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.

I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes I wasn't sure if it was going to be more mystery/thriller or more historical fiction, but it all works out in the end. The descriptions were absolutely beautiful and if you're in love with Scotland like I am, I highly recommend for that alone. I do wish there had been more of a focus on the historical side, but the romance in the past was absolutely worth it for the ending. I think the romance in the present day was a little much for a historical fiction, but it wasn't obnoxiously so. I don't really have the words, but I enjoyed this book and intend to read Ms. Collins' other books.

When I first read "The Witches Tree" I knew I found another favorite author. Now, just having finished The Lady of the Loch I felt 100% that my feelings were confirmed. Loving historical fiction as I do, I finished this book in two days. With her excellent research and writing this author gave me a novel whose story kept me fascinated. Set in two different time lines, I enjoyed both the current time line and the one in 1307. All the characters had depth and reality. There is much to learn even through these fictional accounts. In fact I just recommended it to my daughter, who bought it on kindle. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this book and I recommend that everyone reads it.
This story is told in a dual timeline and the chapters alternate between the past and the present.
I will say that I preferred the story of Agnes and Cam in 1307.
It was a beautiful love story that was fraught with danger and ended very sadly.
You could just feel how it was for them and the tough choices they had to make to preserve there freedom, it made my heart sad that they could not just fall in love and live happily ever after, because that is what I wanted for them.
The present story was great as well, just a little to predictable as both the sisters found the man of there dreams at the same time. But that was just a small issue as the historical story was fantastic.
Elena Collins is definitely becoming a new favourite of mine.

The Lady of The Loch by Elena Collins is a novel that that involved two sisters, one well-adjusted and enjoying life, Zoe; and the other depressed, overeating, and watching garbage on television, Leah. That all changed when Leah answered an advertisement for a care-taker for a Scottish castle. She immediately sent off her resume and had a Zoom interview. The only hiccup was that is was fairly isolated and so they recommended a couple. Not a problem, Leah volunteered her sister. Then she commenced to begging. Of course she was able to wear Zoe down. As it turned out, it was isolated and lonely, and haunted. As the sisters tried to make a success of this assignment, Zoe also had to keep up with her clients. Leah was brimming with ideas but it meant convincing people, her boss, and some locals. But, that was to come.

The underlying story was the one of the ghost and the romance she had had in her lifetime. It was a compelling story and among other things, highlighted the barbarity of the times, the 1300s. Leah blossomed in this new situation and that made it all worthwhile for Zoe. Both were good characters, so different. It was an intriguing situation and Collins wrote it well. It was not time travel, but definitely took place on two timelines. I enjoyed every moment of it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Lady of The Loch by Boldwood Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #ElenaCollins #TheLadyOfTheLoch

I’m not going to lie this sort of story kind f confuses me when I go and write the reviews because every other chapter they are talking about different characters so just please bare with me while I try to explain.

The story starts out with Zoe and her twin sister Leah. Zoe loves her life. She’s has successful career, her own flat, and her like is pretty much together. Leah on the other hand does not have her life together. She quit her teaching job and is sitting at her flat feeling sorry for herself.

Zoe tries to help Leah find a new job, something she will enjoy. Zoe finds an add about looking after a castle in the highlands and tells Leah she should at least apply. A few days later Leah gets a phone call and finds out she gets the job but she has to take her partner with her, since she’s single she asks if she can take her sister, the owner agreed that she could but now she has to ask Zoe if she will go with her for 3 months.

Zoe is hesitant at first but agrees to help with her sister. The next morning the sisters set out for Ireland. It’s a long drive from their home but they take turns driving and they see the sights.

The next chapter was about kitchen maids named Agnes and Effie. They fled Kildrummy castle after the English set fire to the castle and tried to abduct queen Elizabeth. They rode the kings brothers horse after he had been taken and tortured then killed. Agnes and Effie made it to Ravenscraig castle where the smith thought Effie was princess Marjorie

Talking about 2 different storylines can get pretty confusing but I enjoyed the book a lot. It was exactly what I thought it was going to be. The characters were perfectly written and the story was very interesting. I was hooked from the very beginning. The end of the book was awesome. I really liked it. I will definitely be buying a copy of this book

Lady of the Loch by Elena Collins is the story of women, told in a dual timeline. Twins Zoe and Leah Drummond and Agnes Fitzgerald. The book starts in 1307 in Scotland and we learn about Agnes, where she is living, and what she does. She works in the kitchen of a castle. The Kildrummy castle in Aberdeenshire is besieged by the English and the King of Scotland's son is disemboweled and a friend of hers has his throat cut. Agnes and another girl Effie, that also works in the kitchen, escape the castle and head to Ravenscraig Castle where they seek refuge.

Zoe Drummond has a successful job that she does from anywhere, plus she is very social. Whereas her twin sister Leah is more of an introvert and feels that she fails at everything that she tries to do. When Leah starts looking for a job, she comes across a position as a caretaker in a castle, Ravenscraig she is so excited. One caveat, she has to be part of a couple so she enlists her sister as the other half of the couple. Zoe agrees but only for a 3-month trial

Alternating chapters continue the story of Agnes and Effie, Agnes meets a soldier, Cam, whose mother also works at the castle and they form a relationship and eventually are handfast. This is with all the fighting that is going on between Robert de Brus, who is King of Scotland, and Longshanks, then the proclaimed King. This fighting culminates in the Battle of Bannockburn. A lot of lives were lost on both sides, including Agnes' husband Cam. His body was thrown into the Loch. Agnes is the ghost in the modern time, forever wandering looking for Cam.

When Zoe and Leah learn the story of the two lovers, they want to do the right thing by Agnes. They have both seen her wandering the castle. Zoe meets and becomes lover to Daniel, the owner of the castle and Leah enters into a relationship with Christie, the man who is remodeling the castle for Daniel.

Ghostly sightings, cold rooms, and other ghostly manifestations lead Zoe, Leah, Daniel, and Christie to the tower in an unused wing of the castle. There they find that someone had been walled in and left to die, starving alone. Such a horrible thing to do but we are dealing with medieval times and that is what they did to people that they either feared or that they wanted out of the way.

I am part Scottish and love this kind of story, mixing the past with the present. The cover of this book is beautiful, the research impeccable, and a solid storyline. You will love the ending! If you love historical fiction, give this book a try, you will not be disappointed.

I give the book 5 stars!

The Lady of the Loch is a medium paced story that unfolds slowly. The story has a dual timeline between 1306-1307 and the present day. Each timeline can be seen as an individual story. For me the last 30% of the book was more interesting.

Collins has researched Scotland in 1306, looking into the society and historical events like the execution of William Wallace, and the troubles between Scotland and England. The writing style is set in alternate chapters, reverting back and forth between the time periods. I felt that there was a loss of the hype created as the events were interrupted. I also noticed a small typo.

The character development of The Lady of the Loch gives a brief breakdown of background information. The 1st person as the prologue didn't seem to fit in when the viewpoints of each character are given on the 3rd person....and the romantic relationships of the characters seemed very rushed. If I preferred Agnes story more than Zoe/Leah's as it resonated more with me as a person.

At 22 Agnes is an energetic person. She works as a kitchen maid at Kildrummy Castle Aberdeenshire. When a royal visit ends in the English invading Agnes has no other option than to flee and ends up at Ravenscraig Castle with her friend, Effie. Agnes works hard in the kitchens… She ends up meeting Highland warrior Cam Buchanan. An instance attraction develops and Agnes soon gives her heart to Cam and swears that they will only find peace together….

Zoe is independent, the complete opposite of her twin Leah. They were extremely close as children alway doing everything together, but lately their relationship has become strained. Zoe is successful in all her endeavours, and is a social person. Zoe feels responsible as the oldest sister. Zoe works from home as a fundraising analytic officer for charity and agrees to stay with Leah for her 3 month trial before returning to their flat in Birmingham. 

