9781763500013_

Its 1969. High overhead, a human is preparing to walk on the moon for the first time. Down here in the valley, things are much more interesting.

Distrust, deceit and arrogance are alive and well in the timeless bones and living stones of this narrow valley. Elsewhere, the first moon landing is all the talk, but for the members of this close Welsh community their pagan ancestors arent as far in the past as they might believe. It only takes a very small thing-from a very small dog-to inflame a slumbering beast.

Suspiciously long-lived matriarch Lizzie Coombe expects her one hundredth birthday to be a day to remember. Shes always kept aloof from the neighbours... hasnt spoken to some for over 50 years... and cares even less for their opinions. But what has that got to do with anything? A stuffy little party; that should be the highlight of the day.

But Reverent Morgan, latest in a long line of Morgan vicars at the tiny village chapel, is affronted by events. And he finds a ready audience for his complaints; gossip is gossip, after all. What follows will never be forgotten by any of the parish.

Jumbled together inside the haunted stone walls of the ancestral farmhouse known as Ty Merched, the womens house, aristocratic Lizzie and her stolid daughter Myfanwy only know old love from long-dead sweethearts. Lizzies unstable granddaughter Sarah Maud is frightened of it. Great granddaughter Jenner doesnt seem to need love at all.

As events and people spiral out of her accustomed control, Lizzie faces her own ghosts and sees she might have to do the unthinkable: care for her family; or accept the unimaginable: that her family dont care for her. And Jenner: a wise woman, or witch? Who knows where the fey childs self-taught morality has taken her...

An immersive novel, Red Gifts in the Garden of Stones looks at alienation and belonging, dysfunction and healing, change and tradition: the impacts of love and tragedy on the generations. And holding them all, the ancient landscape of South Wales.

...(*_*)9781763500013_

Distrust and grievance werent invited to Lizzie Coombes 100th birthday tea-party, but they came anyway.

As the vicar turns the neighbours against matriarch Lizzie and her misunderstood family-daughter, granddaughter and untamed great-granddaughter-events and people spiral off beyond nostalgia into a place of superstition. Trauma and loss haunt the struggle between mother-daughters, daughter-mothers.

When home and household is attacked by people Lizzies known all their lives, is there more to lose than respect? When the attack is from within the family, who is to blame? And when flesh and blood is threatened, can any of these love-starved women be saved...

In the legendary landscape of South Wales, the impacts of love and tragedy on the generations are lived out in moments of grief and tenderness, regret and humour.

A community is defined by its history. But history can be as dry as tinder. And as red as fire.

...(*_*)9781763500013_

Its 1969. Distrust and arrogance are alive and well in the timeless bones and living stones of this close Welsh community, and the pagan ancestors arent as far in the past as people might think. It only takes a very small dog to inflame a monster...

Suspiciously long-lived matriarch Lizzie Coombe expects her one-hundredth birthday to be a special day. Shes always kept aloof from the neighbours; hasnt spoken to some for over 50 years, and cares even less for their opinions. But Reverent Morgan, latest in a long line of Morgan vicars at the tiny village chapel, is affronted by events. And he finds a ready audience for his hostility.

Caught inside the haunted walls of the ancestral farmhouse, aristocratic Lizzie and her solid daughter Myfanwy only know long-dead love. Lizzies unstable granddaughter Sarah Maud is frightened of it. Great granddaughter Jenner doesnt seem to need love at all; is she a wise woman, or a witch?

As events and people spiral out of her accustomed control, Lizzie faces her own ghosts and sees she might have to do the unexpected: care for her family.

This quirky family saga looks at alienation and healing, change and tradition, and the impacts of love and tragedy on the generations. And holding them all, the ancient landscape of South Wales.

...

Red Gifts in the Garden of Stones

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