Tuesday 11 October 2011

A Salt Splashed Cradle by Chris Longmuir


The story is set in the 1830s.

Belle is married to Jimmie a fisherman from a family of fishermen. They live in the fishing community in the village of Craigden. Belle is not from a fishing family and her mother in law Annie can not accept her into the family and treats her like an outsider. Belle knows that Annie only tolerates her to please her son. Belle is an attractive girl that catches the eye of most men. After the birth of their first child Belle becomes jealous of the love and affection Jimmie shows to their child. When she catches the eye of the Lairds son Lachlan deep down she knows that nothing romantic could happen between the son of the Laird and a fishermen’s wife can it?

Lachlan knows his father the laird has more time for his horses than he has for him. He knows that nothing he will ever do would please his father. A marriage has been arranged by Lachlan’s parents, he is to marry a girl called Clarinda who he is not attracted to and does not love. Lachlan much prefers girls who are not from his class and wishes he could have been the son of a farmer or fisherman. So he is drawn to Belle.

Jimmie loves his wife Belle and all he wants to do is to save enough money to buy his own boat. Jimmie is even prepared to risk going out further to sea into dangerous waters, whaling instead of fishing. Unaware that while he is away at sea for many months he is creating a big risk at home leaving his wife alone when she is attracted to another man.

Set back in the times of a class divided society that is neither fair to the rich or the poor  having to do what is expected of them and not what they would choose to do.
This is a fascinating story, with an incredible cast of characters. This is another spellbinding novel from Chris Longmuir. 

For more information on books by Chris Longmuir visit their website: http://www.chrislongmuir.co.uk/


7 comments:

  1. Great review Nikki! I love Chris's work, whether it's the softer saga-type writing, the dark, gritty crime, or the ghostly and horror stories.

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  2. I am a fan now Melanie. What is great about Chris's books is that they are all different and very well written. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

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  3. That means I'll have to get my skates on with the work in progress! Thanks for a fantastic review, Nikki, and am delighted you are now a fan.

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  4. Wow! Your blogger is speaking to me now!

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  5. Thanks to you too Chris for sharing your books.

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  6. What a great review Nikki, and it sounds a graet read Chris. Will be looking this one up. Thank you! xx

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  7. I love Chris's work - and you are right, spell-binding is such a good description! And she's going from strength to strength. Gripping stuff.

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