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The Amish Matchmakers (Amish Inn)

336 pages Publisher Zondervan Publication date October 17, 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

This Amish matchmaker is an expert at finding love for others, but will she find it for herself?

Widowed sisters Esther and Lizzie are the town innkeepers—and the town matchmakers. But when a new tenant moves into a guest cottage at their Peony Inn, the sisters are shocked to discover that maybe this time, one of them might finally find a match of her own. Retired dentist Dr. Benjamin Stoltzfus has signed a six-month lease at the cottage—and gentle Esther and spirited Lizzie are in a surprising competition for the kind doctor’s affections. Dr. Stoltzfus doesn’t appear to be Amish, but his last name and his mysterious background have the sisters guessing—and open to the possibility of finding love again.

Things really heat up when Benjamin’s granddaughter, Mindy, comes to visit. Escaping her big-city life in Texas, Mindy has moved to Amish country to be closer to her grandfather and to embrace the simpler life she has longed for. But she’s unprepared for what happens when an attractive young Amish man, who spends time at the inn helping out the widows, runs his lawnmower right into her little red sports car. Sure, Gabriel is cute and funny and nice—but can a romance between an Englisch girl and an Amish boy end well?

As Mindy and Gabriel find themselves thrown together time after time, they forge a friendship and start making matchmaking plans of their own. Which sister would be better for Mindy’s grandfather—Esther or Lizzie? And as the two young people put their energy into playing Cupid, it looks like love and the life they’ve both dreamed of might also be finding them.

  • Charming Amish romance featuring a later-in-life love triangle
  • Stand-alone novel, but returning to the world of The Amish Inn series
  • Includes discussion questions for book clubs

MY THOUGHTS

The Amish Inn series have been such adventurous reads and it’s fun to catch up with the characters in it with the addition of new characters.
Elderly widowed sisters Esther and Lizzie run the Peony Inn, and they are the town’s matchmakers.
These sisters are fun; they bicker and are quirky as all get out. I love the sisters, they are great.
They’ve taken on a new renter in one of the cottages, a retired dentist. Though not Amish he has an Amish last name and has a few secrets he’s not ready to reveal. With a six-month lease on the cottage maybe the sisters will find out a thing or two about him.
The sisters both have been charmed by this gentle older man and appear to be in a bit of a competition over his affections.
Escaping the big city, Mindy the dentist’s granddaughter arrives for a visit to get to know her grandfather but promptly falls for an Amish man. With the possibility of young love and mature love I enjoyed reading the differences with it. The book was one adventure after another, and I’d love to see these characters in future books.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold two million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series—Seek Me With All Your Heart—was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published thirteen novels and thirteen novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime.

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary—Need You Now—released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary—The House that Love Built—which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. Beth continued to spread her wings when she released The Promise in October 2014. Inspired by actual events, The Promise follows Beth’s characters all the way to Pakistan. Beth was involved in the real-life rescue when her friend was held captive in Pakistan. Beth is currently working on book #2 in her new Amish Secrets series, tentatively titled Jacob’s Ladder. Book #1—Her Brother’s Keeper—recently released and was chosen as a Top Pick by RT Reviews Magazine.

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bethwiseman.

Have A Wondaful day and thank you for stopping in.

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Snowed Inn: A Novel (Honeycrisp Orchard Romance, 2)

304 pages Publisher Avon a Publication date September 29, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

For fans of the Lovelight series and The Christmas Tree Farm, this cozy Christmas romance follows an overworked publicist who is snowed in at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn with her nemesis, a sexy brewery owner, for the holidays. The festive spirit, hot chocolate, and six feet of sparkling snowdrifts conspire to turn these enemies into lovers.

Maria never expected to spend Christmas in a small, snow-covered town—but a visit to her best friend Ellie’s Honeycrisp Orchard Inn turns into an unplanned holiday stay when a snowstorm leaves her stranded. The inn feels like stepping into a holiday fairy tale, with twinkling lights, crackling fires, and garlands everywhere, yet Maria can’t help missing her big, loud Italian family. Adding to her frustrations? Jesse, the ruggedly handsome, annoyingly charming brewery owner, who seems to delight in pushing her buttons.

Jesse has enough on his plate managing his bar and helping the inn stay merry for the holidays, but he can’t seem to resist Maria’s city-girl sass. As snow continues to fall and their paths keep crossing, Maria finds herself drawn into the inn’s festive magic and Jesse himself, as he shows her the charm of slowing down and being present in the moment.

With stolen glances under mistletoe and sparks flying by the fireplace, the line between a holiday fling and something deeper blurs.

But when the snow clears, will Maria follow her heart? Perfect for anyone craving snow-kissed romance, holiday warmth, and happily-ever-after magic.

Tropes:

• Enemies to lovers

• Forced proximity

• City girl x country boy

• Quirky locals

• Small-town romance

MY THOUGHTS

This is the second book in the Honeycrisp Orchard series, and it pretty much picks up where the other left off, but you get plenty of backstory if this is your first read in the series.
PR girl, Maria from LA never expected to not be able to leave Honeycrisp Orchard Inn when she went to visit best friend Ellie, owner. Lots of beautiful sparkling snow says otherwise and she’s snowed in and stuck at the inn.
It only goes from bad to worse when she sees hot bartender Jesse, who she desperately has tried to avoid this time around. Her last visit didn’t go so well, and they had words with each other.
Sledding and snowball fights along with delicious homemade cookies and hot chocolate and something she can’t resist.
When the mistletoe starts her thinking and Jesse is conveniently there, well you just never know what’ll happen.

She’s a fancy city girl he’s a flannel wearing country boy. Can they find anything in common?
Warm, fuzzy, totally charming holiday book that I absolutely loved.
Hope there’s more in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Valerie Bowman is an award-winning romance author. Her debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her two rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.

Visit Valerie on the web at ValerieBowmanBooks

Instagram: @ValerieGBowman

Facebook: ValerieBowmanAuthor

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Just for December: A festive and heart-warming enemies-to-lovers romance to curl up with

ABOUT THE BOOK

Evie Bird is a romance writer whose latest bestseller is being made into a Christmas movie.
Duke Carlisle is a world-famous actor who has landed the role of leading man.

When Evie and Duke meet on set, it’s a frosty encounter – even icier than the cobbled Bavarian streets they’re filming on.

But after images of them arguing leak to the press and put the movie in jeopardy, they are left with no choice but to fake date until the cameras stop rolling.

As the pair start to put their differences aside, their feelings gradually begin to thaw… But can sparks ever really fly in a snowstorm?

Laura Jane Williams is BACK with the most romantic read of the festive season. If you love Christmas movies like The Holiday and The Christmas Prince, this is the read to warm your heart with this December.

MY THOUGHTS

A bestselling romance author’s latest bestseller is being made into a Christmas movie.
A world-famous actor is playing the part of the leading man. It all starts going downhill when the two have a frosty meeting and can’t seem to stand each other. Bring on the fake dating so this movie is a hit. The fake dating is always a genre I enjoy reading about but in this case, it seemed well…….. fake until it wasn’t. They sure didn’t hit it off right away. I guess even the frostiest of smiles can become genuine eventually. Not sure if I’ve read any other books by the author or not.
I did enjoy seeing the main character come to an important realization about something in his life.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Laura Jane Williams (she/her) is known as the queen of the meet-cute. She is the author of six rom-coms, as well as the forthcoming Lovestruck (June 2023). She is also the author of three works of non-fiction.

The rights to Laura’s international bestseller Our Stop have been sold for television, and her books have been translated into languages all over the world. She loves romance, being a parent, and lifting very heavy weights.

Find out more about Laura on http://www.laurajaneauthor.com.

Thank you for stopping in.

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An Amish Cinderella (The Amish of Apple Creek) 

256 pages Publisher Kensington Publication date September 26, 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

Now that her friends are all marrying or moving away, Heart Beachy has started feeling lonely. Worse, everyone keeps asking when she’s going to find a man of her own. Don’t they realize Heart has her hands full at home with her widowed dad, too many chores, and a menagerie of needy, small animals? Besides, she doesn’t understand the fuss about marriage. It’s enough to make her consider finally becoming a pet-sitter, or moving to an English community, where she won’t be an oddity . . .

