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

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!!

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!

𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨!

I love historical fiction, and this book was so beautifully written that I was transported to 19th-century Charleston. A forbidden love, complex characters and an intriguing story that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Great Family Saga

This is the first book in a 4 part multi generational family drama. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a sweeping saga like this and I became quickly drawn into the life of the Lazare family.

The book begins with the original Lazare family in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) when the French still ran that country. The setting then shifts for the majority of the book to pre Civil War Charleston, South Carolina.

There are a LOT of family secrets that have come from Saint-Domingue that effect the Lazare family.

Joseph is the main subject of this book who becomes a Catholic priest because he doesn’t want his true family lineage to be known.

He meets and falls in love with an Irish woman, Tessa, whose brother marries Joseph’s sister. But Joseph is a priest and Tessa marries a wealthy Charlestonian.

There is other family drama which leads Tessa and her husband to raise Joseph’s niece and nephew..

The historical components of this book and the historical events mentioned in this read are fascinating and makes me feel like I’m reading an authentic account into someone’s family tree.

Be mindful that this time in history in these settings can be disturbing in the attitude and treatment of slaves, those with disabilities, and women.

The narrator does a beautiful job and I’ve added the other 3 books in the series to my TBR.

Intriguing historical novel

This well-written historical novel was very interesting to listen to and the narrator did an amazing job bringing it to life. I haven't read many books from this time period and I found myself drawn in by the characters and wanting to see them overcome the many obstacles, beliefs, and atrocities of that era. I found the religious aspects fascinating and the interpretations thought-provoking. This is a story that will make you think and stay with you for a while.

Epic story about a religious young priest

Well written and obviously extensively researched historical novel. It starts in Haiti where a slave uprising deeply affects the Lazare family. This first section has some brutally violent scenes in it so reader, be prepared.

The story is mainly about a deeply religious Joseph Lazare. As he starts to enter puberty, his attraction to women deeply disturbs him. He observes his father in a private act, which affects his relationship with his father. He decides to enter the priesthood and continues to be very devout, even though multiple family tragedies and his love for a woman that he knows he can never tell of his love.

This is an epic story and it's just the first of 4 in the series. This book is definitely for mature readers.

I listened to the incredibly well narrated audio version of the book. I was impressed with narrator's ability to voice each character separately. I highly recommend the audio version of this book.

A lovingly crafted story. No space dragons.

Historical fiction is not my typical taste in books. However, this novel intrigued me so I took a gamble. I absolutely loved it from start to finish - both the novel itself and the audiobook performance.

The novel quickly assures you that this is not a bodice-ripper romance novel. It is a character driven historical saga grounded in history. There is tragedy and brutal violence in the first hour. The story moves quickly, spanning decades but each act is fully developed. I didn't think I'd like this kind of pacing, but Bell makes it work fluidly.

The writing is truly exceptional and pulls you into the world. I was a little intimidated reading a historical-fiction novel. My history education ended in the 12th grade and has a thick coat of rust. My fears were unfounded as Bell builds the world cleanly, seamlessly meshing historical events with the fictional elements - I had no idea some of the events and people were historical until the author's afterward. Just a truly beautiful novel.

I was leery of a self-published audio book. Quality audio equipment and accomplished narrators aren't cheap. Dalin Bradford's performance was beyond exceptional. He did a great job keeping every character's voice distinct. His accents were perfect for an audiobook - enough to get the flavor without forcing you to strain to understand him. The technical quality was damn impressive too - crystal clear audio with no hisses or pops.

Anyway long story short: loved it even with the lack of space dragons.