A Timeless Celebration

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Oct 23 2018 | Archive Date May 12 2019

Talking about this book? Use #AtimelessCelebration #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

A small town, a big party, a stolen gift.

When an artefact from the Titanic is stolen before her town's 150th anniversary celebration, it's up to Lois Stone to catch the thief.Middle-aged widow Lois has moved from bustling Toronto to tranquil Fenwater and is settling into her new life away from the dangers of the city. Then two events happen that shatter her serenity: her house is burgled and an antique watch belonging to a Titanic survivor is stolen from the local museum. Her best friend, Marge, was responsible for the watch's safekeeping until its official presentation to the museum at the town's 150th anniversary party, and its disappearance will jeopardise her job and the museum's future. Lois won't let her friend take the blame and the consequences for the theft. She's determined to find the watch in time to save her best friend's job, the museum's future and the town's 150th anniversary celebration.

And so begins a week of new friends, apple and cinnamon muffins, calico cats, midnight intruders, shadowy caprine companions and more than one person with a reason to steal the watch, set against the backdrop of century houses on leafy residential streets, the swirling melodies of bagpipes, a shimmering heat haze and the burble of cool water.

A tale for fans of Cindy Bell, Leighann Dobbs, Dianne Harman and Kathi Daley.

A small town, a big party, a stolen gift.

When an artefact from the Titanic is stolen before her town's 150th anniversary celebration, it's up to Lois Stone to catch the thief.Middle-aged widow Lois...


Advance Praise

". .. it is a heartwarming delight with really well-developed characters and such a beautiful setting." ~ Mallory Heart's Cozies; "The first thing I observed about the book was the writing. It is poetic and charming. I loved Ascroft's storytelling style -unique and precise." ~ The Book Decoder

". .. it is a heartwarming delight with really well-developed characters and such a beautiful setting." ~ Mallory Heart's Cozies; "The first thing I observed about the book was the writing. It is...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781729158654
PRICE $2.99 (USD)

Average rating from 19 members


Featured Reviews

What a good start for a new series!
This cozy mystery was enjoyable and entertaining.
I liked the cast of characters, well written and likable.
The plot was engaging, no plot hole, and it keeps guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Was this review helpful?

Interesting storyline, the characters were likeable and a well thought out plot.Thought ghosts were not needed but liked cats.

Was this review helpful?

Another delightful read from Dianne 🙂.

I really enjoyed the setting and the main characters of Lois and Marge, embroiled in finding the theif of a stolen watch from the lical museum, donated by the family of a passenger lost on the Titanic.
A mixture of humour, sleuthing, cinnamon muffins, breakins and Beldie the ghost!!
As usual a solid storyline, good detail and a positive ending 🙂.
Thank you Dianne... Looking forward to the next one 😉

Was this review helpful?

Truly enjoyed this mystery. I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the plot line. Dianne Ascroft did a great job writing this one. I look forward to reading more in the future.

Was this review helpful?

cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, theft, the-pipes, Canada

Marge and Lois are good friends and I'd love to meet them! The publisher's blurb covers the early basics of the plot, so there's no need to repeat it only to add this Canadian town was settled by Scots and I love that there is a bagpipe band. The pace of the book is rather deliberate rather than the frantic pace I might prefer at another time, and the hints of supernatural activities don't beat one over the head trying to prove something. Bottom line is that I loved it, don't do spoilers, and will look for more by the author!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

I loved everything about this new cozy series ! This has a unique setting, a wonderful set of rich charcters and a great sleuth with fun historical information included. The author has a winning formula . I look forward to the next in series.
A Timeless Celebration by Dianne Ascroft is the first novel in A Century Cottage Cozy Mystery. Lois Stone and her two cats have moved to Fenwater, Canada into a stone home that is over a hundred years old and haunted by a friendly ghost. She left her former home after her husband's death and wanted a fresh start. Lois has moved to Fenwater Canada to be close to her best friend Marge Kirkwood . I have never read a cozy set in Canada and this was fun to explore the location and culture of the small town., Fictional or not it was a fun location to read about !

