Holy tearjerkers! This is an absolutely wonderfully sweet and sad story of second chances. This series is an outstanding one and I definitely can't wait for the next book. Each book is well written to draw the reader in and make them care about the characters each with their own unique personalities and backstories. Some books will have you laughing and others crying, but this one is especially poignant and will have you reaching for the tissue box over and over. It was the best heart wrenching story that I have read in quite some time. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to see what adventure the author has in store for us and which of the townspeople will become the leading characters in the book!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Keepsakes From The Cottage By The Loch' by Kennedy Kerr.

Yet another stunner from the extremely talented Kennedy!!! Well done Kennedy on yet another absolutely beautiful and perfect read!! This is the ideal beach read where you could sit there and turn around and just imagine Loch Cameron and Loch Cameron Castle.

The storyline itself completely swept me away. It is filled with love, friendship, spirit, escapism, family, stunning scenery, drama, amazing characters, tension, friends romance and community and much more!! What else could you ask for in a stunning page turner? It kept me turning the pages late at night. I really enjoyed having the insights into Tara's life and her journey back into the stunning Loch Cameron. I absolutely fell in love venturing into Loch Cameron again and Kennedy portrays life in a small village absolutely perfectly, bringing the neighbours to life and showing that when you live in a small place everybody knows everybody else's business. Each and every time I step foot into one of Kennedy's books it feels like I am coming home after getting to know the area and fantastic people who live there so well. Living in a small village myself and, ironically enough, one that also has a castle, Kennedy's descriptions are perfect. In a way I became so invested in this book that it actually felt like going on a holiday and I absolutely dreaded coming to the end where I had to unpack my suitcase and get back to reality. This book, well every book I have read by this fantastic author, is one of those gorgeous books where you tell yourself just one more chapter but then you keep repeating it until you have devoured it in one sitting as there is just no way you can put it down!! I was carrying my kindle while walking around the house and even bumped into things a few times as I was so absorbed in the storyline. Each and every book in this series will turn a frown upside down and this one is no exception! It is one of those books that is perfect to read everywhere and anywhere whether it is wrapped up in your dressing gown with a hot chocolate and the heating on or on a sunbed on holiday with the sun shining down on you. No matter where you are Kennedy will sweep you off to the stunning Loch Cameron for a beautiful escapism page turner!! It was an absolutely compelling and addictive heart lifting read that kept me turning the pages until late at night. I loved discovering the pasts of many of the characters and I was absolutely swept away in the story lines. The Castle and Loch Cameron came to life around me and I cannot wait to return in the next book in what promises to be an absolutely stunning series. The ending was absolutely perfect as always with Kennedy and this stunning series. This book would make a beautiful movie!! Do not turn a single page of this book until you have cleared your schedules and when you do get ready to go on a stunning holiday you will not want to leave!!

Clear your schedules and get ready to float away to Loch Cameron and fall in love. This stunner is the fifth book in a beautiful series but can be read as a standalone.

I became completely invested in the characters, along with the storyline as I do with each and every one of Kennedy's amazing books! Each of the characters were all absolutely fantastic with their own individual personalities and quirks. They have all started feeling like friends so quickly having got to meet so many of them so well. Whenever I finish any of Kennedy's books I feel like I am leaving amazing people and friends and I always feel a bit sad about it but am happy in the knowledge that Kennedy is hopefully writing her next book and bringing them alive as I write this (hint hint Kennedy 😉). It was intriguing seeing the friendships, interactions and relationships of all of the characters change and develop throughout the book. There are just so many characters that I loved and cannot wait to meet again and I am looking forward to meeting them all again in the next book in this absolutely stunning series. These characters all work perfectly together to make an addictive storyline and are realistic of a small community. I cannot wait to meet most of them again in the next book in this series which I really, really, really hope is not going to take too long to come out!!! This is one of those series which could go on and on and I wouldn't get bored. Here's to meeting them all again along with the next new faces of Loch Cameron!!

Congratulations Kennedy on yet another gorgeous success!!! Looking forward to my next holiday to Loch Cameron!!! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors!! If you have never read this book, any books in the Loch Cameron series or any books in the Magpie Cove series (which I also absolutely LOVE!!!) pick one up today, you won't regret it and you are definitely missing out if you don't!!

Overall a perfect, stunning, page turning beach or fireside read with a great gang of characters that will sweep you away to Loch Cameron from the very first page to the end!

