to questions that they have been asking for years. Some of those answers are actually given in this book. At the very least this book offers beautiful and useful lines of approach for anyone who wants and dares to open up unconditionally.’ – Jacques Smeets, writer and former police detective

Marga Miltenburg, director speaker’s Agency ZijSpreekt:

‘The title of Pascale Bruinen’s new book ‘The year of the owl'(Kosmos Editors) made me curious. In the book she describes the love she felt for her father, being the youngest daughter. He was her counselor, she learned a lot from him. Her father was like a wise owl. For that reason, Pascale’s mother had given him – many years before his demise –  a statue of a wooden owl, a gift that had visibly touched him. When her father dies at the age of 89, she goes through a deep crisis. Pascale: ‘Age doesn’t count, the feeling of absence is overwhelming. Mourning is very hard work. All feelings of sorrow, pain and despair have a function.’ During this mourning period she was taken om a search for her ‘authentic self’, the personal nucleus that finally remains when all superfluous layers have disappeared. Pascale: ‘Showing vulnerability is not a sign of weakness, but of strength, daring and courage.’ After she has come out of this crisis, she has an intense spiritual experience in which an owl plays an important part. The book shares with us that ‘when you wish something deeply enough en then can release your wish, it comes true, even though it may take a while.’Thinking power influences and creaties. All that gets conscious attention, grows. The Law of Attraction, she calls it. Because of her experience with the owl she makes a 180 degrees turn. As of that moment, she believes everything biforehand until it’s clear that it cannot possibly be true. In ‘The year of the owl’ we see this process of awakening. Her father’s death brought her a lot of good, in the end. Pascale felt that this special story had to be told. I fully agree with her. Read it and let this book touch you! The story of a public prosecutor becoming the writer and motivational speaker she is now.’

ZIN Magazine:

‘Her father’s death leads to a transformation for public prosecutor Pascale Bruinen. Her grief makes her realize that she has to follow her heart. She quits her job and decides to become a full time writer. A touching and inspiring true story.’

Andrea Germeraad, writer:

‘My definition of a good book is: a book becomes art when it changes my (view on) life. ‘The Year of the Owl’ has certainly accomplished this feat. In the beginning I was somewhat skeptical. I really hoped it would not be one of those woolly self help books. Pretty soon into the book, I was enthralled by the personal and recognizable story of Pascale Bruinen. The author doesn’t only open up to a different mindset, but she also dares to be vulnerable towards the reader. Stress, grief, despair but also her happy moments are so well written that I could sense them myself. Despite this rollercoaster of emotions it turns out to be a feel good book with a happy ending. Fortunately, the moralistic tone of voice I feared in the beginning is completely missing in this book. Instead, the author leaves it totally up to the reader whether to believe or not. With regard to the latter: I hope there is more than this material existence, but my mind says this is not possible. What Pascale has taught me is to at least not judge those people who do believe it is possible. Simply because my mind cannot rationalize it does not mean that it does not exist for another person.’

Wendy Wenning, Passion For Books, boekenbijlage.nl:

‘In ‘The Year of the Owl’ Pascale shares her deepest feelings and bares her soul. Daring and courageous. I deeply admire her. Pascale is a very down to earth woman, a control freak. But after her father’s demise, she sees her own true self. And not only that, but she also starts to encounter images of owls everywhere. Seeing these creatures, symbols of wisdom, she has to think of her father. Not only because of his intelligence, but also because of the wooden owl statue that he received just for that reason from Pascale’s mother years ago. To her these are signs of her father. A spiritual experience shows her that there is more in life and that she has to change course. ‘The Year of the Owl’ has left a great impression on me and made me realize that it is never too late to go and do what you love to do. In this book, Pascale shows in a very personal and intense way the beautiful example of how important it is to follow your heart. A book that touched me, sometimes made me sad but also a book out of which I got a lot of strength.’

Reviews of other readers:

“I have almost finished your wonderful book. I want to know the end but I also think it’s a shame when I think of the very last page of this story that you have written in an intensely beautiful way. But that’s just the way it is when you read a really good book!!”

“Your book reads very fast and easily, it’s very beautifully written!!”

“I have read your book in no time. Unfortunately, because – as always when reading a good book – you don’t want to say goodbye to the main characters. Pascale describes all her emotions, her transformation and shows that a painful goodbye can also be the beginning of something very beautiful. Pascale is a positive and driven person with a listening ear for others.”

“After I had started reading this beautiful book I could not stop. What a wonderful homage to your father, I recognised so much in your story and was deeply touched by it. You have inspired me to follow your motto: listen to your feelings and your heart.”

“I finished reading your book in three days. Immersive, recognisable, positive.”

“I bought Pascale’s book and finished reading it the very same day. I went through the book on an emotional rollercoaster. Pascale’s manner of writing is unparalleled. In a subtiel way, she knows how to describe emotions. There’s no way of escaping them. On earth, there exists more than rational thinking, tangible things and running after success in business. In the book, the owl plays a strategic part. For Pascale, it is the catalyst to five her feelings an explicit role. Without giving too much away, the catalpa tree, the tree that gets a second life, is a symbol for a new (different) life. I can absolutely recommend this book. It reads in a lovely way, but don’t be afraid of strong emotions because there are plenty of those.  Compliments for having written this little masterpiece, Pascale.”

“I have just read your book ‘The year of the owl’. So incredibly beautiful and touching and especially recognisable, It overall felt as if I had gone through all this myself. Since my mother’s death, there also have been owls that came into my life in all kinds of forms, this summer even one in the neighbours’ garden. Goosebumps! It looked right through me. So beautiful that we have the privilege to experience this. Thanks for the beautiful hours of reading time and I look forward to your next experiences.”

“I’ve finished reading your book! Un-put-awayably beautiful! All my friends know what they are going to get as a present for their upcoming birthdays…Pascale, I keep my fingers crossen for your next book…”

“Just finished reading your book, it’s a very fine book, big compliments!”

“This weekend I finished reading THE YEAR OF THE OWL and I wanted to let you know that I think it’s a very beautiful book. But the book also had a different effect on me personally, because the process of having to say goodbye to your father – that you have described in details and in a very touching way – is something that I also had to go through recently. My father died last March and the idea that he is not here anymore is just sinking in. To read about your experiences was not only beautiful but also very comforting. Although every life is unique, I surely saw similarities, if only because my father was also a very special man with whom I had a deep connection. So, I shed some tears while reading your book, and that in itself is cathartic. So thank you for this reading experience!”

“Pascale I have just read your book. It doesn’t happen often but I had tears in my eyes. What a beautiful book. Straight from the heart…and so close to my own emotions. It is as if you have been trying to tell me something…You have got me thinking…Thank you!”

“Almost finished your book!!! Beautifully written! Some parts were pretty sad but the part where you described the experience with the owl afterwards was really stunningly beautiful. Very impressive!”

“Pascale, I have finished your book. I think it should be made into a movie. You were meant to be a writer!! Great.”

“I was completely impressed by your book. Thanks!”

“Dear Pascale, I have enjoyed your book. You’ve touched me with your story; honest, beautiful, with humour and so pure! Thank you so much…I’m looking forward to your next book!”

“I wanted to tell you that I really think your book is wonderful! So personal, touching, and – in the end – also very recognisable. I have to confess I am not a die-hard book reader but I finished your book in no time; you’ve described it  so beautifully, in my imagination I see all the places you write about very clearly. It’s great!”

“I have enjoyed reading your book. It is very beautiful and recognisable, it has really moved me.”