The Winter Cottage

by Rachael Lucas

Series: Applemore (1)

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When Rilla Clark's long lost father dies, she leaves New England and heads to his cottage in the Scottish Highlands to sort out his affairs. Rilla's determined that her visit will be a fleeting one. The little village of Applemore holds a lot of memories for her, but looking back might just open up her heart, which she's kept well-guarded until now. Lachlan Fraser is less than delighted with his inheritance. He left the grand, crumbling Applemore House as soon as he could, and he can't see why his three sisters love it so much. Gathered together at their family estate, the battle of wills over what to do with the house is just beginning when into their life walks Rilla, who they haven't seen for over fifteen years. Old friendships and long-hidden emotions are rekindled as the romance of a Highland winter works its magic - will Rilla and Lachlan discover that home isn't a place, but a feeling?… (more)

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Rilla Clark's father has died, and she's off to the village of Applemore in the Scottish Highlands. It's been a long time since she was there, even though it holds such cherished memories. Lachlan Fraser is part of those memories, and neither is aware that they are returning to the village simultaneously. Lachlan is returning to the village to have a critical family meeting with his 3 sisters. The Applemore House has been an ancestral home for 150 years for the Fraser family. House may be part of the name, but truth be told, it's a castle in disrepair, and there is a burden of death and inheritance taxes due as Lachlan and his sisters' father died several months before Rilla's father.

I loved the blended themes of a second chance at love unexplored in their younger lives, the balancing act between the continuation of a dream partnership and familial duty by a son not only to carry on the family legacy but for his sisters and future generations, women rekindling friendship, the rescue of a dog, and discovery of a secret. Can the past still be meaningful in the present, or is it just a brief interlude of delights?

After reading "The Telephone Box Library," I knew I wanted to read more of the author's writing. I look forward to returning to Little Maudley and Applemore in the New Year. (

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FerneMysteryReader | Dec 16, 2023 |

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Canonical title

The Winter Cottage

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

2021-10-12

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Epigraph

Dedication

For Jude, with all my love.

First words

Of course the door was rusted shut.

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Disambiguation notice

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Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

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▾Book descriptions

When Rilla Clark's long lost father dies, she leaves New England and heads to his cottage in the Scottish Highlands to sort out his affairs. Rilla's determined that her visit will be a fleeting one. The little village of Applemore holds a lot of memories for her, but looking back might just open up her heart, which she's kept well-guarded until now. Lachlan Fraser is less than delighted with his inheritance. He left the grand, crumbling Applemore House as soon as he could, and he can't see why his three sisters love it so much. Gathered together at their family estate, the battle of wills over what to do with the house is just beginning when into their life walks Rilla, who they haven't seen for over fifteen years. Old friendships and long-hidden emotions are rekindled as the romance of a Highland winter works its magic - will Rilla and Lachlan discover that home isn't a place, but a feeling?

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Welcome to Applemore… a small town with a big heart, where family, friendship and love are waiting for you.

When Rilla Clark returns to Scotland, one thing is clear - she's going to get out as soon as she can. There's just one problem - she's forgotten how it feels to be back in the small town of Applemore in winter, or how it feels to walk down the street where everyone knows your name - and your business.
She's embraced by the community with open arms - there's a fire lit in the hearth at the Applemore Hotel and a hot chocolate topped with cream to be drunk, looking out over the sea and catching up with childhood friends she'd thought she'd never see again. There's just the little, teeny-tiny matter of her teenage crush, Lachlan - now tall, dark, bearded and handsome - who just happens to be the new Laird, although village gossip suggests he's not so keen on inheriting a castle…

Surveying the dilapidated glory of Applemore House, Lachlan Fraser is trying to break the news to his three sisters that the best thing to do might be sell up and cut their losses. The castle might be beautiful, standing tall and turreted overlooking the white sands of the beach and the distant islands - but the roof is leaking and the winter wind whips in through gaps in the windows. The only cosy room in the place is the big farmhouse kitchen, full of dogs and a huge old wood stove. He's got a business to run in the city, and until Rilla turned up the solution seemed clear - but somehow, leaving the small town just got a lot more complicated...

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