The Lazare Family Saga

    An epic three decades in the making and twice selected as Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice

    Undeniable Love.
    Unflinching History.
    Unforgettable Fiction.

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    Book One of The Lazare Family Saga

    In antebellum Charleston, a Catholic priest grapples with doubt, his family’s secret African ancestry, and his love for a slaveholder’s wife.

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    Book Two of The Lazare Family Saga

    From the walled gardens of Charleston to the vast prairies of the American West, the saga of the Lazare family continues with a dangerous love affair and a blond Cheyenne Indian.

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    Book Three of The Lazare Family Saga

    Since girlhood, Clare Stratford has dreamt of marrying David Lazare—until she meets the brother he left for dead on the Oregon Trail.

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    Book Four of The Lazare Family Saga

    In the epic conclusion of the Lazare Family Saga, two very different brothers must become allies to save the woman they both love.

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    Joseph & Tessa

    A digital painting by Julia Jacob Mori, @artbyjuliajm, of Father Joseph Lazare and Tessa Stratford, the Lazare Family Saga’s star-crossed lovers

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  • Exquisitely told
    A feast of a novel by an extraordinary new voice. Haunting, meticulously researched, and exquisitely told through characters so human you’d swear they have beating hearts.
    Kathleen Grissom
    New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House
  • A work of art
    From the ashes of rebellion to heart-rending forbidden love, Necessary Sins is a work of art. Bell’s voice is a refreshing addition to the genre, and the breadth of her research is impressive. A strong start to a promising series.
    Jessica Cale
    Editor of Dirty, Sexy History
  • A time machine
    This is an exceptionally well-written and well-researched book, the kind that surely took decades to weave together. And the reader is the beneficiary. … The author makes one feel as if they have been transported in a time machine…
    Camille Di Maio
    Bestselling author of The Beautiful Strangers
  • Fresh and intriguing
    A taut, compelling family drama with a fresh and intriguing setting. Necessary Sins will be a welcome read for fans of historical fiction.
    Olivia Hawker
    Internationally bestselling author of The Ragged Edge of Night
  • Lushly detailed and beautifully written
    A gripping family saga with complex characters, Necessary Sins is lushly detailed and beautifully written. I look forward to following the fortunes of this antebellum family in future volumes.
    Susan Higginbotham
    Author of The First Lady and the Rebel
  • Vividly imagined
    In this carefully researched historical novel Bell examines the way race, religion and class weave a web that Joseph Lazare may never escape. A thoughtful, vividly imagined and engrossing historical novel, highly recommended.
    Sara Donati
    Internationally bestselling author of The Gilded Hour
  • I felt immersed
    Exceptionally well-researched… It has been a good while since I’ve found a historical novel I can really sink my teeth into. … I felt immersed in the setting, as well as swept up in Joseph’s emotional trials. … A very enjoyable read.
    Readers’ Favorite
    Review
  • Like stepping back in time
    Necessary Sins is a rare breed of book, invoking family epics of the past such as The Thorn Birds… [Elizabeth Bell] renders a vivid world that truly feels like stepping back in time. … Extremely highly recommended.
    Review of Necessary Sins in the Historical Novels Review
  • A master
    Elizabeth Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors. To be able to paint the past with such depth and color is a rare skill… I can’t recommend this book or the rest of the series enough.
    Editors’ Choice review of Lost Saints in the Historical Novels Review
  • Meticulous research
    Bell’s stunning saga continues strong with this book, growing in depth and emotion with each page. … The series continues to hold its own among the most celebrated of multi-generational sagas.
    Editors’ Choice review of Native Stranger in the Historical Novels Review