Log In
Or create an account -> 
Imperial Library
  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Upload
  • Forum
  • Help
  • Login/SignUp

Index
Colophon Also by Santa Montefiore Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Prologue Autumn
I The yellow leaves of the weeping willow in autumn II Wild winds whistling around the house at night like playful spirits III Misty mornings that hold within them the promise of a beautiful day IV The crab-apple tree laden with fruit V The little stone bridge at sunset. The amber light playing upon the smooth surface of the river. VI Our cottage in summer when the sweet scent of honeysuckle is carried up on the breeze VII Every rainbow I see reminds me of you VIII The cough of a pheasant, the coo of the pigeons, the crisp sunny days of October IX The sweet smell of ripe apples. The last of the plums. X The taste of warm wine, the smell of burning fields, the last of summer sunshine XI The melancholy cry of a lone gull hovering on the wind XII The pink light of sunset setting the sky aflame XIII The morning light through the leaves of the chestnut trees
Winter
XIV A rainbow requires both rain and sunshine XV The cold crisp mornings of winter. The scent of burning leaves. The sight of our breath rising on the air. XVI The intrepid robin on my windowsill. Morning trips to break the water on the birdbath. XVII The sound of roaring fires and the taste of roasted chestnuts XVIII Pink cotton candy clouds at sunset. Spiders’ webs sewn into the bushes like lace. XIX Those mischievous squirrels on the cottage windowsill. They feel the love inside like sunshine and want to bask in it as we do. XX The wistful light of dusk turning the dovecote pink, but only for an instant like the soft outward breath of heaven
Spring
XXI The happy sight of pussy willow. The first glimpse of a daffodil shooting through the soil. XXII Snowdrops peeping through frost. The first signs of spring. XXIII First bees and insects on the flowers of the ivy on top of the wall. Lavender crocuses appearing in the grass. XXIV Raindrops on bluebells. The eccentric sound of a cuckoo. The uplifting sight of flirtatious mallards in flight. XXV The sweet scent of unfurling leaves. The tremor of my childlike excitement at the sight of spring. XXVI The delight of fresh herbs and vegetables grown in our own garden, sown with our own secret magic. XXVII Planting sweet peas, watched over by those softly cooing doves on the wall. The bliss of being alone in the early evening light. XXVIII Purple shadows on the grass cast by the clipped yews in the evening light XXIX The battle to keep those naughty rabbits out of the garden. We lost to Mr. Badger, but oh, what a character he was! XXX Pretty white candles on the horse chestnut trees, scattering their petals over the cottage roof like snow XXXI White blossom of the may trees and blackthorn in the hedgerows
Summer
XXXII The orchard filled with wild dandelions. The pale blue spikes of camassias rising above the grass like candles. XXXIII The amber light of dusk, the smell of burning fields, the shortening days of September XXXIV The melancholy light of summer’s end fills my soul with wistfulness XXXV The comforting silence of midnight. I always knew heaven was up there beyond the darkness. XXXVI The healing nature of my garden can mend the most broken of hearts XXXVII Nothing remains the same. Everything moves on in the end. Even us. Death is nothing more than another change. XXXVIII
Epilogue Touchstone Reading Group Guide A Conversation with Santa Montefiore Enhance Your Book Club
  • ← Prev
  • Back
  • Next →
  • ← Prev
  • Back
  • Next →

Chief Librarian: Las Zenow <zenow@riseup.net>
Fork the source code from gitlab.

This is a mirror of the Tor onion service:
http://kx5thpx2olielkihfyo4jgjqfb7zx7wxr3sd4xzt26ochei4m6f7tayd.onion