The Legacy Book Review

Secrets of the Shetlands series

Book Three

SUMMARY:  The dramatic conclusion to the Secrets of the Shetlands.

     Loni Ford's unexpected inheritance of substantial real estate - not to mention a title - in the Shetland Islands has caused more than a stir in the quiet fishing hamlet of Whales Reef.  How can life ever be the same with an outsider - and a woman at that - playing such a pivotal role in the life of this traditional community?  But it isn't just the locals who have deep misgivings about the current situation.  Loni herself never imagined this in her wildest dreams and wonders whether she's cut out for it.

     Loni would hardly let herself acknowledge that she's falling in love - with Whales Reef, with its hardy people, and with local chieftain David Tulloch, whose inheritance she has usurped, at least in the eyes of some.  Or has she merely been seduced by the simple, peaceful way of life that exists here?

     Yet life in Whales Reef is rarely without drama.  Deeps rifts exist between certain lifelong neighbors, and when a dead body is discovered, suspicion is cast in the direction of the Tulloch family.  How Loni and David face up to this challenge will profoundly shape their relationship, as well as the future of the island.

REVIEW:  This book was a satisfying conclusion to this Secrets of the Shetlands series.  I like how everything was wrapped up neatly, with quite a few surprises, by the end.  The author goes into great detail within Emily and Brogan's story, tying it together with Loni, David and their friends stories.  How he kept everything straight is amazing.  Now, I don't know if I would call it a dramatic conclusion to the series but this novel answered questions about Loni's family's past and solves a mystery.  Probably my favorite part is the change in Hardy.  I also like how each person's faith is subtly woven throughout their lives and actions.  Their faith is not flimsy but strong, vibrant, and growing.  You can see Christ and His teachings through the behaviors of the characters. 

     When you read this series, you need to read the books one after another.  Each book picks up where the one before left off and they refer to incidences and characters mentioned throughout the stories quite frequently.  A "Cast of Characters" was really needed since some characters are only mentioned a few times but become an important part the memories and saga.  

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Michael Phillips is a bestselling author who has penned more than seventy books, both fiction and nonfiction.  Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotland but make their home near Sacramento, California.  Visit Michael's website at www.fatheroftheinklings.com.

The Inheritance Book Review

Secrets of the Shetlands

Book One

SUMMARY:  Change is coming to Whales Reef

     The death of clan patriarch Macgregor Tulloch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community o Whales Reef into turmoil.  Everyone assumed Tulloch's heir to be his much-loved grand-nephew David.  But when no will is discovered, David's calculating cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island's land.  And Hardy knows a North Sea oil investor who will pay dearly for that control.

     While the competing claims are investigated, the courts have frozen the estate's assets, leaving many of the locals in dire financial straits.  The future of the island - and its traditional way of life - hangs in the balance.

     Meanwhile, Loni Ford enjoys a rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, D.C.  Yet, in spite of outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity.  Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her grandparents, and wile she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots.  That is, until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor . . . .

     Past and present collide in master storyteller Michael Phillips' dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace.

REVIEW:  If you like books that tie the past and present together, this is one you need to check out.  While the story does jump back and forth, it does so in an orderly and seamless fashion.  I love how the author includes a family tree because it is very important to keep everyone straight.  I also love how the sections and chapters are laid out.  With a story of this magnitude, it was nice having the table of contents and genealogy to fall back on to for reference.
     This novel grabbed my attention and kept it until the very end, leaving me wanting more.  The author made me feel like I was there, part of the scenery, watching the events as they happened.  It is not a book that you can read quickly.  The intricacies of the past and present narratives, along with the Scottish island dialect, make you slow down.  When you take your time, you will understand and appreciate the small details that play a huge part later on.
     This is one series that I will definitely take the time to savor when the others are released.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Bethany House 

for review without compensation.

Michael Phillips is a bestselling author who has penned more than seventy books, both fiction and nonfiction.  Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotland, but make their home near Sacramento, California.  Visit Michael's website at www.macdonaldphillips.com.