The Cottage by Michael Phillips (Secrets of the Shetlands bk. 2)

The second book in the Secrets of the Shetlands series by Michael Phillips released Oct. 4, 2016!  I was so excited to read this book as the first one was so great.  I was not disappointed.  Find out why I thought this book was a great read!

From the Back Cover:
Is the future of Whales Reef in the hands of an outsider?
When Loni Ford is informed that she has inherited property in the Shetland Islands, she laughs. She wants nothing more than to sell it and be done with it. But when she arrives in the North Sea enclave, she is stunned to find that "the Cottage" is not at all what she expected, nor is David Tulloch, the man most of the islanders believe to be the rightful heir.
The locals could hardly be more surprised that the heir is a woman--and an American. Loni, in turn, finds the islanders quaint and a bit behind the times. Expecting David to be as provincial as the rest of his clan, she discovers that there is far more to the man than meets the eye. And there is something about the peaceful atmosphere of the place--and the character of its most prominent citizen--that soon gets under her skin.
Beneath the peaceful surface, however, change is threatening the island of Whales Reef. David's cousin Hardy Tulloch, whose claim to the inheritance now in Loni's hands was backed by oil investors, has not been deterred in his aim to control the island. But his co-conspirators have plans of their own, plans that put Loni's very life in danger...

My Review:
Phillips continues to weave together a beautiful story with mysterious connections that must be unearthed through discovery of the past. Loni has a lot to learn about her heritage, and it was fun to see her character change throughout the book as she faced a past she knew nothing about.  There is quite a bit of Quaker theology in this book. It was interesting to read about the Quakers and find out more about them and their beliefs. "The Light within" comes up in conversation with the characters many times, and they seem to look within themselves for the answers they seek in life. Of course, we know that Scripture is the only truth we have, and that the Spirit helps us to discern the Truth of God's Word, not us.  So be aware of this teaching throughout the book especially if you have young teens reading this novel. Other than that,  I absolutely enjoyed reading through this book, and  I'm looking forward to reading the third and final book, The Legacy, when it releases.

***I received this complimentary book for free from Bethany House Publishers.  I was not required to give a positive review.  All opinions are my own.