From her open window at Foxglove Cottage, she looks out at the garden full of wildflowers drenched in golden sunlight. Her fingers tremble as she turns the fragile page of the old diary and discovers a secret that will change her life forever…
When Zosia arrives at Foxglove Cottage holding her small son’s hand in hers, she is desperate for a new beginning. Her new job is to help seventy-year-old Hazel transform her tumbledown cottage and re-open the enchanting old café, seeped in folklore. Hazel is warm and welcoming, but Zosia can never share the truth about why she has left her own home.
When neighbourly Leon, a bear of a man with deep brown eyes, arrives to help them restore the cafe, Zosia can’t help falling for his rugged charm. But her heart has been shattered before, so she distracts herself by translating an old diary that’s been in Hazel’s family for generations. She discovers an extraordinary love story hidden in the yellowing pages. It pulls her back into World War Two, as if the past is whispering through the garden’s tangled vines and the granite cottage walls. Could the old wartime romance help broken-hearted Zosia believe in soulmates again?
Zosia longs to open up to Hazel and Leon but if her past catches up with her it could ruin everything. When she uncovers the diary’s long buried secret, will it help her let go of her own past? Or, when she receives a letter that threatens everything she holds dear, will she be forced to leave Foxglove Cottage for good?
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My Review
This is an evocative and emotionally rich dual-timeline novel that beautifully blends historical fiction with contemporary women’s fiction. Set against the tranquil yet sometimes treacherous backdrop of the English countryside, the story explores the power of love, resilience, and healing across generations.
The present-day narrative follows Hazel Wojcik, a spirited 70-year-old recovering from surgery and determined to breathe new life into her beloved Foxglove Cottage. Enter Zosia Armitage, a Polish immigrant on the run from an abusive past, with her young son in tow. Their unexpected connection grows as Zosia not only helps Hazel restore the café but also begins translating wartime documents left behind by Hazel’s Polish father. As the women forge trust and purpose, danger unexpectedly creeps back into Zosia’s life, raising the emotional and suspenseful stakes.
The historical timeline is equally compelling. We’re transported to WWII, where Casimir Wojcik, a brave Polish pilot, crashes in the English Moors and is rescued by Rosie—Hazel’s mother. What unfolds is a poignant, high-stakes romance between two young people trying to survive the brutality of war. Rosie’s work in a munitions factory and Casimir’s perilous missions as a fighter pilot offer rich historical detail and constant tension, underscoring the human cost of conflict and the fierce hope that love brings.
The parallels between the two timelines are thoughtfully drawn, with themes of survival, trust, and new beginnings woven seamlessly throughout. Overall, it is a beautifully crafted story that delivers emotional depth, rich historical atmosphere, and strong female characters. With its blend of danger, romance, and healing, this book is a must-read for fans of dual-timeline fiction like The Nightingale or The Lost Girls of Paris.
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