The cottage stood alone on a rocky outcropping at the edge of the loch. Standing in the garden amongst the wildflowers, she felt the weight of the tattered envelope in her hands. Maybe there was something keeping her here in Scotland, a secret waiting to be uncovered…
New Yorker Zelda Hicks has just lost her mother, and the only thing she knows about her father is that he was from Scotland. So a work trip to the Scottish village of Loch Cameron couldn’t be better timed. Maybe a break in the beautiful rolling hills of heather will help her reconnect with her roots and recover from her grief.
Then, on a walk around the loch one bright morning, she comes across a tiny, tumbledown cottage, nestled on the edge of the forest. The elderly owner, Gretchen Ross, invites her in for buttery shortbread, and after learning that Gretchen might lose the cottage that has been in her family forever, Zelda vows to help her. She didn’t bargain on butting heads with the handsome, blue-eyed laird Hal Cameron in the process. Zelda can’t seem to forget Hal’s shy smile and she soon learns they might have more in common than she first thought.
But when Zelda discovers a bundle of old letters hidden in the back of an antique wardrobe at the cottage, they lead her back to the mysterious Hal. Pushing Zelda to examine her own family history, the letters reveal a secret that the community has kept hidden for over a generation. Hal says he wants to help Zelda, but just as she begins to open up, she learns he isn’t being entirely honest either… Can Zelda trust him, and finally come to terms with her own past, or will uncovering this secret force her to leave Loch Cameron for good?
Part 2: PROLOGUE from The Cottage by the Loch — Kennedy Kerr
I did the best I could for you, and I know it was tough sometimes. Thank you for always being such a good kid and taking it on the chin. Your dad missed out by leaving us, I’ll tell you that much. At some point, you may want to get in touch with him, and if you do, you have my blessing. Or, you might not, and that’s okay too. I’m sorry, though, that I don’t have any contact details for him and haven’t for a long time, so you would have to find him some other way.
If I had one piece of advice for you, Zelda, it’s to be strong. I always taught you to be independent and follow your heart, so keep doing that. And when life gets you down, remember what Maya Angelou said: If you don’t like some‐ thing, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. I know you’re going to be okay, but remember that, when I’m gone, you shouldn’t grieve for me too much. Life is for the living – so, live it as best as you are able, my sweet girl. You may not think that I lived the life I wanted, but I made the most of what I had, and so should you.
May your days ahead be busy, and your nights filled with comfort.
I’ll love you always, Zelda. I’ll be watching over you.
Mom xxxx
If you missed the first part of the prologue, you can read it on B for Bookreview or if you’ve enjoyed what you read so far, you can grab a copy here: https://geni.us/B0BLT2XHKZsocial
Author Bio
Kennedy Kerr is a USA Today Bestselling fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle's nap schedule one day.
Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she's not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she'd eat it, anyway.
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