Lies of Gold
By Jan Selbourne
Their love affair ended in
anger and painful consequences. Lady Katherine Ashford has guarded a secret
through years of abuse. Fighting wars and hard living has numbed Julian
Ashford. Then fate steps in. A traitor is smuggling gold across the Channel to Napoleon
Bonaparte and Julian is ordered back to Halton Hall and Katherine. It’s her
secret and the increasing danger that rekindle the love they once shared, then
a murder reveals the shocking truth of the gold smuggling. However, nothing
could prepare them for the devastating betrayal when they finally face the
mastermind behind this sordid operation.
“I
left England because you told me I wasn’t good enough for you…”
But
now Julian Ashford is back, although he is disgraced and one step away from a
cell in Newgate Prison. At least, that is what his so-called family, who reside
in Halton Hall believe.
It
had been one week of forbidden love, just one week, and then Katherine Ashford
had sent the only man she had ever loved away. It had been for the best. There
was no future for herself and Julian. Katherine was married, and if their
secret affair were discovered, then she would lose her son. Nevertheless, it
had broken her heart to return to her husband — the honourable, gallant, as
well as being a good friend to the Prince Regent, Charles Ashford, the
Earl of Ballingford. Honourable and
gallant? If only le bon ton knew the truth about Charles. Charles had been a
cruel man, to both Katherine and her children. She had silently rejoiced when
he fell from his horse and died. At last, she had thought, she would be free.
However, even then, freedom had been denied her, for Charles had bestowed the
guardianship of her son to his brother, the Honourable Martin Ashford. Martin
had immediately taken up residence at Halton Hall and made life as difficult
for Katherine as he could. All she could do was bide her time and wait the
seven years for her son to come of age. Just seven years. Seven years of being
subservient. Seven years of fear that Martin would take her son away from her.
Seven years.
Julian
could recall not one happy memory of Halton Hall, and he is loathed to return
there. However, needs must, and the Devil has the whip. So here he was. In the
one place he hated above all others, and the one place he had vowed never to
return. But unbeknown to the residence of Holton Hall, Julian has not returned
home to escape a prison sentence. He is here to find the traitor who is
smuggling gold across the channel to fund Napoleon Bonaparte’s cause.
Katherine
is determined to avoid Julian at whatever the cost. For it was not only memories
that Katherine took away from their one week of love. Julian cannot know the
secret that she has kept from him for ten years. He must not find out the
truth, ever.
Lies
of Gold by Jan Selbourne is the unashamedly enthralling story of forbidden
love, secrets, lies, redemption and a traitor’s gold.
Wow!
Where do I begin? What a book! What a story! Selbourne has not only written an
engrossingly enthralling epic, but she has also created a cast of characters
that seemingly leap off the page. Like all great romances, and I consider Lies
of Gold a great romance, there is a dashing hero that is, of course, flawed,
and a wonderful heroine. Katherine has endured a very abusive marriage, made
worse by the time this story is set in. Katherine has no rights, she is her
husband’s property, and he can do with her what he will. Although Charles has
only a very brief life in this book before his unfortunate accident, his
actions have long-lasting effects not only for Katherine but for her children
as well. Selbourne has taken great care in her portrayal of Katherine, and she
has an insightful understanding of the effect such abuse has. Katherine, is a
broken woman, a ghost of what she once was. She is a vastly different woman to the
one Julian fell in love with ten years ago. Julian’s reaction and his
tenderness towards restoring her faith in him, and indeed in life itself, was
profoundly moving, and it made Julian’s character all the more loveable.
I
thought the portrayal of Katherine’s son, Stephen, was simply marvellous. Like
his mother, Stephen had a very turbulent relationship with his father, and
because of this, he has not reached anywhere near his potential. With Julian’s
gentle praise, Stephen slowly comes out of his shell, and we have a glimpse of
the wonderful man he will become. I enjoyed watching Julian’s and Stephen’s relationship
develop throughout this book.
Alongside
the romance is a tantalising hunt for the traitor. Selbourne has a writer’s
intuition for what makes a book enjoyable, and as the plot thickened, I found
myself utterly engrossed as Julian and Baker — Julian’s loyal sergeant — closed
in on the smuggling ring.
Lies
of Gold is not only an absorbing and heart-warming romance, but it is also a
grand adventure, filled with deplorable villains and likeable rogues. I cannot
praise this book enough. I enjoyed every minute of it.
If
you are looking for your next Historical Romance read, then do yourself a
favour and check out Lies of Gold. You won’t be disappointed.
I
Highly Recommend.
Review
by Mary Anne Yarde.
The
Coffee Pot Book Club.
Pick up your copy
of
Lies
of Gold
Jan Selbourne
Jan Selbourne was born and
educated in Melbourne, Australia and her love of literature and history began
as soon as she learned to read and hold a pen. After graduating from a
Melbourne Business College her career began in the dusty world of ledgers and
accounting, working in Victoria, Queensland and the United Kingdom. On the
point of retiring, she changed course to work as secretary of a large NSW
historical society. Now retired Jan is enjoying her love of travelling and
literature. She has two children, a stray live in cat and lives near Maitland,
New South Wales
Congratulations on your award, Jan!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Penny
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