It May Be True, Vol. 1 (of 3)

Set in the green‑draped county of Ashleigh, the novel opens with a richly painted landscape of towering elms, fragrant beech groves, and distant sea‑kissed cliffs. A winding bridge spans a silver‑threaded stream that passes a quiet mill before spilling into sun‑lit meadows, while the village’s ivy‑clad inn, modest stone church, and the understated “Big House” loom gently against a crimson twilight. The opening scene bathes the reader in the scent of jasmine, clematis and wildflowers, establishing a world where nature and modest rural life intertwine with quiet dignity.

Into this idyllic tableau walks Amy Neville, a young woman with golden hair beneath a straw hat and eyes shadowed by long lashes. Her slow, contemplative steps carry a basket brimming with freshly gathered blossoms, and a sudden playful encounter with a village child disrupts her reverie. As she enters her modest cottage, a familiar voice greets her with a hint of impatience, suggesting that beneath the serene setting, personal expectations and hidden currents are about to stir.