Birthright — Fiona Lowe

Australian author Fiona Lowe returns with a juicy family saga, set against the backdrop of Victoria's high country, about unforgettable characters tangled together by a wealthy inheritance, secrets and betrayal. Is an inheritance a privilege or a right? Does it show love? Margaret, the matriarch of the wealthy Jamieson family, has always been as tightfisted with the family money as she is with her affection. Her eldest daughter, Sarah, is successful in her own right as a wife, mother and part owner of a gourmet food empire. But it's not enough to impress her mother. Always in the shadow cast by the golden glow of her younger brother, Sarah feels compelled to meet Margaret's every demand to earn her love. Does it give security? After a povertystricken childhood, Anita has claimed the social status she's worked so hard to achieve by marrying Cameron Jamieson. Although they have a comfortable life, she's never able to fully relax, fearing everything could change in a heartbeat. Or does it mean freedom? Ellie, the youngest, has lived a nomadic and according to her siblings a selfish life, leaving them to care for their ageing mother. For her, freedom means staying far away from the strings attached to her inheritance, but she needs to consider her young son's future as well. As their mother's health deteriorates, will longheld secrets and childhood rivalries smash this family into pieces? An addictive and pageturning story of the relationships between siblings and of deceit, betrayal and revenge.