Castles in the Snow

by Linda Heavner Gerald

Caroline Emma Corbett Reid and her husband, Thomas, hail from Charleston, SC, but move to the estate of Alladale in Scotland when a nasty family lawsuit ruins their reputation. After five glorious years living at Alladale, the beautiful Caroline awakens tied to her bed inside her favorite suite, the Willow. After three days without food or water, she realizes her end is near. This story features flashbacks of her life in Charleston, SC, and Inverness, Scotland, and her struggle to remember what happened in the final days before finding herself shackled. The reader is quickly drawn into this tale of greed and murder as the lives of this couple are detailed. Historical facts mingled with the appeal of a mystery in this whodunit will keep the reader engaged late into the night.

Castles in the Snow is based on Paul Lister, a true ecologist and the actual founder of Alladale, a 23,000-acre wilderness reserve in the Scottish Highlands. Paul’s goal is to create a controlled wolf reserve within his beloved estate. This great conservationist’s story has received media attention from 60 Minutes and other sources in the US and the UK. The importance of philanthropists like Paul Lister and their impact on our world challenges us to take the fate of our planet seriously.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

177 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2020

About the author

Linda Heavner Gerald has received much acclaim for her books. She has been writing for over seven years and published eighteen novels. Her work includes all genres. Linda writes each day with the goal of publishing books of substance. She draws from her medical background to alert her readers of current medical problems as well as providing inspiration through her many travels.

Linda hopes to transport her readers from the safety of their home to places which they may never discover. Her most important goal is demonstrating that God loves all of us. Even though her characters create problems for themselves, she wittingly shows how God can extract us from the mess we make.

The President's Book Award has been awarded several of her books for the past three years. This author has also obtained international acclaim. Linda's books are all over the world. Reader’s Favorite bestowed the silver medal for her YA book, AnnaPolis Summers in 2018. In 2019, Linda won the Reader’s Favorite Gold medal in Urban Fiction for the book: Cycles Of Hatred.


The Gulf of Mexico delights her as she shares her world with her husband, Buddy, of twenty-six years and their yellow cat, Jackson Brownie Gerald. Her son recently joined them in Florida, where the most beautiful beaches in the world welcome them.

Reviews

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘How much further might I trace my family links?’ – a fine new mystery novel!

Florida author Linda Heavner Gerald has retired from her medical background and is living and writing along the Gulf of Mexico. She has already established a solid reputation as a writer of eighteen mystery thrillers, winning awards both in this country and abroad, having been awarded the Florida Authors and Publishers Association award for Fiction. Linda's keen eye for evil in her books is matched by her conviction that regardless of our actions, God is always ready to welcome us back with forgiveness.' Rather than simply titillate her readers with superbly terrifying stories and psychological dramas she offers a bit of a rainbow at the end - a sense of hope or encouragement for the characters of her books.

In this new novel, CASTLES IN THE SNOW: ALLADALE, Linda bases her story on history: ecologist Paul Lister who founded Alladale as wilderness reserve in the Scottish Highlands. She dedicates this novel to Lister and opens the book with his moving paean for ecological sensitivity. Blending fact with her engrossing tale makes the impact of her novel even more impressive. Her Prologue reflects Linda’s ability to mesmerize on contact! ‘The scent of fresh heather soothed my agitated spirit when I opened my eyes. That familiar herb-like smell calmed me. A pretty blue pot sat on a table beside my bed. It contained the heather’s tiny cup-shaped, pink-purple flowers. Their beauty made me smile – a memory of long ago rushed into my head…I stood with him, my beloved Thomas, atop a snow-covered hill. A stately Victorian lodge smiled at us from the white top across the way. “Alladale?” I whispered the name as the image of the sprawling manor home filled my senses. It was s though I was seeing her for the first time. “My love! That is Alladale? I had begun to doubt her existence.” Those words I now repeated as I had five years earlier. ‘How often have I thought about this moment in time?’ I wondered….’ This elegiac moment only hints at the mystery to unfold.

But on to the story as per the authors note – ‘Caroline Emma Corbett Reid and her husband, Thomas, hail from Charleston, SC, but move to the estate of Alladale in Scotland when a nasty family lawsuit ruins their reputation. After five glorious years living at Alladale, the beautiful Caroline awakens tied to her bed inside her favorite suite, the Willow. After three days without food or water, she realizes her end is near. This story features flashbacks of her life in Charleston, SC, and Inverness, Scotland, and her struggle to remember what happened in the final days before finding herself shackled. In this tale of greed and murder, as the lives of this couple are detailed, historical facts mingle.’

Once again Linda Heavner Gerard has accomplished a novel with a strong message for all ages so eloquently written that it becomes obvious that we are in the presence of a very fine author indeed.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I would like to state that I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. When I received this book I began reading it at once. I really enjoy the authors writing style, pulls you into the book from the very beginning and you don't want to put the book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat reading from cover to cover. All the characters are very well portrayed though out. When you are finished you wish you weren't. A most wonderful read and I highly recommend this book

[Linda]

Grady HarpTop Contributor: Children's Books
HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars ‘How much further might I trace my family links?’ – a fine new mystery novel!
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2020
Florida author Linda Heavner Gerald has retired from her medical background and is living and writing along the Gulf of Mexico. She has already established a solid reputation as a writer of eighteen mystery thrillers, winning awards both in this country and abroad, having been awarded the Florida Authors and Publishers Association award for Fiction. Linda's keen eye for evil in her books is matched by her conviction that regardless of our actions, God is always ready to welcome us back with forgiveness.' Rather than simply titillate her readers with superbly terrifying stories and psychological dramas she offers a bit of a rainbow at the end - a sense of hope or encouragement for the characters of her books.

In this new novel, CASTLES IN THE SNOW: ALLADALE, Linda bases her story on history: ecologist Paul Lister who founded Alladale as wilderness reserve in the Scottish Highlands. She dedicates this novel to Lister and opens the book with his moving paean for ecological sensitivity. Blending fact with her engrossing tale makes the impact of her novel even more impressive. Her Prologue reflects Linda’s ability to mesmerize on contact! ‘The scent of fresh heather soothed my agitated spirit when I opened my eyes. That familiar herb-like smell calmed me. A pretty blue pot sat on a table beside my bed. It contained the heather’s tiny cup-shaped, pink-purple flowers. Their beauty made me smile – a memory of long ago rushed into my head…I stood with him, my beloved Thomas, atop a snow-covered hill. A stately Victorian lodge smiled at us from the white top across the way. “Alladale?” I whispered the name as the image of the sprawling manor home filled my senses. It was s though I was seeing her for the first time. “My love! That is Alladale? I had begun to doubt her existence.” Those words I now repeated as I had five years earlier. ‘How often have I thought about this moment in time?’ I wondered….’ This elegiac moment only hints at the mystery to unfold.

But on to the story as per the authors note – ‘Caroline Emma Corbett Reid and her husband, Thomas, hail from Charleston, SC, but move to the estate of Alladale in Scotland when a nasty family lawsuit ruins their reputation. After five glorious years living at Alladale, the beautiful Caroline awakens tied to her bed inside her favorite suite, the Willow. After three days without food or water, she realizes her end is near. This story features flashbacks of her life in Charleston, SC, and Inverness, Scotland, and her struggle to remember what happened in the final days before finding herself shackled. In this tale of greed and murder, as the lives of this couple are detailed, historical facts mingle.’

Once again Linda Heavner Gerard has accomplished a novel with a strong message for all ages so eloquently written that it becomes obvious that we are in the presence of a very fine author indeed. Grady Harp, November 20

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awaiting death by Robert Krueger
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2020
The pleasing scent of heather greets Caroline. She is lying in her bed in her favorite room. All is not right. She is bound to the bed. Unsuccessfully, she struggles to free herself. Fear and hope invade her mind. She drifts into memory as she tries to cope, awaiting her husband and rescue. Bits and pieces of their past lives haunt her, and the past is relived. It is important to remember as one day turns into another.

What could have led d to her entrapment? She has lived a rich and privileged life, always loved and loving.

From the opening, the author imparts a feeling of mystery; how can this be happening? She employs a narrative style that releases Caroline's feelings and brings her life to reality in the reader's mind.

This is Caroline's story, the present and the past. It is rich in detail and delves into Caroline's mind. Reviewed by the author of The Children's Story, About Good and Evil.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Goodreads, the author and publisher for a free chance to read this book. This did not sway my opinion and I honestly enjoyed reading it. The transitions from Caroline’s memories to her current situation were seamless. I have read books in the past that I didn’t enjoy because the constant time travel gave me whiplash, but this book was well written and easy to follow. It is believable and a great mix of love story, history and mystery.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Charleston to Scotland

Well, I won this book from Goodreads. And I did enjoy reading it. It tells how two childhood friends in Charleston, South Carolina had such a close bond and married later in life. It told about the challenges and heart aches of love, death and hatred. So I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Nicole Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Castles in the Snow: Alladale Book Review by Nicole Harmon

Title: Castles in the Snow: Alladale
Author: Linda Heavner Gerald
Date of Publish: 2020
Publisher: Lime Pie Publishing

Rating:

Book blurb: “ My body ached. My mind was exhausted from my three trains of thought: everlasting memories from beloved Charleston, my childhood home; later events in Scotland, and the desperation I felt in trying to understand my current situation.” P 67

