Amanda Tams(The golden girl of poetry soup) - Harry Horsman's Blog

Hi just like to tell you one of our members first book is now out in paper back and kindle,,have a read you certainly will be surprised, so far getting wonderful reviews and feedback....Harry

Here is the synopis

9 STEPS

Are you sure about unravelling your family tree?

The friendship between the two main characters is obvious. Kate’s best friend Pam suffers a breakdown after her parent’s deaths and Kate looks after her. Many years on, while clearing out her parents belongings ready for renovation, in the attic discover a family tree, a diary revealing a mysterious story of witchcraft, a generation’s old curse to trap people inside a magical tree and a wand. Pam discovers she is a descendant of a witch, rumoured to have burnt to death after casting a spell on her village after her lover deserts her. Her curse was, if she cannot have her true love no one else will have him, nor any of the villagers have theirs neither and for all eternity.

At first the friends find it amusing being so far back in history considering it foolish or a story, until things start to go wrong.

Pam becomes obsessed with the diary and a Witch girl named Martha, who trapped her lover in a tree. One day in a playful mood Kate asks if Pam fancies her husband Jack, also Jack the same question it’s asked in fun, but this lighting a fuse in both. One day Jack, compelled to follow Pam into the wood where at the old oak, and in a moment of madness they make love with Jack instantly rejecting her, afraid of repercussions. Pam, her hurt compounded when Amy, Jack’s daughter accuses her of having a thing with her dad. Pam is horrified and retaliates, making her aware she has seen her with men other than her fiancé. In her despair of betrayal to Kate, Pam’s madness takes hold. Recalling the story of the witch who cast spells to capture her lover and hold him in the tree. Pam, so desperate recites the same ones to trap Kate, believing she is his first and true love, thus leaving him free. Four days later, on the last night of April, Pam is discovered unconscious and dangerously ill. The same night, Jack and Kate’s daughter Amy, after a row with her fiancé, runs into the wood and is never seen again.

While in the psychiatric unit, they discover Pam is pregnant with a daughter, Kate has no idea Jack may be the father believing Pam suffered an attack. Soon after the birth, Kate discovers she is pregnant with a son.

Holding her daughter, Pam in a brief spell of sanity, is haunted by a recollection of a dark terrible secret she never divulged. Leaving a letter explaining Jack is not her baby’s father she reveals the secret, making provision for the child well away from Jack before taking her own life at the oak tree. The story unravels some eighteen years later, the letter is sent by the solicitors to Pam’s daughter. Pam’s daughter and Kate’s son meet, Jack soon discovers her identity revealing his true character. He tells her he wants to teach how to love him like his daughter Amy did because she is also his daughter but his attempt at rape fails.  On that night, Jack disappears, the last night of April and Amy’s presence is apparent, she is a vengeful part of the oak. Kate, confronted with the truth, spirals into a breakdown. Months later an invitation to her son’s wedding to Pam’s daughter rouses Kate. They marry understanding from the letter they are not related. On the night of their wedding they find a wand. Does the curse live on?