The Forgotten Cottage

Mountain Secrets #1

by Sage Parker

Someone vanished without a trace decades ago. Now Sunnie Cameron is living in their house.After a difficult divorce, Sunnie is ready to leave her past behind—even if it means moving into a run-down cottage in the quiet village of Hazelwood. The house is old, the roof leaks, and the townspeople seem more curious than welcoming. Still, there’s something about Hazelwood that feels like it could be home.

But when a bookshelf collapses during renovations, revealing a hidden room that hasn’t been touched in nearly a hundred years, Sunnie finds herself drawn into the cottage’s mysterious past. Tucked inside are forgotten journals, tender love letters, and hints of a long-buried story the town would rather leave alone.

With the help of her quirky neighbor Mrs. Dalloway and Oliver, the charming bookstore owner who knows more than he lets on, Sunnie begins to piece together a puzzle that could change everything she thought she knew about her new home—and herself.

What really happened all those years ago? Why was the room sealed off? And as old secrets come to light, will Sunnie finally find the sense of belonging she’s been searching for all along?


This is Book 1 of 6 in the Mountain Secrets series... Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries and second chances, this uplifting story is about finding home in the most unexpected places. Scroll up to begin reading now!

Genres: Fiction

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining relationship listening 😏

This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 1 of 6

She has moved to a new town but had trouble finding a home. The one she buys is haunted! 🤗

I would recommend this series and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventures novels 😉🎆 2025 🤓🙄

[Carolyn White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up to 3.5, looked in Kindle Unlimited for a short story series that was set in a Fall atmosphere. Found this series and I enjoyed book 1 and ready to read book 2. This is the story of a recently divorced writer who moves to a small town for a fresh start. At the end of the book, there is a mystery that is being thrown in there. On to book 2 to see what happens

[Julie Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars...The story did really pull me in, I love the setting and plot however Sunnie's character is occasionally annoying. lol

[Michelle Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage Parker’s book is about Sunnie, a woman starting her new life in a cottage as she discovers its history and works on her novel. Parker’s style is easy to read with wonderful descriptions. Her characters are very relatable and the story is well-paced.l with a slow but steady sweet romance. I really enjoyed the start of this series and can’t wait to read another!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary small-town second chance, clean and wholesome later-in-life, women's fiction Christian inspirational friends-to-lovers romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in Hazelwood, and characters that are quirky, intelligent, resilient, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the forgotten cottage, Sunnie Cameron is ready to leave her past behind after a difficult divorce, someone vanished without a trace decades ago, and she now is living in their house that needs repairs, has a leaking roof, and needs some tender loving care, in Hazelwood. Sunnie begins to piece together a puzzle that could change everything she though she knew a bout her new home--and herself, her quirky neighbor Mrs. Dalloway and Oliver, the charming bookstore owner who knows more than she lets on, mystery intrigue, suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, the townspeople seem more curious than welcoming, even with all the drama and repairs needing done, Hazelwood feels like home and brings Sunnie a sense of belonging, old secrets, deception, a bookshelf collapses during renovations revealing a hidden room that hasn't been touched in nearly a hundred years, Sunnie finds herself drawn into the cottages' mysterious past, tucked inside are forgotten journals, tender love letters, and hints of a long-buried story the town would rather leave alone, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the forgotten cottage and a sweet friends-to-lovers second chance romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly mysterious and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunnie is making a huge change in her life. Newly divorced from a not-so-nice man who still hasn’t fulfilled his financial obligations from the divorce settlement, she is settling into an older cottage in Hazelwood. A building badly needing repairs and some tender loving care. But because of those funds that her ex owes her, well, she’s going to have to do some of the renovations herself. Which will result in a collapsed bookcase exposing hidden secrets about this cottage and the town that not everyone wants to talk about, let alone reveal.

I enjoyed reading The Forgotten Cottage, book one in The Mountain Secrets series. The story is well-written, engaging, with characters I want to learn more about. It does have a cliffhanger ending, and since this series builds upon the previous installment, it is best read in order.

If you enjoy a well-written romance featuring an older couple, a bit of a mystery, and is told over several books before you have the entire story, then you’d enjoy this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author's team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Megann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage Parker always takes us on wonderful adventures and teaches us that no matter what happens in our lives we are better than anything that is negative and especially as women we can handle any problem.
Sunnie has decided that after years of being a good wife to her plastic surgeon husband she does not have to take his infidelity. Yes, there were good times and not so good times but she is ready to head out on her own and become the writer she has always wanted to be.
Now she is in a quaint little village at the base of the Smoky mountains. She has found a small cottage that she will call her own and she is beginning to find friends in the community. Yes some are strange but lets face it they make the best friends to have.
Through her friend she meets Oliver who owns one of the worlds biggest bookstore and she is hooked. Although her ex is being difficult Oliver offers her a friendship that she hopes will be long term. With that said though, through a series of episodes she knows that she has made a terrible first, second and even third impression on him so why is he still sticking around?
On to book two to learn more about them both.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looked like it might be an interesting book to read so I got it and was not disappointed. Sunnie has moved to a small town after her divorce. She manages to find a place to live but it's not in the greatest shape in the world. There's an old woman who kind of invites herself in and it seems she'll be a continuing character.

There's trouble with her ex-husband as he's delaying paying her money from the divorce. Sunnie is writing a book but money is going to be a problem for her for a while, it seems.

(I had a thought here and that is why hasn't she called her divorce attorney to put a lot of pressure on her ex-husband-who is off with another woman-rather than just trying to work it out with her ex-husband?)

She meets the owner of a bookstore, learns more about the town, and discovers something very, very interesting about the house. Appearances can be deceiving.

It's a nice opening to a new series.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forgotten Cottage is book 1 in the series Mountain Secrets series by Sage Parker.
This book was fantastic for the first one in the new series. I started to read and before I realized it, I was at the end of the book.
Sunnie recently divorced and wants to start a new life and continue writing the book she was working on. She moved to Hazelwood and decided she needed to purchase a home.
She buys a cottage and soon realizes it is going to take more than she thought to fix the place up. As she was busy doing what she could she had a bookcase crash down and this was hiding in a hidden room. This starts her quest to find out what story the cottage has in its history. This was a cliffhanger that has me eager to get the next book in the series!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting over in a new town

I love Sage Parker's books, I just wish she would put the whole story in one book. Saying that, I will always buy her books. In this story, Sunnie has moved to Hazelwood after her divorce. She needed a new start and wanted time to finish her book. Her first meeting is with Mrs. Dalloway, a close neighbor who is lonely. The Sunnis meets Marie, a waitress,at a local restaurant, and then Oliver who owns the local bookstore. Oliver gives her a book on the history of Hazelwood and she finds out that her house is the first house built here and owned by the man who Hazelwood was named after. Now she realizes the outside of the house is larger then the inside. As she investigates, a bookcase collapses and she finds a hidden room. What is in the room?

[June Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunnie Cameron arrives in Hazelwood hoping to heal from the devastation and pain of her recent divorce, but it was not starting out like she had hoped. Her ex husband was not fulfilling his financial obligations to her which really made it difficult for her when she finally found a badly run down cottage to purchase. Then many of the townspeople were not as nice and friendly as she had anticipated they would be, though fortunately she did meet a few people she could relate to. As she moves into unpacking and beginning to make a few of the many needed renovations she finds some questionable issues with her new home that makes one wonder what will happen next.
Well written and enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carmela Dimattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful way to start a new and exciting adventure. Recently divorced Sunnie moves to Hazelwood and purchases a cottage. In the meantime she is writing a novel and meets Oliver who owns the local bookstore and he gifts Sunnie a book about the beginning of Hazelwood. I love Mrs Dalloway, Sunnie’s neighbour, but she seems to be the one person who Sunnie will get all the gossip from. Sunnie’s ex does not come across as a very nice person and Sunnie is eagerly awaiting her settlement in order to be able to make some renovations on the cottage but Sunnie discovers a secret room. What will she find in the room? We will have to wait for the next book. I am very excited about this series.

I received an arc copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Rose Grabowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forgotten Cottage is book 1 in the series Mountain Secrets series by Sage Parker. If the remainder of the series is as good as the intro book this will be great fun. Sunnie recently got divorced and moved to Hazelwood because she wanted peace and quiet which she thought would help her finish her book. She buys an older cottage but there turned out to be a lot more issues with it than she expected. The built-in bookcases crashed, and she found a secret hidden behind them. Apparently, her cottage has a story to tell. This had an intriguing cliffhanger ending and I can't wait to see what's next.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm in the market for sweet romance without all the elaborate descriptions of ween, so at first, I thought this serialized book would be just what the bookseller ordered.

However, it became clear within three pages that this whole thing is AI generated. (Lots of "this isn't XYZ -- it's ABC"s and em-dashes for days. The cadence is ChatGPT all the way.). The cover, too.

I don't read romance written by robots. I'd rather have the graphic ladygardens, and I hate that, so it's saying a lot.

I'd urge anyone thinking about this book who wants their favorite artists and writers to, y'know, exist...pass on this thing. It's AI slop.

[PW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage Parker does an outstanding job of writing about women who have to reevaluate their lives and make some tough decisions. Sunnie is reinventing herself by completing a passion in a new town. This book gives just enough of a taste to get my curiosity peaked to see hie the players and the unknown develop and work themselves out.

This Booksprout ARC review contains my thoughts and opinions about this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forgotten Cottage (Book 1) is the first book in the Mountain Secrets Mountain series by Sage Parker.

I’ve read several of Sage Parker‘s series and have enjoyed them all. This is no exception. I enjoy reading about women starting over and in this case, Sunnie is a newly divorced woman starting over in an older cottage in Hazelwood. The cottage needs some repairs and while doing some of those herself, she discovers a secret in her new home. I can’t wait for the next installment!

I received a free copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read in order. After her divorce she decides to start over in a new town. After looking at everything available she chooses one that has more history and surprises than she thought. Unfortunately several of the surprises will cost more than expected. How is she going to adjust? What surprises will she discover and will she learn the story behind them?.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Baby Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great start to Sage Parker's new series. It promises a lot of mystery and some history behind the mystery. I cannot wait to see how Sunnie's fresh start in a place called Hazelwood has in store for her. The friendship with Oliver seems promising. Her Ex comes off as a not so nice man and her new neighbor and other new friend, Mrs. Dalloway seems like a hoot! This is a fascinating read so far!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Forgotten Cottage: Book 1” by Sage Parker

-Sunnie’s fresh start in quirky Hazelwood is both heartwarming and humorous.
I received a free copy of my book and am voluntarily sharing my opinion.

Her awful motel stay and a rundown house offer more than she bargained for.
Neighbors like the eccentric Mrs. Dalloway and town secrets keep things lively.
A charming blend of self-discovery, small-town mystery, and cozy intrigue.

A promising beginning of a new series full of mystery.

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the book a lot. I got interested in after a chapter. I’m just tired of these authors that right 6 short books instead of just making it one book where you can read it all at one time. I almost forget what’s going on by the time I can read the next one. This could probably be a good book if they would just put them together & have one complete book.

I received this ARC book for free & I am giving my honest opinion of the book & what I think.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic new series!

Sage Parker is at her best again as she starts a new series - The Mountain Secrets Series. I was hooked from page 1 and without a doubt, this is a must-read series as Sunnie rebuilds her life amidst many challenges. Excitement arises over hidden secrets in her new home. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forgotten Cottage is the first book in the Mountain Secrets Series which introduces Sunnie who is a recently divorced woman starting her new life in the small village of Hazelwood. As she begins to make new friends, Sunnie meets Oliver who owns the local bookstore. But, as she begins to organize her new cabin she stumbles upon a mysterious discovery. The book ends in a cliffhanger.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raylene Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunnis had moved to Hazelwood after her divorce and was getting settled. She meet her neighbor Mrs. Dalloway band the bookstore owner Oliver, who gave her a book about the town. She realize that her house was the founder home. When she start count window on the outside she can figure why not in the house inside. Will she figure out or not.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Berta Greenleaf Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving to a new community and buying an older home gave Sunnie something to do with her newly divorced life. She made new friends and tried to finish her book. She found out some things about her new home that created a mystery that she felt compelled to solve. I can not wait for the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book to all women's fiction readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Eunice Coorlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in the Forgotten Cottage series, after a difficult divorce, sunnie relocates to Hazelwood. The cottage she purchased belonged to the town founder and there is the mysterious disappearance of his wife Emma. What happened to the woman? It seems that no one in the town is curious enough to uncover the truth behind that mystery.

This book certainly held my interest and going forward, finishing the next five parts of the story. Looking forward to see if the mystery is solved.

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 15 years in a dead-end marriage, Sunny finally got a divorce.
She was moving to a quiet Village to write her 1st book, her lifelong dream.
One major problem....Money.
Her Ex was dragging his feet on her settlement. (What a jerk).

Great start to a new series Sage. Love it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton]

A delightful new series is a page turner and I love it already! I know This first book introduces an amazing mountain setting, wonderful characters, a mystery and charm. The series is sure to be full of twists and turns, secrets revealed, a new place to call home and a second chance for Sunnie. I'm so hooked and can't wait for the next book.

[Ashley Thiero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a full book?

This book isn't a complete story. It is maybe the first 10 chapters of one. It sets the scene and starts to set up a plot and characters and then is like okay on to book 2 to see what happens next. Unless you plan on purchasing the full series, i wouldn't buy this book.

[Kathy Wortham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A budding author, an old cottage and a hidden room

Sunnie was newly divorced and thought that moving to a remote mountain town would be the perfect place to regroup. And finish the historical novel she'd been working on. Shortly after moving in she found a hidden room, full of boxes, furniture and the remnants of the towns first family.

[Dail Sams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following a divorce from her husband of 15 years, Sunni pulls up stakes and moves to a tiny town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. According to a history of the town, the small house she buys is the first house built in the area by owner of all the land in town. And she soon discovers that her little cabin is a very peculiar place.