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Elen (A Celtic Trilogy #1)

Suzanne Bowditch

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Jul 30, 2016 Brenda rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, own-read, 2015-release, first-in-a-series, read-on-kindle, aussie-authors

1830s Wales and Elen Williams was struggling with grief after the death of her husband Gwyn just weeks earlier. Her small daughter Alice was the light of her life; her pregnancy was advancing and although she knew it would be a struggle, as long as she kept her job at the haberdashery shop, she thought they would manage. That was until she witnessed her violent neighbour’s actions and suddenly found herself accused of murder.

Instead of facing the noose, Elen was sentenced to transportation to Va 1830s Wales and Elen Williams was struggling with grief after the death of her husband Gwyn just weeks earlier. Her small daughter Alice was the light of her life; her pregnancy was advancing and although she knew it would be a struggle, as long as she kept her job at the haberdashery shop, she thought they would manage. That was until she witnessed her violent neighbour’s actions and suddenly found herself accused of murder.

Instead of facing the noose, Elen was sentenced to transportation to Van Diemen’s Land – she and Alice were incarcerated on the prison ship as they waited to sail and it was there her baby son, John Gwyn Williams was born. Elen became friendly with a couple of women on the ship and also assisted the doctor in a nursing capacity on the journey. But it was the arrival at the new colony and the ensuing months and years that were filled with grief and heartache…

2010 and Rhian, Matt and their two children Jack and Carys arrived in Brisbane from Wales to begin their new life. From there they travelled to Tasmania and after a period of time rented an old nineteenth century farmhouse in Wynyard with beautiful views of the ocean. As the family settled into the area, they soon made friends, while enjoying the scenery and opportunities that were around them. But what would happen in that idyllic location to upset their feelings of happiness? Was the past going to intrude on the present in some way?

Elen is the debut novel by Welsh born Aussie author Suzanne Bowditch and the first in A Celtic Trilogy. I enjoyed the characterisation of Elen and her daughter Alice; the women on the ship and then the new family almost 200 years later. An excellent plot which kept me interested the whole way through, the book was spoiled a little for me as it badly needs editing. But I was informed that Elen is currently being revised and updated, which will make for a greater reading experience. I have no hesitation in recommending Elen once revision is complete, and am looking forward to book #2, Alice's Secret.
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