The Mystery of Rose Degan

Set in the beautiful coastal town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, ‘The Mystery of Rose Degan’ explores two love stories—one lost in time and the other flourishing in the present. McKenzie (Mack) Harper needs to get away and the small cottage just outside of Cape Elizabeth is the perfect location to unwind and bond with her six-year-old nephew, Lucas. It’s here at this quaint summer rental that Mack discovers a diary dated March 4th, 1947, which pulls her into a world of love and heartache.


Each entry into the diary is brought to life through the words written by nineteen-year-old, Rose Degan, who falls in love with a man her parents disapprove of. Her heart knows what and whom it wants, Jacob Evans, a fire fighter in Cape Elizabeth. He hasn’t been in town long when they meet on the cliffs while she watches the rescue of a crew from a collier ship that went aground during a fierce storm.


Back in the present, Mack discovers that Jacob is still alive and tries to find him. She leaves a message that falls into the hands of Jacob’s grandson, Dean Evans. With his curiosity piqued, Dean decides that the mystery woman, along with her diary, is an excellent excuse to slip away from home, earning a break from his mother’s matchmaking shenanigans—a grandchild being her sole focus.


All these characters come together in a story of love and friendship. It shows that love and family can transcend time.


PLEASE NOTE: The reading age is 18+ (There is a more contemporary version available for ALL reading ages - Summer at Rose Cottage by Rona Jameson)