Welcome to Willow Cottage – throw open the shutters, let in the sea breeze and make yourself completely at home. Oh, and please do leave a comment in the Guestbook.
As landlady of Willow Cottage, the young widow Annie Butterworth is always on hand with tea, sympathy or strong Norfolk cider - whatever her colourful array of guests require. A flick through the messages in the leather-bound cottage guestbook gives a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of everyone who passes through her doors.
This includes Annie herself - especially now celebrity crime writer Oliver Black, is back in town. He might grace the covers of gossip magazines with a different glamorous supermodel draped on his arm every week, but to Annie, he’s always just been Olly, the man who Annie shared her first kiss with.
Through the pages of the Guestbook Annie and Olly, along with all the guests that arrive at the seaside retreat, struggle with love, loss, mystery, joy, happiness, guilt…and the odd spot of naked rambling!
Forget sending postcards saying ‘wish you were here’ - one visit to Willow Cottage and you’ll wish you could stay forever.
After Annie’s husband died, his brother Olly stayed with her for six months until the night they slept together. The next morning, riddled with guilt, Olly fled. They didn’t speak for four months. But these are the emails that brought them back together.
From: Oliver Black
To Annie: Butterworth
Subject: Sorry.
Annie, I don’t know what to say, except how sorry I am. I’m sorry that I took advantage of you when you were drunk and still grieving over Nick, I’m sorry that I betrayed him, I’m sorry that I abandoned you when you needed me the most.
You must feel guilty too.
I want to be friends again, I miss you so much. If you ever can forgive me, I’d like to come back and see you. Just as long as you know we can never be anything more than friends
Olly x
***
From: Annie Butterworth
To: Oliver Black
Subject: I’m not sorry.
Olly, there is nothing to forgive and no I don’t feel guilty. We didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t sleep with you because I was drunk or grieving and seeking comfort, I slept with you because I love you and I don’t feel any shame in saying that.
Yes it hurt me that you fled after that wonderful night we shared, but I understand that you are still grieving too, and with that grief comes misplaced guilt.
We were meant to be together, you know that.
Annie xx
***
From: Oliver Black
To: Annie Butterworth
Subject: RE: I’m not sorry
I can’t… I wish I… I can’t be with you. You’re my brother’s wife.
We can’t do this. I can’t see you if you are going to pursue this further
Olly
***
From: Annie Butterworth
To: Oliver Black
Subject: Friendship.
Olly, if the only thing you’re offering is friendship then I’ll take it. I miss you too and I need you in my life. You have my word that I’ll never mention the night we made love again. We can be two friends that never kiss or touch or hug. If that’s what it takes to bring you home then I’ll do it.
Annie xx
***
From: Oliver Black
To: Annie Butterworth
Subject: RE: Friendship.
I’m popping in to see Dad next week. I can see you too. Just for coffee, nothing more.
O x
***
From: Annie Butterworth
To: Oliver Black
Subject: Coffee and…
You can’t stop for coffee and not have some of my cakes, you know you love them. I’ll make the coffee and walnut ones if you’re good.
Annie x
***
From: Oliver Black
To: Annie Butterworth
Subject: Squeaky clean.
I’m always good, my halo is immaculate.
***
From: Annie Butterworth
To: Oliver Black
Subject: hmmmmm
Oliver Black, your halo is definitely more rusty than squeaky clean. You kill people for a living and your reputation with women is not exactly glowing.
***
From: Oliver Black
To: Annie Butterworth
Subject: Cake
Let’s not let a little thing like philandering and murder stand in between me and your coffee and walnut cake.
***
From: Annie Butterworth
To: Oliver Black
Subject: You never change
It’ll be good to see you again Olly.
***
From: Oliver Black
To: Annie Butterworth
Subject: RE: You never change
You too
Olly xxx
The blog tour continues tomorrow with http://fabulousadda.blogspot.co.uk/ and they’ll be a review on http://www.maggiebob.com/
Love this cover and what a fun book idea!
ReplyDeleteMissie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
This sounds like a really fun book and it's new to me! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteAw, small towns and b&bs--I love settings like that! The convos between the two of them seem fun and bantery, too. I hadn't heard of this book before, so thanks for featuring it!
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden