Cody Garret arrives in England to restore Mill Cottage, but he’s actually come to heal. What he doesn’t count on are Sebastian Toulson-Brown and the destinies woven into the story of the mill, including the sycamore trees that surround it.
Cody Garret is only just finding his way after an abusive relationship ended with his ex in prison. Coming to England to restore Mill Cottage is his way of running so he has time to heal. His goal is simple—hire a company to help make the mill cottage saleable then go back to the States.
What he doesn’t count on is meeting Sebastian Toulson-Brown, the brother of his contractor and the man who may be able to show him he can stop running.
But first Cody and Sebastian must deal with the ghosts of lost loves and the destinies that are woven into the story of the mill and the sycamore trees that stand on its land, one of which might be the gallows tree.
~**~
About the setting of the book – my visit to a nearby village in England
The Gallows Tree is set in a village that is probably fifteen or so miles from me in the county of Buckinghamshire in England.
A beautiful village it is allegedly the most haunted village per head of population in the whole of England.
There are a few small houses, a mill, and a wonderful Manor House. There is also a beautiful old church with the most amazing headstones in the grounds. That is the entire contents of the village – yes places like this do exist!
The entire church is encircled with a stone wall and on the day I visited there was a very eery mist settled on the ground. It was autumn (Fall) and the ground underfoot was just as Cody describes when he first walks from where he is staying to the Manor House and stops at the Church.
There is an old ghost story about a young pregnant girl who commits suicide by throwing herself in the Mill Race and this was the perfect start for my story.
Hubby drove me over and we spent a long time wondering the beautiful village and fields. We visited the church where Tristan preached every three weeks, saw the Manor where the Toulson-Brown boys lived, and saw the cottage that I decided made a perfect Mill Cottage.
Photos:
Tristan’s Church near the Gallows Tree
The Manor House. Home to Justin, Sebastian and Tristan Toulson-Brown
The Inn where Cody stayed and saw the lovers kissing on his first night
Britain has the most amazing history and is absolutely the perfect place to set a romance and a ghost story.
The Village with the Mill. The river is what flows under the Mill.
