The Full Story
SAMSARA- THE FIRST SEASON
Samsara’ — meaning reincarnation — was originally written as one enormous novel of 1.6 million words and spans from 1890 to 1968. The first series has since been broken up into twelve separate novels, resulting in a serial rather than a series.
These are not stand-alone books with a start, middle and end — instead, the story flows continuously from book to book — spanning an entire lifetime. I highly recommend that you read them in order.
This epic series was first available on Wattpad from 2016 to 2019 as ‘The Golden Glow Chronicles’, and for a brief time on Amazon. Since then, the story continued to develop as Volume Two (1790-1875) Volume Three (1968-2063) and Volume Four (2063-3020) came into being, each containing up to 12 books per season. As a result, all twelve novels in Volume One have been revamped and published as ‘Samsara- The First Season’ in 2021.
The prequel novella, ‘That Fated Night’, is my gift to you — a heartfelt thank you to those who have read everything in this series and still wanted more — and for those new to ‘Samsara’, who want to see for themselves what people are talking about without financial commitment. You can purchase all titles in the series in audiobook and paperback, including the novella and spin-off books, to add to your bookshelf next to ‘Samsara’ for those like me who like to hold a physical book in your hand.
THAT FATED NIGHT
Find out what happened on the night Abigail was abandoned at the orphanage from three different perspectives.
This prequel novella, ‘That Fated Night’, is my gift to you — a heartfelt thank you to those who have read everything in this series and still wanted more — and for those new to ‘Samsara’, who want to see for themselves what thousands of others are talking about.
Listen to the audiobook on my YouTube channel J L Martin Official Channel and available to buy in paperback.
THE GOLDEN GLOW
Volume One Book One
What if you could remember a past life? Or worse, what if you couldn’t?
Born in 1875 and raised in a Scottish orphanage, Abigail is about to turn fifteen — an age where she will be cast out of the only home she has ever known — no matter how horrid. The day before she is forced to leave behind the only life she has known to enter an uncertain future, a mysterious wooden box arrives requesting she travel to London to meet with a lawyer by the name of Henry Malcolm. Abigail is catapulted into a world she is fearful of — while events from the past of which she has no control or influence could change the course of her life in ways she never expected. A reluctant journey taking her across the ocean to Melbourne, Australia, sees friendships formed that will last a lifetime — but leaves Abigail even more confused by the auras she has seen since she could first remember. Surprised by the golden glow surrounding many of the new souls she meets along the way. She feels inexplicably drawn to them and a connection she cannot understand or explain — only to find the further she travels from home, the more common they become — leaving her determined to find out just what they mean no matter what the cost.
UNEXPECTED BEGINNINGS
Volume One Book Two
Abigail’s journey to Melbourne, Australia, has blessed her with friendships that will last a lifetime — but has left her even more confused by the auras she has seen since she could first remember. Finding the further she travels from home, the more common they become, she is unable to confide in another soul for fear of retribution. Feeling even more alone when she arrives in Geelong, Abigail finds all is not what it seemed or was promised. She is faced with an impossible choice that will impact her future — a future she feels she has no control over that leaves her torn between two very different men — forced to make a choice that will change her destiny in ways she could never have imagined.
TORN IN TWO
Volume One Book Three
Abigail makes her choice and marries the love of her life, leaving heartbreak behind and consequences that she must face in the future. Basking in the glow of her newfound life — a life so different from her time spent in the orphanage, it is unrecognisable to her as she tries to adjust to situations she has never encountered before. Polly’s past unexpectantly haunts them in this new land, leading to secrets being exposed and ending in murder. Abigail experiences a pleasant surprise, one that will change her life in ways she has never known, providing her with a sense of security and contentment she has never before experienced. However, unfavourable events soon unfold, leaving some of her friends, especially Dana, grieving and wishing they had never immigrated to Australia.
