381 pages Bookouture Publication date February 28, 2022
ABOUT THE BOOK
The girl stands on the clifftop, feeling the soft breeze lift her shining red hair and dry her tears. She can almost hear Ireland calling her home across the wild sea. But she can never go back. And in that moment, she swears no-one will ever find out why.
Freya is desperate for escape from her messy break-up when she’s offered a job caring for elderly Kathleen in the seaside village of Heaven’s Cove. Kathleen’s once-red hair is now a brilliant white, but there’s always laughter in her Irish lilt – until the day Freya finds her weeping, her gaze fixed on Driftwood House, perched on the cliffs above the village. She refuses to say what’s wrong…
Kathleen’s son Ryan, quiet with striking emerald eyes, resents that a stranger is caring for his mother. But as Freya presses him for answers on a long walk across a windswept beach, Ryan finally admits that Kathleen breaks down in the same way, on the exact same day every year – never telling anyone what is causing her pain.
Finding a photo of Kathleen as a young girl standing outside Driftwood House years before she says she moved to the village, Freya is determined to find the source of Kathleen’s heartache. But as she gets closer to Ryan, and to the sad, forgotten history of the house, Freya is faced with an impossible decision…
Should she share this heartbreaking secret with Ryan and risk their chance of happiness together? And will facing the truth bring Kathleen peace in her final years – or will it tear them all apart?
This book can be enjoyed as a standalone.
MY THOUGHTS
The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea
Though this is part of a series I’ve read the others in the series so long ago I no longer remember what they were about so reading as a standalone.
Kathleen made a mistake many years ago. She is elderly now and relives this mistake every day of her life. Her son sees her crying on a certain day every year, but Kathleen won’t say what’s wrong.
A new hire, Kathleen’s caretaker knows the secret but can’t tell it she made a promise.
Freya has become close to Kathleen, but it has become so hard to keep this secret especially when Kathleen’s son Ryan has also become close to her and a romance may be starting up.
There are a lot of family dramatics and tensions because of long kept secrets. Secrets that have caused heartbreaking and sadness for many years. The setting by the sea was beautiful. The village charming. For the most part I liked the characters but not always how they acted. Healing comes at long last as secrets come to light.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Liz writes heart-warming and uplifting women’s fiction about families and relationships, and romantic comedies full of love and laughs. You can sign up to her newsletter at http://www.lizeeles.com
Liz worked as a journalist for years and brought up a family on the south coast of England, all the while writing fiction on the quiet. After being short-listed in a couple of national novel-writing competitions, her dream of being a published author came true when she was signed by publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK).
When not writing, Liz likes walking by the sea, catching up with friends and binge-watching box sets. She also loves hearing from readers and can be contacted at http://www.lizeeles.com, or on Twitter:@lizeelesauthor, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lizeelesauthor, or Instagram: lizeelesauthor
Liz’s books are:
1. Annie’s Holiday by the Sea (Salt Bay Book 1)
2. Annie’s Christmas by the Sea (Salt Bay Book 2)
2. Annie’s Summer by the Sea (Salt Bay Book 3)
4. New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle (Honeyford Book 1)
5. A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle (Honeyford Book 2)
6. A Christmas Wish and a Cranberry Kiss at the Cosy Kettle (Honeyford Book 3)
7. Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea (Heaven’s Cove Book 1)
8. A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea (Heaven’s Cove Book 2)
9. The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea (Heaven’s Cove Book 3)
10. A Key to the Last House Before the Sea (Heaven’s Cove Book 4)
11. The Path to the Last House Before the Sea (Heaven’s Cove Book 5)
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