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The Secret of Stone Cottage
A strange sense of belonging. A weeping ghost by the window. Can she discover sanctuary and peace of mind in a haunted home?
Rebecca Wainwright Connacher hates feeling weak. Mortified by the panic attacks she experiences following her father’s death, the forty-something senior executive of her family’s company is determined to find an oasis to lick her wounds. But when she’s drawn to an old stone house, the emotionally fraught VP is further unsettled by seeing a spectre of a young woman trapped inside.
Certain she somehow belongs there, Rebecca works with her best friend to research the cottage’s history. But Rebecca worries she's losing her sanity when heartbreaking visions about the past invade her mind. And as more of the tragic story comes to light, she learns of a terrible wrong that needs to be made right.
Can she set in motion the redemption needed to put a grieving phantom to rest?
The Secret of Stone Cottage is the moving first book in The Lake Scugog Mysteries visionary fiction series. If you like complex heroines, dual timelines, and intriguing puzzles, then you’ll love Maighread MacKay’s emotional tour de force.
Buy The Secret of Stone Cottage to unlock a new paradigm of possibilities today!
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2015
12 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Maighread MacKay
16 books60 followersMaighread MacKay is a Canadian Author and member of the WCDR (Writers’ Community of Durham Region), and the Visionary Fiction Alliance (VFA). Her novels are set in Ontario, Canada . She loves life and to explore its meaning through nature, art, animals and listening to stories. Her genre is Visionary Fiction which is described as follows: Visionary Fiction is a literary style that weaves threads of fantasy into a depiction of everyday life. Its heroes aren’t fairies or sorcerers, they’re ordinary people — whose lives happen to butt up against the extraordinary.
Besides telling a good story, the genre enlightens and encourages readers to expand their awareness of greater possibilities. It helps them see the world in a new light and recognize dimensions of reality commonly ignored.
Embracing spiritual and esoteric wisdom, the story makes VF relevant for our modern life. Gems of this spiritual wisdom are brought forth in story form so that readers can experience the wisdom from within themselves. The story oftentimes uses reincarnation, dreams, visions, paranormal events, psychic abilities, and other metaphysical plot devices
Besides telling a good story, the genre enlightens and encourages readers to expand their awareness of greater possibilities. It helps them see the world in a new light and recognize dimensions of reality commonly ignored.
Embracing spiritual and esoteric wisdom, the story makes VF relevant for our modern life. Gems of this spiritual wisdom are brought forth in story form so that readers can experience the wisdom from within themselves. The story oftentimes uses reincarnation, dreams, visions, paranormal events, psychic abilities, and other metaphysical plot devices
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 11, 2016
The story touched me on so many levels. Not only has the author created believable and memorable characters, she's plunked them down in not one but two worlds. The sense of mystery is usurped only by the overwhelming confusion of a grieving woman struggling to piece her life back together. To complicate matters she begins to see things that make her question her sanity. Her strength and compassion in the face of her fears carries this story beyond the expected. I enjoyed this book a great deal.
April 28, 2020
A Memorable & Moving Read That Proves True Love Holds No Bounds!
Overview: After suffering a deep loss, Rebecca spirals into depression. Searching for a sanctuary to lick her wounds and heal, she stumbles upon what appears to be an abandoned house on a countryside road where she is dragged into the sphere of ghosts, past life regression, pre-birth planning, and reincarnation. There, she learns that love knows no bounds—including death and time.
Maighread MacKay writes a compelling and suspenseful tale of the occult as she merges two incredible storylines—a tragic romance from the 1800s and a modern psychological drama—into one heck of an absorbing and impactful read.
Through her character Rebecca’s research on the Stone House, Author MacKay explores the role of women in the late 1800s; from education to fashion and design, to social expectations, to the intimacy expressed in relationships between husbands and wives. MacKay has done her homework on 19th-century life in Canada since she writes about this time period with detailed descriptions of the culture, traditions, and daily life in both urban and rural settings.
The plotline for “Stone Cottage” is easy to follow despite its complexity. The telling of this story deals with two separate timelines, but the details blending each story together never get confused or muddled. The juxtaposition of characters creates tension and intrigue as Author MacKay allows for ample investigation into the past and a suspenseful exploration into how all her characters are ultimately tied together by Fate.
“Stone Cottage” does contain adult situations and there are certain scenes that may act as a trigger for victims of sexual abuse or rape. This novel should be read with discretion.
Whether one reads “Stone Cottage” as an occult mystery or a parapsychological drama, the sense of satisfaction felt during the telling of this story is palpable and long-lasting. “Stone Cottage” is a memorable and moving read that will call out to be read over and over again. I absolutely loved this story and I highly recommend this novel for those who hold onto the hope that true love will always find a way.
Overview: After suffering a deep loss, Rebecca spirals into depression. Searching for a sanctuary to lick her wounds and heal, she stumbles upon what appears to be an abandoned house on a countryside road where she is dragged into the sphere of ghosts, past life regression, pre-birth planning, and reincarnation. There, she learns that love knows no bounds—including death and time.
Maighread MacKay writes a compelling and suspenseful tale of the occult as she merges two incredible storylines—a tragic romance from the 1800s and a modern psychological drama—into one heck of an absorbing and impactful read.
Through her character Rebecca’s research on the Stone House, Author MacKay explores the role of women in the late 1800s; from education to fashion and design, to social expectations, to the intimacy expressed in relationships between husbands and wives. MacKay has done her homework on 19th-century life in Canada since she writes about this time period with detailed descriptions of the culture, traditions, and daily life in both urban and rural settings.
The plotline for “Stone Cottage” is easy to follow despite its complexity. The telling of this story deals with two separate timelines, but the details blending each story together never get confused or muddled. The juxtaposition of characters creates tension and intrigue as Author MacKay allows for ample investigation into the past and a suspenseful exploration into how all her characters are ultimately tied together by Fate.
“Stone Cottage” does contain adult situations and there are certain scenes that may act as a trigger for victims of sexual abuse or rape. This novel should be read with discretion.
Whether one reads “Stone Cottage” as an occult mystery or a parapsychological drama, the sense of satisfaction felt during the telling of this story is palpable and long-lasting. “Stone Cottage” is a memorable and moving read that will call out to be read over and over again. I absolutely loved this story and I highly recommend this novel for those who hold onto the hope that true love will always find a way.
October 30, 2019
What a great read! This fast reading novel by Maighread MacKay explores a family in crisis across two centuries- well, not exactly the same family! Upon accidently discovering a stone cottage for sale- one she imagines to be her perfect getaway, modern day executive Rebecca Wainwright Connacher uncovers a lot more! True, the cottage has a draw on her, and pulls up vague memories, but when she sees the ghost... ! It's slowly revealed that Rebecca's past life is closely tied to a young woman of the 1870s (Victoria Anna McBride) and their lives have forever been entwined.
An imaginative tale with realistic characters that uses past life scenarios and regressions, this was an interesting story that will stick with me for awhile. An emotional tour de force, as well as an expose of high society and the vagaries of the peerage, but at its heart, the knowledge that in the end- love conquers all. Highly recommended.
An imaginative tale with realistic characters that uses past life scenarios and regressions, this was an interesting story that will stick with me for awhile. An emotional tour de force, as well as an expose of high society and the vagaries of the peerage, but at its heart, the knowledge that in the end- love conquers all. Highly recommended.
January 12, 2021
After the death of her father, Rebecca, a married businesswoman with two children is thrust into the world of the supernatural. Always sceptical of such manifestations, she is curious when led towards an old stone cottage outside the city. Her friend, who is an avid believer in ghosts and reincarnation, encourages her to make contact with Annie, an 19th century woman stuck between two parallel worlds. Through regression, when Rebecca makes contact with Annie, learning of her sad story awaiting in vain for her husband to return, she tries to help the unhappy woman.
I enjoyed the story to a point but found the main character rather self-absorbed and uncaring about her own children who don’t take part in the story and are only mentioned in passing. Despite this, readers of historical novels and ghost stories will love this book for its ghoulish qualities. Although for this non-believer, it was perhaps a stretch too far. 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the story to a point but found the main character rather self-absorbed and uncaring about her own children who don’t take part in the story and are only mentioned in passing. Despite this, readers of historical novels and ghost stories will love this book for its ghoulish qualities. Although for this non-believer, it was perhaps a stretch too far. 3.5 stars.
September 17, 2015
It is difficult to not get emotionally drawn to Stone Cottage. For me, that sentiment owed to knowledge brought by successive tours of life regression. For others, it may well begin with highly relatable social/personal issues and a century-long saga of silent nostalgia. These are ingredients that somehow always manage to pull a string or two in our hearts.
This story is about a businesswoman who, weighed down by a male-centric workplace among other things, heads out for a much needed break. Her mindless drive leads to an eerily familiar cottage where she chances upon sporadic real-life scenes from a much distant past as in a vision. Her ensuing investigation soon opens a Pandora’s box as she digs in to find out what had happened at Stone Cottage and how it all connects to her.
Author Maighread Mackay (Here: Margaret L. Hefferman) tilts largely towards the spiritual. Her opening quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet is evidence enough. It is further bolstered in the moment her corporate protagonist is led by her friend to a yoga session as means to a cure. Yet, the subject truly resides around the ghost in Stone Cottage whose story runs - as normally as one may expect - simultaneously with that of the living. We may have seen people get startled at seeing a ghost, but how often do we stop to think whether the ghost was as startled to see us? That is the kind of 360-degree view the narrative provides.
For most of the book, we keep reverting to flashback mode – that of Rebecca, the executive, and of the now-deceased previous occupants of Stone Cottage. With due acknowledgement to an earnest effort at giving us a holistic view, there remains further scope to sharpen the text in the first half of her book. That said, Ms. Mackay handles things carefully with her language oscillating between contemporary urban and 19th century British, its Scottish and English touch well in place. The descriptive details of archaic or decked-up infrastructure help readers on the way.
Juice, though, lies in how things progress, for we hop over several subjects wherein one initially feels the book is about a trans-life connection, then about the complexities of human behavior, followed by another character’s need to find herself. Soon, it becomes a mission to unlock the mystery of a past tragedy, until we come to focus squarely on a transcendent world. Eventually, one realizes that this tale is, in effect, about all of the above. Such mix demands, and achieves, a certain flair and experiential smoothness à la chocolate mousse.
In the end, there is one central message that springs out of the pages – “let go.” Its deliverance is the author’s objective. In shaping the two chief ladies – one driven by ambition, the other by love – she understands that while our incapacity to detach underlies some of our greatest achievements as well as defeats, peace is rarely an outcome of such pursuit. And unless we achieve that, we are probably bound to keep coming back to life on Earth. Thankfully, that would also mean coming back to the pages of Stone Cottage.
This story is about a businesswoman who, weighed down by a male-centric workplace among other things, heads out for a much needed break. Her mindless drive leads to an eerily familiar cottage where she chances upon sporadic real-life scenes from a much distant past as in a vision. Her ensuing investigation soon opens a Pandora’s box as she digs in to find out what had happened at Stone Cottage and how it all connects to her.
Author Maighread Mackay (Here: Margaret L. Hefferman) tilts largely towards the spiritual. Her opening quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet is evidence enough. It is further bolstered in the moment her corporate protagonist is led by her friend to a yoga session as means to a cure. Yet, the subject truly resides around the ghost in Stone Cottage whose story runs - as normally as one may expect - simultaneously with that of the living. We may have seen people get startled at seeing a ghost, but how often do we stop to think whether the ghost was as startled to see us? That is the kind of 360-degree view the narrative provides.
For most of the book, we keep reverting to flashback mode – that of Rebecca, the executive, and of the now-deceased previous occupants of Stone Cottage. With due acknowledgement to an earnest effort at giving us a holistic view, there remains further scope to sharpen the text in the first half of her book. That said, Ms. Mackay handles things carefully with her language oscillating between contemporary urban and 19th century British, its Scottish and English touch well in place. The descriptive details of archaic or decked-up infrastructure help readers on the way.
Juice, though, lies in how things progress, for we hop over several subjects wherein one initially feels the book is about a trans-life connection, then about the complexities of human behavior, followed by another character’s need to find herself. Soon, it becomes a mission to unlock the mystery of a past tragedy, until we come to focus squarely on a transcendent world. Eventually, one realizes that this tale is, in effect, about all of the above. Such mix demands, and achieves, a certain flair and experiential smoothness à la chocolate mousse.
In the end, there is one central message that springs out of the pages – “let go.” Its deliverance is the author’s objective. In shaping the two chief ladies – one driven by ambition, the other by love – she understands that while our incapacity to detach underlies some of our greatest achievements as well as defeats, peace is rarely an outcome of such pursuit. And unless we achieve that, we are probably bound to keep coming back to life on Earth. Thankfully, that would also mean coming back to the pages of Stone Cottage.
September 18, 2015
5* Even the strongest heart needs an assist
STONE COTTAGE by Maighread MacKay is a seminal read for anyone who has loved and lost and struggles to move on, not just in this life but in the next. When Annie wakes to find herself alone in her cottage save for a sleeping child upstairs that does not wake, and a faithful dog that never needs feeding, she is left with one, and only one, concern: the whereabouts of her husband Will. Decades later, a contemporary woman will ask the same thing, but in a different context. The search is the universal in all our lives; what we look for, why we look and what we ultimately do with results of our finds is a core focus in MacKay’s work and bears closer examination on a second read. That the author weaves two parallel plots in different historical frames seamlessly is a joy for this reader, as I am as committed to history (what comes before) as I am to the now and what shall come later. MacKay’s devotion to detail –how the cottage looked in its heyday, and how it looks as it reemerges through restoration—is not just a clever metaphor, but a thrill. If you like vivid imagery, visceral introspection, and satisfying conclusions, STONE COTTAGE is for you.
STONE COTTAGE by Maighread MacKay is a seminal read for anyone who has loved and lost and struggles to move on, not just in this life but in the next. When Annie wakes to find herself alone in her cottage save for a sleeping child upstairs that does not wake, and a faithful dog that never needs feeding, she is left with one, and only one, concern: the whereabouts of her husband Will. Decades later, a contemporary woman will ask the same thing, but in a different context. The search is the universal in all our lives; what we look for, why we look and what we ultimately do with results of our finds is a core focus in MacKay’s work and bears closer examination on a second read. That the author weaves two parallel plots in different historical frames seamlessly is a joy for this reader, as I am as committed to history (what comes before) as I am to the now and what shall come later. MacKay’s devotion to detail –how the cottage looked in its heyday, and how it looks as it reemerges through restoration—is not just a clever metaphor, but a thrill. If you like vivid imagery, visceral introspection, and satisfying conclusions, STONE COTTAGE is for you.
April 29, 2016
Have you ever wondered about your soul, your ancestors, how the mists of time shape your life today? Author MacKay deftly and lyrically weaves these issues into the complex tapestry of STONE COTTAGE. We meet Rebecca and her modern concerns with work/life balance. Her character, while carefully crafted by the author, did not engage me as much as the ghost of Victoria Ann and her 1800's life. I was spellbound and moved by her life and catastrophic end. In the author's hands, the stone cottage becomes more than a setting, and is a character, too. We also meet Rebecca's family and good friend, as well as the important people in Victoria's life, or are these people something more? I enjoyed the stories of the main characters, and found this book to be an entrancing read.I am not interested in life regressions and ghosts, etc. but if you are, this will add to your pleasure in reading this book.
November 14, 2016
I won a copy of Stone Cottage by author Margaret L. Heffernan in a giveaway and loaded it on my Kindle immediately. It took me awhile to start reading it but once I did I had a difficult time putting it down because I just wanted to find out what was really going on.
I don't usually enjoy novels that touch on supernatural or ghosts but this book was well written and as the author revealed more and more I found myself wondering if I was on the right track in what I was thinking was going to happen.
Any author that can weave a story that keeps me guessing is a good author in my book. I think the characters of Rebecca, Victoria Anne, William and Henrietta were well developed and with just the right amount of description and detail.
Sometimes it is fun to read a book that is not your normal read and this was one of those for me. A complex story line that kept my attention and a gifted writer made this book one that I enjoyed from start to finish.
I don't usually enjoy novels that touch on supernatural or ghosts but this book was well written and as the author revealed more and more I found myself wondering if I was on the right track in what I was thinking was going to happen.
Any author that can weave a story that keeps me guessing is a good author in my book. I think the characters of Rebecca, Victoria Anne, William and Henrietta were well developed and with just the right amount of description and detail.
Sometimes it is fun to read a book that is not your normal read and this was one of those for me. A complex story line that kept my attention and a gifted writer made this book one that I enjoyed from start to finish.