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Tara has returned to her home in Loch Cameron as her mother is laid up after a fall. Tara will be taking over her mother’s duties at their hotel until her mother gets back on her feet. Going home won’t be easy for Tara as she is constantly reminded of her broken heart. Tara grew up with Ramsay Fraser and the two eventually fell in love with him. Sadly, Ramsay broke her heart and she still has not gotten over him.

Imagine Tara’s shock when she runs into Ramsay and finds that he has returned to Loch Cameron. Tara and Ramsay danced together for years and were really going far but everything suddenly stopped. Ramsay is eager to talk to Tara, but she has more than one strong reason for avoiding any chat with him, even though her heart breaks more and more.

What a sweet story of a second chance romance. The path to the reconnection was not easy for Tara and Ramsay. I love the stories in this series, although each book can be read as standalone novels. However, for a good immersion into a sweet story, readers cannot go wrong with the previous books in the series. Loch Cameron and its residents have won a place in my heart and I look forward to revisiting the village through the pages of this series in the future.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Another absolutely gorgeous read,
Just the kind I love to escape into and need!
A second chance romance you cannot be sure
Will become a romance that will endure.

Best friends, dance partners and in love, too,
Ten years ago he disappeared without leaving a clue.
Broken hearted, Tara has avoided memories by keeping away
But now her Mum needs her, she'll come for weeks to stay.

Meeting Ramsay again comes as a huge surprise,
Especially as the attractions still there she is soon to realise.
However before anything can have a chance to grow
She needs to know what really happened all those years ago.

A story of events that happened in the past
Being shared and brought to light at last.
With highland dancing, community and a delightful daughter, too,
Should Tara runaway or face up to whatever is true?

There's new opportunities and chances,
A family mystery, time capsules and maybe romances.
A lovely story so beautifully to read
I hope it will be the next one that you need.

For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Love, love, love this whole series

This one is up,there with the best

Love dropping in to Loch Cameron and catching up with the gang

Looking forward to no 7

There are times when I just need to read something that has the power to make me feel a little lighter. This second chance romance is the first book I have read by Kennedy Kerr. I can say I will be adding more of her books to my Kindle after finishing Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch.

Tara Ballantyne left Loch Cameron after her heart was broken by Ramsay Fraser, her childhood sweetheart. Who, after proposing to her, just disappears with no explanation. Ten years she has to return to her parents' inn to help out. When she gets there, she finds out she  isn't the only person back in the vicinity. Ramsey is back, too. The question is, will it matter?

A perfect feel good, romance for me to devour while the nights draw in and the temperature drops. It does deal with serious issues, too. Although, the way Kennedy Kerr incorperates them into the story and doesn't over egg them, they fit so well.

I was whisked away to the Scottish Highlands easily. A setting that is vivid and detailed, this made it all the more immersive for me. The plot is skilfully written, making it such an easy flowing tale. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, too. Tara's emotions felt like they were spilling out of the page with the amount of sadness she carries. Ramsay did so much damage in the past, and I was hoping they could mend some bridges at least.

A charming and engaging romance novel for this time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley.

This was just another hallmark picturesque book. You could've been right in there with them. There was just a lot of what could have happened if the communication was there and to be hanging onto someone for so many years just seemed crazy. I did really enjoy the mothers Scottish dialect when she was speaking. There is a little bit of talking about an unfit household for a child so just wanted to mention that. But if you are looking for a mostly cozy Scottish book I would say give it a try, as it is out now.

Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch is the sixth book in the Loch Cameron series by Kennedy Kerr. Don’t worry if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of the previous delightful books as they can all be read as standalone stories. It’s more so that the location connects the stories rather than the characters. Although now and again old familiar faces do pop up but very briefly. These books are lovely, gentle, relaxing reads and I find them perfect to read in between more of the heavier historical fiction that I read huge amounts of. This new book has a glorious, sweeping cover with a prominent picture of the loch which does play a major part in the main character Tara’s life. It’s where she has always gone to for peace and solace in times of stress or to relax and read a book. Many a happy hour has she spent by the shores of the Loch and it’s where she feels grounded and where she can centre and calm herself when things get too emotionally rough for her.