Newcomer Clayton Glick is utterly charmed by Heart—and completely confounded. He can’t figure out why this beautiful woman is as awkward as a teenager whenever he’s around, which is often now that he’s an apprentice to her blacksmith father. So Clayton starts assisting with Heart’s never-ending tasks, even helping her corral her unruly pets. How else can he court an adorably flustered woman who doesn’t know the first thing about courtship? Because courting is exactly what he intends . . .

Heart doesn’t know why her pulse hammers every time she sees Clayton. She only knows yielding to such emotions will mean trouble. . . But maybe with a little faith—and the trying on of a shoe—Clayton can convince her to join him on the road to happily ever after.

MY THOUGHTS

Heart Beachy has taken over the household chores her Mama used to do before her mother’s death including doing the meals and housework. Her widowed father often grumbles about waiting for dinner though the time it’s served hasn’t changed. She’s lonely and everyone keeps asking her when she will have her own someone special. Don’t they realize with her being the only one to do the household chores and taking care of the animals there’s really no time for that.
When her father hires an apprentice in his blacksmithing shop they become friends. Clayton Glick seems to know her better than anyone and can anticipate her needs. Will a romance soon bloom from this? I enjoyed all of the characters and even the character who seemed a bit clueless comes around to seeing things the right way. Forgiveness, compassion, understanding and a few surprises here and there thrown in are all themes I enjoyed reading about in this book.
This is another author that I really enjoy her books.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.

Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.

Thank you for stopping in. Have a wonderful day!

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Cover Reveal for The Secret Castle in the Highlands

I have read and loved books by Julie Shackman and look forward to reading this one as well.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Secret Castle In The Highlands

Prepare to escape to Scotland with a gorgeous feel-good romance this summer…

Returning to the Scottish Highlands was never part of Poppy Summers’ plan. But life had other ideas.

With her parents’ cherished holiday cottages losing money, Poppy is determined to carry on their legacy and save the business before they’re forced to sell.

Revamping the cottages is Poppy’s priority until she meets Mason Cooper, a charming historian drawn to the highlands for research. As their newfound friendship grows, is it possible that something more might be enough of a reason to make Poppy stay for good?

Pre-order Links

Publication Dates

30th August 2026 for Ebook and 10th September 2026 for paperback

Author Bio –

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance.

As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies.

Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags.

She has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, Cooper.

The Secret Castle in the Highlands is Julie’s fifteenth novel.       

   Social Media Links –

Julie Shackman Author

Julie Shackman (@G13Julie) / Twitter

Julie Georgina Shackman (@juliegeorginashackman) • Instagram photos and videos

(2) Julie Georgina Shackman | Facebook

Have a beautiful day. Thank you for stopping in.

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A Healing Touch: Amish Fiction about a Small Town Community Doctor and an Abandoned Baby (Doctor to the Amish)

304 pages Publisher Revell Publication date October 1, 2024

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus is the kind of doctor who still believes in house calls, addressing not just her patients’ physical needs but their emotional ones too. When newly widowed Bee faces a breast cancer diagnosis, Dok connects her with Fern Lapp for support. When her painfully shy assistant Annie finds herself drawn to a new calling, Dok goes to great lengths to help her achieve her dream. And when an abandoned newborn mysteriously appears at her office one frosty morning, Dok’s world takes an unexpected turn as ripples of change touch several lives.

A Healing Touch is a captivating tale of compassion, resilience, and the bonds that form in surprising places. Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you into a new story that’s like medicine for the weary soul. Join Dok, Annie, and the tight-knit Stoney Ridge community as they navigate the twists of fate, discovering that sometimes the greatest healing comes from the heart.

MY THOUGHTS

It’s wonderful to be back in Stoney Ridge once again and reading about familiar characters.
Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus is the type of doctor you just don’t see anymore. She treats the Amish and makes house calls. It’s not just about practicing medicine with her she really cares about her patients and treats them body and soul.
Dok’s husband is a police officer, her brother the bishop. It’s a very tight knit community.
As busy as she is in the office she needs and office assistant and it comes in the way of Annie, a painfully shy Amish young woman. She has a dream and Doc wants to help her achieve it but will the bishop approve of her plan.
We once again meet up with Hank Lapp and his wife. Hank is a great character, he’s loud, boisterous and doesn’t want to take advice from anyone especially Doc. As his health seems to deteriorate can his wife convince him a helping hand is the way to go.
We see character experiencing many different emotions from insecurity to grieving. There is compassion and healing, strong faith and encouragement.
What an emotional book and I loved it. Now I need to read the next in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne’s website at: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea: A gripping and emotional page-turner (Heaven’s Cove Book 1) 

365 pages Bookouture publisher Publication date February 18, 2021

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the attic of Driftwood House there are stunning views of the deep green sea and sapphire sky. But Rosie can’t tear her eyes away from the faded photograph in her hands, and the words written on the back that will change everything…

Back in the tiny seaside village of Heaven’s Cove after the death of her mother, all Rosie Merchant wants is to hide her tears, rent out her childhood home, and get back to her ‘real’ life, away from the gossiping villagers and wild Devon weather she escaped from years ago.

She’s surprised to find a smiling man in hiking boots – local farmer Liam – waiting on the stone doorstep. His kind offer to help clear crumbling, isolated Driftwood House is hard to refuse, and despite Rosie’s determination not to let anyone get close, soon they’re walking and laughing together along the clifftops. As clouds scud across the endless sky and green waves crash against the shore, Rosie is reminded that nowhere is more beautiful than home.

Then, up in the attic of Driftwood House, Rosie stumbles across a photo which exposes the heart-stopping truth about how her mother came to live at Driftwood House years ago… and Liam only seems concerned about the implications for his own nearby farm. Did he know this painful secret all along, and should she run from Heaven’s Cove for good? Or will facing up to her devastating family history mean Rosie can finally put down roots in this beautiful place?

This book can be enjoyed as a standalone.

MY THOUGHTS

I have read other books in the series already so I’m reading out of order as this is the first one.
What a beautiful introduction to Heaven’s Cove, the vast properties, the sea the sense of being home.
Driftwood House, crumbling away it won’t be long before the sea claims it but Rosie has other ideas. She grew up in Driftwood House leaving as an adult but now her mother has passed, and she’s returned from Spain to pay her respects and fix up the cottage but she’s not sure what she’ll do with it as she’s settled into her life in Spain.
With the brilliant idea of turn it into a B & B she’s devastated when she finds out her mother did not own the house and it is now reverting back to the owner’s name.
A secret her mother never told her as she assumed her mother had ownership of the house.
Contacting the owner, she decides to fix it up to try to persuade the owner to sell it to her.
Clearing the house of her mother’s possessions she finds an unknown picture in the attic that sets her off on a quest to unearth answers to her questions. She has so many and it’s time to discover the truth. Heartbreaking as secrets are uncovered. Will Rosie find the answers she needs before more spirals downward? Such an excellent series. I am really enjoying it.

About 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)

Have a beautiful day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Amish fiction: Letters of Comfort (Friendship Letters, 2)

320 pages Publisher Barbour Fiction Publication date August 1, 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

Friendship Letters Series — Doretta Schwartz has always enjoyed writing letters and feels her letters can be a bit of a ministry to her friends. In this series, exchanging letters that contain open and honest feelings and struggles helps Doretta and two of her best friends through the darkest challenges of their lives.
 
A Ministry of Letter Writing Restores Hope to the Writer
 
Doretta Schwartz used to be so happy and passed her positive attitude along to friends in several letters she wrote each month. But that all changed the day she learned of her fiancé’s death and a heavy weight of depression fell upon her. Feeling empty, she puts away her letter writing and won’t even respond to calls from friends. William’s twin brother, Warren, is also grieving his loss, while at the same time, trying to be supportive to his parents and Doretta. Doretta responds to Warren’s friendship, but is he just becoming a replacement for the once-in-a-lifetime love she lost?
 
Find out in the second book of The Friendship Letters series by New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter.

MY THOUGHTS

It’s always a wonderful day when I have a chance to read another of Wanda Brunstetter’s books.
This is the second book in the Friendship Letters series. Though it can be read as a standalone I suggest you read them in order as each book follows closely behind the other to get the full enjoyment of the story.
This book deals with depression and follows a young Amish woman in her journey as she is set to marry her fiancée, and he tragically passes away due to an accident close to their wedding. She is also badly hurt, and it takes her a long time to heal. Her fiancée has a twin brother and it’s hard for her to see them as the brothers were identical and it brings back memories of the past.
Her best friend sends her comforting and encouraging letters to try to help but at first, she is not receptive to them. Eventually as letters pass between the two friends honesty feelings come out as the friends share their struggles as they are able to help each other. Her faith is lagging but her friends keep encouraging her. As she starts to socialize more her healing both mentally and physically starts. A beautiful uplifting and encouraging story.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you for stopping in. I hope you have a wonderful day.

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Reading the Green: The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea: An absolutely addictive and heartbreaking page-turner (Heaven’s Cove Book 3) 

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)

Hope you’ve enjoyed your weekend. Thank you for stopping in.

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Reading the Green: The Irish Cottage by the Sea: A BRAND NEW charming Irish tale of family, love and friendship 

322 pages Publisher Boldwood Books Publication date April 22, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

When single mum Lou moves from the chaos of Dublin to a forgotten seaside cottage in Dingle, she hopes for a calmer life for her son, Jack – a place where he can grow up surrounded by the warmth of a small community.

But village life isn’t without its challenges. The cottage needs work and Lou needs a job, but at least Jack quickly makes friends – including Bo, the spirited daughter of Aidan, the head chef of the restaurant where Lou eventually finds work. Aidan is serious, skilled, and a little distant, yet there’s something about him Lou is drawn to.

Lou is firm in her decision not to get involved with anyone, not after the heartache Jack’s father caused them both. But as Lou and Aidan grow closer, they may just discover what matters most: family, community, and the unexpected joys of opening your heart again.

Set against the windswept beauty of Dingle, this is a story of new beginnings, the bonds that hold us together, and love that grows when you least expect it.

MY THOUGHTS

The Irish Cottage by the Sea is by a new to me author. I enjoyed her writing style.
The book had a warm homey feel. A welcoming vibe to it.
A woman leaves a bad relationship behind moving with her five-year-old son to an Irish cottage by the sea.
The setting was welcoming and sounds so cozy, a place I definitely would love to visit.
Dublin life is chaos and she is hoping the calm environment in Dingle will be just what she and her son need.
The cottage hasn’t been lived in for a while and needs so many repairs. Though it is livable it needs a lot of money put into it and she knows she’ll need to get a job very soon while her son is in school.
Will she be able to follow her dreams or will this move prove to be a big mistake with all that needs done to settle in?
I enjoyed seeing her son warm up to other children as he settles into the routine of school and a new way of life.
A possible romance may be on the horizon after not too long but do pleasure and business really mix or will this be another mistake she makes?
Very much enjoyed reading this new to me author and now I’ll need to see what else she has out.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

MEET THE AUTHOR

Clodagh (rhymes with Yoda) is an Irish author of romantic comedy and feel-good fiction with sassy heroines, swoony heroes and happy (for now) endings.

Before writing books, she spent many years in a variety of admin office jobs, and got in early on the gig economy thing, with numerous side hustles such as mystery shopping and movie extra work.

She lives in Dublin, surrounded by her large family, who bring her oodles of joy. Other stuff that makes her happy includes huevos rancheros, whiskey sour, Han Solo, jigsaws, Joni Mitchell and dinner with friends in cities where none of us lives.

Her writing role heroes are Jilly Cooper and Joan Wilder from Romancing the Stone.

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