The Legacy ~ Review

The Legacy
Secrets of the Shetlands #3
By Michael Phillips

This book is the conclusion to Michael Phillips's Secrets of the Shetlands series which takes the reader on a journey through time and place. This is a story told on two fronts the past and the present and both take place in America and the Shetland Islands. And as anyone who has read Michael Phillips in the past will readily agree his stories are a delight and the reader does not get lost with the changes between time.

Loni Ford has come to Whales Reef (Shetlands) because unknown to her she has familial ties to the land, ties that have given her unexpected inheritance. And this inheritance is more than one of monetary gain but rather the gift of knowing the part of her history that has been missing since her parents' deaths when she was but a young child. But Loni's arrival in the Shetlands was not without its drama as the island residents had to come to terms with an American, and a woman at that had inherited what they felt rightfully belonged to one of their own. And some claimants to the inheritance are not best pleased adding another layer to a complex story

But time has made Loni a favorite among the locals and her deepening feelings for David Tulloch seem to parallel the very journey her great-grandparents undertook in 1924. But will Loni be forced to choose between the long-held traditions of the Shetlands or the modern life she has created for herself in Washington, D.C.? But in 1924 it was Brogan Tulloch who was faced with choosing the life of the Islands and the role of chief and laird to the village or following his heart to the United States and a future with Emily Hanson.

But throughout is a thread of faith in both the past and present, one that binds the stories together in a legacy that has a definitive effect on the Island and those who call it home. Altogether this is a beautiful story that one has come to expect from Michael Phillips. If you haven't read the two previous books please do before starting this one. One can easily read this book on its own but the series as a whole is just some much richer. And don't be scared off by the occasional comments by the locals that tend towards the brogueish tongue - it will grow on you and adds a delightful touch.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

The Dramatic Conclusion to Michael Phillips's Shetland Islands Saga

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 Whale's Reef. How is life ever to be the same with an outsider--and a woman, at that--playing such a pivotal role in the life of this conservative 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. 

What Loni is more sure of, however, is that she is falling in love--with Whales Reef, with its hardy people, with its simple, peaceful way of life, and with local chieftain David Tulloch, whose inheritance she has usurped, at least in the eyes of some. 
But life in Whales Reef is not without drama. Deep rifts exist between certain lifelong residents, and when one local resident turns up dead, suspicion is cast in the direction of the island's most prominent family. How Loni and David deal with this challenge will go a long way in determining their future, and that of the quaint island community.