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The Secret Of Elk Horn Lodge
A family mystery unravels…
Alone in Phoenix after the death of her mother, Holly receives an intriguing letter from her grandfather’s lawyers, a grandfather she doesn’t remember, requesting her presence at the reading of his will – on Vancouver Island.
Having abandoned her previous life in Flagstaff to care for her ailing mother, and with bankruptcy looming on the horizon, Vancouver Island sounds like it might be a good option. Perhaps her only option. And whatever inheritance her grandfather has left her, no matter how small, will go a long way in helping her to start over. And who knows? She may find family she never knew.
When she arrives at the lawyer’s office in Skookum on Vancouver Island’s wild west coast, Holly is astonished to learn that instead of a small remembrance she expected, she is part owner of a hunting lodge, a rundown Victorian monstrosity, on a cliff above the ocean, that has been vacant for years. But this inheritance comes with deadly strings attached, and a new-found family who think the land should rightfully belong to them.
In the old lodge, Holly finds clues about her missing father and begins to piece together her grandfather’s curious connection to Hollywood’s Golden Age. But the clock is ticking on the conditions of the will; Holly must find her co-inheritor, a mysterious, newly-discovered half-sister, or prepare for the fight of her life to save the land her grandfather loved.
Alone in Phoenix after the death of her mother, Holly receives an intriguing letter from her grandfather’s lawyers, a grandfather she doesn’t remember, requesting her presence at the reading of his will – on Vancouver Island.
Having abandoned her previous life in Flagstaff to care for her ailing mother, and with bankruptcy looming on the horizon, Vancouver Island sounds like it might be a good option. Perhaps her only option. And whatever inheritance her grandfather has left her, no matter how small, will go a long way in helping her to start over. And who knows? She may find family she never knew.
When she arrives at the lawyer’s office in Skookum on Vancouver Island’s wild west coast, Holly is astonished to learn that instead of a small remembrance she expected, she is part owner of a hunting lodge, a rundown Victorian monstrosity, on a cliff above the ocean, that has been vacant for years. But this inheritance comes with deadly strings attached, and a new-found family who think the land should rightfully belong to them.
In the old lodge, Holly finds clues about her missing father and begins to piece together her grandfather’s curious connection to Hollywood’s Golden Age. But the clock is ticking on the conditions of the will; Holly must find her co-inheritor, a mysterious, newly-discovered half-sister, or prepare for the fight of her life to save the land her grandfather loved.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2021
20 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Judith Hudson
10 books279 followersJudith writes romantic women's fiction, women's fiction and mystery under the name of J.M. Hudson.
Her latest book came out in October 2024, Italian Murder Mystery , the second Rocky and Bernadette travel mystery.
This time, Rocky and Bernadette are in Cremona Italy the violin capital of the world. It should be a fun week full of scrumptious Italian food, beautiful medieval architecture and wonderful music, Until Rocky's old friend Hamish turns up dead in the Piazza. Rocky owes Hamish his life, so he has to step in.
The Secret of Elk Horn Lodge , is women's fiction rich with family mystery beginning decades ago.
Holly thought she was alone in the world since the recent death of her mother, but then she receives a curious letter from the lawyers of a Grandfather she didn't know she had. It requests her attendance at the reading of his will in the town of Skookum on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. What she discovers here will change her life forever - a new family who wants to claim her inheritance, an abandoned but quite wonderful hunting lodge, and a half-sister she has never known.
Grandad has given her three months to find her sister, the co-inheritor of the lodge, or the whole thing goes to the grasping cousins with their unscrupulous plans.
Judith's romantic women's fiction series, the seven Fortune Bay books , is set on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. In each book, someone at a crossroads of their life moves into a ramshackle cabin on Majestic Lake. While there, they work through their problems with the help of friends and family, and with the occasional nudge from the friendly spirit of Aunt Augusta, the cabin's previous owner. If a romance grows in the process, and it always does, well, so much the better.
Judith grew up in Toronto Canada, went to high school in St. Louis MO, then moved to the Pacific Northwest where she now lives on beautiful Vancouver Island.
As an landscape artist and photographer, the setting of the story is very important to Judy. "I've painted in the area for many years and I think it helps me make the setting real for the reader. Helps draw them into the story. My characters are often artists, like Maddie, the darkroom photographer in Summer of Fortune who is at Fortune Bay for the summer to work on her first professional show, and Stephanie, the widowed matriarch of the clan who is finding a new life as a painter." She has also done some work as a travel writer and photographer.