Summary and Analysis:
Caroline Emma Reid nee Corbett grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. Falling in love with Thomas Baxter Reid, the two get married and move to Scotland. The two had moved there following their marriage and due to Thomas’s fascination and desire to live in Scotland. The house and land the Reid’s bought in Scotland called Alladale featured as a huge, gorgeous backdrop for their scenery. Thomas was a history and architectural buff. His interest was in making a beautiful home for his family. He wanted the land to protect wildlife not destroy it-particularly the wolves.
Prior to her marriage and the move, prior to her birth, Caroline’s mother had jilted and left a man at the altar so to speak. That man was Jack Abernathy. He left in embarrassment South Carolina, but Caroline’s mother was happy in her marriage and did not feel that bad about it. She fell in love and married Caroline’s father. For many years following his jilting by Caroline’s mother, he planned revenge on the family, but he never had the opportunity to take advantage or make it a reality until he saw Caroline and Thomas Reid in Scotland. The Abernathy family changed their name and moved to Scotland prior to the Reids. Jack saw an opportunity to kill Thomas, Caroline- steal their land from their uncle and he took it, damning the consequences. Duncan is Jack Abernathy’s nephew and, he is related to Uncle Robert. He himself becomes a huge part of the plot but is unaware of his involvement in the destruction or the attempt to destroy the lives and marriage of Caroline and Thomas Baxter. But he ended up with nothing but death for his trouble.
She, Caroline, throughout the whole book is ill fighting fever, delirium, and memories of her life with Thomas at various stages throughout marriage and courtship. When she awakes, she is looking at Jack Abernathy’s destruction of her life and his involvement in the death of her husband Thomas who is found weighted down in the lake. He was killed by Jack Abernathy’s family. When Duncan became aware that he was used by his family to help him succeed in the plan, he committed suicide by knife. Friends that Thomas and Caroline made during their years living at Alladale, Scotland saved their lives by killing two of the men involved. And Caroline returns to South Carolina to live out her older years until death.
I gave this book a rating of 4 and ½ stars. The reason it doesn’t get a five is as I read it, I started to find myself drifting in it. Some of the scenes blurred together. But I did like the read itself. Then as I got to the end, I upped the rating to 5 stars. Why? Because I absolutely loved the end. It wraps up all the loose ends. It explains why the Abernathy’s wanted to hurt Caroline and Thomas. It also opened the question about Duncan and his life. How did he not hear the story about the jilted fiancé whose future wife was stolen by a ne-er do well man. It also showed a strength of or desire to just be a family together. Caroline truly thought her life was over and she thought her daughter’s or future daughter’s life was over because Thomas was gone. She didn’t want to continue. It was like star-crossed lovers except their deaths were not self-inflicted. I do apologize for the Romeo and Juliet link, but I just suddenly thought of it.
All in all, even though I started to scan due to tiredness and a desire to get to the best part, in my opinion, it was a great read.

Disclosure: I wrote this review at the request of the author to post on Amazon and Goodreads.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read and reviewed many of Ms.Heavner's books and enjoyed the mysterious adventures ...
sadly with this book.... I was not as into this one.. for me it was very slow and hard to get into ... it started out great knowing that Caroline was shackled to a bed with a window open to the freezing cold and yet had a glowing fire emitting such heat.. and she could look around but was ...mentally not herself but, she knew enough to know she was in trouble...
This author starts and shares how two childhood friends in Charleston, South Carolina had such a close bond and married later in life. It told about the challenges and heart aches of love, death and hatred. ... from about the 4 th chapter in the sharing of so much History of SC and Scotland became inter - tangled and the parts of Carolyn's memory going back ... thru her life... just--- for me, was not my cup of tea so to speak ...
The history and the struggles she went thru in her life to get where she was today shackeled to a bed......took away from the enjoyment of the story .. For me ... Might not for you :)
I guess.... I am not into all that history and just want the juicy details of the why she was taken and is being held captive... now near the end when they meet with Duncan and things start getting "intense" (for a better word) and other such actions begin to happen in her daily life... it then became interesting to this reader again and the ending was climatic.... but again I would have preferred a different and possibly a happier ending... But I do normally enjoy Ms. Heavner's Mysteries... and you as a reader Might find this book right up your alley way of good reads...

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving Castles in the Snow: Alladale 3 stars might be generous of me.

I'll admit that I was kind of excited to jump into this book. It's been a while since I've visited Inverness, Scotland in books. So, that was probably the main reason as to why I wanted to read this. After a while, I just kind of found myself skimming through the pages because not much was happening.

Yes, we get some mystery and drama that should have kept my attention. Unfortunately, I kept comparing it to Outlander. Which was the wrong thing to do because then I wanted to read that book. Don't get me wrong, I liked the historical parts and the flashbacks, but I wasn't in love with the book or characters.

In the end, I'm (sort of) happy that I crossed paths with this book. If I hadn't read Outlander way before this, it would have been a good one.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't say that this book did much for me. I did enjoy a lot of the historical information but the characters of Caroline and Thomas seemed flat and tedious. The mystery that begins the book almost fades into the background until the very end and by then I had sort of lost interest. Not a bad read but it didn't have enough spark for me.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Bette Beavers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

This book wss boring in parts. It had too much history and skipped around too much. Had a hard time finishing it, but I did.