Leah is the less confident, quieter twin and is happy to stay in. She has lost her sense of self-worth, feeling useless…more so after relationship with boyfriend Aaron ended poorly a year prior and her work as TA ended badly. Leah is struggling to find where she fits in the world. Zoe tries to help by encouraging Leah to apply for a job as a caretaker of an estate in the Highlands. The reader sees Leah open up more as she finds purpose and enthusiasm

I would suggest reading The Lady of the Loch to people who enjoy reading historical fiction novels based around Scotland and the highlands, as it is a character driven story about love, war and betrayal.

ELENA COLLINS - THE LADY OF THE LOCH.

Last year, accomplished author, Judy Leigh, donned a new cap and released her first book under the pen name of Elena Collins.
The Witch’s Tree is an outstanding tale. Set in the 1600’s and the present day. As the two worlds collide, souls are freed and hearts are mended.
It’s a book that I will never forget, and was easily one of my favourite books of 2022.
After such an incredible start to her writing journey as Elena Collins, Judy Leigh had set the bar high and The Lady Of The Loch had a lot to live up to.

After loving The Witch’s Tree as much as I did, I was hugely excited to read The Lady Of The Loch. I can tell you, hand on heart, that it did not disappoint.

The story is told via a dual timeline. They are both set in the highlands of Scotland, but over 700 years apart.

In 1307 Scotland, we meet Agnes. She is a kitchen maid who finds herself working in Ravenscraig Castle.
Agnes is a strong young woman. She is fearless and loyal, with dreams of love and a life away from the castle.
She is protective of her ‘sister’ Effie, who is young for her age and somewhat vulnerable.
Agnes is tough, but in such difficult times, she can’t trust anybody.

In the present day thread, we follow twins Zoe and Leah.
Leah is not in a good place but a job offer to become the caretaker of Ravenscraig Castle in Scotland is exactly what she needs. The job specifies that two people must live in the castle. So Zoe makes the selfless decision to accompany Leah despite leaving behind a life that she loves.
Previous caretakers of the castle have all left very quickly.... but why?


1307 Scotland is a harsh place. England is rapidly invading and trying to take control of Scotland, but the Scots are fighting hard for their independence.
The bloody brutality of the time is written so vividly in all its horrific, gory detail. Elena Collins captures the spirit of the time with spine tingling clarity.

Present day Scotland is written about with equal skill. The scenery is so beautifully described. You can almost breathe in the fresh air and hear the waters of the loch lapping on the shore.

In the present day, Ravenscraig Castle is a cold and eerie place. There are unexplained goings on as the past remains trapped within its walls.

To sum up - I LOVED this book!
I loved the setting, I loved the characters and I loved the writing.
The Lady Of The Loch threw me through a full spin cycle of emotions. I felt deep sadness and heartbreak. I did a virtual high five to the strong women who kept going through the toughest of times. My heart melted at the romance and true everlasting love that was found and sometimes lost.
Elena Collins has written another incredible story. It’s haunting and atmospheric. Heartbreaking and horrific, but also powerful, hopeful and quite simply beautiful.

I can’t wait to read whatever comes next from this author.

Five outstanding stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood and Rachel’s Random Resources for a digital arc of this title.

A beautifully told story reminiscent of a Lynn Kurland novel. A little paranormal, a little mystery, a little suspense, and a little history. This all makes for one enjoyable read. Told in dual timelines that alternate between present day and early 1300’s Scotland (in the days of Robert de Brus and the fight against the English for their sovereignty).

Present day starts out with the story of two twins, Leah and Zoe. Leah is struggling and not happy with her life. She feels like a failure at everything. Zoe wants to help her sister regain the joy in life again, so she agrees to go with Leah when she is offered an opportunity to take her dream job: Overseeing and managing an old castle in Scotland. Little do they know the secrets that lie behind the walls. Leah and Zoe start to notice things. Leah especially gets herself into situations that lead her to become more investigative about the castle and it’s history. What will they find, and what happened all those years ago? You’ll have to read to find out. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great weekend read. 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another Fabulous Read by the awesome Elena Collins. I loved The Witches Tree so much it was in my Top 3 reads of 2022. I could hardly wait for the release of the wonderfully written The Lady of the Loch. It taps into two time settings and tells us a wonderful but eery time slip story. In places the writing is almost poetic and the dialect is captured beautifully. We meet twin sisters Zoe and Leah who end up in Scotland. We also meet Agnes, Morag, Effie, Biddy who is said to be 100 years old. There are horses, Kings, the plucking of grouse, relationships and all those magical things that make this story work so well. I have the ARC, Audible ( well chosen narrator, easy to listen to) and paperback. I will add to this review at a later date as I have more to share. I can 100% say that it's in my top 3 for 2023.

