Shadows of Rust & Reels

Artists & Cottages

by Ella M. Kaye

Holli Jacoby is one of Williamstown, West Virginia's glass jewelry artists. She spends her days painting intricate nature scenes on beads and pendants at the renowned factory along the Ohio River. After work hours, though, she hides away in her grandma's cottage throwing clay as a way to battle the effects of her bipolar disorder. Abandoned by her family, and marked as being "off" by those who have dealt with her, Holli avoids personal contact with everyone except Brenna, her life-long friend and anchor.

Isaac Bradshaw's "free" time is split between the local bar playing pool with his buddies and helping his parents due to his father's declining health. An easy-going welder with a love of adventure, Isaac is drawn to Holli's fire and mystery, but her roller coaster emotions and her asocial tendencies might be more than he's willing to handle. When tragedy strikes and her stability disintegrates, their relationship is strained to its core.

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2019

About the author

Ella M. Kaye uses her art and psychology background to create contemporary love stories with mental health issues set around the creative arts. Each of her novels and novellas fall under one of three series: Dancers & Lighthouses, Artists & Cottages, and Songwriters & Cities. Kaye has been writing romantically inclined literary fiction that branches into straight mainstream in both novel and short story form under the name LK Hunsaker for more than two decades. After many moves as a military spouse, she is settled in western Pennsylvania where she enjoys the abundant foliage and recreational lakes along with the hilly vistas.

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating tale of falling in love with extra-ordinary challenges. Holli and Isaac, an artist and a welder respectively, have lists of reasons why it’s a bad idea to start a relationship. He’s helping his mom care for his failing father. She struggles with mental health issues. And yet as they become friends, they fall in love anyway.

I always love the texture, dimension, and perspectives in Ella M. Kaye books. Kaye isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects, and she especially handles social issues with tact and dexterity. This is a riveting read, packed with words to savor.

Maggie Toussaint and Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survival. Holli is just trying to survive in her world of chaos. Living with bipolar disorder, Holli has never known easy, especially after he grandma dies and she is left with one person in the world, her best friend Brenna. She lives Day by day, working as an artist with her pottery and painting until Brenna convinces her to go out for the night and she reluctantly meets Isaac.
Isaac is a welder who knows nothing of Holli's past, living in a little town where everyone else knows and tries to run him off course. Never one to be easily scared away, Isaac goes out of his way to keep Holli's attention, but he will have to work hard to earn and maintain her trust.
Kaye's characters not only come alive, but will jump out and yell at you, pour their hearts out to you, and you will laugh and cry right along with them. The fun, witty banter and the expressive sorrow will keep you on the edge of your seat.