What a wonderful book! It combines my love of romance, history, Cornwall, and genealogy into a delicious brew of a story. Theo buys a cottage on the Devon/Cornwall line after her divorce. It needs fixing up but she's up to the task. She discovers many fascinating links to her own family.
The story goes back and forth between the present time of Theo and 1914 when Lady Alice is sent in disgrace to the family home at Abbottswood because of her suffragist actions. Alice is a fascinating character, headstrong but determined not to live the life her family is forcing her into. There's nothing to do but fish but the young gillie Zach is handsome and willing to accommodate her.
Meanwhile, Theo is exploring her own links to the past as she settles into the cottage where Zach once lived. The family links can be confusing though it straightens out as the story goes on, but I confess I peeked at the author's website where there's a handy family tree.
I loved the descriptions of Devon and Cornwall. The author does a nice job of describing flora and fauna, weaving them into the story seamlessly. I definitely have to explore more of her catalog. ( )