LOSS OF INNOCENCE
Volume One Book Four
Abigail is the happiest she has ever been, feeling complete now she is surrounded by people who feel like family, a feeling she has never known before. Becoming a mother for the first time completes this new sense of belonging as she forges ahead and begins to make Willow Grove her own, running the property on her own terms while discovering further information about the mysterious Great Aunt Isabelle. Her chef and best friend Leo continues to cause chaos and offence wherever he goes, a friendship Abigail cherishes despite him driving everyone else around him insane. Abigail is the happiest she has ever been; however, a gnawing fear inside her leaves her feeling confused, a fear she cannot shake despite having no foundation. Finally, Abigail comes face to face with the darkest dilemma of them all; an unknown past for which she is severely punished without a trial.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Volume One Book Five
Abigail and Aaron grieve for their stillborn twins, and the aftermath of the brutal attack on her leads to further trauma that will have life-changing consequences. Hamish remains a steadfast friend to both Abigail and Aaron, moving to Willow Grove permanently to help run the property, while Abigail tries to keep life as normal as possible for those around her, particularly the twins, under impossible circumstances. Faced with the very real chance that she could lose someone she loves forever, she goes to extremes to keep them by her side, prepared to lose everything she owns to save those close to her.
RETURNING HOME
Volume One Book Six
Abigail embarks on a journey to her homeland, desperate to return to the arms of her beloved Sister Josephine. Unfortunately, she is left feeling confused when the handsome Lord Harrington III makes her acquaintance on the journey, while many around her have become a thorn in her side, demanding her attention and love, which she is unable to give. Will Abigail be torn between two men yet again, and will she return to Australia with the twins after all that has happened and the memories Willow Grove holds? Only she can reconcile the unbearable pain she carries, as she decides just where her heart belongs.
LETTING GO
Volume One Book Seven
Abigail attempts to mend her broken heart and marries again but questions if she truly has the ability to love another man after all she's lost.
War breaks out, and Abigail is left to manage Willow Grove alone, while the men she loves fight for their country, leaving her to console those who have lost while suffering her own torment.
SOUL CONNECTIONS
Volume One Book Eight
Abigail meets Sarah Stewart, and a deep friendship develops, bringing a very special child into her life who will change the course of her future. Abigail again faces one of the most traumatic events of her life, leaving her unable to cope or find peace, despite Aaron showing himself to her and revealing some interesting information about the golden glow.
HEALING THE HEART
Volume One Book Three
Abigail returns to Scotland to visit the orphanage where she has helped change the lives of the girls left in their care; however, parting for the last time from those she loves leaves her grieving deeply. Maslow leaves a final word for her, which shakes her to the core, taking away the only peace she had left. Sadie moves to Willow Grove, and it is only when her first child is born Abigail finally understands the true meaning of the golden glow.
LEGACY AND LOVE
Volume One Book Ten
Polly and Catherine prove to be steadfast friends who see Abigail safely into an unknown future, while she reflects on her life and tries to make some sense of it all, finally realising that no amount of money can protect you from tragedy or the obstacles sent to test us all. The birth of a child has a shocking consequence, leaving Abigail stunned and unsure how she will ever move forward or reconnect with those she loves.
BACK TO ME!
Volume One Book Eleven
Leo Currenti is a famous chef working at The Rialto Hotel in London in 1889. Leo is a unique man with a hilarious personality, believing he is the only really important person in the world and should be treated accordingly. He is a man of mystery and holds many secrets close, not allowing anyone other than those he deeply loves to know his true heart. His kitchen is thrown into chaos when a murder occurs at the hotel and subsequent murders after that, threatening his sense of security and jeopardising not only his job but his own life. He is thrown into a web of lies and deceit that are not of his own making while he tries to live the best life that he can, always shocking and entertaining people with what comes out of his mouth along the way!
Join Leo on his journey through the last year he spent in London before meeting Abigail, who changed the course of his life. The secrets of his past are finally revealed in this hilarious novel while also delving deeper into the serious side of Leo, a side no one knew he had!
UTOPIA
Volume One Book Twelve
It’s 1905, and Jasper and Lilith Arcadia have left everything they owned in London to start a commune in Australia. They never fitted into their aristocratic upbringings and brought shame on their families for the friends they kept and the lives they lived, with Lilith being a soothsayer, a seer, a psychic to the wealthy and famous of England and Europe. With a large sum of money provided to them by their families, Jasper and Lilith buy a property in Western Victoria and name it Utopia, attracting like-minded people who refuse to abide by society's expectations. It is Jasper and Lilith’s unconventional life that suddenly seems normal compared to the people Utopia attracts. It takes some time for Lilith to become accustomed to her new life; however, she finds beauty in things others barely look at. It is when she finds beauty in another man real trouble begins for Jasper and Lilith. When tragedy strikes and brother starts to suspect brother, decisions need to finally be made, some with heartbreaking consequences.
