Liam's Story

Book excerpt: Curious about the family of her eccentric great-grandmother, artist Zoe Clifford is keen to discover the truth. The quest leads her to York, and an unexpected meeting with a distant relative, sea-captain Stephen Elliott. Still smarting from his recent divorce, at first Stephen is reluctant to be involved, but an old travelling trunk full of letters and memorabilia prompts him to contact Zoe again.Intrigued by a WW1 diary written by Liam Elliott, Stephen finds it raises more questions than answers. But as he and Zoe continue to search for the story behind it, Zoe wonders about Georgina Duncannon: who was she, and what was she to Liam? Time slips into the past, to a peaceful family gathering in the summer of 1913, and a shocking revelation. As the secrets of two generations of star-crossed lovers come to light, the story moves from York to Australia, and from Gallipoli to the Somme, revealing the seductive power of a piercing, impossible affair. Drawn into their own passionate affair, Stephen and Zoe are besieged by doubt; and, as Stephen joins a ship bound for the war-torn Middle East, both are faced with disturbing parallels between then and now. While Stephen navigates dangerous waters, Zoe, alone in London, is discovering the agony of distance, love and loss. Liam's haunting presence touches them both, but it takes a near-tragedy to make the message clear: only in the present can the past be healed...'A thoroughly satisfying historical novel that bridges the decades with grace and skill...' Kirkus Reviews'A splendid piece of storytelling about the loss of innocence and a love which endures...' Publishing News'Liam's Story is really two beautifully crafted stories set in two different periods of time... linked by a family mystery, the solving of which takes us to many places, both geographically and emotionally. We meet many family members of both eras and get to know the characters well. In at least two gut-wrenching scenes I cried my heart out...' Elizabeth Sandeman-Gay, reviewer.