November 4, 2015
What a refreshing story of human compassion beyond this dimension. I felt myself asking questions about the bigger picture of my own life, what if I have an agreement or contract to fulfil in this life? This story woven through time, beautifully depicts the art of forgiveness, letting go and truly stepping into your purpose in life fearlessly. Written with excellent character development, I often found myself swept away with the story to the point of time distortion. Stone Cottage reminded me that courage is contagious!
September 13, 2015
Maighread MacKay in her fiction The Stone Cottage opens the life of a woman,Rebecca who is prone to depression, on medication, struggling in ways with which we can relate. How the challenges resolve concerns information from this life as well as lives that have gone before and takes us on a gentle journey of the truth of all our lives.
August 16, 2016
I learned of Stone Cottage from a friend--and now I find I owe that friend a big favor. What a wonderful read. From the first page I was hooked--as demonstrated by the fact that I finished it in less than a week. The heroine reminded me of... well, me. I felt her angst, shared her tears, shuddered at her fears. If a novel is supposed to stir one's emotions, Stone Cottage certainly does.
July 19, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Enchanting, Captivating, Thought Provoking
The Secret Of Stone Cottage By Maighread Mackay. 🏡
Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction/Fantasy/Romance
Rebecca had, as she saw it, the perfect life, employment as a senior partner in her Father's firm, a loving and caring husband, they were parents to 10 year old twin girls and they had a lavish lifestyle thanks to the success of the company that Becca's father had built up from nothing, plus David's landscaping business. Her best friend whom she had known from college days was her 'sister' in all but name, and her Brother, also a senior partner in the family business had become someone with whom she had grown closer with over recent years. Her relationship with her Mother had never been in doubt, they had always been close. However, her connection with her Father could at times, be challenging. Whilst he was, and would always be the most important man in her life on a paternal level, she struggled with him as her employer & her perception of her capabilities in the workplace. Not being able to see her as anything other than "his little girl'.
Becca had always prided herself on her orderly organised way of living and her strength of character to maintain the status quo, but when an unexpected sudden occurrence shakes her world to its core, shifting both her ability to cope & her bond with those closest to her, she looks to seek refuge elsewhere, a place that becomes much more to her than just somewhere to hide.....
Maighread asked me to read and review this, or at least one of her books a while ago, and I'll be honest, having spoken to her about what she writes & reading a little bit about her novels, I wasn't entirely sold on whether they would be something that I would enjoy. However, I should have downloaded this book & got reading much sooner. What a beautiful story. The crossover of the two genres intertwined seamlessly. The writing was captivating & the characters, enchanting. I really felt as though I was in the the story with them and got so immersed that I found myself shedding a tear for young Annie when it becomes apparent that she isn't aware of her true circumstances, or that of her daughter and husband. The connection and relationship between the characters in one genre & those in the other were geniously imagined. The accuracy in the detail written to describe what occurs when Becca visits Jen is so comprehensive with such specific detail, and that level of detail flows through the narrative towards the conclusion where where Becca meets Henrietta & they join forces to assist Annie in escaping her torment. The depiction of the life cut short was handled with such care for both the reader and the characters. It isn't immediately clear what the outcome will be and the reader is left wondering what will become of the injured party, instilling some hope after such a shocking scene, & is understatedly & calmly revealed a short while later.
Their wedding nights, for Henrietta and Annie, albeit very different in the way that they were conducted by Jonathan & Will, giving their wives very different feelings towards 'the unspoken marital act', were quite an eye opener. It must, as Becca felt, been a very frightening time for Henrietta & together with the other sources of turmoil in her life, it was no surprise that it emotionally stunted her interaction with others. The naivety & expectations of women then are shocking.
I mused at how close Becca & Cissy were & the wonderful relationship that Becca has with David & her Father. When you realise what connects them all, it is clear why they have such a strong bond. The narrative in both genres has a completely different feel to it and when characters from both inhabited the same space, it felt like a reunion of people who truly embodied each other.
The ending is extremely thought provoking & a heart warming way to imagine and hold onto what happens to our loved ones after this life. It is a philosophy that I shall be remembering as I found it very comforting. This is a special tale that no one should miss out on. I have certainly found that whatever your pre-concieved ideas about a written work and how an Author may write, the inside of a book often holds something very different.