Marge has invited Lois to the opening ceremony of Fenwater’s Sesquicentennial Celebration Week at the museum where she works. The museum’s latest donation which is an antique watch that had belonged to a Titanic survivor. The watch will be presented and put in a special display case. Marge is responsible for the watch. (trouble is coming!) . After the ceremony the watch is missing and Marge may lose her job.
Lois decides to work to clear her friends name and discover who stole the valuable watch. She has no problem asking questions of the local people and soon has a set of clues with a surprising set of circumstances.

Lois Stone is in her 50s and kudos to the author for writing of a senior protagonist who is smart, savvy and independent ! Lois is a refreshing and smart protagonist . A Timeless Celebration leaves opening for the next adventure of Lois, her friend Marge and the wonderful supporting charcters including the friendly ghost and her cats. I enjoyed reading this so much . Thank you for the ARC. My opinion is my own. This is a cozy series I highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

A Timeless Celebration is a well written book. I enjoyed the plot, setting and the author’s writing. I recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

I have not read a Dianne Ascroft book before. I love reading stories set in small towns. The towns usually have many quirks that I find fun to read. Lois Stone has moved to Fenwater in order to get away from the big city. However, when her home is burglarized and an ancient artifact is stolen, she must find the thief in order to clear her best friend's name. With too many possible thieves and too little time, can she find who stole the watch? I love how the characters came together. As with any small town, each character had their own personalities. Some were a bit standoffish and others were quick to want to help. I look forward to the next mystery. I received a copy from Netgalley. A review was not required.

Was this review helpful?

A cozy mystery that has a twist of the paranormal present. It is unusual as there is no murder and police present. The mystery involves The disappearance of woman's golden watch that has been donated to the local museum. Lucy feels she can find it before the official public presentation to the museum at the 150 celebration. This watch was on the Titanic when the ship went sank. The ghost is unusual and shows itself whenever Lucy Stone is endangered. This a new author for and the first book of the Century Cottage series. I will read this author again. I recommend this book.

Disclosure: Thanks to for a copy Books Go Social through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book in the new series, Century Cottage Cozy Mystery series by Diane Ascroft. I saw this in the read me now section after publication. I was intrigued by the cover and the description.

What I liked was this mystery did not refreshing involve a death. Instead it is about the disappearance of a watch which was being held by Marge Kirkwood. This missing watch places her job at the museum in jeopardy. Lois Stone, our amateur sleuth and Marge’s BFF, has relocated from Toronto to Fenwater, Canada after the death of her husband. Lois offers to help Marge in the recovery of the watch.

I was disappointed that the theft was not completely resolved.

Was this review helpful?

Princess Fuzzypants here: It’s fun at times when you read fiction that is so familiar in time and place. The setting of this book resembles Fergus Ontario so much that its settings become more real. The story revolves around an ex-pat from Toronto who has followed her friend into rural realms. In order to introduce her to as many townsfolk as possible, her friend enlists her help in the town’s Highland Games where a relic from the Titanic is being donated to the local museum..
It is all going swimmingly until the antique watch disappears. Lois and her friend are frantic and decide they must find the stolen item before the official presentation. Up to that point, I was drawn in. But I do hate when my heroes or heroines do things that make little or no sense. The argument that somehow the disappearance will hurt the museum long term and put her friend in the cross-hairs of suspicion just do not ring true. As the ladies investigate and are put in danger, neither one speaks to the local authorities. Once they delay, it becomes impossible for them to do so without making them look guilty.
I know it is a niggly point. But it is just enough to reduce my enjoyment of the story as does a truly obvious villain. There was never any doubt who stole the item. What was doubtful was how the heroine could not see it. His means of hiding the watch however was unique so it earned some points back.
I wish I could give this book a higher rating because it has some really good things. But I must give it three and a half purrs and one paw up.

Was this review helpful?

I found the main protagonist intriguing. She is resilient and intelligent. This cozy is a bit unusual as there is no murder. The mystery is a little slow but steady with a few twists along the way to the reveal. I am interested in seeing how this series develops over time.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed this book. Great plot and engaging, believe characters. I was drawn right into the story. Would definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: