NEW!!!
Hi y’all,
My name is Lydia Coble and I’ve got a story to share with you. I should confide that my life has taken an unexpected turn recently. My husband betrayed me but I didn’t realize his deception until after he died. I was, as you can imagine, devastated to discover that the one person I loved and trusted more than anyone in this world could do such a thing. If it hadn’t been for my best friends I’m not sure I could have survived. But I did and I even managed to create a new–and very different–life for myself. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I need to start at the beginning and it all began at The Sanctuary.
P.S. In addition to sharing my story with y’all, I would like to share my favorite place too: the South Carolina Lowcountry. Stay tuned for my insider’s tour of this magical place. Just click on ‘Publisher’s Post’ to read them or sign up to have them delivered to your mailbox.
Read what reviewers are saying about this book…
The Sanctuary tells the story of a few eventful months in the lives of four women who have been friends for decades. Family commitments and demanding careers caused them to drift apart for a time but an unforeseeable crisis brings them back together again. As events unfold they are forced to re-examine their lives, and question long held beliefs in the light of emerging facts. On the surface each one seems to have found fulfillment and achieved what she wanted, but all four are hiding secrets that threaten their happiness and those around them…There are numerous twists and turns in the plot and some very unexpected outcomes; the reader is as much in danger of jumping to conclusions as the characters…The book is set mainly in the author’s homeland, the South Carolina Lowcountry, and I enjoyed her descriptions of the scenery, flora and fauna that she knows so well… I recommend it…(3 out of 4 stars) -Online Book Club
“I was intrigued by the opening to the book describing the Gullah and the [SC] low country. The image of the girls secretly watching the [Gullah] ceremony is absolutely marvelous. It sounds like such a lovely place. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the natural surroundings on the Carolina coast and the wildlife. The nature writing is inspired. The Sanctuary is well-written and has good story-lines…When the women are laughing over the hilarious escapades of their youth, the author creates one of those magical moments that’s even more special as Liz’s daughter has a revelation and begins to see these middle-aged women, and her mother, as they are, inside, stripped of the wrinkles and years. I think the main story and characters are marvelous…” -Readers’ Favorite
In the tradition of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, Siddons spins a well-written and engaging tale of how true friendship must face and somehow survive tough times. Filled with rollicking vignettes, a wild road trip, well-drawn characters, and the intriguing backdrop of a South Carolina island and its mysterious Gullah residents, this entertaining novel is a worthy addition to women’s fiction. –US Review of Books
When Lydias husband dies, she is stunned to find out that he left her penniless, and in debt. But even worse, is the secret she must unravel with the help of her 3 childhood friends. I loved every minute of this book. When the girls went on their road trip, I enjoyed every tourist stop they did. In fact, I hit those same stops on one of my vacations. This gave my memories of it more value as I also saw it through their eyes, like being there again with them. I could feel the camaraderie of the four friends as if I were one too. It was so easy to relate to each of their personalities, no matter how different they were, and visualize each scene as I read it, whether it was Sonias secret, Julias fears, or even Lydia and Lizs arguments. I now feel that all these memories are mine too. I will be reading their continuing story for sure. -Bookplex
Lifelong friendships are often hard to come by and even harder to maintain. In Cassandra R. Siddons The Sanctuary, Lydia, Liz, Julia and Sonya are proof that while time and circumstance can strain relationships, the best ones can never be truly destroyed. The women have been friends for years and while they have had their ups and downs, they realize that they have something special. They have dubbed themselves “Carolina Girls Forever” or the CGFs for short, in homage to their homes in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. When a tragedy brings the group back together, the CGFs take on personal challenges and development to band together and head out on a cross country trip in order to help Lydia and ultimately themselves…The Sanctuary is broken down into sections that highlight each woman’s personal life and perspective on events, which gives the reader inside information on their thoughts, relationships and feelings. As a result, each character becomes more special and relatable as more of their development is revealed. The CGFs are very different from each other and exceptional in their own way; the organization of the book in this way creates sub stories and Siddons ties it all together cleanly. No major event is discussed without background and the story reminds us the past is never very far away.The Sanctuary is a heartwarming read that proves that even when people, events and things aren’t perfect, they can still be okay. Siddons tucks recipes into the end of the book for the CGFs famous Carolina Kit—a nice touch which only makes the story more accessible. The CGFs and their adventures will make you fall in love with the group. Their individual and joined pasts, their pain, growth and joys will deeply resonate with the reader. The novel is rich with history, love, loss and lots of laughter and will not disappoint. -Reviewed by Lauren Cannavino for LuxuryReading.com (Rating 5/5)
Amazon Reader Reviews…
As the story opens, Lydia is dealing with her deceased husband’s shocking betrayal—the sale of her beloved island, the Sanctuary, where she not only has warm childhood memories but which also is home to the Gullah. Her best friends rally around her—even her estranged friend Liz, eventually—as they all set out in an RV to find out what put her husband in such dire financial straits that he would take such an action. Along the way, you learn more about each woman and her problems, and the friends become closer than ever.
