Blog Tour stop for this new gripping and heart wrenching read.
" These victims never had a voice. I wrote this book in order to give them one. "
Synopsis
This series of interwoven stories follows the lives of three abused teenagers, desperate to battle past traumas, pursue their dreams, find love and re-establish broken family ties.
London 1960. Robin is hypnotised by a dazzling moon and it sets him on a quest to seek a better life. Fearful of his future, he puts his trust in the wrong person, clueless of the trap he is falling into.
Dublin 1968. Two Irish orphans are separated by the Church. Six year old Bess panics at the thought of being sent to London. An English family want to adopt her but if only it didn’t mean abandoning her elder brother… Peter meanwhile, has never forgotten her. Fighting to survive in a brutal orphanage, he risks a dangerous escape to reach the mainland and with the law on his tail, he heads for the Capital to find her.
It is not until the 1970s, the lives of the characters intersect. Struggling to cope in a harsh world, how do their experiences shape them into the adults they become and who among them will be believed?
One politician vows to introduce reforms to protect children. But when his only son is bullied at school, alleged to have committed suicide, he knows there is a lot more tunnelling to do if he is to unearth the evil embedded in society.
With snippets of social history from the 70s to the 90s, this book explores the hidden lives of three ordinary citizens.
These victims never had a voice. I wrote this book in order to give them one.
My Review
This book is one of those that I couldn't put down, at times it was shocking to read and utterly heartbreaking but I just had to keep reading.
This is a story of three young children, It is in no way an "easy" read it contains themes of child abuse and violence but is dealt with in such a very sensitive manner and none of those issues ever felt over done or added for drama, it was all very well written and handled
The story revolves around siblings and there childhood, growing up in children's homes run by nuns who were not only very abusive, but down right cruel.
I found this section just so close to the bone, my own father was raised in a children's home and this story was so well informed as I found so much comparison about the daily life rang true in what tales my father has shared with me.
We follow the siblings though so much trauma and as they grow a real sense of self discovery and coming of age along with the trials of family, the struggles, the Lies told , as well as the mix of Secrets and Relationships formed.
The Characters are raw and there stories so haunting this book is very complex with all the stories and inter woven and all the characters mentioned. yet it all flowed so well.
If your looking for your next gripping and heart wrenching read then look no further than The Rosebrook Chronicles - The Hidden Stories.
Author Bio
Helen J. Christmas lives on the south coast with her husband.
With a love of writing since childhood, she wrote her decade spanning thriller series, Same Face Different Place, Between 2011 and 2017.
This five-book mystery suspense series explores British culture and social history from the 70s to the 90s.
Inspired by the Bronte sisters in 2016, Helen decided she wanted to develop her writing skills by compiling a book of character-driven short stories.
In 2018 she completed Rosebrook Chronicles (The Hidden Stories), a unique novel which gives extra background information to her series.
The 16th Century cottage in which Helen lives with her husband (restored in 1991) provides endless inspiration for writing, something she fits around her family and social life.
Helen is a self employed web designer and works from home with her husband, Peter, and she enjoys blogging, country walks, photography and cookery.
Purchase Links
Social Media Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SFDPBeginnings
Pinterest Book 1: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/helenxmas/same-face-different-place-visions-book-2-by-helen-/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenchristmas7/
Giveaway
Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Rosebrook Chronicles
(UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
Blog Tour
Thank you to the Publisher and Author for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel and for the opportunity to review these works.
All reviews are my own unbiased opinion.