Rating: 4.5 Stars

Elena Collins’ second novel The Lady of the Loch is a sweeping, captivating and dramatic dual-time page-turner perfect for Barbara Erskine and Diana Gabaldon fans.

In 1307, kitchen maid Agnes Fitzgerald had been left with no other choice but to escape north of Inverness and throw herself at the mercy of the Lord and Lady of Ravenscraig Castle after Prince Edward of England’s army comes to stake its claim. With the people of Scotland determined to secure their independence from England, the threat of their oppressors hangs heavily in the air. Agnes might be safe for now, but with fear, trepidation and panic wherever she goes, she knows only too well that things can change in a heartbeat. One day, when she spies dashing Cam Buchanan swimming in the loch, Agnes immediately finds herself drawn to him – until she discovers that the man she has fallen in love with must go and fight alongside Robert de Brus.

In the present day, twins Leah and Zoe are desperate for a change. When the opportunity to caretake at Ravenscraig Castle come along, they jump at the chance as they see this as the ideal opportunity to get away from it all. With the breath-taking Highland scenery surrounding their new home and the gorgeous loch, Leah and Zoe feel that they’ve truly landed on their feet – until strange things begin happening at the castle. At first, the twins dismiss the locals’ reluctance about the castle as mere gossip and superstition, but the overwhelming sadness emanating from the tower quickly becomes impossible to ignore.

Will the sisters manage to vanquish old ghosts and right the wrongs of seven hundred years? Can Leah and Zoe heal old wounds? Or will some things simply prove impossible to fix?

Elena Collins will hold readers spellbound with her latest novel, The Lady of the Loch. Full of atmosphere, drama, emotion and romance, The Lady of the Loch is an immersive tale of lost love, divided loyalties and devastating betrayals that kept me enthralled until the very last page. Elena Collins has such a wonderful ability of making the past come colourfully to life that the reader will feel as if they are living the story alongside the fascinating characters that people this outstanding tale.

An exciting, captivating and engrossing tale from a terrific storyteller, The Lady of the Loch continues to affirm Elena Collins’ standing as a fast-rising star in the genre.

A beautifully written historical story set across two timelines, Scotland in the 1300’s and Scotland today. Two vastly different times that both had me hooked.

Twins Leah and Zoe are living in Birmingham, but Leah can’t quite seem to get going with her life. Failed relationships and jobs have left her confidence battered and her self-esteem shattered. Trying to help her sister out of her darkness Zoe highlights a job ad – the opportunity to caretake an historical castle near Inverness in Scotland. Having spent childhood holidays which Leah remembered with fondness she decides to leap a the opportunity, but only if Zoe will travel with her.

On the flipside is Ravenscraig Castle in the 1300’s. After barely escaping with her life, kitchen servant Agnes and her fellow kitchen made Effie flee the ruins of their home after it is besieged by English soldiers and razed to the ground. With only the clothes on their back they manage to stumble into Ravenscraig where they are ultimately allowed to stay and work in the kitchen.

It’s harsh time, constantly under the threat of invasion by English soldiers, forced to work long and painstaking hours to earn their keep, and often beaten or berated if they step a foot wrong in the castle’s gruelling kitchen. Yet out of this fear springs hope when Agnes meets Scottish soldier Cam and it soon obvious the pair are destined soul mates.

Return to modern day and things aren’t exactly all they seem at Ravenscraig. While Leah immerses herself in the history and wants to learn everything she can about her new surroundings, Zoe can’t help but feel apprehensive about her new home. Strange apparitions, ghostly sightings, and a coldness unlike anything she has ever felt before, something just doesn’t quite seem right.

I loved the dual timelines, especially Agnes’ story all those centuries ago, was she the reason things weren’t settled at Ravenscraig now? This was definitely close to a 5-star read for me, I just found parts of the storyline with Leah and Zoe a little forced and unnecessary whereas I could have read about Agnes forever.

A beautifully written story overall that I would definitely recommend.