The Lady of Loch

A dual time line story set in the modern and historical past of Scotland within the 13th century. I enjoyed the dual perspective of this story and the realtionships between the two sisters that has been portyaed. The two stories unfold and intertwine through beautifully crafted characters and events. This novel, which is part tale and part love story, explores issues relevant to the time period. It will entice you, transport you, and leave you wanting more.

Part of your

I would love to see this book made into a movie. I know it's an imaginary castle in Scotland, but I can see the crispy mornings around the lake while Zoe goes for a run, and the smoky kitchen seven hundred years earlier with the bread proving on the table. This would make a spectacular film!

The old timeline was more engaging, emotional and loveable to me, and I felt the story of the two sisters in present-day Scotland a bit shallow and their romances rushed. The former is a historical fiction, the latter an easy-going romance - good job I like both genres! I so can imagine myself putting this novel in a suitcase and leaving right now for a relaxing holiday in Ravenscraig Castle (real or not).

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an Advance Review Copy.

OMG, OMG and OM GEEEEEEE! what an astounding read The Lady of the Loch is. A haunting tale of love, loss and grief across two timelines that seamlessly blend together. I am not kidding Elena Collins absolutely creates exceptional characters that carry the story beautifully. I hate a cliché but she takes you on a journey. It breaks your heart into a million pieces yet builds it all back together all at the same time. Can you tell I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I used to live in Scotland and the wonderful descriptions of the mountains, weather, lochs and castles had me reminiscing about my time there. Elena is spot on with her historical revelations of the Scottish wars and battles. She does not hold back on the brutality of the war between the Scottish and the English. The death and destruction is truly shocking but brings the emotion to life completely. Agnes is just a beautiful character who not only is strong, she definitely will not let her lot in life beat her. She finds the love of her life, but they had to meet in secret. Her heart truly belongs to Cam. Will he be her downfall? will they ever truly be together? Can there be a happy ending? I hope so I really hope so (no spoilers here 😉

In the present day we meet Zoe and Leah. Zoe loves Scotland and her life currently is falling apart. She grabs the chance to become the caretaker of the beautiful renovated Ravenscraig Castle. With every description I felt like I was right there, roaming the castle feeling a presence that gets stronger. Leah feels it strongly but just isn’t sure if it’s real or just because the castle is a haunting place and bloomin’ freezing. Seriously this book has it all and I really didn’t want it to end. I raced through it with hope in my heart that Agnes will find her peace.

The lady of the Loch is devastating, uplifting, haunting, ghostly, full of love. A love like no other. The brutality Agnes witnesses is utterly heart wrenching and I found my tears flowed freely for her. An emotionally charged read that left me breathless, happy, sad and every other emotion in between. Elena is the Queen of this genre and I can not recommend her and her books highly enough.

I love this story so much! In the early 14th century Agnes is working as a kitchen maid when the castle is sacked by the English. She escapes north to Ravenscraig Castle where she meets Cam Buchanan and dreams of a happy future only to find out he's going to fight alongside Robert the Bruce.
In present day, Zoe has always been the responsible one, successful in life, while her twin Leah always seems to struggle. She's sunk in depression, barely able to dress herself much less leave the house. Zoe has cause for concern, so when a caretaker position becomes available for Ravenscraig Castle, she decides they need a change. As they're settling in and enjoying the picturesque landscape, they hear rumors around the village that the castle is haunted. At first believing it's just superstition, the twins begin to feel a haunting sadness around the tower. Can they find out the truth of the past and heal the heartbreak and betrayal?
I enjoyed the historic details of Agnes and Effie's part of the story, but it lagged a little in the middle and I started enjoying the twins story more. There was a dark and haunting feel to their story that made me want to find out more.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

‘The Lady Of The Loch’ by Elena Collins is a dual timeline story, set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The year is 1307, and King Edward’s army is rampaging through Scotland, murdering and thieving as they try to capture Robert The Bruce. Kitchen maid Agnes flees one of the castles taken over, hoping that the Lord and Lady of Ravenscraig Castle will give her shelter. Dreams of love and a future seem attainable when she spots a handsome young warrior swimming in the nearby loch. But his loyalty to The Bruce may keep them apart as the country fights for independence.

