5 big fat Stars, but seriously, The Stationmaster’s Cottage by Phillipa Nefri Clark deserves so many more.Wow. Superb. Beautiful. Outstanding.This just might be my favourite read of 2017.The day I started reading this I was sitting at a picnic table which overlooked the beautiful foreshore of Wollongong. In between reading I was hoping to gaze at the scenery and also watch what was going on around me but the rolling waves , the stunning mountain vista, people enjoying their barbecue lunches, all was completely forgotten. My eyes only focused on the words and my ears were deaf to sound so engrossed was I in reading this beautiful story.The Stationmaster’s Cottage is a gripping tale of family secrets, a mysterious painting, love letters, two different time periods, two gorgeous love stories, a stunning coastal town, all which make for an extraordinary story.Loved this book so much…it’s a must read.I’ll be sure to keep a lookout for more from this author.Highly, highly recommended.

Absolutely beautifully written. Really nostalgic and poignant journey through the past as Christie discovered family secrets long buried. I found the character development really thorough and I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended!

A fascinating and warm-hearted love-story full of secrets and lies, heartaches and joy. This novel is more narrative than dialogue, and more plot-driven than character driven--almost has more of a literary style to it. The first half of the story is mostly descriptive. In fact, for a while, I was waiting for the story to truly begin, because it seemed the descriptions of the places, landscapes and people wasn't ending; though the writing is very good. I'm just not one of those readers who's a fan of that. However, if you are, you will absolutely love this story. I do have to admit though, that because of the detail of the descriptions, I could feel myself there in this place that I've never seen or heard of before.It deserves five stars because it is written well...the story flows, and going from the present to the past and back and forth again and again is not an easy task. This author handles it well so as not to confuse the reader. The protagonist initially starts off weak allowing herself to be pushed around, but eventually, we see a different and better, stronger side to her which makes her more likable.The author keeps the suspense of the story going throughout most of the book. Even though I was able to basically guess what had happened, and the end wasn't a complete shock, this author's writing technique is good enough to keep you curious. I read this book in one evening because it's a story that you don't want to lay aside until it's finished.All in all, if you don't mind the almost prose-like writing style for the first half of the book, you'll love The Stationmasters Cottage, especially when you get to the second half of the book where it picks up speed and feeds your need for answers and your curious mind about what exactly happened to these characters.I can't imagine anyone who loves an old-fashioned love story with an undercurrent of suspense, not loving this novel.

This is an amazing story which will hook you instantly. Christie attends her estranged grandmother’s funeral only to find that her inheritance is a Stationmaster’s cottage, a painting and box of letters. In the stationmaster’s cottage, she learns of her Great Aunt Martha’s love story and betrayal. As Christie’s story unfolds so does that of her Great Aunt. The book flips between Martha and Christie’s life as Christie reads her aunt’s lost love letters!

As Christie tries to unravel the mystery of Martha & Tom’s love, she meets Martin. There is an instant attraction but he has nothing but disdain for her because of her last name. Slowly, Martin sees that there might be more to Christie than her name and an old family hatred. Christie also begins to see the type of man Martin is but is too busy to worry about her own personal life. She is determined to figure out what happened 50 years ago even if the whole town won’t talk about it. Romance novels seldom take me by surprise but this one did. I’m not giving you any spoilers, read it. It's a marvelous story!

WOW this is such an awesome story a debut for MS Nefri Clark and a total winner amazing story a time slip set in the late 1960’s and present time, a story of family secrets true love and lost love. My advice make yourself comfortable and sit back with this one because you are not going to want to put it down.

Make-up artist Christie Ryan is just about to leave on a romantic getaway with her fiancé Dereck when she gets a message that her estranged grandmother has passed away and that the funeral will be held in the small coastal town of River’s End and against Dereck’s wishes she goes off to attend the funeral. Christie’s childhood was a tough one losing her parents when she was young and then being bought up by her stern unloving grandmother but she needs to say goodbye never realizing what a nest of secrets and mystery that she has left Christie to uncover in this beautiful town.

Martin Blake has lived in River’s End his entire life he is an artist who comes across as a bit harsh but that is not so when he sees this woman at the funeral of someone that he classes as enemy and there are very good reasons why he does he is maddened but he is also drawn to this beautiful woman and when they are pushed together because of a painting and some letters well let’s just say they are in for an up and down journey.

There are two love stories in this one two beautiful love stories I might add that will bring you to tears as it did me this debut is beautifully written the characters are rich and engaging and the emotions fly off the pages the setting is amazing and the secrets that are uncovered by Christie will make your heart pound and getting angry with some people. Yes this is a story that I highly recommend so many emotions so much joy in the end the best. Congrats MS Nefri Clark on a fabulous debut.

Ms. Clark has written a very moving story involving many facets of love and friendship. Plus, there is a mystery to be solved! You could feel how the hopes and dreams, the losses, and the love - of friends, both old and new - of families - of a community - and of lovers are intertwined and dependent on the behaviors of the characters.

This story gives you romance, a mystery and a wonderful journey. Christie finds out she has inherited a cottage at Rivers end, from her Grandmothers sister and feels impelled to go see it.  She is always away as she is a makeup artist and travels which her fiancé's Derek frowns upon but that doesn't stop her from wanting to go to the funeral and see this cottage.   She meets Martin Blake who helps her uncover why the cottage is in disarray and why she has a feeling there is more to this cottage than meets the eye. This is where Phillipa Nefri Clark gets you so involved in the story you will not want to stop reading.  A truly wonderful book and you will find yourself looking to read more by this author.

The Stationmaster's Cottage by Phillipa Nefri Clark
First book I have read by Phillipa Nefri Clark but was enjoyable and glad I read it.
Christie Ryan is a make-up artist and her fiancé Derek Hobbs is not very pleased that she is gone so much. Their relationship may not be what others are but she has found what she likes and she considers her life to be good.
Angus McGregor takes care of her gran. He takes care of the house, the grounds and drives her where she needs to go. Angus arrives unexpectedly just as Christie and Derek were about to leave on a holiday together. But Angus has sad news for Christie. Angus has served Christie’s gran for 20 years and had been very loyal. 
Read the story of how Derek handles the fact that Christie cannot run off on the holiday that he wanted, plus what happens when she goes to the small cottage in River’s End. Meeting artist Martin Blake and as she uncovers secrets of the past. 
This is a wonderful romantic story that set in two different eras and tells of love, secrets, and much more. 

"The Stationmaster's Cottage" by Phillipa Nefri Clark is my first read from this author and I loved the story so much that I couldn't put the book down. Christie Ryan is a famous makeup artist and she is engaged to Derek. They don't see each other very often so Derek booked a trip for them to go away. On the day of their departure Christie finds out her Grandmother passed away. She tells her fiance that she must go to her funeral and Derek wasn't too happy about it, but re-booked her to fly out of River's End after the funeral. Derek is very controlling and didn't like to be ignored.

When Christie arrives in River's End she finds that her estranged Grandmother left her a cottage. The house was in disarray, but something drew Christie to the house, and as it turns out there is a mystery surrounding her Grandmother's sister. Martin Blake comes in to help out Christie, and they both find themselves attracted to each other. There is one problem. Martin and his family are tied into the mystery. 

There is so much to this story, and I don't want to give anything away by writing more. Please pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.