A really enjoyable piece of historical fiction that was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. It was full of vivid descriptions and rich imagery that made me feel like I was there

With the premise and location setting the bar high, I was rather disappointed to find the plot lacking especially as it took until halfway through the book for the plot to get interesting but it simply failed to deliver or stoke my excitement. The characters had great potential given their circumstances, but fell flat and were difficult to connect with. I simply adore stories about Scotland with a bit of haunting yet The Lady of the Loch is not one that will linger with me.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to leave an honest review.

Scotland, castles, lords, and love. Two timelines following two girls in each time as they discover themselves alongside a dear friend. Alternating 1300s Scotland and present day, this story is rich with history and a delight to read.

Did not enjoy the story and failed to finish the last 45 percent. Characters were stiff, story was creepy, and writing was weird.

Book: The Lady of the Loch
Author: Elena Collins
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Print Length: 438
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags


Scotland 1307

Time travel book that was absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. This book was gripping right from the start and so brilliantly written. A book not to be missed. Zoe and her twin sisters Leah have been the caretakers of the castle which definitely has a few unexpected surprises. It has both the current timeline and the fourteenth century.

I have visited Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle in Scotland so I could visualize the setting quite well. Plus I have photos of myself in the settings and that is not something I can say while usually reading a novel.

A book that I could not put down and had me reading late into the night. This is my first book by this author but I definitely want to read more,

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog through netgalley. . All words, thoughts and ideas are my own.

This was my first book by this author but it won’t be the last. Beautifully written, dual-timeline story. A great mix of romance, suspense & heartache. Fantastic. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much, I don't usually choose time slip books but the narrative slipped easily between both periods. There are always characters one prefers and Effies' adventure is my favourite. I would like to read less spoilers in the reviews as my enjoyment was a little spoiled by a review which actually recited the whole book, which was not welcome. Apart from this, I recommend the Lady of the Loch and thank the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

An interesting book, written over a dual timeline. Agnes and Cam in the past, and Zoe and her twin Leah in the present day.

Agnes was a kitchen maid in Scotland, at the time of Robert the Bruce. Her life was tough, as it was for most people at that point in history. She was there when the uprising happened and when she was forced to leave where she was living, she had no idea how much her life would change. Her new abode is Ravenscraig Castle.

Zoe and Leah need a change of scenery, well, Leah needs a change of scenery and Zoe is coming along to support her sister. They end up at Ravenscraig Castle, a place which is rumoured to have a resident ghost.

A fabulous story, with believable characters.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

A time slip novel featuring dual timelines with separate characters. The author wraps up the character connection at the very end but readers may lose interest prior to getting there.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportuity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I love a good dual timeline story and this was definitely a good one. I was hooked right from the start for both timeline stories, who doesn't like a possibly haunted medieval Scottish castle beside a misty loch?

In the present, Leah is struggling to find her place in life and her twin, and Zoe, seems to have it all together. Zoe convinces Leah to look for an opportunity and she finds a castle looking for a keeper and applies, she gets the job but it is contingent on her having someone with her. Leah convinces Zoe to come, at least for the first three months and she agrees, as the older twin, Zoe feels like it is her job to make sure Leah is okay. As Leah and Zoe settle in, it is apparent that Leah is in her element; Zoe on the other hand, senses something off about the castle, something sad and unsettled. Can Leah and Zoe solve the mystery of their ghost and set their soul to rest?

In the past, we follow Agnes, a castle kitchen worker, as she is driven from her home by the English and finds a new home at Ravencraig castle, with her friend Effie. As we follow Agnes' story of finding love with warrior Cam Buchanan, and finding a home, we also hold our breath with her as her love is on the battlefiend fighting for Robert de Brus.

I loved the historical details of the story and how the author created fictional characters to fit in with actual events. I will definitely read more books by this author.

A dual romance timeline set in Scotland and, of course, has a castle setting!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Honestly, if the story is set in Scotland and doesn’t take place in a castle- I don’t want it!

I loved this story and funnily enough, I loved the past timeline even more than the current, which doesn’t happen to me often.

I don’t want to include any spoilers, but let’s just say, there is heartbreak somewhere in this story. And yes, I did tear up!

