The lives of two women, generations apart, converge in this enthralling novel of love, mystery, memories, and secrets.
Pregnant and still grieving the death of her fiancé, historian Megan Buchanan is forging ahead on a dream project: to restore to its original glory the landmark hunting lodge her own great-great-grandfather built on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. With the help of her fiancé’s caring … fiancé’s caring best friend, it’s sure to draw much-needed tourist revenue to Cape Hudson, a town rich in southern history.
However, it’s Spring House, the caretaker’s cottage on the grounds, that holds the most intriguing history for Megan. In a cache of old letters, she’s drawn into the captivating life of a young woman who embarked on her own dream adventure a century ago. With each one, Megan is swept away into her enthralling world—and all its secrets. But Megan has secrets too.
Now, as one woman’s past unfolds in each revealing letter, Megan will discover more about herself and about the emotional tides of family that can be weathered with those you love and trust the most.
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Spring House by Mary Ellen Taylor is Women‘s Fiction told in Split Time Periods. Her delicious books include romance, secrets, history and mystery. Her characters are fun, interesting and full of energy. Spring House tells the story of a family through the generations, on two continents and two world wars. I enjoyed reading about the historical finds, the family secrets and mysteries. I look forward to reading every book by Ms. Taylor. Each new book has a unique character with their own story and mystery to tell.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
This was my first Mary Ellen Taylor book but it won’t be my last. I’ve already purchased a few of her others on the heels of Spring Cottage. This book has everything I enjoy in a narrative – mystery, secrets, romance, dual timelines and history. And the wrting was sublime. The story was beautifully told, with a gentle voice and exquisite pacing.
Although there were no major twists or surprises, and the ancestory was a little confusing at times (I had to keep returning to the family tree at the start of the book to get my bearings), I was still drawn to the story and found it difficult to put down.
A solid 5 stars and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys tales of genealogy.
Great second book. I really enjoy this author. Wonderful characters.
Enjoyed this book, second book in a series of two. Good strong characters and and strong storyline. But felt disappointed with the end- it was weak.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read Winter Cottage by the same author so I was familiar with most of the characters already. This book let you get to know them and their ancestors in more depth. The story revolved more around Megan Buchanan this time, but Lucy Kincaid still played a large role in the story. The book supplied a healthy dose of love (both lost and found), humor, sorrow, and mystery. I found this to be a stronger storyline than Winter Cottage. I am hoping there will be another installment in this tale of the inhabitants, past and present, of Cape Harbor.
A return to old friends
These characters and their stories get right under your skin and stay there for the next volume to come out! I wasn’t thinking about that when I started reading, then I settled in and reconnected. What a beautiful history! Loved it!!
I really enjoyed this book.
Really enjoyed this book. The prologue gave it a supernatural flavor, but it wasn’t about ghosts. The modern day renovation of a historic Virginia property was an interesting theme, and the contemporary characters and their stories were enjoyable. The ancestors and historical figures were numerous and I had to repeat sections of the audio to grasp and keep their connections straight. Following the history of the family as that story unfolded was fascinating and emotional. Eventually the past creatively intersected with the present, culminating in a satisfying ending.
It was nice to read a book with some depth to it for a change. Loved this!
Loved it! Excellent follow up to Winter Cottage, which should be read first. I hope there is more to come in this series.
At first I was a little put off by the overload of what felt like random historical facts. I think that it was to help you get to know the main character Megan. The families were also a little hard to keep track of because they were a lot of them and there were complicated situations.
That being said I really loved the story. Once I got the hang of it I was hooked. I devoured the second half because I was dying to know more about Diane, her siblings, and how it all tied together.
As I’m typing this I checked Goodreads to see what else the author has written only to find there is a book titled Winter Cottage that looks to be the first book of this series (even though its not titled as a series). I think everything would have made a lot more sense if I had read that first but now I do plan to go back and read that book as well.
A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. This one about Megan who has been hired to oversee the restoration of Spring House. Another captivating book, which you cannot put down once starting.
In order to really know ourselves, and to enjoy each day and look forward to the future, we must fully embrace the past. This idea is beautifully realized in the intriguing women’s fiction tale, “Spring House”. Very special storyteller Mary Ellen Taylor brings forward the characters and story line from her previous work, “Winter Cottage”, and adds new faces with their own compelling circumstances. Cape Hudson is a quaint old town on the beautiful Eastern Shore of Virginia, an area rich in history and its own rustic appeal. Megan Buchanan is a historian working there to help restore the “Winter Cottage Estate”–built by her own great-great-grandfather–to its former splendor. Pregnant, and grieving over the loss of her fiance, Megan hopes the work will bring back a sense of order and purpose and help hear clear the way to a happy life with her child. While there is much to be done at the main house, it is the “Spring House”, the caretaker’s cottage, which opens up an unexpected realm for Megan. Through the discovery of old letters written long ago, Megan comes to know a young woman from another time, a young woman who, like Megan, has secrets to keep. As each letter is read, more and more of the past is revealed, and Megan is drawn deeper into the connection between past and present. When the final truth is told, and all questions are answered, will the families of “Spring House” and “Winter Cottage” truly be home at last? For a real reader’s treat, enjoy “Winter Cottage” first, and then quickly follow with “Spring House”.
Book Copy Gratis Author
I adored every second of this book. It didn’t take me long to feel like I was among friends, helping to restore Spring House, and trying to uncover Diane’s story. It was a little bit of everything I love about books. There was a little bit of romance, a little bit of history, and a little bit of intrigue, all wrapped up in a beautifully written story that spanned decades. I get a little nervous when I read books that bounce around from one time period to another. Sometimes, they can get confusing, but that did not happen with Spring House. It actually made it impossible to put the book down. I couldn’t wait to see how everything played out, and how everything was connected.
This was my first Mary Ellen Taylor book, and I can’t wait to go back and read Winter Cottage so I can spend a little more time in this world with these characters. This is a book I will revisit time and time again, and it’s a book I will tell all of my friends about.