Day two and it’s Luke’s turn under the spotlight.
It’s hard to imagine that when I began writing this book Luke was set up to be the villain. After all with his disadvantaged background he definitely has the makings of an anti-hero. However, right from the start, casting Luke as the bad guy simply didn’t work. So I sat down and did some reworking of the plot and turned him into the book’s hero instead.
As I said above, Luke came from a disadvantaged background. His mother Selina, the daughter of a wealthy local family, was a wild child of the 80s who got herself pregnant by one of her father’s employees. He left the area before he knew her situation and never returned. Eighteen year old Selina, always the rebel, left home and secretly married Ross Carrick, one of Carrenporth’s fishermen. Ross was ten years older than Selina, but he’d always loved her, even though he felt she was out of reach and all they had was friendship. When Luke was born he took Ross’s surname. For a few years his childhood was a happy one, despite being ostracised by his mother’s family and most of Carrenporth. Then when he was fourteen tragedy struck. Ross’s trawler sank with all hands on board off the Scilly Isles. Selina, never a strong character could not cope and took refuge in drink. Within in year she too was dead. Much to everyone’s surprise Selina’s brother Gareth who now owned the family business, stepped in to give Luke a home and educate him. This angered his social climbing wife Evie who felt Selina’s son had no place in their home, living alongside her own son Jordan. While Jordan exhibited all the traits of an overindulged layabout, Luke achieved good school grades and worked for Gareth for a while before going on to university. After successfully completing his degree he left to travel for a couple of years with a promise to come back and work for his uncle. Now he’s returned to a place that has changed very little since his departure. A large portion of this small minded community still view him as Selina Hunter’s illegitimate son and his aunt still detests him. But Gareth, impressed by his nephew’s work ethic, is about to reward him. And the job he has in mind is set to stir up even more hate and resentment from Evie and Jordan…
Even in your hometown, you can feel like an outsider …
In the close-knit community of Carrenporth in Cornwall everyone knows everyone else’s business. Luke Carrack is only too aware of this. He’s been away for two years but nothing has changed – from the town gossips who can’t see past the scandal of his childhood, to the cold way he is treated by some of his so-called family.
The only person who seems to understand is local hotelier’s daughter Cat Trevelyan, although even Luke’s new friendship with her could set tongues wagging.
But Carrenporth is about to experience far bigger scandals than the return of Luke Carrack – and the secrets unearthed in the process will shake the sleepy seaside town to its core …
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JO LAMBERT 