I read a lot of women’s fiction, so “The Sanctuary” was right up my alley. The four women have distinct and vibrant personalities, from world-traveling Liz to caretaker Julia, but they also have complexities that make them fully fleshed out. Each has made mistakes in her life and has regrets, but I liked how they all kept positive attitudes and worked at their friendship instead of becoming wrapped up in their own problems. I also liked the roadtrip aspect of the story; it not only left room for revelations with the characters, but also allowed for some fun, light-hearted scenes between the women to lift the sometimes-somber mood of the story.
“The Sanctuary” is well-written and enjoyable, and I’d recommend it to readers who are looking for a light and entertaining novel that focuses on female friendship.
4.0 out of 5 stars great read about a group of friends being there for each other!, August 8, 2014
By mustlovetoread – See all my reviews
This review is from: THE SANCTUARY (Kindle Edition)
The Sanctuary
A Novel
By: Cassandra R Siddons
The Sanctuary is about the Carolina Girls Forever group: Lydia Coble, Julia Anastasia Rutledge, Elizabeth Goldberg, Sonya Boyd. They spent every summer and school vacation together on Sanctuary Island, in South Carolina. Then they grew up, had lives of their own. This book is their journey back to each other and how each one has learned what a great life they have because they have each other.
This is a book about each CGF’s life, ending with an across country drive in an RV. I loved this story. When Lydia Coble’s husband dies, she realizes the man she married isn’t who she thought. The novel is her journey to find the truth. Along the way, each of the other girls have journeys of their own. From the first page, you are pulled in and you want to see where the journey ends for each of them. They all realize friendship is more important as you get older. They can face anything and get through it together.
The end of the book deals with each CGF member going home and wraps up their individual journeys. I loved this part of the book. You weren’t left hanging when the book ended. You know whenever something happens they will be there for each other, no matter what. Everyone needs friends like this!
There are a few curse words. The formatting is great as well as the editing. I loved the cover! I would buy the book just to look at it. There is also a history lesson in the book as you learn about the Gullah, the people who inhabit Sanctuary Island and why keeping their land safe is so important to Lydia. By the end of the book you become very close to each character. I dreaded the ending when I knew I would have to tell them goodbye. Be sure to have tissues ready and to laugh out loud at some of their antics. There are even recipes in the back of the book. I would love to read more books by this author.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very touching story highlighted with adventures of sisterhood, August 7, 2014
By Brittjt01 – See all my reviews
This review is from: THE SANCTUARY (Kindle Edition)
The Sanctuary by is quite an amazing read by Cassandra Siddons. Her writing style mixes, drama with comedy and a little bit of mystery. She hooked me right from the beginning when what can be viewed as tragedy strikes. I would truly suggest that every woman read this book and take a lesson at what it really means to be a sister and a part of a loving unit.
The Carolina Girls Forevers sisterhood was built of strong minded women who knew how to have fun and ultimately take care of one another as sisters should. Siddons provided a really fun novel that displayed all of the emotions on every level close friends play in the course of their lives. The characters in this novel, are well developed and each display a different side that as the reader I became engulfed in the story line as if I were a part of the sisterhood as well.
I am definitely looking forward to the next novel.
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming Read, August 4, 2014
By VeraP (Cleveland, OH) – See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)
This review is from: THE SANCTUARY (Kindle Edition)
Lifelong friendships are often hard to come by and even harder to maintain. In Cassandra R. Siddons The Sanctuary, Lydia, Liz, Julia and Sonya are proof that while time and circumstance can strain relationships, the best ones can never be truly destroyed. The women have been friends for years and while they have had their ups and downs, they realize that they have something special. They have dubbed themselves “Carolina Girls Forever” or the CGFs for short, in homage to their homes in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
When a tragedy brings the group back together, the CGFs take on personal challenges and development to band together and head out on a cross country trip in order to help Lydia and ultimately themselves. The Sanctuary is broken down into sections that highlight each woman’s personal life and perspective on events, which gives the reader inside information on their thoughts, relationships and feelings. As a result, each character becomes more special and relatable as more of their development is revealed. The CGFs are very different from each other and exceptional in their own way; the organization of the book in this way creates sub stories and Siddons ties it all together cleanly. No major event is discussed without background and the story reminds us the past is never very far away.
The Sanctuary is a heartwarming read that proves that even when people, events and things aren’t perfect, they can still be okay. Siddons tucks recipes into the end of the book for the CGFs famous Carolina Kit—a nice touch which only makes the story more accessible. The CGFs and their adventures will make you fall in love with the group. Their individual and joined pasts, their pain, growth and joys will deeply resonate with the reader. The novel is rich with history, love, loss and lots of laughter and will not disappoint.