The Cottage - Secrets of the Shetlands 2 - by Michael Phillips

About the book:

Is the Future of Whales Reef in the Hands of an Outsider?
When Loni Ford is informed that she has inherited property in the Shetland Islands, she laughs. She wants nothing more than to sell it and be done with it. But when she arrives in the North Sea enclave, she is stunned to find that "the Cottage" is not at all what she expected, nor is David Tulloch, the man most of the islanders believe to be the rightful heir.

The locals could hardly be more surprised that the heir is a woman--and an American. Loni, in turn, finds the islanders quaint and a bit behind the times. Expecting David to be as provincial as the rest of his clan, she discovers that there is far more to the man than meets the eye. And there is something about the peaceful atmosphere of the place--and the character of its most prominent citizen--that soon gets under her skin.

Beneath the peaceful surface, however, change is threatening the island of Whales Reef. David's cousin Hardy Tulloch, whose claim to the inheritance now in Loni's hands was backed by oil investors, has not been deterred in his aim to control the island. But his co-conspirators have plans of their own, plans that put Loni's very life in danger. . . .

My review:

I really enjoyed this wonderful story about a woman discovering who she really is and where she came from.  Loni was orphaned at an early age and never knew much about her mom's side of the family, so it was wonderful to see her discover her roots and her family's history.  I enjoy Michael Phillips' books not only for the characters and stories he writes, but also for the history he reveals of the places his stories are set.  I loved learning more about Scotland and its religious and clan history.  I also really liked the sections where Loni read her great-grandmother's journal and we got to see some of her history, too. I liked Loni and enjoyed her spiritual journey as well as David's faith background.  There was also a fascinating story of how their minister came to faith.  She grew up a Quaker and there was some interesting information about that faith practice.  David was a wonderful character, almost too good to be true.  Their interactions were enjoyable and it felt like I was a friend tagging along with them. I liked that the words were written in the Scottish accent and dialect of the Shetlanders.  It felt more authentic and like I was really experiencing the island along with Loni. There was some suspense as Hardy and a Texas oilman threaten Loni and the Whales Reef way of life.  There's also a bit of romance.  I thought this story worked pretty well as a stand-alone for being a continuation of Loni's story.  I haven't read book one, but didn't feel lost.  I highly recommend this fascinating story!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers.

 The Author

1. 

   Michael Phillips

   Michael Phillips is a bestselling author who has penned more than seventy books, both fiction and nonfiction. In addition, he has served as editor/redactor of nearly thirty more books. Over the past thirty years, his persistent efforts have helped reawaken...
   

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