Hello again!
We're back with our second post of the day, and this time, we're breaking bread with Rachel's Random Resources as we take a spin through time gone by to solve a mystery unfolding in the present day. Have I caught your attention? Fabulous! Then let's take a closer look at today's title in the spotlight...
The Lady of the Loch
by
Elena Collins
About the book...
‘Although I believe I will die here in this castle, my spirit will never be silent.’
Ravenscraig Castle, Scotland. 1307
When the castle she works in is sacked by the army of Prince Edward of England, kitchen maid Agnes Fitzgerald manages to escape north of Inverness to throw herself at the mercy of the Lord and Lady at Ravenscraig Castle. Although safe for now, the people of Scotland are fighting hard for their independence, and the threat of the English hangs heavy over the land. But when Agnes spies Cam Buchanan swimming in the loch, her mind turns away from war and towards love. Agnes even dares to dream of a happy future, until she learns that Cam must go and fight alongside Robert de Brus.
Present day
Twins Leah and Zoe need a change, so caretaking at Ravenscraig Castle is the perfect opportunity to get away from it all. Surrounded by rugged Highland countryside, and bordered by a loch, the picturesque setting is everything they dreamed of. But the locals are reluctant to visit Ravenscraig, and there are whispers of ghosts and lost souls. The sisters quickly dismiss such superstition, but soon the overwhelming sadness they feel coming from the tower grows too hard to ignore.
Can the sisters finally right the wrongs of seven hundred years of heartbreak, seven hundred years of betrayal…
USA Today bestselling author Judy Leigh writing as Elena Collins, brings you this heart-breaking and unforgettable timeslip novel, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Diana Gabaldon and Louise Douglas.
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We've a got a dual timeline story featuring sisters, by blood or by choice, thrown into a world of tumult filled with danger, adventure, new beginnings, and unfinished business. The author weaves an atmospheric tale that really draws you in. Whether you're back in the 1300's fleeing for your life to a place you only heard mention of, to people you don't know the merit of, with nothing but your word, a stolen horse, clothes that are not your own, and your quick wit...or back in the present looking for direction, acceptance, and a chance not only to find yourself, but perhaps a little love along the way, you know where you are, when you are, and decidedly who you are, even when borrowing the name of another.
Though I'm a huge fan of both Historical Fiction and Historical Romance, and I was certainly delighting in the story from the past that has its ties to the present, I think I actually felt closer to the sisters in the here and now. Something about their bond and how it resonated so closely to that of those that came before, despite being biological in this case. Something about how they approached everything being thrown at them, from the chance of a lifetime to the lifetimes that still echo through the halls of the castle they are currently calling home. You get a real sense of their closeness and the fact that they would do practically anything for the other if it was within their power. Yes, they were sisters, but even without that piece, the love they shared was remarkable, stood the test of time in one fashion or another, and made them endearing. Stories like this remind us that while centuries may separate the events unfolding, and modernization may have changed the landscape which we work within, the basic fundamentals, the bottom line human needs and concerns, are what connect us through the good times, and the bad.
All in all, an enchanting tale that will leave you breathless from its beauty, heartache, and, ultimately, its message that while time may pass, some bonds last forever, and nothing is stronger than love, in all its forms.
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About the author...
Elena Collins is the pen name of Judy Leigh. Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.
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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you and to Boldwood Books for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of tour for more bookish fun!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
1 comment:
Thanks so much for this lovely review. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story. Sending warm wishes. J x
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