| Tangled secrets review |
[Mar. 4th, 2013|09:07 am]
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4 - 8 March is introducing (Even Before Publishing Sept 2012) by Carol Preston About the Author Carol lives in Wollongong, NSW with her husband, Neil. As well as writing novels based on her family history, Carol has a private counselling practice and enjoys reading, gardening, spending time with her four grandchildren and bushwalking. She has pursued with great admiration the lives of her ancestors in Australia and has greatly enjoyed writing novels based on their stories and the inspiring history of the Australian people. For more information about Carol's books and her other interests she can be contacted on her website: www.carolpreston.com.au About the book
 In tragic circumstances Beth and her brothers are left in England to grow up without their parents. When Beth's childhood dream to be reunited with her father in Australia finally eventuates she finds that dreams do not always come true.The reality she faces is a tangled web of disappointment, deceit and mistakes. Further abandonment follows. Will she ever find true love? And will she discover she doesn't have to be alone before it is too late?Set in the early colonial days of New South Wales and based on real characters in the mid 1800s.Revisit Charlotte and Thomas from Charlotte's Angel and Mary's Guardian, and meet new characters in this new novel by Carol Preston. Mary's Guardian was a finalist in the fiction section of CALEB 2011.
My thoughts
I admit I rarely read historical novels especially those set during the convict era, largely because I binged on them when I was younger. Tangled Secrets is firmly set in that era. 1829 Bill is convicted and transported for stealing a lamb to feed his starving family. He is transported to Australia leaving his daughter Beth and two sons with their aunt in England after his wife and young baby dies. His dream is to work hard and bring them out to Australia, which he finally does in 1840.
Beth couldn’t wait to be reunited and be a family again, but after she arrives in Australia she finds that there is a distinct impediment to the dreams of a happy family in the form of Bridget who is jealous and resents Bill’s daughter and sons. In an effort to relieve the pressure on Bill, Beth comes to a decision that leads her, not to the happiness she hoped but to further disappointment and heartbreak. But she is a strong character and not bowed by life.
This is an enjoyable read and I shed tears at a couple of places as I empathised with Beth and the dramas in her life. It is historical fiction but based on real people and events from historical records of the 1800s. It is obvious a huge amount of research has gone into the writing of this books I and it shows in the details. The Christian message is subtly woven into the story and the lives of the characters.
Some of the characters appeared in previous novels which I hadn’t read. But it didn’t matter. This story stands on its own. Carol Preston is a new author for me but I doubt this will be the last book of hers I read. I also loved the muted green-grey cover on this book and the pensive face of Beth. |
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| Comments: |
From: (Anonymous)
2013-03-04 02:35 am (UTC)
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Thanks for the review Dale. Lovely to have had the chance to get to know you better. I hope you'll enjoy more of my books. Carol
Yes Dale, Carol does do extensive research and that's another thing that holds interest. Our earliest settlers had it tough. I've read and enjoyed another of Carol's books and I appreciate the way she goes into great detail. I felt like I really knew and understood her characters. So I look forward to reading this one.
I'm sure you will enjoy it Rita. hose details do make it come alive.
From: (Anonymous)
2013-03-13 02:08 pm (UTC)
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Thanks for sharing. Always enjoy learning about new books.
Thanks. And I'm always happy to be able to pass on info about books I have enjoyed. | |
orangedale
