Lie A Little

The Faredene Saga #1

by Debra Delaney

Endless years of a lonely, childless spinster’s life stretching ahead, Victoria Kavanagh finds an abandoned baby. She knows it’s the answer to her prayers. Or is it? Has she stolen him in a moment of madness? She’s come close to it before …

Desperate to keep him, she creates a past of her own design and moves to Faredene, but is her new life far enough away from the past she’s trying to escape? What a framework on which to build – one of lies and deceit.

Thrust into a world where men are vying for her attention, Victoria has to decide in whom to lay her trust. Can she learn to have faith in her own judgement? First, she must forgive herself for standing by while her father destroyed her mother – her private shame.

Unprepared for the challenges of motherhood and running her own business, whatever the future holds, there’s no turning back. Caring for people comes at a cost and her desire to protect a friend sets off a chain of events that has repercussions for everyone whose lives she touches … Her meddling may just be her undoing.

When danger threatens her son, Victoria has to make a heart-breaking choice – but is she ready to let him go?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

484 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2020

Reviews

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this well written story, it has you hooked from the beginning to the end. I look forward to the next book in this trilogy. It is recommended a five star read from me.

[Mrs Margaret Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Book

I couldn't put this book down. I also can't wait to the next one come out. This is a true book of Victorian times.

[patriciawhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I
This author is new to me but I will certainly be reading all her books in the future .
A brilliant writer ,I could not put the book down and was delighted when I came to the end of the book that there is to be a sequel .
The book was so well writing that you felt as you were living with the characters
A delight to read and well deserved five stars .

[Rose Barnfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!
I'm always on the hunt for a new book and this one didn't disappoint. Thoroughly enjoyed devouring this book in a matter of days. The gripping and well written prolougue captured my attention and simply had to know what happened next to the main character. I loved how the reader is introduced to a variety of characters and is taken on a journey of learning how each of their lives and experiences intertwine and are affected by one another, which kept the plot interesting. By the end I could easily picture this being a period TV drama. The sneak peek of the next installment has definitely left me intrigued and looking forward to reading it in full.

[Diane Secchiaroli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good novel about one women’s life from when she discovers a baby left outside a church and decides to raise him to many years later and the son goes to America. The protagonist moved to a small town and begins a new life opening her own business. The authycaptures the struggles she goes through with infinite wisdom. The characters are well written and interesting. The Gibbs family’s poverty is accurately developed. The unsavory characters are well developed. This was an interesting novel which had unrequited love, mid 19th century morals, women’s limited roles, and factory working conditions. I found the protagonist’s story to be interesting as well as disturbing.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Victoria to be naive, a quality that might be explained by her relationships with her parents. However, as she grew older, she never escaped the mindset. Fortunately, she had the funds to create and sustain an elaborate lie and, at least in the story, the talents to start and run a successful business. The story was predictable and this robbed the book of enjoyment. Characters would be introduced as a device to make part of the story work and then they'd disappear (having served their purpose). You have to wonder why someone with so many resources at her disposal plus business success and money couldn't change. I was sad to read a book with so much undeveloped potential.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written but a bit like a Victorian soap opera. The main character seemed rather “beige”, predictable and naive to me. Her relationship with Edward seemed quite contrived with near misses and angst about how all men are violent and she will never marry; repeated too often.

[Jan Parkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

First book I have read by this author, could not put this book down. Some heartbreak but a definite read, till in the next instalment

[c m bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family

This book has been an amazing story. From the very first page to the last I have enjoyed every word. Can't wait for the next book. Thank you so much Debra Delaney for this story xx

[jeanette horner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Lots of twists,the charactors are very interesting and lovable ,makes you laugh and also being tears to your eyes ,great read,looking forward to book 2!!!

[Colleen Maclennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed book about the struggles of women during Victorian times. Characters were feisty and book touched on many topics such as physical abuse by husbands and fathers, the upper class , poverty, deformities, and every day life events.

[kate...l · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming ❣️

A great read .I couldn't put this book down reading to the wee hours of the morning.now on to the next one x

[cathie knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.Story kept me wanting to find out what happy to Victoria. Looking forward to reading the 2nd book

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Victoria is a young woman living in Liverpool in the late 1800s. After witnessing her father abuse her mother, she is determined never to marry but she desperately wants to be a mother. After both her parents have died, she finds an abandoned baby and she decides this might be her only chance. With the help of a cousin and her family's housekeeper, she moves to Faredene to begin a new life for her and her son. The book shows a determined although still a bit immature woman trying to survive against all the odds. It also shows a young woman unable to leave the past behind to the detriment of her future. Although Victoria is a likeable and very caring young woman, there were times I wanted to shake her to wake up and look at things more realistically.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lie a Little is Book 1 in the Faredene Trilogy. This is the first book I have read by Debra Delaney and she is a fabulous author. The story opens in 1877 with Victoria finding a baby boy at church. Lie a Little is a book about family dynamics, both good and bad. Victoria’s father was violent and she did not trust men. The book spans fifteen years. The characters are authentic and I felt like I knew them. The story is wonderful and I can’t wait to read book 2 in the trilogy. I received an arc for free, and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read and was a good combination of history and story telling.

[Daisey · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all…..why must authors use so much profanity….it show a lack of a good vocabulary which a writer should have. The story was ok but I still would not recommend it.

[Julia Lenhard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read

This has a Cliffhanger "ending" and is essentially a Victorian soap opera. It was an easy read and was predictable.

[Karen Lane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Heartwarming? Really?

I guess the author can call it heartwarming if she wants to, but the only description I would give it is "depressing." The premise was good, which is why I read it. The main character, Victoria, was more than I could take - she just wasn't likable, IMO. She was surrounded by loyal people who had harder lives than her, yet seemed to rise above their situations, for the most part (though I did want to slap Edith upside the head and shout "Hey, what's the matter with you?"). And it was a little too convenient a twist when Victoria suddenly became a wealthy woman. It ended up dragging down the whole story, because it prolonged the misery! The villain of the story was diabolical, which villains are supposed to be, but still, I didn't need the lurid details of his actions. The ending felt very rushed to me and was completely unsatisfying; yes, I knew there were more books to come in the saga, but judging by this first story, I'll pass on the rest of the series. One redeeming quality -- very few editing errors.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not usually a fan of historical romances, but I really enjoyed this book. It emphasized family isn't only blood ties, but who you choose that matters the most. This book is set in the late 1800's and yet the evils of this world remain just as brutal as today.This book ends in a cliffhanger .

Ms. Lee the narrator did an amazing job of voicing various European accents. She provided a proper Enish accent for the characters of wealth and importance and slang for the impoverished. I need to listen to the next book in the series.

[Miss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweetness and Misery

The book constantly juxtaposes good and bad. The bad is dealt with swiftly and mostly a happy solution found. There was unnecessary sad and vicious drama at the end. Victoria came across as naive, lacking in perception and at times hypothetical. She is full of good intentions but makes some stupid decisions. There's little in the book to show how she is a successful business woman as it focuses on relationships with friends. It would have been more interesting to see her relationship with the customers and how she made her business successful.

[Rhonda Parkhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge Victorian saga binge reader and this is one of the best!

Typically I stay with Anna Jacobs, Dilly Court, Val Woods I think you get my point. I Am Impressed this series has everything a Victorian book needs to build a story. The culture is spot on for the time, characters and the star Victoria grows from spinster to a flourishing business owner in a time when Women having a business was not acceptable. The evil James Breckenridge and his nasty henchman can’t shake the love this tight knit family has.

[sharon check · Rating 4 out of 5]

A maze of heartaches

Quite the English saga of a young woman who has lost her mother and now her father. She hated him for his treatment of her mother and now she's left with a mistrust of men. Then she finds an abandoned baby and her life is forever changed. The, author introduces many interesting characters particularly the Gibbs family. Lots of twists and turns . Some characters to love and some to hate but interesting to the end.

[Willie. Van Den Hoek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful family story

This is a lovely story of love courage and Gods grace in difficult circumstances coming through the whole tale. Many wonderful adventures and quite a lot of sad episodes. But through the whole book is a fantastic display of love and family love and courage . Very well written and entertaining and the characters were well chosen and very strong people who were willing to share their lives together helping others less fortunate.

[Christina Sinisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, don't get me wrong--but it wasn't what I expected.

When I look at the cover, I see a happy romance and expected a traditional romance, if you will.

Instead, the reader finds an old-fashioned saga...the story takes place over decades, people are born and others die; this is a huge story...and there are sequels. So, if you've gotten away from reading these "big" books, a caution. If not, you will love the breadth and depth of the characters.

Enjoy.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family saga set in Victorian England. The heroine is somewhat naive but also principled, kind, and courageous. The book shows people from various classes from poverty stricken lower class workers to the lowest tier of the upper class whose wealth and wisdom come from education and hard work and acts of charity. I enjoyed the depictions of homes, work, illness and health, and romance in several guises.

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enchanting story from beginning to end, with more to come. While I may not always agree with Victoria or her actions, I found myself admiring a young woman determined to make the most of her circumstances through hard work and through the recognition that family is not always blood.

I look forward to the remaining volumes!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

tangled webs

Wow! Debra Delaney has done a masterful job of connecting lives of business owners and families stuck in the cycle of poverty in 29th century England. Victoria feels the need to fix everything for people. In doing so, she gets involved in tangled messes started by deception. Excellent reading!

[teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

You will get caught up in these Victorian characters on the first page. Each chapter you get deeper into the lives of those around Victoria. She may be a widowed mother but she has lots of family and love. She also is determined to see her secret is kept and those around her treated fairly.

[Julia Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

lie a little

A great story of one woman's struggle to have a family, run a business when men thought they shouldn't. Of undying love, lies that could spell disaster. Evil brought on by abuse. One woman's perseverance, to achieve happiness and have a loving family even if not by blood