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Sarah #2
Sarah's Cottage
Recently married to Charles, Sarah is furnishing a cottage in Scotland and starting on a life in sharp contrast to their wartime experiences. Their full entrance into village life is helped by Sarah's delightful grandparents, who have given them the land on which they have built their cottage.
They work together, collaborating in translations for a publisher. Charles embarks on more ambitious writing, his autobiography, yet increasingly it is not books but life itself that engrosses him and Sarah. In particular Frederica, the daughter of Sarah's frivolous and pleasure-seeking sister, commands their sympathy and love. One by one the characters of a large attractive family make their appearance but it is through Frederica that the nexus of family problems is finally resolved.
They work together, collaborating in translations for a publisher. Charles embarks on more ambitious writing, his autobiography, yet increasingly it is not books but life itself that engrosses him and Sarah. In particular Frederica, the daughter of Sarah's frivolous and pleasure-seeking sister, commands their sympathy and love. One by one the characters of a large attractive family make their appearance but it is through Frederica that the nexus of family problems is finally resolved.
440 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
116 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
D.E. Stevenson
65 books604 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Dorothy Emily Stevenson was a best-selling Scottish author. She published more than 40 romantic novels over a period of more than 40 years. Her father was a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson.
D.E. Stevenson had an enormously successful writing career: between 1923 and 1970, four million copies of her books were sold in Britain and three million in the States. Like E.F. Benson, Ann Bridge, O. Douglas or Dorothy L. Sayers (to name but a few) her books are funny, intensely readable, engaging and dependable.
Dorothy Emily Stevenson was a best-selling Scottish author. She published more than 40 romantic novels over a period of more than 40 years. Her father was a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson.
D.E. Stevenson had an enormously successful writing career: between 1923 and 1970, four million copies of her books were sold in Britain and three million in the States. Like E.F. Benson, Ann Bridge, O. Douglas or Dorothy L. Sayers (to name but a few) her books are funny, intensely readable, engaging and dependable.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 23, 2019
A nice comfort read, just what I'd needed at the time after reading a harrowing blizzard story. Sarah & Charles as newlyweds are so sweet and their relationships with Sarah's grandparents and her sadly neglected niece make for a lovely story.
August 12, 2025
I do love Sarah and wish I could spend even more time with her! This would have been five stars except the ending came on a bit suddenly for me and I was hoping things would get wrapped up more than they did. But otherwise, I absolutely loved this one. Well, except for Lottie of course. What a horrible person she is!
February 12, 2024
This was my second time reading this and I’ve bumped it up from 3 to 4 stars. Much better than book 1. This story has all the elements of my favorite Stevenson books. This includes a love story that’s sweet but not so sickie sweet that it makes my teeth hurt, a bad hat, quirky but lovable minor characters, some selfish, thoughtless family members as well as supportive, loving ones, and, of course, a happy ending.
January 3, 2013
I suspect I'm coming close to categorizing myself as a Dessie (DES enthusiast). Maybe it's the idea of a simpler time, the easy pace, the richness of relationships among the characters. I especially appreciate the "others-centric" quality of many of DES's characters. Selflessness was not only accepted, but expected. We could do worse than to embrace this beautiful Christian quality.
In this sequel to Sarah Morris Remembers, Sarah demonstrates selflessness in her graceful relationship with husband Charles, in dedication to her aging grandparents, and in always being there for struggling niece Freddy. Throw in a few exciting episodes with eccentric ex-seaman Sir Rupert, and you have a terrific "cozy" read.
Although I still haven't warmed up to the Mrs. Tim series for some reason, I still say I qualify as an entry-level Dessie!
In this sequel to Sarah Morris Remembers, Sarah demonstrates selflessness in her graceful relationship with husband Charles, in dedication to her aging grandparents, and in always being there for struggling niece Freddy. Throw in a few exciting episodes with eccentric ex-seaman Sir Rupert, and you have a terrific "cozy" read.
Although I still haven't warmed up to the Mrs. Tim series for some reason, I still say I qualify as an entry-level Dessie!
March 1, 2021
The right book at the right time😄. Delightful. And the perfect read while we are in between houses ourselves, so home-filled and comforting.
November 19, 2022
This is pure D.E. Stevenson; not one of her best, certainly, but nevertheless very relaxing and pleasant, especially in the audiobook format. The complete opposite of a thriller, it is slow-paced though never boring. A concentrated dose of Feel-Good and Nostalgia, a bit like Miss Read.
January 24, 2018
Re-read as audio book.
