The Memory Garden

Book excerpt: From the million-copy Sunday Times bestseller comes a breathtaking story of family secrets and forbidden love. Idyllic Cornwall, a lost garden, a love story from long ago . . . A hundred years ago, Lamorna Cove, a tiny, picturesque bay in Cornwall, was the haunt of a colony of artists. Today, Mel Pentreath hopes it will be a place she can escape the pain of losing her mother and a broken love affair, and gradually put her life back together. Renting a cottage in the enchanting grounds of Merryn Hall, Mel embraces her new surroundings and offers to help her landlord Patrick restore the overgrown garden. Soon she is daring to believe her life can be rebuilt. Then Patrick finds some old paintings in the attic, and as he and Mel investigate the identity of the artist, they are drawn into an extraordinary tale of illicit passion and thwarted ambition from a century ago, a tale that resonates in their own lives. But how long can Mel's idyll last before reality breaks in and everything is threatened? Praise for Rachel Hore: 'Compelling, engrossing and moving; a perfect holiday indulgence' SANTA MONTEFIORE 'Fascinating, hugely readable . . . Rachel Hore's research and her mastery of the subject is deeply impressive' JUDY FINNIGAN 'Engrossing and romantic, it's a wonderful story of family secrets and the choices women make' JANE THYNNE 'Another of this year's top offerings' Daily Mail 'Pitched perfectly for a holiday read' Guardian 'A tender and thoughtful tale' Sunday Mirror 'A romantic read' Good Housekeeping 'A perfect escapist treat for your next holiday - if you can wait that long' Eastern Daily Press