The Forgotten Cottage

By: Courtney Ellis

Narrated by: Lorna Bennett, Helen Laser

Connected through time to her great-grandmother by a shared English countryside home, an American nurse tries to piece together her family's tangled history in this new historical novel from the acclaimed author of At Summer’s End.

England, 2014: Audrey Collins knows only two things about her beloved grandmother's past: She was born into nobility and she immigrated to America at seventeen years old. So when Audrey inherits her gran's home in North Yorkshire, she arrives expecting a sprawling country estate fit for lords and ladies. Instead, she finds an abandoned stone cottage perfectly preserved as Gran left it when she fled in 1941—ration book and all—and begins to uncover what secrets her family has been keeping.

France, 1915: Lady Emilie Dawes is working as a nurse on the Western Front, grateful to have escaped the restraints of her restrictive, privileged home life. But the independence she fought hard to earn is suddenly jeopardized when a familiar man shows up in one of her hospital beds. Facing him means facing her past, and the decisions she had made in fear. As the war rages around her, Emilie realizes she cannot continue running from who she is until she decides who she truly wants to be.

Over a hundred years apart, Audrey and Emilie each struggle to find purpose, love, and a place to call home in this enchanting family saga celebrating the courage of underestimated women—and the power a secret can hold across generations.

©2022 Courtney Ellis (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Great listen and captivating story!

This is one of the best books I have listened to in a while. I didn't want it to end. I enjoyed all of the characters, and the narration was great.

Great book.

I don’t agree with some of the reviews that this was the worst narration. The narrator wasn’t the best at male voices but I have heard worse. This was a quick, easy and interesting book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

FORGOTTEN COTTAGE

What an excellent depiction of many an English decedent's challenge to trace their family history. Fortunately for Audrey, her Grandmother left little tidbits in letters as Audrey must deal with pulling her own life

Great story!!!

It held my attention all the way through to the surprise ending! Loved the historical background!

A love story through and through. I enjoyed the time period in which it took place

It tended to drag on in some places which made me impatient and frustrated with the story.

Cross btwn 'The Women' and 'Downton Abbey'

liked the story, the voices, and imagery, as well as the exploration of parrallels between ancestry and modern day life choices

secrets do hurt

War has us make hard choices. Emily fell in love, but was forced to make a decision for self-preservation.

the twists and turns

i liked it all! we written, well narrated.The story flowed and the characters consistent. their emotions palpable.

Enjoyable

At first the narration seemed slow but it started expanding with the book. Excellent storyline & kept me wanting more.

Engaging! Attention Stealing!

I very much enjoyed this book! I found myself thinking about it and wondering what the next turn in the story would be. If you are interested in British or WW1 history this is an intriguing story of a young woman’s desire to be more than a British socialite and the journey she takes and the losses she endures as she finds meaning and value as a woman in the early 1900’s.