Publisher's Synopsis
Astrid Walker is about to strike out on her own. She has given Henry ten years of her life to make up his mind to marry her. He has not asked. She has established herself financially by setting up her own real estate company called, Pixie Real Estate, but she wants it all...the happily ever after of having a husband and a family. Astrid finds a very large and impressive older home that dead ends to a pond on Dorvid Street in Irondequoit, New York. There is lots of land and privacy and she falls in love with it. She immediately hires an inspector who would share with her the history of the house. It doesn't stop her though since she has experienced situations in her life that could not be explained. She contacts a contractor and the repairs and updating begins. Only what should have taken months, happens quickly and Edward, her contractor does not take credit for it. This doesn't stop Astrid and she happily lives in her beautiful home. Several unexplained things take place, but she ignores them until the dinner party. That's when she learns from a neighbor, Andrea that there were rules for living in that house at 72 Dorvid Street. It doesn't stop with that evening alone, but Astrid stubbornly remains. She meets a man named Itilgail who she finds herself drawn to and he to her. Then just as she feels comfortable she learns from a woman named Adilyn that she is being followed.
So much is happening with her company and her life that she decides to get away for a while and books a tour to Lake Iseo, the fourth largest lake in Lombardy, Italy, for no better reason than in reading about places to go she came upon an article that says, 'a real-life fairytale at Isola di Loreto in Italy'. Located in the province of Brescia she reads, 'like a fairytale come to life, the small Loreto island is set amidst the dramatic background of snow-capped mountains and features a neo gothic castle perched on the edge of a cliff'. She left the next morning.
When she returns home to Irondequoit, New York she feels refreshed from her trip, but her life is again upturned when her neighbor Andrea gives her even more reason to doubt she can stay in her home.
Many people become part of her fantastical existence before it comes to a halt and there are secrets revealed and objects presented that shake Astrid to her soul, ending with her being forced to finally say goodbye.