The only two things that I was left to ponder were:
1. What actually happened to Will?
2. How Becca managed to use the toilet during her two weeks of bedridden despair? 🤭
Thank you Author - Maighread MacKay for a wonderfully magical read. 🐕
The Secret Of Stone Cottage By Maighread Mackay. 🏡
Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction/Fantasy/Romance
Rebecca had, as she saw it, the perfect life, employment as a senior partner in her Father's firm, a loving and caring husband, they were parents to 10 year old twin girls and they had a lavish lifestyle thanks to the success of the company that Becca's father had built up from nothing, plus David's landscaping business. Her best friend whom she had known from college days was her 'sister' in all but name, and her Brother, also a senior partner in the family business had become someone with whom she had grown closer with over recent years. Her relationship with her Mother had never been in doubt, they had always been close. However, her connection with her Father could at times, be challenging. Whilst he was, and would always be the most important man in her life on a paternal level, she struggled with him as her employer & her perception of her capabilities in the workplace. Not being able to see her as anything other than "his little girl'.
Becca had always prided herself on her orderly organised way of living and her strength of character to maintain the status quo, but when an unexpected sudden occurrence shakes her world to its core, shifting both her ability to cope & her bond with those closest to her, she looks to seek refuge elsewhere, a place that becomes much more to her than just somewhere to hide.....
Maighread asked me to read and review this, or at least one of her books a while ago, and I'll be honest, having spoken to her about what she writes & reading a little bit about her novels, I wasn't entirely sold on whether they would be something that I would enjoy. However, I should have downloaded this book & got reading much sooner. What a beautiful story. The crossover of the two genres intertwined seamlessly. The writing was captivating & the characters, enchanting. I really felt as though I was in the the story with them and got so immersed that I found myself shedding a tear for young Annie when it becomes apparent that she isn't aware of her true circumstances, or that of her daughter and husband. The connection and relationship between the characters in one genre & those in the other were geniously imagined. The accuracy in the detail written to describe what occurs when Becca visits Jen is so comprehensive with such specific detail, and that level of detail flows through the narrative towards the conclusion where where Becca meets Henrietta & they join forces to assist Annie in escaping her torment. The depiction of the life cut short was handled with such care for both the reader and the characters. It isn't immediately clear what the outcome will be and the reader is left wondering what will become of the injured party, instilling some hope after such a shocking scene, & is understatedly & calmly revealed a short while later.
Their wedding nights, for Henrietta and Annie, albeit very different in the way that they were conducted by Jonathan & Will, giving their wives very different feelings towards 'the unspoken marital act', were quite an eye opener. It must, as Becca felt, been a very frightening time for Henrietta & together with the other sources of turmoil in her life, it was no surprise that it emotionally stunted her interaction with others. The naivety & expectations of women then are shocking.
I mused at how close Becca & Cissy were & the wonderful relationship that Becca has with David & her Father. When you realise what connects them all, it is clear why they have such a strong bond. The narrative in both genres has a completely different feel to it and when characters from both inhabited the same space, it felt like a reunion of people who truly embodied each other.
The ending is extremely thought provoking & a heart warming way to imagine and hold onto what happens to our loved ones after this life. It is a philosophy that I shall be remembering as I found it very comforting. This is a special tale that no one should miss out on. I have certainly found that whatever your pre-concieved ideas about a written work and how an Author may write, the inside of a book often holds something very different.
The only two things that I was left to ponder were:
1. What actually happened to Will?
2. How Becca managed to use the toilet during her two weeks of bedridden despair? 🤭
Thank you Author - Maighread MacKay for a wonderfully magical read. 🐕
July 14, 2024
Stone Cottage is a hauntingly beautiful tale that intertwines the lives of two women across different eras, each grappling with their own profound losses. The story's premise—a weeping ghost by the window and a sense of belonging in a haunted home—sets the stage for an emotional journey.
Rebecca, the protagonist, is coping with her father's death. Seeking solace, she is drawn to an old stone house where she encounters the specter of a young woman. This connection propels her into uncovering the mystery of who this woman is and why she is so sad.
MacKay excels in creating complex heroines and dual timelines, enriching the narrative with layers of intrigue and emotional depth. The glimpses of paranormal phenomena early in the book pique interest, and the storytelling from both Rebecca's and the ghost's perspectives adds a refreshing dimension.
However, there are areas where the story could have been more compelling. At times, Rebecca's character seems detached from her family, particularly her daughters, which feels inconsistent. The pacing also falters, with the mystery elements taking longer to emerge. The narrative initially reads more like literary fiction, which might not meet the expectations of readers eager for a mystery.