Now more than ever she will need this safe space as she returns to the Scottish Highlands and the small village she called home, Loch Cameron. Her mother Dotty (the local village gossip but really she does have a heart of gold) has fallen and broken her leg and is therefore unable to run the inn. Her father Eric couldn’t do it by himself and really it needs a woman’s touch to keep things going. Tara forgoes her planned summer holiday adventures on her time off from her school in Glasgow where she is a primary teacher and travels back to Loch Cameron. Tara was selfless in putting her plans aside and especially seen as she hasn’t ventured back to the village in the last ten years unless strictly necessary and even then only for very brief visits. There is trauma and hurt in Tara’s past which she still carries the burden of today. Loch Cameron although her home place is at the root of all this. Yes, it’s over a man. Ramsay being said man and Tara’s heart and future plans were torn in two the day he upped and left the village and walked out of her life leaving the briefest of notes and never to have been heard from or seen since.

It’s evident from the outset that the relationship that Tara and Ramsay had a really strong relationship where they meant everything to each other. Friends since school which led to something deeper and they were champion dancers destined to do great things but that all fell apart when the time for university came around. Yet, deep down there is a severe anxiety surrounding Tara that something she did was to blame for Ramsay leaving. I desperately wanted to know what this was and I was constantly on alert and reading between the lines as to what this could have been. Most of the story is told from Tara’s perspective so I firmly came down on her side but it’s only as Dotty reveals things to Tara relating to Ramsay and his turbulent upbringing that things become slightly clearer and I started to have some empathy for Ramsay. But still the finer details weren’t revealed until the last moment which in turn had me guessing up until the final few chapters. I can say that the reveal certainly wasn’t a let down. In my opinion, I would have liked just one or two chapters from Ramsay’s perspective though as I really got into Tara’s head and understood her thought process and how she as feeling and I would have liked to have been able to do the same for Ramsay.

Tara is not very happy with her job in Glasgow. She loves the children but the staff and the way the school is run is not making her thrilled to go to work every day. Time away and focusing on the inn gives her some perspective. She is independent but emotional and when she bumps into Ramsay again after all the years of no contact. Well it puts her in a tail spin that’s for sure. You can sense the anger, hurt and dismay and many more emotions rushing to the surface and all the old memories come flooding back. She does what any woman would do and tries her best not to have to meet him again. Just what is he doing back in Loch Cameron? Will she ever find out what caused her dreams to come crashing down? The guilt that she has been holding on to for so long really needs to be let go. As previously mentioned I desperately wanted to know what was the cause of the guilt and was it really justified or was it all in her head?

I really warmed to Tara as a character and loved when she met with the local teacher Emily. Here is where the slight historical element to all the books in this series came into play. Tara discovers her Great Aunt Agnes once taught in the school and she herself had her own story to tell which gives Emily the courage and resilience to keep going in the present. I found that the historical element was very much underplayed this time around in this new story and I was left thinking does it really need to be there in future books? Mostly because I very much feel the present day storylines are strong and would be well able to stand on their own. I understand the connecting the past with the present and helping a character out but six books in I found the connections nice enough to read about but tentative. Previously there were stronger links. I don’t mean this in a very negative wat rather just that I would have happily read about Tara and Ramsay without the need for the inclusion of Agnes’ brief storyline.

Ramsay has an anxiety and a darkness in him and he punishes himself. For what one wonders, and will this continue forever? The love and respect Tara and Ramsay both had for each other was still there in spades. It was so clear for the reader to see but Tara played an avoidance game and you couldn’t blame her for that. Through her time in Loch Cameron and connecting with the women in the Crochet Coven as they liked to call themselves Tara starts to feel more at peace and accepted. Is what she has being missing from her life in Glasgow right there in Loch Cameron for her to take? She needs to be resilient and face her demons and reclaim the person she once was instead of holding onto the guilt from the past. But when she learns something about Ramsay it puts her into a tailspin and once again changes her perspective. The reader is left hoping with fingers crossed that they will actually sit down and talk and clear the air and the many misunderstandings.

I loved Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch. It’s an engaging, wonderful read with characters you can empathise with. The location and descriptions are once again stunning and you are left wishing that you could visit Loch Cameron in real life rather than through your imagination. I hope there will be more books to come in the future featuring Loch Cameron as it’s a special place with equally special people who have captured the hearts of many readers including mine.

