Goddess Fish Promotions Presents

The Secret Cottage
by Kate Ellington

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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.

5 out of 5

This was a sweet and cute romance, and I enjoyed it from cover to cover. There’s just something about Ellington’s writing style, that pulls you along, even though there isn’t a lot of tension in the story itself. I was hoping from the moment they met that Robert and Isabel would end up together. Getting to see both of their stories just made me more convinced they were made for each other, even though there were a few stumbling blocks in the way of their potential HEA. The story is woven together well, and I enjoyed that it doesn’t solely focus on love/courtship. Getting to see the dynamics with their families/friends, and the complications that can arise when things like expectations are thrown into the mix added a nice depth. If you enjoy sweet historical romances, you’re going to love this one!

When Robert reached the manor he crossed the echoing great hall and mounted the curved staircase to the second floor. He strolled through the long gallery under the painted eyes of the many Claremonts who had lived here before him. Thornwood Manor had been home to Robert’s family for generations. Originally a mere fortress, it had undergone countless changes over the centuries. At the end of the gallery Robert pushed aside a tapestry and followed the corridor leading to his father’s rooms in the most ancient wing of the house. The dark stone walls and perpetual chill suited his father well. 

Mr. Claremont didn’t look up when Robert entered the room but remained sitting at his desk, reading a letter. 

“You wanted to see me, Father?” Robert prompted after some minutes.

His father tucked the letter into a drawer and removed his spectacles, fixing his gray eyes on Robert. With his dark hair, tall stature and rugged features there was no mistaking who Robert took after. His brother William had inherited the fair hair and almost unearthly beauty of their mother. 

“I’ve engaged an artist to paint your and William’s portraits. He writes that he’ll arrive next week.” 

Robert nodded. “I presume that’s not all you summoned me here to tell me?

Mr. Claremont stood and walked to the fireplace, hands clasped behind his back. After gazing into the flames for a moment he turned to Robert. “Margery Penrose will be here today. I want you to win her.” 

“Win her? Surely she’ll have some say in the matter.”

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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.

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