Jane Lovering is one of those writers who just immediately draws you into her story, making you forget that time is passing and you might have things to do. This is true even for stories where the topic (abuse) might be one you avoid reading, which is the case in A Cottage Full of Secrets. I do avoid reading about abuse in the same way that I avoid stories in which I know the dog is going to die. However, fortunately, Lovering didn’t focus extensively on those scenes of abuse, which made it easier to read. It sounds almost perfect. Unfortunately, the execution did not meet the mark, at least for me. I saw so much potential there, but I was like “Urghhhh!!!!”. In the present, another young woman (Ellie) inherits the cottage. While renovating it, she finds hidden family secrets and develops friendships on her new found home. Welcome to Morwen Island, all of you. Welcome to the story of Patience and Elowen and the Kittiwake Cottage! Current day - Ellie has inherited a cottage on an almost forgotten island, from a grandmother she's forgotten. One stipulation is, she most spend a year on the island before collecting her inheritance. There she finds the secrets of the island and Patience.

A Cottage Full of Secrets by Jane Lovering | Goodreads A Cottage Full of Secrets by Jane Lovering | Goodreads

I loved Tam’s timeline and her journey of finding herself again. Her story has this perfect balance of friendship, realism, romance, and humour. Its pace and flow were just perfect. I loved how Jane approached the difficult issue of abuse and how abusive relationships can take many different forms and happen to both women and men. Now, there are a lot of references to abusive partners in this so if that’s something you think you may struggle with then go in prepared, although as with all of Jane’s books you know there is going to be a happy ending so you can read it with a slightly relaxed approach knowing all will be well in the end so don’t let it put you off reading this! It’s actually focused on the escape from abuse and being able to not let the past control you, showing that you can still have a happy and fulfilled life! In summer, you can feel your pulse racing as the garden throbs in a tidal wave of colour, none more spectacular than the amazing vermilion-coloured flowers of Crocosmia Lucifer in tandem with the indispensable Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff.

Books Multibuys

Ellie Roberts has inherited an cottage on Morwen Island from Patience Ellis who she just remembers vaguely from her childhood but she has to live in the cottage for a year. The cottage is in a state but Ellie can see potential at the end of the year will she sell it. We see Patience and her life as a child and what she went through all the years liked this part of the story. Kitchen/diner: electric oven and 4 ring hob, large fridge/freezer, microwave, dresser, table with seating for 8. Stable door to garden. Will the secrets of Cottage Two lead Tamzin to make startling discoveries that will help her shape her own future? Or is she destined to repeat Stella’s mistakes and end up haunted by regrets and heartbreak many decades down the line?

Cottage by the Sea Series by Rebecca Alexander - Goodreads Cottage by the Sea Series by Rebecca Alexander - Goodreads

So, on the surface, A Cottage Full of Secrets doesn’t boast anything particularly impressive that would make it stand out. It’s a quiet, straightforward, mostly serene narrative about two people falling in love. So, I definitely recommend it to readers who’re in the mood for something slower and gentler than your garden-variety romance novel. Have you ever had a few moments to yourself watching the clouds or sitting near a river bank and watching the flow of water or just counting stars in the night sky? Not that I have experienced it much but it gives a feeling of serenity and sublime peace to think about. Rebecca Alexander’s The Island Of Lost Secrets is one of those books that make you crave for such tranquility. I loved that there was a fox as the pet in the story. it's very different kind of pet. I also like that I loved that Euan was so different as a hero - very gentle, very damaged, a kind and often covered in mud and twigs. I also liked that Tamsin was portrayed as somebody who was recovering from having been a victim, rather than someone who is still a victim. Patience an elderly spinster leaves Ellie her cottage on the island on the condition she lives in it for a year.The wonderful descriptions of the cottage, landscapes, scenery, the way of life, and just the Yorkshire location in general. The author has a real talent in placing the reader into a stunning location. The letters tell the story of a brutal storm on a dark night in the depths of war, and of an injured soldier who begged Patience for help, and asked her to make an impossible choice… Apparently, my newfound cottagecore obsession is not going anywhere anytime soon. And, since I live on a shoestring and can’t afford to venture out of the city, country romance novels are the next best thing for quenching my thirst.

The secrets of the cottage garden - Country Life The secrets of the cottage garden - Country Life

A second storyline is presented, where a young woman, 50 years prior, is trying to escape an abuse relationship. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside, very peaceful and relaxing. I also enjoyed seeing Tazmin and her mysterious neighbour Euan help each other heal from past hurts and come alive again. By the time Ellie reaches the same place as the reader, one is completely captivated by the characters in both times. A Cottage Full of Secrets is a dual timeline contemporary romance that follows the story of two women who have made a tiny Yorkshire Cottage their home. I want to let readers know that this book has some trigger warnings around physical and emotional abuse. Stella’s story is grim at times, and there are scenes where her husband is very physically abusive towards her. If the topic of abuse is not something you are comfortable with, I would not recommend reading this book.This story balances the past and the present with sympathy and secrets. Located in a coastal village in North Devon, island life is about scraping together a living by fishing and relying on seasonal tourists. Many homes scattered on the hillsides are closed during the winter until their tenants return with the warmth and sunshine.