A gorgeous timeslip romance for fans of Kate Mosse, Diana Gabaldon and Barbara Erskine. Maddie is restless in London. She has friends, a job and a sort-of boyfriend, but something in her life is missing. Then she visits the ancient village of Walditch, deep in the Dorset countryside. Something stirs in her, and on a whim she buys a centuries-old cottage and moves there three months later. Her … months later. Her friends think she’s crazy, but for Maddie it feels like coming home.
Late at night in the cottage, Maddie hears strange noises and sees mist gathering indoors and out. When she starts investigating the cottage’s history, she becomes drawn into the tragic story of a family who lived here 400 years ago. Meanwhile, Maddie starts to fall in love with a local carpenter – but he has a relationship already…
Can Maddie solve the riddle of the past? What is her connection with the family that lived there so many years ago? And can she and her true love ever be together?
Previously published as The Forgotten Promise.
What readers are saying about Kate Ryder:
‘Searingly emotional, compassionately told and wonderfully uplifting, this is one book you will remember long after the last page is turned’ Julie Bonello, NetGalley.
‘The author has a deft touch in handling emotion – her characters are totally sympathetic and believable, surprisingly and satisfyingly complex’ Anne Williams, NetGalley.
‘A fantastic read … If you are looking for some heat in these cold days of spring then look no further as this is the book for you. Warmth, romance and the Cornish breeze flow from these pages’ Michelle Russell, NetGalley.
‘Absolutely loved it: friendship, romance, family, scary stalker, wonderfully described scenery, a well written story – what more can one ask for?’ Donna Orrock, Netgalley.
‘Really enjoyed the characters and plot of this book’ Jamie Dyer, NetGalley.
‘I look forward to more from this author and maybe get to “visit” the Cornish cove again!?’ Sharley Phillips, NetGalley.
‘The storytelling in this book is first class … The final chapters are heartrending and poignant and maintain Cara and Oliver’s authenticity’ Jane Hunt, NetGalley.
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The story opens with Maddie, who works for a film company, falling in love with a 17th century thatched cottage in a beautiful village location in rural Dorset. On a whim, she decides to purchase the cottage, giving up her glamorous London lifestyle for not only a change of pace but also a change of job. As one might expect, such an old house has its secrets and some seem to link to Maddie’s past, with hints of family sorrow, heartache, and undying love.
Maddie’s present-day love life is also complicated, adding another element to the story. Torn between her compelling attraction for a handsome local carpenter, who’s seemingly already in a relationship, and her long-standing, on-off relationship with a former colleague, Maddie can’t see a future with either of them working out. Instead, she looks to the past to explain the spooky happenings in the cottage and for answers to what her life might hold.
This was an intriguing and pacy story, written entirely from Maddie’s point of view. The author’s knowledge of the Dorset locations and its history shone through, playing an important part in Maddie’s tale. There were some creepy moments, especially in the cottage scenes, and I thought the glimpses into the past were particularly well-handled. The story flowed well, with a good mix of description and dialogue.
The author is excellent at characterisation, being able to convey a personality with a few apt descriptions – I was particularly taken with the charming rogue Charles Bosworth.
All in all, this was a good story with enough historical detail, spooky moments, romance, and emotional angst to keep me reading long after I should have gone to sleep.
Wow, my heart is still pounding after reading this magnificent timeslip story.
Maddie is compelled to buy an old cottage in a village in Dorset, and on moving in, finds the cottage has lots of hidden secrets and links to the 1600’s.
A real page-turner, this is so well written and researched, and had me hooked from beginning to end.
I think that I can easily add Kate Ryder to my list of amazing time slip romance writers. Wow this book just grabbed me on page one and never let go.
While working in a village in Dorset, Maddie O’Brien is drawn to an historic house called the Olde Smithy. When she sees that the house is for sale Maddie just has to buy it. To the surprise of all her friends and her on-off boyfriend Dan she uproots her London job and life and moves into the house. Immediately after moving in, Maddie, Dan and Maddie’s sister Mo have strange experiences and Maddieie realizes that the house has secrets waiting to be revealed. Making things even more mysterious Maddie meets Nick a local carpenter and feels an inexplicable connection to him which grows stronger the more time that they spend together, even though he has a girlfriend.
This story just gets more and more spooky as you get further into it. Kate weaves such a realistic and mysterious tale and introduces all the clues to the solution slowly, keeping the anticipation going right to the end. The ending was so unexpected and it gave me shivers.
This is going on my list of my best ever books I was so enthralled by it. If you like time shift stories you with strong and believable characters bound together by love never to be parted, this one is for you.