The Consequence of Anna

An Epic Family Saga About Love, Friendship, Obsession, and Madness

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Pub Date Nov 26 2021 | Archive Date Jun 12 2022

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Description

The AMAZON #1 BESTSELLER, reminiscent of The Thorn Birds and The Light Between Oceans. Poignant, heartrending, and unforgettable. Inspired by a true story from the 1930s . . .

"SHAMED BE THE WOMAN WHO ALLOWETH SUCH A SIN."

Two cousins share a deep, sisterly love for each other. And a man. One of them will be driven into madness.

It's the year 1930, and Anna May Shahan's world is about to change. The eccentric housewife from the small woop woop town of Esperance, Australia, lives on an isolated farm by the sea with her loyal husband James, and they lead a simple, hardworking life. That is until Anna's beautiful widowed cousin Lottie returns from the States after being absent for over a decade. Lottie confesses to Anna her heart's greatest desire to have a child, and Anna, in fear of losing her beloved cousin again, seeks to grant her wish by means of her own husband.

James knows his wife has some undiagnosed mental condition, blaming it for her salacious idea, and refuses to take part in it. But Anna is relentless, and finally one night successfully manipulates him into going along with her plan. She gets her way, but her choice to help her cousin soon brings devastating consequences for them all . . .

Emotionally gripping, poignant and heartbreaking, The Consequence of Anna is a complex family saga, intertwined with the haunting mystery of Anna's mental illness and the secrets, lies, and revelations revealed through the hidden passions of Lottie and James.

Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz have crafted a poetic story layered with lush romance, the frightening effects of altruistic intentions gone wrong, and the strong bond of female friendship. A provocative and powerful allegory, cutting through rules and boundaries, and proving the old adage that no good deed goes unpunished.

The AMAZON #1 BESTSELLER, reminiscent of The Thorn Birds and The Light Between Oceans. Poignant, heartrending, and unforgettable. Inspired by a true story from the 1930s . . .

"SHAMED BE THE WOMAN...


Advance Praise

"Storytelling on an epic scale. I had to stop reading and let myself have a good cry more times than I care to admit. This story touched my heart and my soul and I will never forget it." – ★★★★★ Robin Price, Goodreads

"Gruesome and yet beautiful at the same time... This book will devastate you, tear you down, then bring you back up for air... Such a masterpiece... It's been sometime since I had a good hard cry. I needed it. Thank you." – ★★★★★ BookLover, Goodreads

"Wow. Just wow... The most powerful novel I have ever read... It teaches you, it shocks you, it moves you... When done I cried so much it hurt. It will certainly change how you think of people who suffer with mental illness." – ★★★★★ Sherry, Goodreads

"Wow! What a different book. It had me fascinated & appalled at the same time... A rare 5 ⭐ from me for this interesting gem." – ★★★★★ Sherri Morris, Goodreads

"Moody, brooding, haunting... Genius... Very well written and incredibly thought provoking. If you like To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Piano, or The Light Between Oceans you will love The Consequence of Anna." – ★★★★★ IrishGirl, Goodreads

"Every once in awhile you will come across a book you can't put down. This is that kind of book. A true gem." – ★★★★★ Louise, Goodreads

"What a special book this is... An extraordinary tale about mental illness, obsession, envy and passionate love intertwined... Vivid, engrossing and inspiring. Highly recommend." – ★★★★★ Avid Reader, Amazon

"This book was so very good! It deserves five stars +10 more... My favorite book of 2021." – ★★★★★ Janalyn, Amazon

"Truly amazing... This book will be staying with me for a long time." – ★★★★★ Barb Arehart, Amazon

"Storytelling on an epic scale. I had to stop reading and let myself have a good cry more times than I care to admit. This story touched my heart and my soul and I will never forget it." – ★★★★★...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781777268930
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

Available on NetGalley

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Average rating from 10 members


Featured Reviews

What a book! Wow! Chose this one for the cover and found out the story was even better.

The novel is based on a true story that is set in the 1930’s. I’m pretty sure I remember watching a program on Anna years ago about a woman with Schizophrenia in Australia who attacked her cousin and baby and was institutionalized over it. To be able to read the entire story now was very fascinating to me. The historical writers did such a beautiful job with the characters and using creativity to color exactly what happened.

The story centers around three people. Anna, her American cousin Rose whose nick name is Lottie, and Anna’s husband James. Anna and James are in love with Lottie for very different reasons and the outcome is brutal.

What I loved about this book. The writing is outstanding. I mean it’s truly put together so well. Lyrical, moving, and engrossing, In certain parts they use a style of writing to make you think the characters are speaking directly to you. Which I found very creative. I also loved the chemistry between all the characters. There is also a spotlight on mental illness and how it effects the person suffering from the disease as well as the family members. Overall this book is brilliant and a true gift to anyone who reads it.

What I didn't like: It’s a bit long for my taste but I still think it’s worth the time.

If you like rich colorful prose, getting lost in a book, and shedding a tear once in awhile read this book. It truly is a gem.

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I have seen amazing reviews of this novel so it must just be a bad match for me. It was impossible for me to get into the storyline or become invested in the characters, so this was a DNF at about 27%.

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The Consequence of Anna takes us on a journey that follows two cousins Anna and Lottie.

On this journey, a beautiful story is told through Anna. Her life's accomplishments, her mental illness and her regrets and consequence to those actions.

Anna was a haunted girl and adored her cousin Lottie. She thought of her as a sister. She loved her so much it became an obsession, that she would even let her husband, James give Lottie a baby. Although opposed of this,
Anna breaks him and he agrees.

Anna had paid the ultimate sacrifice, in letting this unselfish act be born. It drives her over the edge to a life she never dreamed would happen.

A remarkable story on courage, love, and deceit.

Thank you Netgalley , Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz for making this read possible.

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Where to begin? I have done nothing for two days except read this amazing book. I really could not get it out of my mind. I read a lot of historical fiction and I must say this is above and beyond anything else I have read in this genre for a long time. The characters are completely fleshed out and these authors know how to write! The fact that the book is based on a true story makes it all the more interesting. If historical fiction is your genre you don't want to miss this.

Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this incredible arc for my honest review.

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This is storytelling on an epic scale. A saga detailing the lives of Anna, James and Rose. An unforgettable trio It is easy to love them all but just as easy to hate them too. This is a thought-provoking, heartbreaking and heart-warming story of love, loss, grief, manipulation, madness and the wages of sin set against the magnificence of the Australian Outback.
I had to stop reading and let myself have a good cry more times than I care to admit. This story touched my heart and my soul and I will never forget it.

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I always love a good book inspired by true true events. This is a book that is also an historical fiction story about cousins, their close relationship but can one man help or hinder this relationship?

This is a saga to say the least and it is a story about taking chances, about the outcomes of those choices you make, about mental illness and about solving the problems caused by those decisions made. There are quite charming parts, horrific parts, intriguing parts and even a bit scary in parts.

It is a book that will pull you in and drag you along for the ride but I must say it is a very long read, intense and sometimes tiring. But having said that it is well written, well researched and well worth the read. I love the Australian theme and the unreal realness of the book.

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Amazing story of mental Ilness and the consequences of our actions. You hate Anna one minute and then fell sorry for her the next. Such wonderful, development of characters. Highly recommended!

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