Satchfield Hall [Kindle Edition]

Henry Bryant-Smythe has no heart. He views his wife and daughter as assets. He takes great pleasure in causing his wife, Muriel, discomfort and embarrassment. He explodes in rage when he finds out his unmarried daughter, Celia, is pregnant. He concocts a plan that will cause his family and neighbors years of pain.

Pauline Barclay has written a powerful tale that draws the reader in and makes them feel like they are part of the story. The reader feels Muriel's and Celia's pain as the tale unfolds, becoming angrier as time goes by. I actually had the urge to hit Henry Bryant-Smythe in the face with an iron skillet. I'm sure others will feel that same anger.

This book evokes powerful emotions from the reader. If you haven't already, I suggest you buy and read this phenomenal book now You rock, Pauline!!!! Keep writing!

Satchfield Hall is a novel by Pauline Barclay along with Magnolia House and her latest Sometimes it Happens.

Celia Bryant-Smythe has had everything, growing up in a beautiful house, Satchfield Hall with her Mother and Father and 3 brothers. When her father, Henry Bryant-Smythe hears via his nosey Housekeeper that his innocent daughter is not so innocent after all, he has no trouble in "dealing" with her. What the arrogant man doesn't realise is that the actions of that day will change the courses of his life and everyone around him forever in the decades to come. But he is too self involved to realise.

Celia Bryant-Smythe's life changes that very day. The pain, loss and sadness that she experiences and she does not find the ultimate peace until the death of one man.

Has Celia's actions ruined the family or just herself? Can she recover and pull herself back? Does Henry have a heart after all?

Satchfield Hall starts at the end of the story and soon you are transported back into the time of the second World War. Pauline has written on the back of the book "Satchfield Hall is not about gentleness, tranquillity and privilege; it is about, power, love, lies and in the end revenge." and that is certainly true. This is a story of a family's struggle. Of how one mans actions spreads a web of sorrow across a much wider field.

I adored this book. I love anything that involves a Master of the house and the downstairs staff. I was hooked from the very first chapter and was engulfed into the sadness of each event as it unfolded. Pauline hints of things that are to come but I found myself desperately wanting to know what happened next. This is a love story but is not a simple one and things are not easy for anyone.

This is a completely different theme to Sometimes it Happens which I had read previously. What is key to both of Pauline's books I have now read is that she really can tell a story and make the characters come alive. I haven't cried in a book so much and so often. This is a must to be added to your TBR pile.

Fantastic!

Henry Bryant-Smythe is the selfish Squire of Satchfield Hall who cares about no one but himself. When he learns that his daughter Celia is pregnant to her lover David Gillespie he thinks nothing of banishing his own daughter and manipulating circumstances to send David off to war and soon news arrives of David's death. Celia's baby is taken away from her at birth and given to a childless couple to raise as their own and they are not told the full truth about the baby's background. The consequences of Henry's actions affect the lives of many people. It destroys people's lives and takes many years for it to be resolved. Celia never forgets about her baby she has carried and given birth to. Will she be able to undo the web of deceit that her father as weaved and be able to reconnect with her baby?

Satchfield Hall is a family saga it is about power, love, lies and in the end revenge. It is a wonderfully well written story of a period drama. It's a page turner of a book it really gets you involved in the story. The characters are really well written you really detest Henry Bryant-Smythe and really hope he gets his comeuppance.

Pack this one for your hols perfect summer reading x