Necessary Sins

Lazare Family Saga, Book 1

By: Elizabeth Bell

Narrated by: Dallin Bradford

In 19th-century Charleston, a Catholic priest grapples with his secret African ancestry and his love for a slaveholder’s wife.

Joseph Lazare grows up believing his black hair and olive skin come from a Spanish grandmother, and he’s shocked to learn she was an enslaved African. At 13, Joseph allows racial prejudice to limit his future and chooses the seminary. At 23, he is ordained “a priest forever”.

When he meets Tessa Conley, a devout Irish immigrant who shares his passions for music and botany, Joseph’s ordered world cracks at its foundation. He must conceal his true feelings as Tessa marries another man—a plantation owner who treats her like property.

Acting on their love could ruin Joseph and Tessa in this world and damn them in the next. Can two broken people heal each other and find heaven on earth—or will there be hell to pay?

Necessary Sins is the first book in the Lazare Family Saga quartet. If you like character-rich dramas, vivid period detail, and heart-wrenching choices, then you’ll be swept away by this epic series, perfect for fans of The Thorn Birds and Outlander.

©2019 Jennifer Becker (P)2022 Elizabeth Bell

Necessary Sins

What a rich story with rich details! Everything has been deeply researched, making it feel like we, too, are peeking through the grate of a garden door into another world. The narration is equally rich and engaging, adding feeling to the words at all the right places.

Outstanding Historical Fiction

This novel, its characters, and its settings enraptured me! The author's storytelling is beautiful and exciting, taking you on an adventure through the lives of the Lazare family. The historical detail was incredible... I learned so much and really felt what it was like to live during the times. I love the incorporation of not only how the family struggles with their secret heritage, as many families of the times did, and the fine details of their spiritual traditions, but also the incorporation of the cultural aspects such as the Opera and other performances that came through town. These often get left out of historical fiction novels. And of course the love story is amazing!

The narration is equally amazing. The narrator is adept at a wide variety of accents expressed in dialects particular to each character. And he sings several songs, as well!

Enjoyed the narrator

The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. Discussing heavier topics like racism, religion, forbidden love, and a lot of moral dilemmas I am happy I chose to listen because it might have taken me little longer to read through. While the story followed mostly Joseph, his father was my favorite and I loved how the narrator portrayed him. I was interested in seeing how Joseph changed throughout as he battled with the decisions he made and how he saw his ancestry. I enjoyed the forbidden love aspect and it am interested to see where the next book takes this family. The author did a great job telling a story about a difficult time in history.

Full of Culture in the 19th Century

This is a captivating story of the Lazare family and how they became “soiled” with African blood. The main focus was on Joseph, son of Rene, who became a Catholic Priest.
Understand this is told from a Roman Catholics POV in the 19th century and for those who don’t enjoy historical fiction novels involving religion and faith…you should probably skip HF all together!
Exquisitely researched and perfect for this timeline. Looking forward to reading the rest of these magnificent characters!

Picking up McCullough's Baton

I haven't enjoyed an historical fiction novel this much in a very, very long time! Such a beautiful story with solid research and history (even opera!) behind it. And I just cannot imagine a more flawless performance than that of Dallin Bradford. Can't wait to start book 2!!