The Secret Cottage

Today’s a two-for, and this post features a Historical Romance by Kate Ellington.

Personally, I’m a fan of history, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

BLURB:

Isabel Tate yearns for the simple pleasures she took for granted before scandal rocked her family two years ago. On May Day, she’s determined to forget her troubles and enjoy herself at the Claremont family’s annual festival.

Meanwhile, Robert Claremont steels himself to begin courting the haughty heiress next door, but his bashfulness is only one obstacle to winning her hand. Despite a deep sense of family obligation, he dreams of choosing his own bride.

Captivated by each other from the moment they meet, Robert and Isabel are kept apart by a misunderstanding until a chance encounter leads to friendship and more.

With opposition on all sides, they must overcome inconceivable odds to claim happiness.

Excerpt Two:

Isabel glanced around the hall, curious about the townsfolk who would be her neighbors for the summer. As she looked around the room she was startled to see a man staring intently at her. Their eyes met, and she had the sense he’d been watching her for some time. 

She looked away before he did and leaned over to whisper in her aunt’s ear. “Who is that man?” 

Verity followed her gaze. “That’s one of the sons of the house. Robert Claremont.” 

“Indeed?” Isabel stole another glance at him. 

“Yes, and the man beside him is Mr. Kensington. He’s lived with the Claremonts since he was a boy. He’s a friend of your uncle’s.” 

“Did you not say there was another brother?” 

“Yes, and there he is.William Claremont, Robert’s twin.” 

“Twin?” asked Isabel, taken aback. “They look nothing alike.” 

“It sometimes happens that way.”

Isabel watched the Claremont brothers and their friend cross the hall to the high table. Once they were seated Isabel was able to study the brothers more closely. They were both tall and had blue eyes. William was blonde and exceptionally handsome. He looked confident, even arrogant, and Isabel knew at once he would be popular with the ladies. From the way he surveyed the women in the room, William knew it, too. 

The other brother, Robert, was striking in his own way, with wavy black hair and high cheekbones. His angular face suggested haughtiness, but there was a lightness underneath— as if he was thinking of a jest but trying not to laugh.

My thoughts

As I said above, this book doesn’t disappoint. At its core The Secret Cottage is a cosy romance set in England in the past, where mores are strict and inheritance often dominates discourse. Robert and Isabelle are likable and you want them to be together in the end. If the work isn’t groundbreaking, that’s okay because it lets the reader trod familiar ideas and tropes and that’s a good thing.The Secret Cottage is comfort food for a reader’s soul.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kate grew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at the lake seemed to last forever. She read her first historical romance at age eleven when a teacher challenged her to find a book in the library written by an author she’d never heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.

After graduating from college with an art degree she settled in the Pacific Northwest, where she currently resides with her family.

Kate wrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set her pen down for years until another story floated into her head out of the clear blue sky. She jotted it down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of its own.

kateellington.com

https://www.facebook.com/kateellingtonauthor

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Cottage-Kate-Ellington/dp/1509253661/

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION :

Kate Ellington will be awarding $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. You can enter here.

And check out the other stops in this tour for more chances to win!