June 19, 2013
Begins as a country idyll, with a couple fresh off their honeymoon coming home to their new cottage in Scotland. The kind of book where delightful things seem the norm, like when they arrive unexpectedly early and figure that because there's been no time to stock the kitchen with food, they'll have to stay in a hotel for one night, but lo and behold, someone mysteriously found out they were coming and filled the pantry. As the book continues, a few sad or temporarily alarming things happen, but this is primarily the story of a couple who is happy to be together, living in a place they've chosen among people they love. A very nice life, though tinged with some bittersweetness. Their efforts to take care of their niece in place of her negligent parents form a big part of the story, as do Charles' efforts to write a book about his life, only he replaces all the bad bits with good bits.
March 12, 2019
This book was on my Kindle app and was my goto book for reading in the night when I found myself sleepless. What I liked about it was it’s peaceful tone and the bucolic setting that inevitably helped me get back to a peaceful sleep. What I didn’t like about it was that it went on and on and on. And everything just seemed to work out perfectly, not realistic in the slightest. At times, it was eyerollingly fairytale-ish however I kept on reading it, in bed, at night. I think I’m over DE Stevenson now, I’ve read enough of her books now, I’m done.
December 29, 2007
The sequel to "Sarah Remembers". Sarah and Charles create a lovely life together and save a young niece in the process. A story of another type of life style than our modern rush. A favorite.
April 28, 2020
Back to reading DE Stevenson’s lovely books with kindle unlimited.
November 18, 2021
I loved reading the second in the Sarah Morris series, it was fun and exciting seeing what happens to the Reades and their friends and family. Her family and some of Charles’ family are here again but what was doubly exciting was that the Celia series family are present too. I had read that long ago and look forward to re-reading so those characters are fresher. Freddie’s school headmistress is Charlotte Fairlie, I have not read that book yet but look forward to hearing more about her. The Celia series and “Charlotte Fairlie” were published in the 1940’s whereas the Sarah Morris series was in the mid to late 1960’s.
The war was the focus of the first book and the second is life after.
Story in short- Sarah and Charles enjoy the country life and especially the closeness to family.
I have yet to find a D. E. Stevenson stoty that I truly did not like, her characters are engaging!
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
"We had got what we wanted, Charles and I. We had planned the cottage; we had waited until the war was over and we were both free; we had been married and had spent our honeymoon in Skye. Now, at last, we had come home to our own place.
my grandfather, Colonel Maitland, was on the spot and was able to keep an eye on the work (the piece of land upon which the cottage was being built was part of his property and had been given to us as a wedding present)."
"We had been obliged to wait much longer than we expected, for Charles had been attached to a base camp as an interpreter (he had been working an average of eighteen hours a day) and, even after the war in Europe was over, his services were still required, so his demobilisation had been delayed. In my opinion it had been delayed beyond all reason but Charles was patient and conscientious; he wanted to feel that he had earned the right to be free"
"Charles had asked if I minded being alone. I didn’t, of course, but even if I had been nervous I would have let him go just the same. Freedom and solitude were as necessary to Charles as food and drink. For years he had been in a German Oflag, crowded together with other men, hemmed in with barbed wire. It was no wonder that every now and then he felt the urge to walk for miles, to go wherever he wanted, to be alone!"
“We shall make the history of our house.” He hesitated and then continued thoughtfully. “I lived in a house that was too full of history, the atmosphere of the past was strong and real, sometimes I felt oppressed as if I were surrounded by an unseen host of people, some good and some bad. I believe it was that which caused the trouble.” I knew he was speaking of his father’s castle in Austria. “The trouble,” said Charles with a deep sigh. “There was history in the very walls"
"Schloss Roethke—you couldn’t get away from it. We had too many ancestors; there were pictures of them in the long gallery—not very good pictures, but they all had the Reeder face.” I turned and looked at him. “Oh, I haven’t got it,” he said smiling. “I resemble my mother who was a MacDonald—as you know. My brother, Rudi, is a true Reeder.” “But in spite of that you were your father’s favourite.” “Perhaps because I was different; perhaps because I was like Mother. He loved her in his own way. It wasn’t a very good way—I mean he didn’t make her happy. He didn’t even try to make her happy.”
"I remember once, when she had been ill, the doctor advised a change of air. She wanted to come to Scotland but my father arranged for her to go to the South of France instead. He said the climate was better—and I suppose it was true—but that wasn’t the real reason.” “What was it?” I asked. “He was afraid, Sarah. He was afraid that if she went to Skye she might not come back. It was nonsense, of course, but that was in his mind. He was afraid of losing her . . . and then he lost her. It was pneumonia, but she could have got better if she had tried.”
Sarah and Charles are finally married after the war, their dream cottage near Craignethan is built on her grandfather's property. Many gifts are given to the couple which makes it complete. Charles talks about his mother missing Scotland and his father not understanding and letting her visit.
"During the war father had been working as an unpaid curate in the East End of London, but, quite recently, he had been given a charge in a small village near St Albans. Willy, who had been with us in London all through the blitz, was able to live with father and travel to London daily. Everything had fitted in well and I had got them settled in the vicarage at Allington before Charles and I were married"
“Oh, I do!” I declared emphatically. “He doesn’t look old—or feel old—but he was doing far too much at St Rule’s. He’ll be comfortable at Allington. The church is delightful and the vicarage is not too big; best of all I managed to engage a nice kindly woman to come in daily. It isn’t difficult to get a woman to look after two men.”
“Charles received no answer, so he wrote again; this time he insured the letter to make certain that the Baron would get it . . . and it was answered by return of post. It consisted of two sentences: ‘I received your first letter. I have nothing to say to you.’ It was signed ‘Roethke’.”
“I don’t think Charles is very upset. When he showed me his father’s reply he said he wasn’t surprised; it was natural that his father should be angry. He said, ‘It was my duty to write and tell him. Now it is finished and we needn’t think about it any more.’ Charles isn’t resentful, he has forgiven his family for their unsympathetic attitude—which I think is very good of him considering all he has done for them!”
Charles and Sarah enjoy their first night in their new cottage, where nobody elses memories are there. They visit her grandparents and make Charles feel like one of the family. Sarah tells them about her father having another parish away from London that Willy commutes from daily to work in the city. Charles has written his father but it seems that his father will not forgive him. What happens if Rudi dies without an heir? That does not happen, for his brother had two sons. Charles is happy and can easily forget his home. Grandfather and Charles are intetested in the history of Craignethan.
“There are many people in the world who would give all they possess for the peacefulness of Ryddelton,” he explained. “Och, there’s quite a lot going on——” began Maggie. “Maggie,” said Charles, leaning forward. “What would you do if you were walking down Ryddelton High Street and you saw a man pull out a gun and shoot another man in the back?” She gazed at him in bewilderment. “What would you do?” repeated Charles, smiling kindly. “I just—wouldna believe ma eyes.” “Och, it would be for the pictures,” said Minnie brightly."
“No, I’m the visitor from another planet,” said Charles thoughtfully. “They’re in their own place: a place where nothing violent ever happens; a place where violence is unbelievable, even if you see it with your own eyes, a happy place, Sarah.” “You put them under a microscope. It was rather naughty of you.” “I don’t think they minded. I want to understand these people; I want to know how they tick; I want to forget all the unhappy people and places and dig myself in at Ryddelton.” “I thought you had forgotten.” “Not quite,” said Charles with a sigh."
Charles and Sarah have Minne and Maggie Dell for visitors. The Dells war work was in making clothes which is no longer needed and they offer their services which Charles accepts, even though Sarah rather tend for it herself but he feels that their having something to do for someone they love, more important.
"and I went on to ask for news of Frederica, who was now nearly five years old.
Freddie had had measles so I said I hoped she was better. It was a mystery to me how the child had caught the complaint for she was isolated on the top floor of Brailsford Manor with a thoroughly trained nursery nurse in attendance."
"There were hundreds of little houses with lights shining from their uncurtained windows; we could see a family gathered round a table enjoying their evening meal. We drifted along slowly and noiselessly. “I like to see them,” explained Charles. “I like to see them happy. They don’t know they’re happy which is a pity. I suppose they would think I was a raving lunatic if I knocked at that cottage door and told them they were happy.” I knew what he meant for he had said it before in different words: these people had never known fear; they had never been ground beneath the heel of a conqueror; they had never been interrupted in the middle of a meal by the bursting open of their door, and the entry of men in uniform with guns in their hands, nor wakened from sleep to find their house full of noise and violence; they had never had their dear ones torn from their arms and dragged away to prison camps."
“You said your husband was a doctor, Mrs Dunne. Have you been here long?” “Yes, all our lives. You see Mark is the son of Admiral Dunne of Dunnian House. You’ve probably heard of him. His daughter, Celia, and her husband live with him there; they have two little girls. My sister-in-law will be very interested when I tell her I’ve met you.” She added with a smile, “We’ve all been wondering what you were like.”
Celia's family from "Celia's House" & "Listening Valley"
Sarah and Charles go for a ride and then see an estate auction looking for buys. Mrs. Dunne helps Sarah, Mark Dunne's wife from Celia's series.
“I shall have to go at once.” “That’s Lottie’s idea. I don’t agree.” “I must! Freddie needs me!” “Listen, darling! A mother ought to be able to look after her own child. This may be a blessing in disguise for Lottie.” “It’s Freddie I’m thinking of!” “Spare a thought for poor rich Lottie who has never learnt to do anything for anyone in her life.” “Oh, Charles!” I said miserably."
“Wait for a day or two and see what happens,” suggested Charles. “My guess is that things will settle down and they will learn to love each other. It’s unnatural for a mother not to love her child.”
Charles was usually correct in his judgment of human beings and their reactions but on this occasion he was wrong: two days later I received a telegram saying, Frederica ill temperature 102 come at once Lottie. After that Charles made no more objections; he said, “We’ll start tomorrow morning at five o’clock. I like clear roads.”
“Well, we must hope for the best,” I said . . . and added hastily before she had a chance to give me any further details about nurse, “Miss Frederica doesn’t seem difficult to manage.” “Not reely. She’s got a will of ’er own, of course, but if you take ’er the right way she’s all right. I could manage ’er myself—easy—if I didn’t ’ave me cooking. She’s a dear little thing, Mrs Reede. The trouble is ’er ladyship ’asn’t got no patience. Miss Frederica is just a bother to ’er.”
Sarah is wanted by Lotte because the nurse took ill and she needs someone to look after Freddie who has a fever. Charles thinks mother and child should get to understand each other. Charles drives Sarah to Brailsford and looks to go to Oxford to look up friends, he has no patience for Lotte.
The war was the focus of the first book and the second is life after.
Story in short- Sarah and Charles enjoy the country life and especially the closeness to family.
I have yet to find a D. E. Stevenson stoty that I truly did not like, her characters are engaging!
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
"We had got what we wanted, Charles and I. We had planned the cottage; we had waited until the war was over and we were both free; we had been married and had spent our honeymoon in Skye. Now, at last, we had come home to our own place.
my grandfather, Colonel Maitland, was on the spot and was able to keep an eye on the work (the piece of land upon which the cottage was being built was part of his property and had been given to us as a wedding present)."
"We had been obliged to wait much longer than we expected, for Charles had been attached to a base camp as an interpreter (he had been working an average of eighteen hours a day) and, even after the war in Europe was over, his services were still required, so his demobilisation had been delayed. In my opinion it had been delayed beyond all reason but Charles was patient and conscientious; he wanted to feel that he had earned the right to be free"
"Charles had asked if I minded being alone. I didn’t, of course, but even if I had been nervous I would have let him go just the same. Freedom and solitude were as necessary to Charles as food and drink. For years he had been in a German Oflag, crowded together with other men, hemmed in with barbed wire. It was no wonder that every now and then he felt the urge to walk for miles, to go wherever he wanted, to be alone!"
“We shall make the history of our house.” He hesitated and then continued thoughtfully. “I lived in a house that was too full of history, the atmosphere of the past was strong and real, sometimes I felt oppressed as if I were surrounded by an unseen host of people, some good and some bad. I believe it was that which caused the trouble.” I knew he was speaking of his father’s castle in Austria. “The trouble,” said Charles with a deep sigh. “There was history in the very walls"
"Schloss Roethke—you couldn’t get away from it. We had too many ancestors; there were pictures of them in the long gallery—not very good pictures, but they all had the Reeder face.” I turned and looked at him. “Oh, I haven’t got it,” he said smiling. “I resemble my mother who was a MacDonald—as you know. My brother, Rudi, is a true Reeder.” “But in spite of that you were your father’s favourite.” “Perhaps because I was different; perhaps because I was like Mother. He loved her in his own way. It wasn’t a very good way—I mean he didn’t make her happy. He didn’t even try to make her happy.”
"I remember once, when she had been ill, the doctor advised a change of air. She wanted to come to Scotland but my father arranged for her to go to the South of France instead. He said the climate was better—and I suppose it was true—but that wasn’t the real reason.” “What was it?” I asked. “He was afraid, Sarah. He was afraid that if she went to Skye she might not come back. It was nonsense, of course, but that was in his mind. He was afraid of losing her . . . and then he lost her. It was pneumonia, but she could have got better if she had tried.”
Sarah and Charles are finally married after the war, their dream cottage near Craignethan is built on her grandfather's property. Many gifts are given to the couple which makes it complete. Charles talks about his mother missing Scotland and his father not understanding and letting her visit.
"During the war father had been working as an unpaid curate in the East End of London, but, quite recently, he had been given a charge in a small village near St Albans. Willy, who had been with us in London all through the blitz, was able to live with father and travel to London daily. Everything had fitted in well and I had got them settled in the vicarage at Allington before Charles and I were married"
“Oh, I do!” I declared emphatically. “He doesn’t look old—or feel old—but he was doing far too much at St Rule’s. He’ll be comfortable at Allington. The church is delightful and the vicarage is not too big; best of all I managed to engage a nice kindly woman to come in daily. It isn’t difficult to get a woman to look after two men.”
“Charles received no answer, so he wrote again; this time he insured the letter to make certain that the Baron would get it . . . and it was answered by return of post. It consisted of two sentences: ‘I received your first letter. I have nothing to say to you.’ It was signed ‘Roethke’.”
“I don’t think Charles is very upset. When he showed me his father’s reply he said he wasn’t surprised; it was natural that his father should be angry. He said, ‘It was my duty to write and tell him. Now it is finished and we needn’t think about it any more.’ Charles isn’t resentful, he has forgiven his family for their unsympathetic attitude—which I think is very good of him considering all he has done for them!”
Charles and Sarah enjoy their first night in their new cottage, where nobody elses memories are there. They visit her grandparents and make Charles feel like one of the family. Sarah tells them about her father having another parish away from London that Willy commutes from daily to work in the city. Charles has written his father but it seems that his father will not forgive him. What happens if Rudi dies without an heir? That does not happen, for his brother had two sons. Charles is happy and can easily forget his home. Grandfather and Charles are intetested in the history of Craignethan.
“There are many people in the world who would give all they possess for the peacefulness of Ryddelton,” he explained. “Och, there’s quite a lot going on——” began Maggie. “Maggie,” said Charles, leaning forward. “What would you do if you were walking down Ryddelton High Street and you saw a man pull out a gun and shoot another man in the back?” She gazed at him in bewilderment. “What would you do?” repeated Charles, smiling kindly. “I just—wouldna believe ma eyes.” “Och, it would be for the pictures,” said Minnie brightly."
“No, I’m the visitor from another planet,” said Charles thoughtfully. “They’re in their own place: a place where nothing violent ever happens; a place where violence is unbelievable, even if you see it with your own eyes, a happy place, Sarah.” “You put them under a microscope. It was rather naughty of you.” “I don’t think they minded. I want to understand these people; I want to know how they tick; I want to forget all the unhappy people and places and dig myself in at Ryddelton.” “I thought you had forgotten.” “Not quite,” said Charles with a sigh."
Charles and Sarah have Minne and Maggie Dell for visitors. The Dells war work was in making clothes which is no longer needed and they offer their services which Charles accepts, even though Sarah rather tend for it herself but he feels that their having something to do for someone they love, more important.
"and I went on to ask for news of Frederica, who was now nearly five years old.
Freddie had had measles so I said I hoped she was better. It was a mystery to me how the child had caught the complaint for she was isolated on the top floor of Brailsford Manor with a thoroughly trained nursery nurse in attendance."
"There were hundreds of little houses with lights shining from their uncurtained windows; we could see a family gathered round a table enjoying their evening meal. We drifted along slowly and noiselessly. “I like to see them,” explained Charles. “I like to see them happy. They don’t know they’re happy which is a pity. I suppose they would think I was a raving lunatic if I knocked at that cottage door and told them they were happy.” I knew what he meant for he had said it before in different words: these people had never known fear; they had never been ground beneath the heel of a conqueror; they had never been interrupted in the middle of a meal by the bursting open of their door, and the entry of men in uniform with guns in their hands, nor wakened from sleep to find their house full of noise and violence; they had never had their dear ones torn from their arms and dragged away to prison camps."
“You said your husband was a doctor, Mrs Dunne. Have you been here long?” “Yes, all our lives. You see Mark is the son of Admiral Dunne of Dunnian House. You’ve probably heard of him. His daughter, Celia, and her husband live with him there; they have two little girls. My sister-in-law will be very interested when I tell her I’ve met you.” She added with a smile, “We’ve all been wondering what you were like.”
Celia's family from "Celia's House" & "Listening Valley"
Sarah and Charles go for a ride and then see an estate auction looking for buys. Mrs. Dunne helps Sarah, Mark Dunne's wife from Celia's series.
“I shall have to go at once.” “That’s Lottie’s idea. I don’t agree.” “I must! Freddie needs me!” “Listen, darling! A mother ought to be able to look after her own child. This may be a blessing in disguise for Lottie.” “It’s Freddie I’m thinking of!” “Spare a thought for poor rich Lottie who has never learnt to do anything for anyone in her life.” “Oh, Charles!” I said miserably."
“Wait for a day or two and see what happens,” suggested Charles. “My guess is that things will settle down and they will learn to love each other. It’s unnatural for a mother not to love her child.”
Charles was usually correct in his judgment of human beings and their reactions but on this occasion he was wrong: two days later I received a telegram saying, Frederica ill temperature 102 come at once Lottie. After that Charles made no more objections; he said, “We’ll start tomorrow morning at five o’clock. I like clear roads.”
“Well, we must hope for the best,” I said . . . and added hastily before she had a chance to give me any further details about nurse, “Miss Frederica doesn’t seem difficult to manage.” “Not reely. She’s got a will of ’er own, of course, but if you take ’er the right way she’s all right. I could manage ’er myself—easy—if I didn’t ’ave me cooking. She’s a dear little thing, Mrs Reede. The trouble is ’er ladyship ’asn’t got no patience. Miss Frederica is just a bother to ’er.”
Sarah is wanted by Lotte because the nurse took ill and she needs someone to look after Freddie who has a fever. Charles thinks mother and child should get to understand each other. Charles drives Sarah to Brailsford and looks to go to Oxford to look up friends, he has no patience for Lotte.
June 8, 2019
Sarah’s Cottage welcomed me
Although it is Book 2 (after Sarah Morris Remembers), Sarah’s Cottage could be read alone. Sarah’s Cottage is her dream house with the man she has always loved. They had many struggles to get to this point (book1) and now it’s time for them to enjoy their marriage. Right?
As always, D. E. Stevenson’s novel is about characters, people as real as you and me, only more so. The plots of her novels are rich but that’s not why we choose them. We live inside Sarah’s mind as she learns to understand her husband, as she gets to know her community, and as she deals with issues in her extended family. She is a real person with joy, sorrow, contentment, restlessness, irritation, anger... need I go on? We also see how she adjusts to Charles and living with a man who struggles with his memories (now we call it post-traumatic stress).
Once again Stevenson set her novel in Riddleton, so I met some old friends, the Dunnes, Bay Coates, and others. All of Stevenson’s novels are worth reading, and I’m glad I’ve found them on kindle.
Although it is Book 2 (after Sarah Morris Remembers), Sarah’s Cottage could be read alone. Sarah’s Cottage is her dream house with the man she has always loved. They had many struggles to get to this point (book1) and now it’s time for them to enjoy their marriage. Right?
As always, D. E. Stevenson’s novel is about characters, people as real as you and me, only more so. The plots of her novels are rich but that’s not why we choose them. We live inside Sarah’s mind as she learns to understand her husband, as she gets to know her community, and as she deals with issues in her extended family. She is a real person with joy, sorrow, contentment, restlessness, irritation, anger... need I go on? We also see how she adjusts to Charles and living with a man who struggles with his memories (now we call it post-traumatic stress).
Once again Stevenson set her novel in Riddleton, so I met some old friends, the Dunnes, Bay Coates, and others. All of Stevenson’s novels are worth reading, and I’m glad I’ve found them on kindle.
April 20, 2020
Wonderful comfort reading in a time when everyone needs support. This sequel to Sarah Morris Remembers continues with Sarah's life as a newlywed. She marries Charles, her one love, and they move to a newly built cottage on her grandparents' land in Scotland. The grans are wonderful, and Sarah and Charles' love story is sweet, and really a representation of how everyone wants their early married years to develop - with mutual love and kindness and thoughtfulness.
This story branches out in many different ways: Sarah's sister, Lottie is still selfish, and neglectful of her daughter Freddie; Sarah and Charles and the grans do their best to take care of Freddie; Charles must deal with his Austrian relatives; they get to know many of their new neighbours (including the Dunnes from Celia's House). The book is a mixture of adventures and happenings, with reflections and insights, and it is a peaceful read for a troubled time.
This story branches out in many different ways: Sarah's sister, Lottie is still selfish, and neglectful of her daughter Freddie; Sarah and Charles and the grans do their best to take care of Freddie; Charles must deal with his Austrian relatives; they get to know many of their new neighbours (including the Dunnes from Celia's House). The book is a mixture of adventures and happenings, with reflections and insights, and it is a peaceful read for a troubled time.
December 31, 2019
I'm thankful that my last book for 2019 wasn't a disappointment. I definitely liked the storyline in Sarah's Cottage more than the one crafted in Sarah Morris; and, this book had me meeting up with Debbie, Mark, and, Beric from Celia’s House again. The bones for what would happen to the girls' school “if Miss Bain retires?” starts here and is then fleshed out fully in the stand-alone novel Charlotte Fairlie, which I had read just before this one.
Whew! Lottie sure grew up to be a mother from hell: poor Freddie.
Whew! Lottie sure grew up to be a mother from hell: poor Freddie.
March 20, 2013
I would give this a 3 1/2. I enjoyed it, but Miss Buncle's Book was better. All of the interiors mentioned were a delight to imagine!
February 14, 2019
Not such a strong story this time. The characters are lovelingly set to paper and the righteous always win. Comfort reading but still Sarah is just a bit wimpy in this sequel.
June 24, 2020
I just finished Sarah Morris Remembers and Sarah's cottage. I generally like D.E. Stevenson's books a lot but I couldn't bring myself to like this.
There are several things in both the books that didn't work for me. Sarah starts writing the story of her family because her teacher taught her at a very young age the habit of diary writing. However, as we progress, she doesn't really continue to write about her family. We never really find out more about her brothers and her father in this book. They show up now and then, because they exist.
In the first book, Sarah says she learns an important lesson from her grand father that the people who go all out for something, get it. She remembers that when she falls in love. But she seems to have forgotten that life lesson in this book. She floats along in life, making friends half heartedly. If she had followed this life lesson, she could have truly made a difference in her niece's life. Yet, she didn't really do anything about it, because the confrontation with her sister would have been hard. I couldn't see the woman in the first story here. I didn't like her because she knew her niece was being mistreated and she could have done something about it, but even after eighteen years she is still thinking about it.
I couldn't root for either of the lead characters as they seemed to live an idle existence without really a care for their income. They basically lived at the goodwill of friends who were willing to help them but I couldn't see where the reverse was true. I think the author tried to show us that they were not perfect people and could be flawed, but I felt the flaws outnumbered the goodness.
I read these books after Five Windows, which I really loved. That probably contributed to the disappointment.
There are several things in both the books that didn't work for me. Sarah starts writing the story of her family because her teacher taught her at a very young age the habit of diary writing. However, as we progress, she doesn't really continue to write about her family. We never really find out more about her brothers and her father in this book. They show up now and then, because they exist.
In the first book, Sarah says she learns an important lesson from her grand father that the people who go all out for something, get it. She remembers that when she falls in love. But she seems to have forgotten that life lesson in this book. She floats along in life, making friends half heartedly. If she had followed this life lesson, she could have truly made a difference in her niece's life. Yet, she didn't really do anything about it, because the confrontation with her sister would have been hard. I couldn't see the woman in the first story here. I didn't like her because she knew her niece was being mistreated and she could have done something about it, but even after eighteen years she is still thinking about it.
I couldn't root for either of the lead characters as they seemed to live an idle existence without really a care for their income. They basically lived at the goodwill of friends who were willing to help them but I couldn't see where the reverse was true. I think the author tried to show us that they were not perfect people and could be flawed, but I felt the flaws outnumbered the goodness.
I read these books after Five Windows, which I really loved. That probably contributed to the disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2021
What a lovely book. We open with Sarah and her husband settling into their cottage at Ryddelton—I so enjoy the few DES novels where our heroine is already married at the beginning. In this enchanting domestic novel, we have Sarah and her husband (I’m not mentioning his name for those who haven’t yet read the first book in the series); Sarah’s beloved grandparents; sundry characters from other books, including the Dunnes from Celia’s House; and of course the spoiled Lottie returns, but happily her sweet daughter more than compensates.
Not a lot happens here—or perhaps *everything* happens because it is the story of a decade Sarah’s life. And isn’t life everything? This is Stevenson at her best; a joy to read.
Not a lot happens here—or perhaps *everything* happens because it is the story of a decade Sarah’s life. And isn’t life everything? This is Stevenson at her best; a joy to read.
May 5, 2025
I enjoyed listening to this on audio. It was a good, comfortable story of the events after Sarah Morris Remembers. I enjoy most of D.E. Stevenson’s books, and I think this is one of her best. I also loved being reintroduced to Ryddelton, introduced in Celia’s House and Listening Valley. Loved seeing the development of Sarah and Charles’s marriage over the years, after their trials in the first book. Stevenson excels at portraying everyday life well, and she writes about good people and bad people, with grace and humor. She is one of my favorite comfort reads, while still having important insights to learn from. She combines wit and wisdom, and both are present in this story of a family in Scotland in 1940’s and 1950’s.
September 5, 2019
I love D E Stevenson - her books carry you to a lost world. It is so pleasant to read an author who is not going to involve dual time lines with two heroines (I hate that), she is not going to fill her book with angst, cruelty or nastiness and that is so refreshing. However this book is the only one of hers that I struggled with. Sarah goes from being a really strong character in the first book to drifting along in this one saying "I must talk to Charles" every chapter! It also ends very abruptly just when Freddie's character was getting really interesting. Having said all of that a not so good book by D E Stevenson is better than most!
March 30, 2022
Sarah and Charles completed their obligations to the jobs they were doing toward the War efforts while Grandpapa oversaw the construction of their cottage home in Scotland. Finally, the day arrived when they could move into their perfect place. This book focuses on them meeting their neighbors and becoming part of the community. There are also interactions with Sarah and Charles' families - some good and others not so good. It was an interesting read. I'm glad the author continued the story line and showed us what happened during peace time as the characters grew older.
August 28, 2024
A worthy sequel to Sarah Morris Remembers
Lovely tale of Scotland and home life. The ongoing characters develop appropriateiy and there are beautiful descriptive sections of prose of the countryside. Being Gentle Genre there is no sex or violence but this story edges closer to the modern world with descriptive accounts of the excessive social lifestyle followed by the mother of a central character. If you enjoyed the prequel, you will enjoy this even more. It can be read alone but works better as a pair of novels.
Lovely tale of Scotland and home life. The ongoing characters develop appropriateiy and there are beautiful descriptive sections of prose of the countryside. Being Gentle Genre there is no sex or violence but this story edges closer to the modern world with descriptive accounts of the excessive social lifestyle followed by the mother of a central character. If you enjoyed the prequel, you will enjoy this even more. It can be read alone but works better as a pair of novels.
November 13, 2018
Another great visit with D. E. Stevenson's delightful characters!
Sarah's Grandmama requested this prayer: "Oh Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life until the shadows lengthen and the evening cometh and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work done. Then Lord, in Thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, a holy rest and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. "
Sarah's Grandmama requested this prayer: "Oh Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life until the shadows lengthen and the evening cometh and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work done. Then Lord, in Thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, a holy rest and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. "
October 28, 2021
I am very late to the game as this is the first book by D.E. Stevenson that I have read. I loved it! Published in 1968, takes place in the English countryside and is charming. How lucky that this book was left behind at a home we purchased a few years back. Grabbed it off the shelf to read on a plane ride and almost devoured the whole book before landing. Time to work my way through more of Stevenson’s many books.
October 12, 2019
Always delightful
I love D.E.Stevenson's writing style! Charming, inviting, deliciously hopeful. I only wish the story continued; it seems quite a shame to leave it there, but, of course, it's an ending that lets the characters continue to live it out, making choices for themselves in the back of our minds.
I love D.E.Stevenson's writing style! Charming, inviting, deliciously hopeful. I only wish the story continued; it seems quite a shame to leave it there, but, of course, it's an ending that lets the characters continue to live it out, making choices for themselves in the back of our minds.
November 4, 2020
A wonderful sweet story. It follows Sarah and her husband and family and friends. There is some suspense, but be assured nothing terrible will happen. This is really special in these challenging times. Lovely sense of place and great caring characters. How I wish more people were like these. Terrific narrator for this book.
January 25, 2023
This story moves through 15-20 years, sometimes without much of a sense of time passing. It doesn't have a tremendous amount of interiority in the main character and has some odd moments along the way -- the episodes with Shane, for instance, have unsavory elements of xenophobia, but on the whole, the story had enough character and interesting moments to keep me reading.
December 22, 2018
I liked this one better than the first book, but it's still not my favorite. I also felt that the end was pretty abrupt; this is another one of her books where I wonder if she intended to write a third volume and never did.
September 21, 2024
I struggled to care as much about this story as other Stevensons. I think maybe the time span made it seem… less urgent/gripping? Also, it feels like there should be a third book. The story doesn’t feel quite complete somehow.
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