“A well told tale set in a time when women and ‘ladies’ were expected to obey their master’s and ‘betters’. Here we have a feisty young woman who challenges the rules to her own advantage.”
Val Wood
1814, North Yorkshire, England
The trilogy of #FriendsandFoes begins with ‘Betrayal’ in its simplest and cruel form of the breaking of trust and the abuse of power. The early nineteenth century was a time of war, change and strict social dependencies. The landed gentry held power, and the bulk of the population served, in trade, in houses, or fought for their country overseas against the might of Napoleon’s army.
When a woman of status lost their main male relative, they fell into a void where marriage, or service as a housekeeper or governess prevented them from falling low. In Betrayal Lord and Lady Bagby own a vast estate in the fictitious growing market town of Beckton. Lord Bagby takes advantage of governess, Miss Georgina Davey. This spawns a web of lies and deceit from which Miss Lydia Fletcher tries to rescue her. Lydia’s own situation and silence is controlled and manipulated by the need to keep her ailing father’s tenancy in one of the Bagby estate cottages.
Enter Lord Samuel Speers, a qualified Edinburgh surgeon who is trying to locate his lost cousin, whose last known position was at Bagby Hall. Aided by his friend Lord Farrington, an Intelligence Officer to Lord Wellington, who soon realises that the Bagby’s have taken betrayal to an unimaginable scale.
Whilst finding his cousin, Speers has to accept his future role as head of the family estate following his beloved brother’s death.
The interplay of plot and the threads of deceit that run through the core and sub-plots give the story plenty of room for character development, as the external and inner conflicts arise and clash. We all like to think that in any given situation we would do the ‘right’ thing, but fortunately few of us are tested to the limit. In fiction, characters can be tested – and as authors we can determine who will rise and fall, whilst being true to the personalities that have been created. Hiding their flaws, playing with motivation and loyalties all add depth and credibility to each.
Personally, I love a happy or hopeful ending so my novels inspire and uplift after the adventure has played out. I hope my readers agree. Please leave comments below.
Secrets the second book in the series will be on Kindle countdown Amazon.co.uk from 15th June to 22nd June. In it you meet another friend of Lord Farrington the inspirational Lieutenant Micah Arrow, who has a vision to preserve his home village of Dibbledale, marry for love, and offer hope to returning soldiers – can his dreams be fulfilled? Find out in Secrets.
Silent Revenge brings the trilogy to a close with Lord Farrington’s return home, but after years oversees fighting a very visible enemy, he is now seeking a homegrown one, unaware that he and his family are in great danger from an unseen one.
Reviews are especially important in this highly competitive business, so please leave your honest feedback on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
As a special thank you to my readers Phoebe’s Challenge is 77p/$1 throughout June.
Have a lovely June!
valerie holmes, author 