Return to Paradise

Strong #3

by Jeannie Johnson, Erica Brown

Previously published as Forgotten Faces by Jeannie Johnson.

The Strong family has survived against all odds, but their greatest test is still to come.

After a seemingly endless thirty-six hours in labour, Horatia Strong is delighted to learn that she’s given her husband, Tom, a son. However, the birth is soon shrouded in secrets and she’ll do anything to keep them from her husband.

Despite his enduring love for Blanche, Tom’s marriage to Horatia is the only thing keeping the Strong family from destitution. Locked in a powerful emotional triangle, will Tom stand by his wife as mistakes of the past come to light?

Genres: Historical Fiction

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

aka J.G. Goodhind.

Jeannie Johnson was born and brought up in South Bristol and has worked in law, the probation service, tourism and as a supporting actress in CASUALTY and HOLBY CITY. She recently won the BBC New Writers Initiative at Radio Bristol for a script entitled 'Second Time Around'. She is married with one daughter and lives in the Wye Valley with her husband.

Reviews

[Sanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A story about lies, deceptions, sexual 'habits' and the resulting echoes that follow.
Taken from her home in the warm, sunny Caribbean, Blanche Bianca is married to a wealthy cotton merchant, and although her darker skin tonings are not the usual for this area of the world, being taken to England to live amongst the upper classes, Blanche was able to pass herself off as being Spanish, a far more acceptable race of people to the starchy upper classes of England.

Then there is the Strong family, also wealthy landowners of the plantation in the Barbados and cotton merchants in England. Tom Strong, the owner of the plantation, prefers to live in the Barbados and away from England where his wife and daughter live. Tom prefers the more relaxed lifestyle and the warmer weather in the islands but he occasionally does go back to England.

When his wife sends him a letter to announce she has delivered him a son, Tom goes back to England to meet his son and heir, only what awaits him is a shock he will never understand.

There are so many twists and turns in this book that it held my interest all the way through and I really enjoyed this well written page turner. The end is quite a surprise, and well deserved.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished. Loved the whole series. Contented sigh.

[Karen Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my kinda of book, set in era of slave trade

[Hilary Bernstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Excellent storyline.The characters were real and you felt like you were part of their lives
Highly recommend this last book in the Strong family trilogy

[Stephen Strutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this Trilogy of books to be a cracking read, well researched, informative and with a creative story line. Excellent.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow.