Thanks to Allison and Busby and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bit of a strange read. It felt like it was written for a younger audience yet the subject matter didn't correlate with that at all. I'm aware that the author usually writes children's books so I'm not sure if something just didn't quite work with the transition.

The story just felt all a bit doom and gloom and I didn't connect with any of the characters. I don't want to write a whole review just saying what I didn't like so I'm going to leave it here.

Review not posted anywhere else.

*Many thanks to Cynthia Jefferies, Allison & Busby and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
This is an interesting novel which is designed as a YA read in my opinion.
The novel begins in 1660 when Chrisptopher Morgan buys an inn and starts a new life having survived a personal loss. In the course of the novel we learn more about Christopher's past and his trauma which fortunately for him ceases with time as he runs the inn and brings up his son, Abel. then a tragedy strikes and the fortunes and misfortunes of a young Abel begin.
In my opinion Ms Jefferies did a good job describing the period and the premise. However, the characters are not that well developed and they sometimes seem to lack inner light that would allow me to feel for them.
A good and entertaining read for young readers who enjoy the 17th century setting and adventures.

Cynthia Jefferies is probably better known as an established children’s author writing under the name of Cindy Jefferies, but she has recently turned her hand to writing novels for adults, of which The Outrageous Fortune of Abel Morgan was her first. It was the title and cover that caught my attention at first, then when I read what the book was about I thought it sounded like something I was almost certain to enjoy.

The story begins in 1660, with Christopher Morgan returning to England following the restoration of Charles II, having spent several years in exile with the others who fought on the side of the Royalists in England’s recent civil war. Christopher no longer has any interest in taking his place at court and intends to start a new life for himself and his family as owners of the wonderfully named Rumfustian Inn in the village of Dario, but his dreams are destroyed when his beloved wife dies in childbirth. Sinking into depression, he is sustained only by his relationship with his baby son, Abel, whom he raises alone with the help of the servants.

As the years go by, the two become closer than ever, but when Christopher makes an enemy of a local smuggler, he and Abel both pay a terrible price. Abel disappears while out riding his pony and Christopher’s only clue to his whereabouts is a mysterious map of Constantinople. Does this show where Abel has been taken? Christopher isn’t sure, but he’s determined to do whatever it takes to find his son. While he continues to search, however, Abel himself is having adventures of his own…

The Outrageous Fortune of Abel Morgan is best described as a good old-fashioned adventure story – a sort of cross between Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn. With smugglers, secret tunnels, sinister villains, pirate ships and action on the high seas, it’s a fun and entertaining read – yet I didn’t love it as much as I felt I should have done. While I had a lot of sympathy for Christopher, I never warmed to Abel at all; I found him quite selfish and some of his actions towards the end of the book made me actively dislike him. As half of the novel was narrated from his perspective, this was definitely a problem for me. I was also confused by the storyline which plays out in Constantinople as it seems to have very little bearing on the rest of the story and a villain introduced in this section didn’t have the impact I expected him to have.

Still, I was kept in suspense throughout the novel, wondering whether Christopher and Abel would ever meet again. The main theme of the love between father and son is handled with sensitivity and emotion and I had tears in my eyes several times towards the end of the book – which I always think is a sign that an author is doing something right! I would be happy to read more of Cynthia Jefferies’ adult novels; her new one, The Honourable Life of Thomas Chayne, is out now.

This was an interesting read, about (Sir) Christopher Morgan and his son Abel. Somewhat unbelievably, Christopher buys a country inn to take his family to, but before he arrives to take ownership his wife dies in childbirth. He arrives with his son who is barely alive, and soon realises he has to deal with the local smuggler, who had an 'arrangement' with the previous inn owner. This leads to misfortune for Christopher and Abel. We follow Abel as he is pressed into service on a ship, and then on to his various adventures. His father never gives up the search, which takes him to court where he renews his acquaintance with the king, then on to Constantinople.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

Set in the 1600’s, this starts with Christopher Morgan arriving at The Rumfustian Inn, his new home, with tiny baby Abel, who is frail and Christopher doesn’t think he will survive…

But, with the care of the Blacksmith’s wife, he begins to thrive….

A close bond begins between Abel and his father, but after an altercation with a local smuggler, Abel is taken and awakes aboard a boat where he is expected to work to eat…

Christopher is distraught…..and believes Abel to be dead…..

However, Abel nearly escapes and sees his father, handing him a package, only for him to be taken again…

Can this map be a clue to where Abel has been taken?

What follows is a ripping yarn of pirates, adventure, desperation and love. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of slavery, servants and abuse, but it also does not sensationalise them.

Abel learns to be a surgeon, comes into money but his life isn’t all it could be with betrayal and tragedy. It is a story of Abel’s life, from weak baby to a grown man and all between. With little touches of his father’s search for him and his life at home.

Will Christopher and Abel ever be reunited ?

A totally unputdownable masterpiece of historical fiction with a difference …there will be tears.

Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest, unbiased review.

A depressing start to the book, very gloom and doom also why was Christopher's wife left alone? Rejection of baby and deepening depression. Thank goodness for Jane who saved the baby's life and turned out to be a wise resourceful person.. Once Christopher recovered he embraced his son and involved him in the everyday life of the inn, a smugglers den. Life seemed fairly settled for father and son until Abel is kidnapped, then the adventures really begin, a glimpse into life on the high seas with all excitement and intrigue. Both men make decisions which lead to their downfall and do not show either of them in a sympathetic light. Lots of plot twists and turns with satisfactory ending..

Not my usual genre of book to read, but I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline was enchanting and the historical aspects interested me and kept me reading. Very good.

An absolutely enchanting novel set in Restoration England and in some more exotic lands. Christopher Morgan has returned home only to find his wife dead and her new-born, but possibly dead, son in her arms. Morgan takes the child and returns to the run-down inn he has just bought.

The child, the Abel Morgan, of the title lives. It's the first bit of his outrages fortune.

More twists and turns of fate await both Morgan and his son and both travel far from the village home.

The characters are wonderful, the writing well-paced and Abel's fortunes, while unlikely are still believable.

What a wonderful book! I really felt bad for both father and son that they were separated like they were just when they found each other and the love! Very adventurous and exciting events going on both the father and sons life! Very interesting characters in their lives and excitement with pirates. It was kinda drawn out some but it still was a very interesting and emotional book! Thank you net galley!

This isn't my usual genre but reading the description I had to give it a go.

1660 in England and Sir Christopher Morgan has survived war, married and had a child. Unfortunately his wife dies in childbirth and Christopher can't bear the guilt whenever he looks at his son Abel. Christopher purchases an inn to get away from court life and begins to bond with his son until the day Abel is snatched by smugglers and sold to pirates.

Christopher spends the next few years searching for his son whilst we also hear the story from Abel's view.  Eventually believing Abel dead, Christopher goes back to the inn and becomes an avid gardener known for his roses. Abel ends up living in Jamaica before disaster finally sends him back to England. Will father and son be reunited?

This was a fun alternative to my usual history genre, I found the pirates to be a refreshing change! The writing keeps a steady pace and really makes you feel for the characters.
I do wish there'd been more description of the clothes, other characters so I could visualise them. I'd be interested to see if any other books come from this like a book for Turlough a young boy adopted by Christopher, his story would be really interesting!