All books are available in paperback and eBook formats, and the Fortune Bay books Temple of the Jaguar are available in audio as well.
Her latest book came out in October 2024, Italian Murder Mystery , the second Rocky and Bernadette travel mystery.
This time, Rocky and Bernadette are in Cremona Italy the violin capital of the world. It should be a fun week full of scrumptious Italian food, beautiful medieval architecture and wonderful music, Until Rocky's old friend Hamish turns up dead in the Piazza. Rocky owes Hamish his life, so he has to step in.
The Secret of Elk Horn Lodge , is women's fiction rich with family mystery beginning decades ago.
Holly thought she was alone in the world since the recent death of her mother, but then she receives a curious letter from the lawyers of a Grandfather she didn't know she had. It requests her attendance at the reading of his will in the town of Skookum on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. What she discovers here will change her life forever - a new family who wants to claim her inheritance, an abandoned but quite wonderful hunting lodge, and a half-sister she has never known.
Grandad has given her three months to find her sister, the co-inheritor of the lodge, or the whole thing goes to the grasping cousins with their unscrupulous plans.
Judith's romantic women's fiction series, the seven Fortune Bay books , is set on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. In each book, someone at a crossroads of their life moves into a ramshackle cabin on Majestic Lake. While there, they work through their problems with the help of friends and family, and with the occasional nudge from the friendly spirit of Aunt Augusta, the cabin's previous owner. If a romance grows in the process, and it always does, well, so much the better.
Judith grew up in Toronto Canada, went to high school in St. Louis MO, then moved to the Pacific Northwest where she now lives on beautiful Vancouver Island.
As an landscape artist and photographer, the setting of the story is very important to Judy. "I've painted in the area for many years and I think it helps me make the setting real for the reader. Helps draw them into the story. My characters are often artists, like Maddie, the darkroom photographer in Summer of Fortune who is at Fortune Bay for the summer to work on her first professional show, and Stephanie, the widowed matriarch of the clan who is finding a new life as a painter." She has also done some work as a travel writer and photographer.
All books are available in paperback and eBook formats, and the Fortune Bay books Temple of the Jaguar are available in audio as well.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 28, 2021
This was a wonderful story.
Holly's mother has just passed away and she is all alone. She received a letter indicating
that her grandfather has passed away and she is request to attend the reading of his will.
Holly drives to the town were Elk Horn Lodge is situated. After the reading of the will
this lodge and property are left to Holly and her sister, whom she has never met. There
is a time limit set for finding her sister.
This is the story of the events that take place.
Holly's mother has just passed away and she is all alone. She received a letter indicating
that her grandfather has passed away and she is request to attend the reading of his will.
Holly drives to the town were Elk Horn Lodge is situated. After the reading of the will
this lodge and property are left to Holly and her sister, whom she has never met. There
is a time limit set for finding her sister.
This is the story of the events that take place.
January 30, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read.
This was a fabulous story! I loved the settings and the characters along with the story line. A young woman who found out she had a family she knows nothing about but took a chance to learn more about them. I couldn’t stop reading it. Thank you Judith Hudson!
This was a fabulous story! I loved the settings and the characters along with the story line. A young woman who found out she had a family she knows nothing about but took a chance to learn more about them. I couldn’t stop reading it. Thank you Judith Hudson!
September 27, 2021
Holly Chance comes to Skookum, a small town on Vancouver Island, for the reading of her late uncle’s will. An only child, she is surprised to discover that she has a sister who is to share in her inheritance. But where is the sister and why are her cousins so hostile? Martin, the young lawyer, seems friendly but whose side is he on, hers or her cousins’? With a rich cast of characters from Salina, the housekeeper, to her Uncle Freddie, who is interested in water front development, to the Eco Warriors fighting for the trumpeter swans who winter in the adjacent inlet, Judith Hudson has created a heartwarming saga about the joys of community and family. I can’t wait for a sequel to this story!
February 28, 2022
Excellent
Love the book. Was amazingly good.. Holly was an inspiration to Tia. The friends Holly made were faithful to her.
Little surprises along the way keep you wanting to read another chapter...
Love the book. Was amazingly good.. Holly was an inspiration to Tia. The friends Holly made were faithful to her.
Little surprises along the way keep you wanting to read another chapter...
November 5, 2021
Holly finds many things when she inherits a home. Family, friends, and a love. I really liked following the clues along with Holly. An amazing ending.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews