Get your copy of Sins of the Father
Blurb:
Having seen first-hand the results of starvation, abuse, and murder, Carlos Suarez knows all too well that the streets of Rio are no place for a child to grow up.
Because of his own history and subsequent rescue from that poverty at the age of fifteen, he makes it his life’s work to ensure opportunities are available to the future generations of Brasil’s homeless children—but no matter how many kids Carlos saves, it’s never enough for him.
Almost to the point of obsession.
Dedicated to his work, and haunted by his past, Carlos has never considered an intimate relationship with anyone, let alone another man, especially after that night. But when Fate throws him a curve ball, and his past comes screaming back threatening to destroy his future, Carlos will discover that redemption can be found in the most unexpected of places.
Guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, Sins of the Father is a story you won’t be able to put down.
Excerpt:
Chapter One
2010
Ghostly echoes from my past whispered across the ages. I wanted them to go, to leave me in peace, but they knew I wasn’t in peace. The way to achieve that was to face my demons, and then maybe at the end of it, I’d be able to move on. My laptop sat in front of me, conspicuous for its lack of text. The virgin page of the open Word document glared back at me, challenging me to tackle my past. Staring at the screen, I began to shake.
I can’t do it, I thought.
Closing my eyes, I longed for release; I needed my brain to stop taunting me. There were things sheltered in the recesses of my mind, dormant but not dealt with. I feared the consequences of opening the lid on Pandora’s Box, and yet, there would never be any real peace for me until I did. Every therapist I’d seen had failed to inspire me to want to confide in them my deepest, darkest secrets, and after a while, they’d all suggested I move on. There was only so long a person could sit and listen to, well, nothing. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk, I didn’t know how to. I’d spent my childhood learning to be quiet, to not be the centre of attention, and now they expected just that from me. Through the years I’d confided parts of my story to some people, but I’d never told anyone the whole unedited version, and it was this harbored weight which tore me apart inside while I presented a smile to the outside world.
I could push myself forward when it came to my project for the pivethino and my belief in their right to a worthwhile life. Somehow, though, it was harder to fight for myself, to see that my life was worth something too. In the end, it was the children who forced me into this final attempt to come to terms with my past, or rather Pedro who did, on behalf of the kids.
“Carlos, Pai thinks you have the life you want, but Christina thinks you are holding back on living your own life, that you’re living it through our waifs and strays instead. I don’t have the right to question you other than as your brother, but if Pai is right, then I’m happy for you. However, if Christina is, then you should do something, see someone… it helped me,” Pedro urged.
I looked at my adoptive brother and the helping hand he was extending. “I don’t know how to talk to them, Pedro. I’ve tried.”
“You can only bottle up what you’re feeling for so long. Eventually it will spill out, and when it does, then it might impact on the centres and the various projects we’re working on.”
“I would never let it—”
“You might not be in control of it, that’s all I’m saying,” he interrupted me. “Have you ever tried writing it down. Maybe it just needs to come out.”
My cautious fingers moved to the keyboard and touched a few of the keys. It wasn’t long before they were moving of their own volition.
Reviews:
People often say books that follow on in a series are not as good as the first, but I beg to differ. I think this could even be better than Book 1 and that was an AMAZING heartfelt story too.
Book 1 A Boy from the Streets is the story of twins Jose and Pedro separated at birth one taken into a life of priveledge, the other left as a Street Child in Brasil. All were children who saw and experienced things that no youngster should ever have to witness or be part of.
In this Book 2, Sins of the Father all the boys are now grown men, but the story centres around Carlos the oldest of the brothers. His story is truly heartwrenching and to try and overcome his nightmares his brother Pedro suggests he write all his experiences down. The opening line drew me in:-
‘Ghostly echoes of my past whispered across the ages.’
As the young man begins to recall in detail his past life a whole can of worms is opened up. For the first time in his life Carlos finds himself drunk and ends up in prison.
However, his family are extremely supportive and with their help and the making of a new friend things start to change. But will a face from the past throw a spanner in the works and cause Carlos to fall ever deeper into his nightmares?
You will just have to read the series to find out, but read book 1 first. Both books are VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I own this series in paperback and they look fab on my shelf of favourites. I’ve already read book 1 three times now, I love it so much. I urge you to try it for yourselves.
Maria Gibbs 