A time for spilling secrets…

Having refurbished her inherited house and upcycled her whole life in the process, Freya – now happily married to Patrick, and with a small child – has to transform her tiny stone barn into a romantic hideaway for a mystery guest who is also looking for change. With Christmas only a week away, things don’t go according to plan…

In the past old uncertainties are resolved when an elderly woman seeks the truth of a legend on Christmas Eve and confesses to a deception; a Tudor wife listens to a story that must never be repeated and is given a precious relic that must never be displayed; and in the early nineteenth century an old woman tells a younger one the story of the hares at Ladywell.

Past and present are only a whisper apart when Freya learns of an astonishing discovery that will make Ladywell famous, but meanwhile, her house is full of unexpected visitors, she has a turkey to cook – and a very special secret of her own that must be told.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Our family ghost! A few fortunate people sense it, mostly women but sometimes a man will pause, look startled, then shake his head and forget about it.

Violet is a lark. So am I, really, but Patrick says he’s neither lark nor owl as he comes into his own at midday, so he claims to be a sloth.

 My Review:

Ghost stories, a Hollywood film star, Christmas blessings from the beyond, exciting genealogy news, a valuable artifact, and a few other juicy secrets await your discovery in this quick yet high eventful and delightful read.   While it could possibly be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading The House at Ladywell first for a more knowledgeable and satisfying reading experience. I am quite taken with this clever author; I covet her superior word skills and have added her to my favorites list.