REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"If God were a mind to take memories, He should have taken them from them both."
Following a delicious night of playful flirtation, stolen kisses and innocent dreams of a red cottage surrounded by lilac bushes, Tom McGwen dropped off the love his life, Meg Foxcroft, at her uncle's home under the cover of darkness, and headed back to his room over the blacksmith shop. Only to be interrupted by her scream of terror. Turning back was just the beginning of Tom's nightmare, Meg was nowhere to be found and her uncle was dead.
Awakening in a beautiful room surrounded by the whispers and faces of strangers, Meg Foxcroft could not remember a thing about herself. Upon finding her battered body lying helplessly under a tree, Lord Benedict Cunningham had carefully transported her to his estate, where his personal physician and household staff was seeing to Meg's every need. As the details emerge about that fateful night, a brutish young man declares them to be the closest of acquaintances, scaring Meg into sending him away, then later musing that there was something hopelessly familiar about his handsome face and steady gaze.
This is by no means an ordinary romance, rather it's an extraordinary tale featuring misunderstandings, vicious criminal intentions and carefully veiled details. Beautiful word flow carries the narrative around every twist and turn, the author penning exceptionally layered characters with pasts entangled through wisps and whims of memory, and slips and slivers of faith, leaving readers poised to wonder if the past will be ever be remembered, and if so, will it even be enough.
Another ingenious, intriguing atmospheric romance which takes advantage of every opportunity to tell its story.
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 4.5 stars
PAULA' S REVIEW:
I am a fan of Gothic Regency romance and The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder checks all the boxes. With her atmospheric descriptions, I was put right in the story of Meg, Tom and the uncle who raised Meg after her parents died.
"If God were a mind to take memories, He should have taken them from them both."
Following a delicious night of playful flirtation, stolen kisses and innocent dreams of a red cottage surrounded by lilac bushes, Tom McGwen dropped off the love his life, Meg Foxcroft, at her uncle's home under the cover of darkness, and headed back to his room over the blacksmith shop. Only to be interrupted by her scream of terror. Turning back was just the beginning of Tom's nightmare, Meg was nowhere to be found and her uncle was dead.
Awakening in a beautiful room surrounded by the whispers and faces of strangers, Meg Foxcroft could not remember a thing about herself. Upon finding her battered body lying helplessly under a tree, Lord Benedict Cunningham had carefully transported her to his estate, where his personal physician and household staff was seeing to Meg's every need. As the details emerge about that fateful night, a brutish young man declares them to be the closest of acquaintances, scaring Meg into sending him away, then later musing that there was something hopelessly familiar about his handsome face and steady gaze.
This is by no means an ordinary romance, rather it's an extraordinary tale featuring misunderstandings, vicious criminal intentions and carefully veiled details. Beautiful word flow carries the narrative around every twist and turn, the author penning exceptionally layered characters with pasts entangled through wisps and whims of memory, and slips and slivers of faith, leaving readers poised to wonder if the past will be ever be remembered, and if so, will it even be enough.
Another ingenious, intriguing atmospheric romance which takes advantage of every opportunity to tell its story.
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 4.5 stars
PAULA' S REVIEW:
I am a fan of Gothic Regency romance and The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder checks all the boxes. With her atmospheric descriptions, I was put right in the story of Meg, Tom and the uncle who raised Meg after her parents died.
A tragic fire finds Meg miles away at a prosperous estate with a Lord willing to care for her and marry her. Her memory has failed her and things get complicated and dangerous. Someone is out to harm her. It remains to be seen if she will succumb to the riches of Lord Cunningham or remember her first love, humble Tom who promised her a red cottage and lifelong love.
What Meg has not lost is her faith and she prays through her troubles and danger.
This was a wonderful tale full of well-drawn characters. The story showed faith and redemption as well as foibles and a mystery that kept me guessing.
For fans of historical gothic stories, it reminded me of The Price of Privilege series by Jessica Dotta.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Barbour Publishing and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and an underlying faith thread
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Barbour Publishing and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5 stars and an underlying faith thread
TRIXI'S REVIEW:
Hannah Linder doesn’t disappoint when it comes to gothic tales of mystery and intrigue! I’ve read every story that she has written so far and I keep coming back for more.
Tom and Meg have known each other from childhood leading to a promise of marriage someday. Then an unthinkable tragedy happens to Meg and her uncle, which results in losing her memory of who she is. The amnesia angle added an extra layer to an already immersive read and also to the danger lurking just around the corner. With each turn of the page, things get even more complicated and tense….and I loved every moment of it. I definitely had a hard time putting this down because SO much happens!
The main reason I give it 3.5 stars was for the amount of violence displayed at the end of the book. It was extremely hard for me to read through those parts.
All in all, if you enjoy gothic tales full of mystery, danger, intrigue and that hard won happily-ever-after, then look no further than The Red Cottage.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *3.5 stars
BackCover Blurb:
She forgot she loved him.
He would die to make her remember.
Meg Foxcroft has never minded the tattling village gossip or her uncle’s ill-tempered rebukes. After all, she has Tom McGwen—and one day, they will build their own cottage, paint it red, and live a wonderful life.
But then the unthinkable happens. Meg is attacked, her uncle’s apothecary shop goes up in flames, and when she wakes up in the arms of an eloquent lord, she remembers nothing. Not even her own name.
In a frantic race against time, Tom plunges into dangerous water, bent on sheltering Meg from harm and discovering who wants her dead. Even if she despises him. Even if it’s now the handsome lord she casts her smile upon.
As danger swells and truth comes crashing around them, Meg must confront the past and decide who she trusts—and loves—before the enemy makes the final strike.
Enjoy other Gothic Style Regencies from Hannah Linder:
Beneath His Silence
When Tomorrow Came
Garden of the Midnights
The Girl from the Hidden Forest
Never Forgotten
She forgot she loved him.
He would die to make her remember.
Meg Foxcroft has never minded the tattling village gossip or her uncle’s ill-tempered rebukes. After all, she has Tom McGwen—and one day, they will build their own cottage, paint it red, and live a wonderful life.
But then the unthinkable happens. Meg is attacked, her uncle’s apothecary shop goes up in flames, and when she wakes up in the arms of an eloquent lord, she remembers nothing. Not even her own name.
In a frantic race against time, Tom plunges into dangerous water, bent on sheltering Meg from harm and discovering who wants her dead. Even if she despises him. Even if it’s now the handsome lord she casts her smile upon.
As danger swells and truth comes crashing around them, Meg must confront the past and decide who she trusts—and loves—before the enemy makes the final strike.
Enjoy other Gothic Style Regencies from Hannah Linder:
Beneath His Silence
When Tomorrow Came
Garden of the Midnights
The Girl from the Hidden Forest
Never Forgotten
AVAILABLE FROM BARBOUR FICTION in paperback, and digital ebook!
Thank you for posting our reviews Debra!!!
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