Escape to Osprey Cove

Osprey Cove Lodge #1

by Luisa Marietta Gold

What Doug finds in the secret compartment of his new red Corvette will forever change his life. It will also change Catherine’s. Doug and Catherine come from two different worlds. Catherine’s world is one of privilege and wealth. Doug grew up dirt poor and full of envy of others who had the things that he wanted but could not have. His goal was to one day have all the things he coveted. Their worlds collide when Catherine, VP of a large New York City marketing firm, hires Doug. As soon as Doug learns of Catherine’s wealth, he sees Catherine as his ticket to all the things he covets. After a whirlwind courtship, they are married.

Poor boy meets rich girl should have resulted in “happily ever after” — not exactly. Doug quickly learns he also covets independence. Events begin to unfold in each of their lives. For Doug, it is his mysterious discovery in the secret compartment of the Corvette. For Catherine, it is a business meeting with Alex Droxell at the Osprey Cove Lodge. When Catherine enters the beautiful and serene lodge, it’s as though she is entering another place and time. The lodge is an escape from the nightmare she is living back home. Follow the twists and turns of Book 1 of the Osprey Cove Lodge Series. Follow Doug and Catherine’s story to see if there is a “happily ever after” and with whom.

EXCERPT:
It appeared to Catherine as though she had just approached Mr. Darcy’s Pemberly in all its magnificence. Now she knew how Elizabeth felt at her first sighting of Pemberly. But unlike Elizabeth, Catherine thought, there would be no happy ending. This would not become her home one day, as Pemberly had become Elizabeth’s, and live happily ever after. Catherine did not covet the house that lay before her. In fact, Catherine was wealthy enough to buy a home like it, if she so desired. What Catherine did long for was what Pemberly represented to all Jane Austen lovers — the culmination of a beautiful love affair. Catherine was not naive enough to expect her life to be storybook in nature. But she did not expect her life with Doug to disintegrate into shambles just two years after marrying him. She did not understand why it was happening. She did not know how to fix it.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Ebooks

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2016

About the author

Luisa Marietta Gold was born and educated in Pennsylvania, where she spent a large part of her adult life and worked for a large corporation. After her only daughter was born, she relocated to North Carolina, where she worked as a Realtor and began running a recreational business with her husband. She currently resides on eleven acres near a lake reminiscent of the Rideau lake chain that provides the setting for The Osprey Cove Lodge Series. The series was born from her love of that region of Canada, the outdoors, and lake life. Many years were spent enjoying the Rideau, staying in lodges, and for a time, her privately-owned cottage. Among her many interests are painting, cooking, baking. And of course, writing and storytelling. But it's the simple things of life that bring the most enjoyment -- the beauty of the trees outside the window of her writing room as they change with the seasons and watching her outdoor kitties interact and play. Nearly all of these interests and life experiences are reflected in her books.

Reviews

[Darcey Tomasino · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't believe I finished it

This book is a traffic accident. I kept reading, hoping I would find a good part, but it got worse. Stilted dialogue, flat characters, horrible punctuation and word usage...The outcome was obvious from the beginning. I skimmed over half just to find out what was in the stupid car. I should have known it would be a lame cliche.

[MelMon Sanchez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had the potential to bloom into so much more. There were some editing issues that needed to be fixed. And I believe that there were so many phrases and scenarios repeated. If those were taken out the book may have been shorter

The storyline was very serendipitous.

Catherine and Doug's marriage was so obviously planned out. Especially in Doug's case. The relationship with their best friend's Will and Emma is a very close one. The way Doug is with Emma is just a little to close for comfort.

If there are second chances at being with the one you love, I believe that is what the relationship is with Alex and Catherine. His hope to provide Libby with a mother is so close, yet so far away.

If only the two main characters would just talk about the real things going on in their lives.

[Carol Carmichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful story, but poorly written with short, choppy sentences and the author telling the reader rather than allowing things to be learned through description and conversation.

[Traci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pop Sugar Challenge 2020: book set in a country that starts with “C”. (Canada)
•
Oh dear... this is on my “I’m confused” shelf because I don’t know how it got published. The makings of a great book are here but they are buried under poorly written everything (dialogue especially and overuse of words), flat characters, and my desire to slap a verbally abusive husband.
It’s no secret Doug married Catherine only for her money (I mean it starts out by telling us that) but how does she just put up with his comments and think, “this is what I married, for better or for worse!” And she’s rich, he’s not... so he spends HER inheritance without asking. But she’s okay with it... “I feel sorry for how he grew up.” Also, the rich people always have “compassion” for those less fortunate so Alex (the other main storyline) will let a poor college girl go on his 6 week African vacation to nanny his daughter even though his mother hired her without Alex’s input. Yes, so compassionate.
I’m not going to continue with what I don’t like, just know I won’t be reading the rest of the series (how are there 9 more!?). I read enough from the summaries to know what happened so the “cliffhanger” doesn’t bother me.
Moving on!

[CA Portnellus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah,blah, going nowhere, sorry.

This storyline could have had some real fun and exciting things happening, but it fell like a souffle, flat. The author seemed more caught in nary that were like stage direction, instead of real story telling. Simplistic and only blah language permeates the novel, drivel of polite simple business conversations, nothing that meant anything. No emotional connection between us and the characters. So many places to make it happen and likeable were missed. This deserves a better work over with some zing. No real romance, no sex, no argument by a meek wife left behind. A mystery as to why the husband, Doug goes off the rails and fakes his death. It takes 2books to tell us why, no thanks.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good Kindle freebie. It started a little slow, got better, but became too predictable. Then it leaves you hanging, so you need to read the 2nd book in the series. I like a book to have some closure, but if this is going to be the pattern (5 books in the series), I probably won't continue it.

[Lynda Lafond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like a draft

Or possibly a younger reader book. Plot is interesting, but sentence structure is short and somewhat stilted, which interrupts the row of the story, making it feel somewhat like a cross between a beginning reader, a poor translation and an actual story.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bk1, Osprey Cove Lodge Series, EBk-M, Kindle, @ 2016, read 11/20/20. Fiction, Contemporary. A young VP of a NYC marketing firm is in St. Martin with husband and their 2 best friends for a 2nd anniversary vacation, when she gets an emergency call back to work. She handles the problem, but her life unravels without any indication upon returning home. I had hopes that I could sink my teeth into this series, it had potential, but was mired in typo and grammer errors, and the author repeated herself often, which slowed down the story. It ends very abruptly, without tying up the pieces. Of course, it is a series, of 9 books. I'm not sure I want to invest that much time, especially since it will probably take a good 6 or 7 books to explain the 1st storyline. 2☆'s = Interesting enough, but only Okay!

[George Latorre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book at the beginning of the year
Since then I am in the 11th of 13 books in the series

Incredible storylines, character development, very clean nothing off base

I could easily finish the series but I'm taking my time because I am enjoying it so much if there were thousands of books in the series I would read each one

Totally recommended I think the first book in the series is free and you could always read a sample for free as well

[Sandra Klinkhammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely book one

The story is good and the characters are believable and likeable but this book ends with all kinds of questions unanswered. The next book must be purchased to have the questions answered. It would be nice if the whole story was written and offered for sale.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the places and people and a great story line. The characters are really good. I really like Catherine and hope that she can get together with Alex. I liked that Catherine is a strong woman but can lean on her family and friends when she needs to.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pleasant little dramatic story of mostly nice people searching for happiness. The ending was not satisfying.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ordinary book that seems to get lost in itself.

[Joyce Gould · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

Book was good and then just stopped - felt like there was no ending. A lot was left unsaid and unexplained.

[Carmalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Story

This a nice, quick read. The story, although predictable, is enjoyable. On occasion the language is a little stilted. But, at the end of the book you want to know of their further adventures.

[Bonnye Reed]

TheFussyLibrarian May
DigitalBookSpot Sept

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Gregstone (32, Raynott Marketing VP, daughter/sister) had interviewed Doug Wellin for a position in the firm.
It wasn’t long & romance blossomed.
Saint Martin. Doug & Catherine had a wonderful honeymoon.
He also invited Emma & Will their best friends to come along.

Doug & Emma went to play tennis.
Will was going to enjoy some sightseeing.
While at the restaurant Catherine got an urgent text to call the office.
Ms. Peggy Barrister (exc. Secretary) patched Catherine through to Mr. Jack Delbourne (Raynott Marketing, boss) & Bob (Raynott Marketing VP).
The Droxell Outdoor Outfitters (Canada) contract was going down the drain.
Ottawa, Canada. Osprey Cove Lodge (Whippoorwill Rd.). Catherine was having several meetings
with Alex Droxell Jr. (son, widower, Droxell Outdoor Outfitters).
Urgent. Kingston hospital. Libby Droxell (8, daughter) was in ER from falling off a horse at summer camp.
Catherine had decided to go with Alex to see his daughter.
Doug & Will were cruising outside NYC in Doug’s new Torch Red Corvette.
What did Doug find in his red Corvette secret compartment?
NYC. When Catherine returned Doug had left word he resigned.
Alex & Libby were headed to Nairobi, Africa.
Chelsey (nanny, child psych student) would also go along & help watch over Libby.
Emma & Will are going to be parents.
Ngorongoro/ Serengeti excursion, Karatu, Africa, Rosalind Alex’s ex-GF, freelance writer,
Ottawa, Canada. It was time for Catherine to meet with Alex Droxell Sr. (father, Droxell Outdoor Outfitters founder, President/CEO).

Doug had disappeared. Mrs. Catherine Wellin (divorced mother, housekeeper, P/G) finally filed a MP report.
Alex Droxell, & Rosalind continued their non-exclusive relationship.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written romance book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great romantic movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; ReadingDeals; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Robyn Gaye-Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape to Osprey Cove by Luisa Marietta Gold
Catherine is a nice girl, infatuated by the story of how her grandfather Gregstone turning a broken down truck,a handmade tool belt and himself the only employee into a multi-million dollar construction business through hard work. Unfortunately she’d met Doug at a young age, felt sorry for his hard luck story of growing up with a single mum and nothing he ever wanted that the other kids had, no matter how hard his mum worked. Doug heard her story of money, her parents dying in an accident leaving more money and assets to three children and he set out to become part of that wealthy family, no matter that he didn’t love hardworking sweet Catherine. A creepier husband he couldn’t have been if he’d tried.
Escape to Osprey Cove is about a business deal about to go bad that Catherine worked on to turn it around, loving Osprey Cove where the client took her to explain his business. The water, boat, scenery and client’s ideals of getting young people away from computers and into the outdoors having fun and adventures matched her own sense of nature. Catherine hoped to make Alex’s dreams come true so that a generation would learn to leave their computer gear and create a healthy lifestyle of fitness in the outdoors as well. She enjoyed herself so much that it wasn’t hard for Catherine and client Alex to get along in work as they played on the water.
A great book that kept my interest as the story unfolds. I want to read the next book as well. I became so invested in the characters I liked that I truly want to learn more! Even when disliking Doug I thoroughly enjoyed this well written ebook. I bought it and the review is my own.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

E-Reader. A Novel

Catherine Wellin is a VP with Raynott Marketing. Her husband of two years Doug also works there. She hired him.
While on their Anniversary trip to St. Martin, Doug seems to want to spend more time with best friend Emma. She came with her husband Will, also a good friend.
Her boss Jack sent an emergency text to call him ASAP. He needs her to fly back immediately that the Droxell account was in trouble & may fall through. They gave them one more chance to come up with a better contract.
She goes to Ottawa, Canada to meet Alex Droxell @ the Osprey Cove Lodge. This is a get to know him interview type of meeting. Alex is to take over running the company. He has daughter Libby 8 years old. They live with his parents, since his wife died at childbirth. They become good friends & she has learned to love nature. When she returns home Doug is drunk and moved into a separate bedroom. He buys a red Corvette & disappears.
There so much more that happens. It can be very emotional at times. You'll want be this book & probably book two, Return To Osprey Cove. Enjoy.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape to Osprey Cove by Luisa Marietta Gold
Doug and Catherine are spending time on the island as it's their wedding anniversary. He had invited other friends to join them: Emma and her husband Will.
Catherine is loaded with money and he's always getting her to spend it-she's a VP for a large company and they have a problem with an account that she has to hurry to Canada to tend to.
The rest stay behind and she leaves going over the facts of the company on the plane back home.
She understands what the younger man wants in the marketing campaign=he and his young daughter leave for Africa and she heads home to her company.
Her husband is acting weird and quit his job, bought a corvette and leaves one day with no word as to where or why. Her best girlfriend Emma is pregnant but they are always talking to one another. They plan to head to TX to new jobs.
She ends up finding out what's wrong with her medically and heads to get comfort from her brother Michael in Chicago...Book ends abrupuptly and the story continues in the next books.
Got a feeling she and Emma are both pregnant from the same man...

[Peter Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author brings conflict into her story through the differences between persons born into wealth and privilege and those families whose daily lives are encapsulated in a financial struggle. Catherine, the heiress protagonist, marries Doug, a marketing manager from a poor background whom she employed and fell in love with. Catherine, to her great credit, determined to make her own way in the world, rather than accept her inherited wealth as her lot in life. Through hard work and determination she achieves a glittering prize in becoming the youngest VP in a prominent New York marketing company.
Osprey Lodge is in Canada, where she is sent to retrieve a failing account, and meets Alex, the CEO of the Droxell company - same age, attractive, successful, ambitious and in-between wives. Nuff said.
The story ends on a huge cliff hanger - What the heck is Doug Up to?
I give this story four stars, because it is above the 3-star average of other cozy romances I have read recently and sticks to the rules of the genre. An enjoyable read.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I told you that I read this first in the series and immediately went in and purchased the second? Yeah it was that good!! It kind of reminded me of those television soap operas where you just had to tune in the next day to find out what happened!! As a matter of fact I'm surprised they haven't grabbed this for a series yet (there are 15 books in this series I think at least for now).

Rich girl-poor boy marry once he realizes she has money. Then he finds something in a car he went out and bought with her money--and takes off for parts unknown. She went on a job at the Osprey Cove Lodge and falls in love with it. She ends up wowing the owner's son and saves the account for her boss.

She is rather torn up about the disappearance of her husband and before another meeting to finalize the deal decides to go back there for a couple days before the meeting----

You will love how this story evolves--but get ready for the cliffhanger--you are going to want more!!!

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not A Fan

I truly dislike the soap opera cliff hangers that appear to have been built into the series. It’s a gimmick to sell more books, and apparently there’s a market for that, but I don’t fall into that category. I fully embrace cozy mysteries, and I have found authors of cozy series I truly enjoy: Lucy Burdette; Lynn Cahoon; and Dawn Brookes. I like series with characters who evolve and grow, and circumstances that can be wrapped up neatly in one book. I keep returning to these authors because of their creative writing ability, and confidence their future books will sell without need to write lazy soap operas. I expected I’d like this series, and bought a 5 pack special. I read book 1, and I’m done. There are far better books to read.

[Janice Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a romance novel..

I didn't realizethis wasn't really the type of book I usually read when I started it. It seemed to be a sweet little story that I just kept on reading waiting for the mystery to begin. You could tell there was something coming but now it might happen in the next book. I don't mind second books and most times I like them but I don't like booked that nothing is ever finished so that you have to have the next book. I wonder if there will have to be a third book?

[Jeanne Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

No obligatory sex in this romance

So refreshing to read about interesting adults who are attracted to each other but do not immediately start a sexual relationship. Plot has twists that keep it interesting but the ending was most unsatisfying. Book had a beginning and middle but no real ending. The end was so unsatisfying and so blatantly a device to try to force readers to buy the next book... Well, I refuse. Cheating your readers of a well-crafted finale to your tale is self-defeating. No sale.

[Eddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read for an evening’s light entertainment, but nothing more. The relationship issues were predictable from the start. I did not care for the ending, as there was no resolution. This seems like a cheap trick by the author to get you to buy the next book. I had credits, so I did get the second book (for free), as I am curious about what was in the hidden compartment. But I doubt I will read on if this book also has no resolution. There are too many excellent books out there to be read!

[Susan Huhn-Bowles · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most poorly written books ever. Cliche after cliche. Can't AI do better than this? Needed editing and inspiration. Total wast of time. Skimmed through the whole book and will delete all of it. Sorry for the negativity. This kind of writing should never get published.

Read what I just wrote. Shallow explanatory writing. Cliche after cliche. Waste of time. Too wordy
All the sentences had the same stilted structure. Boring, predictable. All content will be deleted.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I couldn't put down! Very interesting plot with likable characters. It touches on situations that are very contemporary. There is a young father who is a widower with an 8.year old daughter and his desire to give her a mother figure. Then there is Catherine who discovers that her marriage is definitely not what she expected it to be. Both Alex and Catherine find themselves in difficult situations and their meeting seems like Fate had planned it.
A good read!

[Jeimy Pinituj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow reading

The concept of the story was somehow good but is too slow and boring, I had to skip several times the paragraphs since did not add anything to the main characters. When the writer has to explain each thoughts of the characters aferres each conversation is tired and does not give room for us the readers to feel it. I don’t recommend reading this since I don’t feel like reading 6 more books to get to the bottom line.

[James Crocker · Rating 2 out of 5]

writing was poor

The story could have been good but it rambled and was full of telling, author intrusion, and stilted dialogue. For all the heroine is supposed to be so brilliant she was made vp of the firm she works for she’s amazingly blind when it comes to her husband. The book doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger but there’s no incentive to read the next 2 books because the story should have been written in just one.