I really enjoyed this one. Book #6 in the Loch Cameron series but could also be read as a standalone.
It’s a heart lifting read as the story pulls you in. I was hooked from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down.
Tara returns to her hometown to help her parents out in their family guest house, after her mum has a fall. It’s been 10 years since she was last there, after her heart was broken after her love Ramsey just left. Tara finds second chances and secrets from the past are revealed.
It’s beautifully written and emotional with a lovely setting in the Scottish Highlands. The story flows well page to page and the twists and turns kept me engrossed. The characters are relatable, warm and engaging. I loved the sub story of the time capsules and Aunt Agnes. It just adds more depth to the storyline.
Overall, a moving atmospheric read. Definitely recommend if you enjoy this genre.
With thanks #NetGallery @bookouture for an arc of #KeepsakesFromTheCottageByTheLoch in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 15 October 2024

Received this copy thanks to Net Galley! This book was a cute little read. I did feel like some chapters went on too long. And several times, I noticed Tara was having a conversation with her mom and dad and the author would use their real names in one sentence and, in the next would use mom and dad. It just kept switching. Other than that I loved reading Tara and Ramsey love story. And I loved after 10 years being separated they were able to rekindle and have a second chance, even with the obstacles.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I was hooked by this book from the beginning.

Tara hasn’t been home to Loch Cameron for a long time since her heart was broken by Ramsay. She has worn the heart pendant, a sign of their love. She thinks that what she did at the time is the reason he left her.

But, when her mother has an accident, Tara heads back to help her family with their guesthouse.

As she begins to settle in, she finds out about the life of her Aunt Agnes, who was a teacher at the time of World War II. She starts to look into her past and through a time capsule shocking revelations come to light.

Then she bumps into Ramsey, who is also back in Loch Cameron, they have a second chance to be together, but they need to discuss what happened years ago.

The story was well-written and I loved the characters and setting.

I highly recommend this book.

This book offers a picturesque setting in Scotland, where secrets from the past collide with second chances for the characters. The Scottish backdrop, with its rich landscapes and dialect, is beautifully described and really transports you. I loved the use of Scottish words throughout; it gave an authentic flavor that added depth to the setting. The writing itself has a timeless feel, almost as if the story is set in a different era. However, certain aspects left me underwhelmed.

Firstly, the title is a bit confusing. The "keepsakes" and the "cottage" implied by the title don’t seem to play a significant role in the story, leaving me wondering what exactly they symbolized. The story also has a slow build, and while I don't mind a bit of anticipation, there’s surprisingly little interaction between Tara and Ramsey in the first half. For a romance, I expected more connection and chemistry early on.

While I usually enjoy secret-baby tropes, I was disappointed here. The baby wasn’t between Tara and Ramsey, but rather part of a storyline where Ramsey "cheated" in a way. It didn’t sit well with me how easily Tara forgave him. Her reaction to this reveal felt rushed and lacking depth; she simply accepted everything too quickly without much emotional conflict. I wanted more from her in terms of self-respect and complexity.

Additionally, the repetitive descriptions bogged down the pacing. Certain scenes or details were rehashed, which pulled me out of the story. As for the characters, neither Tara nor Ramsey tugged at my emotions the way I hoped they would. Their romance, for all its potential, felt underdeveloped, and I didn’t feel the strong connection that typically makes a romance resonate.

Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch has a wonderful setting and writing style, but the plot and character development didn’t quite land for me. The secrets and second chances storyline had promise, but the romance fell flat, and the emotional stakes weren’t as gripping as I expected. If you love Scotland and a sense of nostalgia in your reads, you might enjoy it, but it left me wanting more in terms of character depth and engagement.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Second chance romance await you with reading Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch.
The setting is in the Scottish Highlands.
The main characters, Tara and Ramsay, were childhood sweethearts when things went awry.
What happens when they accidentally run into each other 10 years later? Can they overcome the past?
Their story will pull on your heartstrings.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was captivated by the story of Tara and Ramsay with all its twists and turns. It was a beautifully written story and I loved how the secrets gradually unfolded. A must read for those who love a romantic tale.

Ramsay ghosted Tara and she's closed herself off as a result. Now though, both of them back home and they've got a second chance but they both need to open up. Tara also discovers an archive of materials from her Aunt Agnes who lived a vivid life during WWII. This subplot adds to what is a trope-y but still emotional story, one that's enriched by the found family aspect for Ramsay who had suffered at the hands of his mother. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is part of a series but fine as a standalone.

