A New Arrival At Duck Pond Cottage By Della Galton
It’s not just animals who need to be rescued…
Following the unexpected death of her mother, and the breakdown of her relationship, animal loving idealist Jade Foster, uses her inheritance to buy a smallholding in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside hoping to realise her dream of providing a sanctuary for unloved animals in need of a new home.
Jade employs the enigmatic Finn McTaggart to help out at Duck Pond Lane Rescue and forms a friendship with both Finn and her local Vet, Aiden Southerland. But Finn is running from his own demons and Aiden longs for a more romantic relationship with broken-hearted Jade.
Romance is not on the cards for Jade, but as both men fall for her natural beauty, the rivalry between them hots up. But can any of them heal enough to find lasting love?
What none of them realise is that a devastating secret from the past has the power to destroy the present and that love, however wonderful, isn’t always enough.
Arriving on the doorstep of her new cliffside cottage with its craggy, white-washed walls and chipped blue door, Jude Fitzgerald closes her eyes and listens to the cries of oystercatchers and the crash of waves in the cove below. As she steps over the threshold into the rundown old cottage, Jude feels like she’s come home. Ever since the death of her husband, Alex, she’s longed to return to the island of Anglesey, which they visited for their honeymoon only a few years before.
Resolved to hide away from the world, Jude spends her days walking the beaches alone, while at night she gazes at the stars lost in memories, until an unexpected gift from a kind neighbour offers her a lifeline. Slowly, she opens her heart to the island community, joining a class to learn the local language, going sea swimming with new friends, and rediscovering her long-forgotten love of art. Over time, Jude sees that while her old life has ended, a new one is just beginning.
But first she must let go of everything that ties her to the past – including family secrets that have passed from one generation to another and keep her from picking up the phone to her estranged mother. As events take a surprising but welcome turn, Jude learns that it’s possible move on while keeping Alex in her heart, and that it’s never too late to follow your dreams…
Although the second installment in the “Welcome to Anglesey” series, “Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea” stands alone effectively. Caroline Young crafts a poignant narrative, skillfully tackling various challenging themes against the backdrop of London and the picturesque Anglesey. The protagonist, Jude Fitzgerald, navigates the aftermath of her husband Alex’s death, finding solace and healing in Anglesey as she grapples with grief and questions about her future. Young’s vivid descriptions bring the setting and characters to life, drawing readers into Jude’s emotional journey of loss, friendship, and self-discovery. “Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea” is a beautifully written story that resonates long after the final page, making it a highly recommended read.
My Sanctuary 