Hope Cottage

by Catherine McCarthy

Recently divorced from a manipulative husband and grief-stricken following the death of her mother, Cassie Wilkinson has never felt so hopeless and alone. An unexpected inheritance affords her the opportunity to start anew. The surprise acquisition of the unsuitably named Hope Cottage spurs her to flee from the familiarity of the place she has always known to the quintessential English village of Marleston, but this gift from the grave is not without its ghosts. A startling discovery unveils a series of tragedies and emotional turmoil inherent within the family of her estranged grandmother.Will Cassie find the quietude for which she longs or will the skeletons in the closet vanquish any chance of true happiness? All initial profits from the sale of this book will be donated to The Brain Tumour Charity U.K. in memory of my mother.

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2019

About the author

Catherine McCarthy is a Welsh working class writer who weaves dark tales on an ancient loom.
Her longer works include Immortelle, Mosaic, A Moonlit Path of Madness, The Wolf and the Favour, The House at the End of Lacelean Street and her most recent novella, Death of a Clown, which published May '25 through Sobelo Books.
Her short fiction can be found in various publications, including Gamut Magazine, Dark Matter Magazine and Haven Spec Magazine.
Time away from the loom is spent hiking the Welsh coast path or huddled in an ancient graveyard reading Dylan Thomas or Poe.

Reviews

[Lisa - *OwlBeSatReading* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Catherine McCarthy for numerous years now and have read, and loved all of her novels, novellas and short stories. She has that ‘certain something’ that I can’t quite put my finger on, but whatever it is, it is special. As I’ve become more and more familiar with her imagination and style, I’ve started to ‘see’ her within the characters she creates. Her life, personality and roots are gently weaved into her stories which gives a realistic life force that has that ’McCarthy stamp’ I’ve come to instantly recognise and love.

Hope Cottage is her first novel, and I’m guessing, like many authors, it’s held close to her heart. I felt this from the very first chapter and it continued right up to the final sentence.

Naturally, I read the synopsis prior to reading Hope Cottage - and oh what joy! We’ve got ‘unexpected inheritance’, we’ve got ‘quintessential English village’, ‘a gift from the grave’, ‘skeletons in the closet’ - all one hundred percent what I look for, and one hundred percent delivered with Catherine’s unique style - spoiler - it’s not all sweetness and light in the picturesque village of Marleston!!

This intricately written, yet surprisingly easy to follow multiple timeline family saga has layers of dark secrets that begged to be revealed. A mix of different timelines sometimes confuses me and I’ve had to write down a ‘who’s who’ in other books of this style, but the characters here are so individual, their personalities so varied, that it wasn’t necessary for me to do it this time. That’s the sign of a great writer, if they can create something like this which remains clear throughout, that’s an incredible achievement.

Hope Cottage is gorgeous in every way, and a debut, no less. I am so impressed, no wonder every story that followed this is of the highest quality if this is where Catherine’s writing journey began. Oh, and before I forget, please don’t ask me how emotional this story made me feel.

‘…your loved one lives on in you in some ways. I mean, I often look in the mirror or at a photo and I see Mum looking back at me’.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope Cottage is a beautiful and moving story of love, loss and redemption. The author skillfully weaves together the past and present of two women who share a familial connection to a cottage in the countryside. Cassie, a young divorcee who inherits the cottage from her late mother, and Emily, her estranged maternal grandmother. As Cassie uncovers the secrets of Emily's life, she also learns to heal from her own grief at the loss of her mother and find hope for the future. The book is full of rich details, vivid descriptions of the cottage and its surroundings, and realistic characters that will touch your heart. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance and stories of resilience and courage.
I can also guarantee that this story will make both smile and cry in equal measure.
Highly recommended. 5⭐️

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie Wilkinson find herself inheriting an old run down cottage after her mother passes away, Cassie is keen to rebuild her life after a recent divorce. The inheritance sets her on a journey of discovery about herself and her family’s tragic past.

This is an emotional rollercoaster of a book which had me gripped and left an emotional mark on me, so engaged was i with the characters. An excellent book.

[Helen Whistberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving story which combines mystery and intrigue with an inspiring tale of a woman recovering from an unhealthy relationship and devastated by the death of her mother. Cassie's unexpected inheritance of a rundown cottage starts her on a journey to a new independence and confidence in herself. The village of Marleston is a quintessentially enchanting English setting with (mostly) charming inhabitants. I always enjoy the fantasy of moving to such a place and forming bonds of friendship with the locals. But all is not as it seems as Cassie begins to uncover the dark secrets that led the previous owner of the cottage to become an eccentric recluse. The tale shifts back and forth through time and also uses diary entries and old letters to unfold the past and how it relates to Cassie's own life. There is a melancholic, elegiac tone to much of the book but also, appropriately, a sense of hope as Cassie finds the courage to move on from the past and forge a new path. Fans of heartfelt fiction with relatable characters will find a lot to love with this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

The beautiful characters in this story come alive with each chapter of the book. Jumping back and forth in time period, I found myself longing for the stories of Emily and Richard. I thoroughly enjoyed the present day stories of Cassie, and I found Tom to be such an amazing man. And Ruth, oh Ruth! She represented so many characteristics/emotions that people try to deny in themselves, yet she displayed them with such fervor. This story will keep you invested from the first page to the last. You will miss the characters once you close the book. This is a true story of love and loss, yet it also brings to light the drive one feels to go on and fight.

[Sarah Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, it sounded great and the author is outstanding.
I loved it. It was brilliant. Cassie is my new favorite female character too.
.The plot really captures you and the language has such clarity and depth. It's one of those rare 'Just one more chapter,' books.
I loved it so much that I will read it again in a couple of weeks.
Catherine McCarthy will end up in every book shop, everywhere, her standard of writing really is that good

[patricia beddoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended this book by a much loved friend.He said :you have to read it because

I was recommended this book by a much loved friend .He said" Once I started the book ,I could not put it down and stayed in two days to finish it "
Therefore I could not wait to buy my own copy.
What a reward ! Its a wonderful book.so lovingly crafted an absolute joy to read. Well done to the author of should be more widely published

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, moving story

The author captures the reality of life and people, showing the light and the dark within us, and weaves a story that is both beautiful and tragic.
I couldn’t put this book down. I could see and hear the characters and the village. I could smell Hope Cottage. I emphasized with Cassie’s journey.
Wonderful book.

[jeanette parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Intriguing storyline set back in history as well as modern day. Some very interesting characters. All in all a very enjoyable well written read. Certainly a great summer read.
Hope to read more soon from this talented author.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I was instantly hooked and couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. I can highly recommend it.

[Judith Barrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started writing reviews I often wondered if it sounded insulting if I said a book was an easy read. But I’m happy to say that now because I realised it all depends on the genre and what I’m looking for in a book. There are those that need working at: is the narrator reliable, do I need to keep characters in mind, where do they fit in? Should I read through the lines, is there an underlying message, clue, meaning, to the words on the page?
And then there are the books when I can just sit back and enjoy the read, go with the plot, empathise with the emotions of the characters, savour the images, admire the writing style of the author…
Catherine McCarthy ‘s Hope Cottage is one such novel. This is a well-written story of grief and love and hope shown through the characters. I particularly like the way Cassie is portrayed; the changes in her as time progresses; her character becomes more layered, one easy to understand, to sympathise with; and ultimately admire as she grows stronger. And the other characters play their part as well, Ruth, Tom, in the present timeline and, tantalisingly in the past narrative, the poignant story of Emily and Richard
One of the author’s strengths is in the settings; there is a good sense of place, easy to envisage, both in the interior of the cottage and the surrounding countryside. I also liked the descriptions of the solicitor’s place of work and the pub; good atmospheric narrative.
This is a plot that moves smoothly and ends with a gratifying conclusion. It’s some months since I read Hope Cottage but I still remember the way I closed the last page with a satisfied sigh and yet wondered if there would be more to learn about these characters.

[Valinora Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastated by the death of her mother, recently-divorced Cassie Wilkinson flees her old life in the north for the south of England, hoping that the cottage she inherited from a grandmother she didn’t know existed will allow her to pick up the pieces and start afresh. Hope Cottage, however, is derelict, and Cassie has no job and scant savings. How can she rebuild either her life or the cottage?
I loved this story set in a small country village, with the intertwining tale of Cassie and her grandmother. Elegantly written, it’s a story of love and loss, tragedy and malice, suffering and healing, with characters and settings that are relatable, complex and realistic. Highly recommend.

[Sarah Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie thinks her life has changed. Her new house is not as safe as she hoped something is in it.