In the present day, twins Zoe and Leah take a chance to change their lives. A job at Ravenscraig Castle is exactly what Leah has been looking for, and Zoe is determined to support her sister. But why doesn’t anyone last working there? Is the rumour of a ghost scaring them off? The women shrug off the stories, and plan to make a success of the opportunity. But the pervading sadness surrounding the castle affects them too. Will they be able to fix a centuries old wrong and bring peace to the castle again?

I enjoyed the supernatural nature of the story, which is subtle and doesn’t overpower. Leah and Zoe feel the intensity of the ghostly sadness and despair, and slowly they realise they may be able to make a difference. It was spooky at times, but it was not scary.

The dual timeline works well, as it takes us back and forth between Agnes’s life in the 14th century and the present day. Agnes’s life was hard and brutal. She witnessed the horrors of war and could only hope that peace would prevail. That she could find love and make plans for the future was admirable.

Leah and Zoe’s life plodded along with little excitement. The job at the castle gave them both a chance to experience a different life. It also brought them into the sphere of new people, and that’s exactly what they needed.

There was a slowly teased out mystery for them to solve as they grew accustomed to their new life. There was tension and suspense, but the overall feeling was of love and determination. A lovely read.

I was given this ARC to review.

A wonderful timeslip story full of interesting characters and a tale of love and loyalty. As with most timeslip/ dual timeline stories I found the historical element fascinating and thought that Agnes’ story was the most engaging and I loved reading about her life. The hardships and frailty of life was vividly described alongside the warmth and compassion of Agnes’ friends. Uncovering the truth as Leah and Zoe make the castle their home takes them on an emotional journey and I loved their empathy with the castle and it’s history.

A dual-timeline story set in Ravenscraig Castle in Scotland in the 1300s and the current time. With enough action, historical events and romance woven together, characters from both timelines make this a well written historical fiction book, well worth the read.

This story really packs one heck of a punch. Being married to a Scot, I am often reminded of the atrocities passed down by the English soldiers to their Scottish counterparts. Elena doesn’t gloss over the details, and we get a real feel for the desperate times of 1307, under the reign of Robert de Brus (the Bruce). We meet kitchen maids Agnes and Effie. They have only ever known a life of toil as they have lived under the threat of an English attack. Escaping one such attack, they find themselves at the mercy of the Lord and Lady of Ravenscraig Castle (a fictional home based loosely on Urquhart Castle near Loch Ness). Once again set to work in the kitchens of the castle, the two maids set to with a new sense of potential safety.
In the Present Day, twins Leah and Zoe share a flat and have quite distinct differences in their work and personal lives. Zoe is confident and successful in the marketing job she is able to do from home, while Leah is unfulfilled and out of options for work. Encouraged by Zoe, Leah applies for a live in job at Ravenscraig Castle in the Scottish Highlands. After securing the position, Leah arranges for Zoe to be able to join her.
Each chapter moves between the dual timeline and it’s quite eerie as the events of the thirteen hundreds gain momentum, I found myself becoming deeply engaged in the overall story. Leah and Zoe were terrific characters, but it was Agnes whose fate I wanted to know about.
The skilful storytelling captured my imagination, and I could feel my heart pounding as the tension grew. There is a ghostly theme to this book, but it is carefully handled and not sensationally graphic. Yes, it got my pulse racing, but I didn’t feel scared.
I was so determined to see this book to the end that I stayed up late to read the final pages and I didn’t regret it at all. This is a wonderful escape and is already on for being one of my books of the year.

"The Lady of the Loch" is a dual-timeline novel that will transport you to the Scottish Highlands. It is a highly engaging novel that is very difficult to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.