Publisher's Synopsis
'Deadly Sins' continues as a sequel to the family saga, 'The Farmer Takes a Wife', which is an historical tale of love, hate and endurance. At the end of that story we followed the two little Laffite girls as they sought sanctuary at the nearby Convent. Find out what happens to Absalom Laffite's offspring as they grow in that sacred place into complex and fascinating women. Their kinship becoming part of many secrets hidden for decades within those hallowed walls or deep within its bowels. How do the Laffite sisters fair? Is their bloodline a curse or can they survive and overcome their early days. 'Deadly Sins'. We move on in time from 1909. It is 1964, in the North of England. Saint Gabrielle's Convent School for Young Ladies would appear to be a place of peaceful learning, tranquillity and order, but under the surface emotions, duplicity and trickery run wild. With 'The Beatles' all the rage, skirt hems rising and the formality of the world changing there is excitement and expectation in the air. Women living at the seemingly placid Convent School, young and old, harbour hidden desires, ambitions and vengeances. Their shrouded deadly sins indulged in abundance, spawned perhaps by an unknown force of evil, cause an invisible ripple. It takes only one small, capricious prank to set off a chain of events that changes some lives forever. The teenage schoolgirls long for the tediousness of their rigid boarding school life to end. Within these tightly controlled confines they decide to pit themselves against the bullying, intimidating nuns. Their collective goal becomes causing as much chaos as they can. Two girls, Catherine Morgan and Frances O'Hare lead the pack. Breaking the rules every day. Attempting to style their hair into bouffant bobs and line their eyes with black kohl, they emulate their favourite pop and film stars. These feisty, clever best friends succeed in stealing the Church's esteemed holy relic, Saint Gabrielle's finger bone. They then use it as a weapon to provoke, frighten and claim revenge against their enemies - the old 'penguins', which is the nickname the pupils give to the church women. However, their plans unwittingly help the Reverend Mother's enemies by fracturing her power. The religious politics will astound the reader. Unbeknown to the teenagers their funny antics begin to unearth secrets and horrors reaching far back into the Convent's past. Laugh aloud at the comedic twists as the girls play out a game of revenge to humiliate and bring low many of the dreadful Sisters. Weep as tragedies and loss are shared. Become attached to the heroic characters and cross your fingers that they can survive. Marvel at complex subterfuges that weave a sordid pattern, and as relationships, secret and forbidden, are revealed. Will the girls' youthful light and positive energy be powerful enough to overcome the darkness of the Convent? Can the bewitchment of the Solstice be brought to an end? Be gripped as you follow the crooked path this story takes you. Even if you have not read 'The Farmer Takes a Wife' you can still enjoy 'Deadly Sins' as a stand alone novel. If the era of the 1960s floats your boat, jump aboard it will be a 'blast'! Deadly Sins, there are 7 - Lust, Sloth, Wrath, Gluttony, Envy, Greed and the most deadly of all PRIDE!