This was an easy 4 star read for me and almost a 5 star, there were just a couple of things about the characters in the current timeline that I didn’t enjoy which stepped me away from that full 5 star review. So I’ll settle at a 4.5

I loved Elena Collins first book, The Witch’s Tree, so much and I’m happy to say that her second book sucked me right into the story just as much as the first. If you love dual historical fiction with some romance elements, I definitely recommend her books!

Looking forward to her next release!

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Read if you like: Outlander, dual timelines.
-
Alternating between the present and Scotland 1307, we get two stories of women figuring out what they want in life. Leah moves to Scotland to become a caretaker of a castle that has a dark history. Agnes must come to terms with her love for fighting for Robert the Brus against the English and the consequences that could bring.
-
I loved the historical story. I think I am getting tired of the dual timelines in historical fiction and find myself wanting to read the historical story more.

I could not put this book down. I felt emotion after emotion after emotion while reading it. Every single character completely gripped my attention and I was so hooked from the beginning. 4.5 stars from me!

What can I say? This book surprised me. Usually I am not a big fan of time-slip novels. This one may have led me to change my mind.
Mystical and atmospheric, filled with paranormal elements, moving between present day and 1306 Scotland, this book is filled with history and mystery, kings and castles. There is betrayal abounds!
The story centers around Agnes, a maid at Kildrummy Castle who escapes the bloody siege, fleeing to Ravenscraig.
Present day centers around twins, Leah and Zoe, who looking for a fresh start take jobs as caretakers at Ravenscraig Castle. This is where the mystic, mysterious happenings begin.
This is written in such beautiful prose, transporting the reader to Scotland past and present, bringing history to life. Reconciling over 700 years of tragedy, heartache and betrayal.
I recommend and applaud the great talent and skill of the author that shines throughout her writing.
5 stars and I do recommend this one! Do not miss it, you will be glad you read it when you are finished.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

This was a great read. Elena Collins does a wonderful job intertwining the two stories and the characters. Her use of descriptive language really puts the reader in the Scottish castle of the present and the past. I love to read about characters that grow within the stories and stand firm with their beliefs.

The Lady of the Loch was such a beautiful dual timeline story, with the presence of slightly spooky goings on in the castle in the present day providing the link between 1307 and the present day. Elena Collins is the pseudonym of author Judy Leigh, although this is the first Elena Collins book I have read.

I adore dual timeline stories and love it when they are vibrant and authentically historical. This book transported me to a fictional castle inspired by the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the shore of Loch Ness, and it was so expertly imagined that I could smell the food in the castle kitchens, and the smell of livestock in the courtyard! The characters were multi-dimensional with characters to love, characters to dislike and characters who perhaps are not what they seem. I thought the romance between Agnes and Cam was realistic and relatable as they were forced to snatch forbidden moments with the backdrop of the battles between Edward Longshanks and Robert the Bruce.

In the present time, twins Zoe and Leah are living in Birmingham, and although Zoe is successful, Leah feels that she hasn’t found her place in life. When she feels drawn to Scotland, where their father’s family came from, she applies for a job as a caretaker at a castle, but the owner wants a couple to take the role. She manages to convince Zoe, who can work from home, to join her. As they settle into the castle, while Leah finds her job instantly invigorating, Zoe is not convinced it is the place for her. More and more things happen to suggest there is paranormal activity going on, and there are several very spooky experiences, which provide the link between the past and the present.

This was such an evocative and atmospheric story, it was truly engrossing to the point that on a very sleepless night I ended up reading until 4am to finish the book, because I was thinking about it so much! I loved being whisked away to Scotland in 1307, and enjoyed the way the story came full circle in the present day.

Thank you to the publisher for this eARC

The Lady of The Loch was an intriguing read which I enjoyed. It was on the lines of a ghost story, a romance and historical fiction. I enjoyed all aspects of this novel, though the insta love grates on me a bit but that is just me as a reader and nothing to do with the writer/writing.
I felt the characters were greatly created and well rounded. The world that was created richly added to the overall story and helped transport the reader.
I felt the first half of this story paced a long at a slow speed, however the second half really picked up. I found this novel really enjoyable.