BLOG TOUR: Family Traits - Sarah Jones

Two families destroyed by the disappearance of a daughter and the suicide of a son.

Seventeen years ago, the Webster family found themselves in a nightmare when Chris Webster’s protégé, Sam Chappel, disappeared after the school summer ball. Just two weeks later, Chris’s son Jez committed suicide at the family holiday home. 

Now Chris Webster is dead, and vicious rumours are starting to circulate about his involvement in Sam’s disappearance.

Nat Morton, journalist with the local paper, has decided that Sam’s story is just what she needs to revive her ailing career. It just means ignoring any loyalty she may feel towards the Websters, who treated her as part of the family when she was growing up.

After the death of her father, Caro Webster is spending the summer at the ‘Beach Hut’, which has been left empty since the suicide of her brother there. She is distraught at the allegations against her beloved father - but far from laying the past to rest, she is discovering disturbing parts of a puzzle that she doesn’t want to piece together.

When Sam Chappell is finally found, the discovery changes everything they thought they knew. And someone is determined that the secrets of the past should stay buried.

 

What did I think?

WOW!  I could not put this book down.  I usually write notes as I'm reading but my notebook remained resolutely blank as I didn't want to tear my eyes away from the pages of this gripping book for a single second.

It's a lot darker than it looks from the cover and it is filled with secrets (my favourite type of book).  There's the mystery of a missing teenage girl, the suicide of a teenage boy, the parentage of Caro's son and a whole web of secrets and lies to uncover.  I'm going to keep my review brief so as not to inadvertently release any spoilers but suffice to say I was shocked, surprised and horrified.  Bravo, Sarah Jones!

I loved the friendship dynamic between Caro and Nat; Caro is so self-centred and I really didn't like her at all whereas Nat is thoughtful and friendly but she's a journalist so she's always on the lookout for a big scoop.  There's such a lot going on with the various threads of the storyline that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Beautifully written and perfectly plotted, Family Traits is a compelling, intriguing and poignant psychological thriller.  With a book of this calibre, Sarah Jones is an author to watch and I can't wait to see what she writes next.  In the meantime, I'm adding her debut A False Reflection to my TBR.  A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Love Books Tours virtual book tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

Follow the tour:

Sister Rosa's Rebellion (The Meonbridge Chronicles Book 6) - Carolyn Hughes

How can you rescue what you hold most dear, when to do so you must break your vows?

1363. When Mother Angelica, the old prioress at Northwick Priory, dies, many of the nuns presume Sister Rosa – formerly Johanna de Bohun, of Meonbridge – will take her place. But Sister Evangelina, Angelica’s niece, believes the position is hers by right, and one way or another she will ensure it is.

Rosa stands aside to avoid unseemly conflict, but is devastated when she sees how the new prioress is changing Northwick: from a place of humility and peace to one of indulgence and amusement, if only for the prioress and her favoured few. Rosa is terrified her beloved priory will be brought to ruin under Evangelina’s profligate and rapacious rule, but her vows of obedience make it impossible to rebel.

Meanwhile, in Meonbridge, John atte Wode, the bailiff, is also distraught by the happenings at Northwick. After years of advising the former prioress and Rosa on the management of their estates, Evangelina dismissed him, banning him from visiting Northwick again.

Yet, only months ago, he met Anabella, a young widow who fled to Northwick to escape her in-laws’ demands and threats, but is a reluctant novice nun. The attraction between John and Anabella was immediate and he hoped to encourage her to give up the priory and become his wife. But how can he possibly do that now?

Can John rescue his beloved Anabella from a future he is certain she no longer wants? And can Rosa overcome her scruples, rebel against Evangelina’s hateful regime, and return Northwick to the haven it once was?

 

What did I think?

Oh how I love a virtual visit to Meonbridge and this six instalment of The Meonbridge Chronicles is a little different as it's set in Northwick Priory.  The link to Meonbridge is Sister Rosa, who was formerly Johanna de Bohun, and I absolutely loved the spotlight being shone on her.

Northwick is a priory steeped in history and filled with politics due to its link with the Goddeffroy family.  When the prioress Mother Angelica (a Goddeffroy) dies she wishes to pass the priory into the safe hands of Sister Rosa but Sister Evangelina (a Goddeffroy) has other ideas and believes the priory is hers by birthright.  It is no surprise when Evangelina becomes prioress but the nuns aren't happy with the way she runs the priory.  How do you solve a problem like Evangelina?  Rebellion!

It's an absolutely gripping tale of greed, corruption and privilege that kept me riveted from start to finish.  It is really interesting to see how a priory is run in the 14th century and how much they rely on patronage from rich families.  It's very much like selling your soul to Satan though as they don't give their money for nothing.

As always, Carolyn Hughes transports her readers back in time to the 14th century and you actually feel as if you are experiencing the highs and lows with the characters as you walk in their footsteps.  This is one of my favourite historical fiction series and it keeps going from strength to strength and long may it continue.

A very highly recommended read that can be read as a standalone or as part of this wonderful series.

I received a digital ARC to read and review and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon