Rachael Lucas Books In Order

Publication Order of Applemore Bay Books

Publication Order of Auchenmor Island Books

Publication Order of Little Maudley Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Anthologies

Rachael Lucas is an English author of young adult fiction and contemporary romance books. She has authored over 15 books for adults and teenagers, including the top 10 bestselling book Sealed with a Kiss and the Carnegie nominated The State of Grace. Rachael has also authored of We Met in December, an Amazon Editor’s pick. Most of Rachael’s books have been translated into different languages, including Hungarian, Korean, French, Turkish, Latvian, German, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Estonian and more.

Rachael resides on the northwestern coast of England with her family and two spaniels. In her leisure time, you’ll find her either seated at the kitchen table, engrossed in her writing with a cup of coffee nearby, or outdoors, taking her dogs for walks along the beach or through the nearby pine forests. After a childhood that saw her journey from the Scottish Highlands to Australia and back, followed by a period of study in Northern Ireland and work in Germany, Rachael eventually found her home on the Island of Bute in her twenties. During this time, the concept for her debut novel, “Sealed with a Kiss,” first took root.

First published in 2021, The Winter Cottage is the first book in the Applemore Bay series by Rachael Lucas. Some books demand to be savored, while others ignite an irresistible urge to dive into their pages. Rachael Lucas’s The Winter Cottage falls firmly into the latter category.
The story unfolds with Rilla’s return to Applemore after a decade of traveling globally. Her life has been a whirlwind of movement, rarely staying in one country for long. Rilla’s homecoming is prompted by the passing of her estranged father, compelling her to journey from New England to his cottage in the Scottish Highlands to settle his affairs. She initially plans for her visit to be brief, hoping to avoid delving into the memories that the village of Applemore holds. Yet, as she remembers the memories, her well-guarded heart slowly opens.
Word of Rilla’s return spreads quickly to the Fraser children, with whom she shared many childhood adventures, including Lachlan, her childhood crush. His unexpected presence in Applemore coincides with her arrival, adding a layer of intrigue to her return.

However, it’s not just a heartwarming reunion. The Fraser children have recently lost their father, leaving Lachlan responsible for the family estate and its lands, including the grand yet deteriorating Applemore House. Unlike his sisters, Lachlan sees little value in the ancestral home and its massive maintenance costs.

As tensions rise over the fate of Applemore House, Rilla reenters their lives after an absence of fifteen years, rekindling old friendships and stirring long-suppressed emotions. Amidst the enchanting backdrop of a Highland winter, a romance begins to take shape, raising the question: is home defined by a place or a feeling?

Despite being 256 pages, this first book in Rachael Lucas’s new series can quickly be devoured in a single sitting, ideally accompanied by a soothing cup of tea. The story unfolds through the perspectives of both Rilla and Lachlan, who return to Applemore to address their family properties following their fathers’ passing.

Lachlan inherits a massive, dilapidated castle burdened by extensive renovation needs and hefty tax obligations. Meanwhile, Rilla’s family home is a more modest dwelling on Lachlan’s family estate. After so many years away, Rilla’s reintegration into the town initially leads her to believe she’s been forgotten, but she soon realizes her childhood friends remember her well. Her feelings for Lachlan, once buried in the past, resurface, unbeknownst to her that Lachlan harbors similar emotions.

Rilla and Lachlan’s connection deepens as they collaborate on various projects while clearing out their respective houses and searching for ways to fund Applemore Castle’s repairs. Their interactions, brimming with innocence, are marked by their mutual ignorance of each other’s feelings and their unique ways of coping with grief.

The Telephone Box Library is the first book in the Little Maudley book series by Rachael Lucas. It delivers an uplifting narrative of fresh beginnings, unfolding within the enchanting backdrop of a Cotswold village penned by renowned author Rachael Lucas.
Lucy, a history teacher fatigued after a decade in the classroom, decides to take a sabbatical to pursue her research interests. She relocates to a picturesque Cotswolds cottage, securing a reduced rent in return for taking care of Bunty, a spirited nonagenarian. Accompanied by her faithful West Highland terrier, Hamish, Lucy settles in with her boxes and bags, only to discover that Bunty was unaware of this arrangement, orchestrated by her interfering daughter-in-law, Margaret. Lucy’s primary objective is to find relaxation and concentrate on her research on the women of Bletchley Park.

However, the villagers of Little Maudley have other plans for her. She becomes entangled in their mission to transform a dilapidated telephone box at the heart of the village into a community-run library. Along the way, she forges friendships with Sam, a treehouse designer, and his companion, Mel, while succumbing to the village’s irresistible charm.

Bunty gradually warms up to Lucy as time passes, sharing memories of the telephone box, where she once exchanged secret messages with a Canadian airman during the war. But this isn’t the sole secret Bunty has harbored for years. Meanwhile, Lucy’s newfound friend, Sam, grapples with unraveling the mystery behind his teenage daughter Freya’s abrupt change. Mel, Sam’s close friend, is preoccupied with work, and Sam hopes Lucy might assist in uncovering her hidden secrets. As Lucy and Sam unearth Bunty’s story and Little Maudley’s role in the war, their bond deepens.

The Telephone Box Library is an immersive and heartening tale that transports readers to the captivating village of Little Maudley, immersing them in the lives of its diverse inhabitants, both long-standing and newcomers. The community comes together to celebrate, support, heal, grow, communicate, remember the past, take chances, embark on new beginnings, and collectively create something of great value.

The narrative flows effortlessly and is characterized by well-drawn, compassionate characters. The storyline, enriched by its subplots, seamlessly weaves together to form a delightful tapestry that explores the facets of life, including love, family, friendship, self-discovery, history, happiness, romance, and the enduring strength of community bonds.

Overall, The Telephone Box Library is a charming and delightful narrative by Rachael Lucas, offering a compelling and satisfying reading experience, a perfect literary indulgence for a sunny afternoon.