Temporary visit awakens ghosts of her past🗻

3-3.5🌟 stars
The innkeepers' prodigal daughter Tara, now a primary teacher in Edinburgh, heads this story of broken dreams, lost love and uncomfortable revived encounters with Ramsay, the young fellow she loved. When she returns to Loch Cameron to help her parents run the inn after her mom is injured, Tara unexpectedly bumps into Ramsay after years of no news of why he suddenly left town, broke their engagement and disappeared from their lives. Lack of communication is key in their story, both past and present. There's also a delve back into the life of her great aunt Agnes, a teacher who died a spinster after heading the small local school for almost forty years. Notes and letters discovered in Agnes's books, passed down in the family, uncover unsuspected sorrows and joys dating back to the 1940's.

I enjoy coming back book after book to this tiny Highland community. But this story was just okay and a bit of a miss for me. The writing seemed repetitive on a number of occasions and included some details, like long descriptions of the food sold at market and descriptions of dance steps, that I felt added nothing to the story. And I found Ramsay's reasons for remaining out of touch weak. Neither of the MCs really caught my sympathy about their adult behavior, though I did sympathize with the young Ramsay and his hard family life.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch by Kennedy Kerr is a heartwarming and captivating second chance romance that takes readers on a journey to the breathtaking Scottish Highlands. From the very first page, I was drawn into the emotional depth of the story and the enchanting setting that the author has beautifully crafted.

The novel begins with Tara Ballantyne, who hasn't returned to Loch Cameron since her childhood sweetheart, Ramsay Fraser, broke her heart. Clutching her heart-shaped pendant, a symbol of their lost love, Tara is certain that her long-held secret is the reason Ramsay left without saying goodbye. However, when her mother, Dotty, has a fall, Tara realizes she must return home to help her family with their guesthouse.

As Tara settles back into the village, she uncovers a compelling historical subplot, delving into the life of her relative, Aunt Agnes, a teacher who faced her own adversities during World War II. Through a time capsule of letters and personal entries, Tara embarks on a journey into her aunt's past, discovering shocking revelations and drawing inspiration from Agnes' strength and resilience.

From the outset, Kerr weaves a moving tale of love, resilience, and self-discovery, drawing readers into a world where secrets of the past intertwine with the present. The novel beautifully explores the themes of family, forgiveness, and personal growth, showcasing the power of positive relationships and the healing process.

The characters in Keepsakes from the Cottage are very relatable. Tara is a strong and resilient protagonist, and her inner turmoil and vulnerability are palpable throughout the story. The interactions between Tara and Ramsay are filled with longing and tension, as their shared history and unresolved feelings resurface. The inclusion of Dotty's perspective adds depth to the storyline and offers a glimpse into the complexities of mother-daughter relationships.

Overall, Keepsakes from the Cottage by the Loch is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant second chance romance. I recommend this page-turner to anyone seeking a moving and atmospheric read that will transport them to the captivating world of the Scottish Highlands.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

A nice feel good second chance romance. When Tara comes home to her parents’ Inn to help out for the summer, as her mother recovers from breaking her leg. Meeting her childhood boyfriend and fiancé, after he left abruptly years ago, was a shock. Good story overall, and enjoyed the side story of the time capsules too. Would recommend.

Tara Ballantyne and Ramsay Fisher were childhood sweethearts. Ramsay often stayed with Tara and her parents when they were kids due to his horrific childhood.

When Ramsay proposes to Tara, she’s so happy, all she has ever wanted is to be with Ramsay and for the two of them to have a family.

Then Ramsay disappears, no explanation, just a brief note.

For the next ten years, Tara becomes a recluse where her heart is concerned. She has never recovered from Ramsay leaving her, she also has guilt of her own to deal with.

When Tara’s mum, Dotty, needs help, Tara knows she’s going to have to go back to the Inn that her mum and dad run, to help out.

Tara soon finds out that she’s not the only person back, as when out on an errand for Dotty, she bumps into Ramsay.

This was a good read for this time of year; when it’s getting darker earlier, and you want to shut out the world with a good book.

The story flowed well, and I enjoyed the characters in the story.

A charming read that had me wondering if Tara and Ramsay could sort out their differences. I could feel Tara’s pain and anguish.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a creative and absorbing tale! Definitely recommend this one!
Had my attention from start to finish… I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day.