Victoria's (Anna's) presence in the story could have been more evenly distributed to maintain focus on the mystery. The dual timelines, while intriguing, occasionally left me eager to return to the more compelling storyline, causing me to want more.
Rebecca, the protagonist, is coping with her father's death. Seeking solace, she is drawn to an old stone house where she encounters the specter of a young woman. This connection propels her into uncovering the mystery of who this woman is and why she is so sad.
MacKay excels in creating complex heroines and dual timelines, enriching the narrative with layers of intrigue and emotional depth. The glimpses of paranormal phenomena early in the book pique interest, and the storytelling from both Rebecca's and the ghost's perspectives adds a refreshing dimension.
However, there are areas where the story could have been more compelling. At times, Rebecca's character seems detached from her family, particularly her daughters, which feels inconsistent. The pacing also falters, with the mystery elements taking longer to emerge. The narrative initially reads more like literary fiction, which might not meet the expectations of readers eager for a mystery.
Victoria's (Anna's) presence in the story could have been more evenly distributed to maintain focus on the mystery. The dual timelines, while intriguing, occasionally left me eager to return to the more compelling storyline, causing me to want more.
June 11, 2024
In 1870, Annie and her faithful dog Thor are waiting and watching through their cottage window for her travelling husband to come home.
In the present day, Rebecca, a successful businesswoman implodes and sinks into depression after the death of her father. She finds an empty stone cottage that somehow seems familiar and then sees the ghost of a woman and her dog when she approaches. She’s driven to know more and enlists friends, an understanding therapist, her initially reluctant husband and various psychic researchers to learn about how Annie became a lonely ghost.
I generally liked the book for it’s metaphysical qualities and it’s Visionary and cozy end solution but think some of the details could be off-putting to some readers. Rebecca’s relationship with her Father and her friends and her depression following a loss seemed to go on a bit long after the ghost was seen. I really enjoyed solving the puzzle of why she was drawn to Annie’s cottage as well as Annie and her emotionally damaged mother Henrietta’s life.
Some readers may find the New Age imagery and solution of post death choices revealed in regression, as well as the connection of all the modern players to the Victorian world and their lives in that era hard to accept. The resolution of their karma in one run through was also fanciful.
It is still a good and fanciful read but would be best enjoyed by readers open to ideas of reincarnation, psychic phenomena, ghosts, guides and spirit families.
In the present day, Rebecca, a successful businesswoman implodes and sinks into depression after the death of her father. She finds an empty stone cottage that somehow seems familiar and then sees the ghost of a woman and her dog when she approaches. She’s driven to know more and enlists friends, an understanding therapist, her initially reluctant husband and various psychic researchers to learn about how Annie became a lonely ghost.
I generally liked the book for it’s metaphysical qualities and it’s Visionary and cozy end solution but think some of the details could be off-putting to some readers. Rebecca’s relationship with her Father and her friends and her depression following a loss seemed to go on a bit long after the ghost was seen. I really enjoyed solving the puzzle of why she was drawn to Annie’s cottage as well as Annie and her emotionally damaged mother Henrietta’s life.
Some readers may find the New Age imagery and solution of post death choices revealed in regression, as well as the connection of all the modern players to the Victorian world and their lives in that era hard to accept. The resolution of their karma in one run through was also fanciful.
It is still a good and fanciful read but would be best enjoyed by readers open to ideas of reincarnation, psychic phenomena, ghosts, guides and spirit families.
March 6, 2025
An interesting and thought provoking tale. Not quite what I’d expected but enjoyable all the same. I did get a wee bit bored with the epilogue, but it’s not uncommon.
Past lives, a topic which has many questioning the realities of life and death, is becoming popular once again. Love, ageless and beautiful is never frowned upon, and oh so rare!
I enjoyed it, and it was a fairly quick and easy read.
Past lives, a topic which has many questioning the realities of life and death, is becoming popular once again. Love, ageless and beautiful is never frowned upon, and oh so rare!
I enjoyed it, and it was a fairly quick and easy read.
August 15, 2019
Intriguing page turner, I was hooked and could not put it down. This book tells a story of how 2 lives past and present come together and come to peace. Maigread Mackay is a gifted writer who delves into the world of the unknown, past lives, psychic abilities, hauntings, love and bit you never thought about. If you are a fan of the supernatural this is a must read. Magical !!! 10/10
May 6, 2019
I absolutely loved the story of Stone Cottage and the questions it raises about our lives here in earth, past incarnations, and the afterlife. It’s a great and entertaining read.
September 12, 2016
Tragedy strikes Annie’s life and she’s hoping her husband can fix it, what she hasn’t realized though is that everybody has long gone, including herself. Unable to face what’s happened in her life she’s stuck in this plane, turning away from the light every time it appears before her. Thus she won’t move on until Rebecca comes to save her.
More than a hundred years later there’s Rebecca, a contemporary woman working at her father’s company. Struggling to prove herself by her own merits and build her place in the business.
The story of these two parallel lives, one having the opportunity to fix the other constitutes the fascinating plot of the novel. Wouldn’t be wonderful to have the occasion to make amends with our past?
The book brings up the subject of reincarnation and states a hypothesis about what’s in there beyond death. Do we get the chance to plan our life before we come into this world? Can we review our earth experience after we’re done with this lifetime? I found this reflection rather educational and interesting. It actually makes a lot of sense to me, considering individuals come to life in a great variety of conditions. Providing that everybody had the chance to choose what they want or what they need to learn in this existence, all suffering and differences between human beings will become understandable and easier to accept from human comprehension.
Having the chance to reunite with our loved ones is a priceless gift I’d love to believe in. I like to think that life continues after death and that we were already around even before we came to earth. I’m also keen with the idea that gender is a mere earthly condition, and that above all we have the same chances to grow and learn without gender prejudice constraints.
I loved the positive outcome the author granted to her work. It fosters hope and a great sense of accomplishment for whenever we reach the end of this whole worldly existence. The tranquility which guarantees that, everything will come to a happy ending despite the hardship we have to endure in this journey and the time it may take; proves a great reason to enthusiastically continue climbing up our path.
Something I really appreciated was the fact that the book provides further information once the end is reached. That is, the reader gets to know how the events finally affected the characters’ lives and how they are dealing with a new reality. A lot of books omit this important piece and the future of the story is simply left up to the reader’s imagination.
No doubt this work is a great choice for those of us seeking for answers on what's there after death and what awaits us.
More than a hundred years later there’s Rebecca, a contemporary woman working at her father’s company. Struggling to prove herself by her own merits and build her place in the business.
The story of these two parallel lives, one having the opportunity to fix the other constitutes the fascinating plot of the novel. Wouldn’t be wonderful to have the occasion to make amends with our past?
The book brings up the subject of reincarnation and states a hypothesis about what’s in there beyond death. Do we get the chance to plan our life before we come into this world? Can we review our earth experience after we’re done with this lifetime? I found this reflection rather educational and interesting. It actually makes a lot of sense to me, considering individuals come to life in a great variety of conditions. Providing that everybody had the chance to choose what they want or what they need to learn in this existence, all suffering and differences between human beings will become understandable and easier to accept from human comprehension.
Having the chance to reunite with our loved ones is a priceless gift I’d love to believe in. I like to think that life continues after death and that we were already around even before we came to earth. I’m also keen with the idea that gender is a mere earthly condition, and that above all we have the same chances to grow and learn without gender prejudice constraints.
I loved the positive outcome the author granted to her work. It fosters hope and a great sense of accomplishment for whenever we reach the end of this whole worldly existence. The tranquility which guarantees that, everything will come to a happy ending despite the hardship we have to endure in this journey and the time it may take; proves a great reason to enthusiastically continue climbing up our path.
Something I really appreciated was the fact that the book provides further information once the end is reached. That is, the reader gets to know how the events finally affected the characters’ lives and how they are dealing with a new reality. A lot of books omit this important piece and the future of the story is simply left up to the reader’s imagination.
No doubt this work is a great choice for those of us seeking for answers on what's there after death and what awaits us.
December 18, 2018
I found myself so into the story, so into the characters that I cried with them. I enjoyed the author's weave of time and relationships that are not bound by cognitive constructs but longings of the heart. This is a good reminder that second chances are often given to reconcile such human foibles that tear apart the self's own world, in ways we can only imagine...and they are imagined in this book. A good read.
R.Davies
R.Davies
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